Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier review

The Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Carrier by Infantino combines flexibility with a convertible design featuring padded straps, structured head support and a 4-in-1 design, making this the ideal carrier for infancy through toddler years. Use the narrow seat position and padded head support to comfortably hold small infants. Switch to the wide position to continue to provide an ergonomic seat while your child grows. Whether you are at home or on the go, you and your little one can experience the world in comfort with Infantino.

Related content : Best baby carriers

Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier Overview

This is a brilliant value budget buy, which offers several different carrying positions and most of the features of more expensive baby carriers, for a fraction of the price. It offers good support for babies, including newborns, however, our testers all found this a little fiddly to adjust. If you’re looking for a very affordable baby carrier for holidays or occasional use, then it's definitely an option worth considering.

Pros

• Four different designs available:

• Four different carry styles: Can be carried in facing, in facing wide, outward facing or as a backpack.

• Padded straps: The shoulder straps are padded and intended to protect the shoulders from digging in.

• 2-in-1 bib: Features a dribble bib to protect the carrier and your clothing.

• Machine washable: Can be cleaned with ease in the washing machine.

• Head support: It has additional head support that can be used for smaller babies.

• Adjustable: Features multiple straps that can be adjusted to your comfort.

• Long term wearability: Designed to grow with your baby, it's suitable for use up until three years old.

Cons

• Complex: One of our testers reported that the straps on this carrier were fiddly or complicated to adjust.

• Comfort: Another said that the straps dig in a little after a while, affecting the overall comfort.

• Support: Most of our testers said that the level of support wasn't the best and it pulled on their back after a while.

Ratings

The Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier was ranked as a Bestseller and has been rated highly across Amazon with 74 per cent rating the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier a 5 star product. Here are some of the ratings across the various different stockists of the product, and what the reviews have to say.

Amazon: 4.6 out of 5 star rating from 58,075 reviews.

One reviewer said: "Love this, and so does my 9-week-old boy. He hates sleeping in his cot during the day and wants to be on me all the time, so this is great hands-free for me. Really comfortable to wear. I've got a bad back in general and my baby is very heavy so I have had a bit of backache but I have this wearing the product or not wearing it. Great head support for newborns. Feels strong and sturdy and comfy. Baby loves it and it looks and seems great quality."

Argos: 4.7 out of 5 star rating from 558 reviews.

One reviewer said: "I bought this a month ago for my 7-month-old daughter. She’s very active and doesn’t want to stay in the pushchair long, she wants to be involved so I’d end up carrying her which is just not convenient for long durations. This is a game changer, especially for trails and walks even going to the supermarket she absolutely loves it."

Price

One of the main selling points of this carrier and what sets it apart from other carriers on the market is its affordable price. The price range of the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier ranges from £29.99 to £48.87, depending on where you're buying from and which design you choose. Infantino remains a brand that's accessible with budget-friendly options.

Most carriers will range in price, but most are in the price bracket of £59.99 to £189.90, so this puts it in the affordable price bracket. However, there are up-and-coming models within the price bracket of the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier which we discuss in more detail.

Key Features and Specifications of the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier

Age suitability? Suitable from birth to 3 years

Weight recommendation? Minimum child weight 3.6kg, maximum child weight 14.5kg

Dimensions? ‎10 cm x 10 cm x 4 cm / 600 g

Material? Polyester, cotton

Care instructions? Machine cold wash

• Four different designs and colour choices to choose from

• Adjustable head support for provides extra comfort

• Adjustable and padded shoulder straps

• Supportive waist belt distributes baby's weight to the hips for a more comfortable fit

• Four carrying positions: In-Facing (Infant), In-Facing Wide, Outfacing and Backpack

• 2-in-1 bib protects your clothing and carrier

Testing the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier

At Mother & Baby, we were assisted with help from our Mother & Baby Testers to review the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier. During the testing process, we were testing for its overall performance, usability and build. Here's what our testers had to say about the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier.

Mother & Baby Tester, Laura, said: "A good all-rounder and such a bargain – proof you don’t need to spend a fortune for decent baby gear! There’s enough support for Marley although she seems to have more freedom, which means I get the brunt of wriggly legs! She is very happy in this. I love the back-carry option – very comfortable with an older baby. It pulls my shoulders a little but overall a great buy."

Mother & Baby Tester, Claire, said: "This is fairly easy to put on but the straps are fiddly to adjust. After about half an hour my back aches and the straps dig in a little – the weight distribution is better on other carriers. It’s not too bulky so you can wear it indoors. My baby seemed comfortable and fell asleep easily in this carrier. It’s very good value but best for occasional use or short walks."

Mother & Baby Tester, Rebecca, said: "This carrier isn't suitable for back-carrying with a six-month-old so it didn't really suit me – I want to be able to switch between front and back carrying positions, depending on whether we're at home or hiking outdoors, and I need a carrier with really good waist and shoulder support, which this doesn’t have. It’s a budget option but I’d rather spend more money on something more robust."

How does the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier compare to previous versions?

Infantino Carry On

Tried and Tested by Mother & Baby Testers
Read our full review of the Infantino Carry On here.

The key selling point of the Infantino Carry On is the fact it's a multi-pocket carrier designed to store your essential items. As well as being a carrier, you're able to use it as a way to take items like your phone, purse and keys with you as you run errands with baby.

It retails at £48.14 on Amazon, so a bit more expensive than the Flip Advanced Carrier. Similarly, it's rated a 4.6 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, but with 79 per cent reviewing it as a 5 star product. Much like the Flip Advanced, you're able to use four different carrying styles. However, the Infantino takes up to 20 kg of maximum weight, giving it better carrying capacity.

Infantino Cuddle Up

The Infantino Cuddle Up provides a cosy detachable hood for baby and hoodie hand pocket for parents to keep you both warmer in the colder months. In designs from a teddy bear to fox, this baby carrier has the adorable an comfort factor.

Retailing from £28.19 to £35.88, it's around the same price bracket as the Flip Advanced, but slightly more expensive. It's been rated a 4.5 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with 70 per cent reviewing it as a 5 star product. It can only be used in two different carrying styles, but takes up to 18 kg of weight, so more than the Flip Advanced.

How does the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier compare to rival products?

Boba Wrap Baby Carrier

Thesesling style carriers are the biggest competitors of the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier that are within a similar price bracket. The Boba Wrap Baby Carrier is the highest rated within this category. It is rated a 4.4 out of 5 star rating on Amazon, with 69 per cent reviewing it as a 5 star product, so slightly lower than the Infantino Flip Advanced on average.

The Boba Wrap varies in price depending on design and colour, with the lowest price at £29.91 and the most expensive at £68.21. There are fourteen designs to choose from in comparison to the Infantino Flip's four colour choice. Made from 100 per cent cotton, a wrap sling is designed to hug the contours of your body and baby to make for a comfortable experience.

With no buckles or straps that dig in, a sling carrier is considered better in terms of comfort. However, some parents may prefer buckles and straps for added security. Finally, the Boba Wrap can take up to approximately 15 kg to 16 kg of maximum weight, which is in fact, slightly more than the Infantino Flip Advanced.

Sonarin Front Premium Hipseat Baby Carrier

A style somewhat similar to the Infantino Flip Advanced in that it's a more traditional carrier and is around a similar price bracket is the Sonarin Front Premium Hipseat Baby Carrier. It's a few pounds cheaper on Amazon, but does it measure up in terms of features and customer ratings? Well, it's rated a 4.3 out of 5 star rating, with 62 per cent reviewing it as a 5 star product across Amazon, so slightly lower than the Infantino Flip Advanced.

Similarly, there are four different colour choices to choose from with the Sonarin, but each design doesn't vary in terms of price. It retails at £26.99 on Amazon. Many of the reviews talk about how comfortable the carrier is for both baby and parent, as it's ergonomically designed to support both. There is a wedge for baby to sit on, meaning the weight is evenly distributed, much like the Infantino Flip Advanced.

While the Infantino Flip Advanced can be worn in four different ways, the Sonarin can supposedly be worn in six different ways, and as a hip belt. It can also reportedly take up to 20 kg maximum weight, which means it has better capacity than the Infantino Flip Advanced Baby Carrier.

Final thoughts

To conclude, the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier remains a Bestseller on Amazon with thousands of positive reviews, despite other carriers rivalling its price point. However, some of our Mother & Baby testers had trouble with the product, as some found that the straps were fiddly to adjust and found it wasn't the best design for overall comfort. Some testers would rather have spent the extra cash on a more expensive carrier of a higher quality. Overall, they summarised that the Infantino Flip Advanced Carrier was a fantastic budget option for short-term use.

Glossary

Ergonomic The design of furniture or equipment which makes it comfortable and effective for people who use it.