Brand:Manduca (DE); carrier: Manduca Duo material: 100% organic cotton size: One size weight/age recommendation: 3,5 -15 kg, only suitable for front carrying / hipbelt can be removed – video at the bottom
About the company: Manduca is a traditional and leading german brand for babywearing. The company behind, “Wickelkinder” has been founded already in 2002. The company has always been improving their products to help parents carrying their babys with ease. With the launch of the Manduca Duo, they tried to combine the comfort and security of a carrier with the perfect fit of a babywrap.
My first impression: The carrier looks nice. The wrap fabric is soft and rather thin. The hipbelt can be removed or attached easily by zip. It depends on your preferences to use it or not. The hipbelt is buckled as well as the soft, not padded, crossed shoulder straps that can be closed by two buckles attached to the wrap bag. The panel is fixed by two clips on the shoulder straps. I made a video (view it below) to show how it all works 🙂
How to adjust it: First, you need to “dress” and adjust the carrier for yourself by pulling the shoulder straps and place the cross deeper down your back for more comfort. Second, I’d recommend to shorten the back panel by drawing on the strings on each side beneath the neck area. Grab your child and direct the feet through the spare space between seat and rings. By pulling the fabric through the rings, tightening strand by strand, you’ll get the ideal M position for your baby – a position similar to the one in the wrap. Check if there’s no slack left on baby’s back. For tiny/sleeping babies, there’s a comfortable, stretchy jersey hood to support neck or head.
How does it wear: Though my baby is already heavy, it was quite comfy wearing her in front with the Manduca Duo, even without hip belt. I guess I could wear her for a longer time like this if I use the hip belt for an even weight distribution. Depending the baby, tiny ones might feel more pressure on their back than in a babywrap due to the tightening through the rings on back height and I couldn’t try the Manduca Duo with a Newborn yet. Would be interesting to see this! Feel free to share your experiences!
Conclusion: The reason why Manduca created this carrier was, that their normal carrier isn’t ideally suitable for tiny babies (there will be a new version with adjustable seat next year – Manduca XT) and they wanted to combine the element of a baby wrap with the security of a carrier. You know the feeling of many babywearing beginners who struggle with the wrap being afraid that their baby might fall. I’ve never seen a baby near falling during the wrapping but I understand that some parents are anxious about it. You won’t create this feeling with the Manduca Duo. The baby is very safe.
The fact that the carrier is limited to wearing in front (you could try wearing on the back as a man though) is something you need to consider… there are also more steps putting on and adjusting the carrier than usual which makes it more suitable for someone who’s already experienced with wraps, carriers or a ring sling, of course.
I still see some potential in this carrier to be used and liked above all. Give it a try!
Tested in september/october 2017 with my 8-9 months old baby. Thanks for the opportunity!
