Stretchy Hybrids. Why I Love the Mamaruga Zensling, Dracomom Hatchling and Izmi Breeze as buckle options for Newborns

One of the most common questions I get from expectant and new parents is:

“What’s the best buckle carrier for my very tiny newborn, thats going to last me a while?”

Your options are definitely fewer and while my answer is 'This will always depend on your preferences, your body, and your baby, there are three carriers I find myself showing parents with wee ones again and again: the Mamaruga Zensling, the Dracomom Hatchling and the Izmi Breeze. Read on to see what boxes these two carriers tick for me.

I'd categorise all of these carriers as stretcy hybrids, but now the Izmi has had recent consultant-led tweaks increasing the longevity it does feel more like a 'typical' lightweight carrier.

First up The Mamaruga Zensling: it's soft, snuggly, and perfect for the postpartum body

The Zensling is one of those carriers that feels like a hug. It’s made from beautifully soft, stretchy-but-supportive fabric that moulds around you and your baby — which can feel so lovely on a recovering, postpartum body.

It offers that snuggly closeness you get from a stretchy wrap, but if tying really isn't your bag, with the way it adjusts you'll be getting a carrier that will take you to at least 12m maybe 15-18m depending on the size of your little one.

Some of my favourite things about it:

• The softness — genuinely gentle on tender tummies or after birth recovery. It doesn't have too much of a waistband, and what is there is nice and squishy

  
  

• The webbing is quite generous meaning it fits a few body types quite nicely.

  
  

• The shoulders can fan out for that lovely stretchy-like feeling.

  
  

• How small it can go — meaning it often fits from those early newborn days sooner than most buckle carriers (once adjusted correctly).

  
  

If you can wait however you may find you have even more options available to try, and that will offer even more longevity still. This is quite pricey at around £145 rrp, but for a lower centile child you might find it's the best clippy option.

If you’re considering one, I do have this sling available in my library to hire (£10 x 1 week with no appointment, £7 a week after up to 4 weeks max, or £5 a week for budget sessions, or free x 1 week £5 thereafter when you book a longer consult so you can really try and see if you like before investing).

I also have a small discount code with my go to retailer for this carrier, which I automatically send on to anyone who hires / has a 1-1 with me which is always a lovely bonus, but honestly, I recommend it because it’s a thoughtful, well-made, consultant-led product from a small UK company that genuinely listens to feedback from the carrying community, and in recent years have improved their model making it a really lovely sling, that I've even fitted premie baby's into.

Dracomom Hatchling - soft and simple to use

If the Zensling feels a bit too much with it's webbing and adjustments (which is great for incremental changes, but too much for some to get their heads round) I would then suggest another lovely soft feeling option, that's more budget as it offers less longevity more akin to a stretchy wrap (0-8m), and it's oh-so-simple to use, the Dracomom Hatchling. I'm hoping to get one pf these for the library soon, as the brand was looking like it was going to be discontinued then changed hands

OR....

As an honorable quick mention depending on the age of little one (I'd say fits between 2-5 weeks generally) the Boba Bliss which is possibly slightly more budget still. Again lasting til around 8m. This has less adjustments still and will probably be the closest feeling to a wrap, and the simplest of all the other slings mentioned thus far. Both the Dracomom, and Boba are probably not going to work as well on someone plus-size as the Zensling as the webbing just isn't quite as generous.

The Izmi Breeze, it's light, cool, and built to last

Not as soft as the Zensling or Dracomom Hatchling in my opinion, but you run warm, or plan to carry through the summer, like the idea of something that packs down small or you just prefer something that feels light and airy, the Izmi Breeze is a great choice.

This carrier has just undergone a load of tweaks consultant-led so compared with the older model (longevity 0-7m) you'll get more like 0-18m with this depending on baby's centile!

Why I love it:

• The breathable mesh keeps both of you cool (no sticky backs or sweaty naps!).

  
  

• Tested for a range of body sizes

  
  

• Waistband is padded but thin so still feels nice on a postpartum body

  
  

• It offers a good fit for small babies and grows with your little one, the hood attachment (add-on) extends the height of your carrier further.

  
  

• It’s an ideal “baby-to-toddler” carrier for families who want one product to last.

  
  

I do have an affiliate link for the Izmi, which gives you a small discount and gives me a little thank-you too — which is always appreciated. But again, I only share it because I genuinely rate the brand. Izmi are consultant-led, deeply engaged with our feedback, and passionate about safe, comfortable, ethical carrying. They’re a small, UK-based company with lovely values — here for families, not just for profit.

💛 Why these all stand out

The Zensling, Dracomom and Izmi Breeze bridge that tricky “in-between” phase if a stretchy wrap or tying style sling isn't an option you have headspace for. They are soft and snuggly enough for a newborn, but supportive and adaptable enough to last to a time frame worth their retail amounts.

They fit small early on (once adjusted properly of course, and sooner than full structured buckles), and they grow with your baby beautifully — meaning you can enjoy babywearing without rushing to buy your next carrier too soon. Another option that is more affordable worth a mention is a close caboo - as these are a pre-tied stretchy wrap so take out some of the work.

If you’d think you'd prefer something a little more structured there are lovely buckle carriers (like the Lenny Light, which I also quite like for its softness - still fits sooner than most buckles but not necessarily true newborn like these, so sometimes waiting a few weeks and using a stretchy wrap in the interim might be the better and most affordable approach.

👶 A quick note on fit and safety

As with all carriers, safe fit is everything, especially when your baby is tiny.

Both of these carriers can be adjusted to fit snugly and safely from early on, but I always recommend either a 1-1 consultation or at least a fit check before you start using them. It’s the best way to make sure your baby’s position supports safe airways and comfort for you both.

And as always, don’t forget your ABC safety check before every carry.

Try before you buy

If you can, try before you look to buy ypur carrier. Every body and baby combination is unique, and what feels perfect for one person may not be quite right for another.

In a consultation, we can compare options side by side, check fit, and make sure whichever carrier you choose feels like a dream to wear. I also offer free carrier hire for one week as part of the package.

🩵 In summary

The Mamaruga Zensling, Dracomom Hatchling and the Izmi Breeze are gentle, supportive, carriers made by small, consultant-led UK companies that truly care about families and safe babywearing.

They feel lovely on a postpartum body, adjust beautifully for newborns, and grow with your little one (longevity and budget varying!) A discount code or affiliate link is just a nice extra — the real reason I recommend thess is because they work very well for new families who wish to carry from newborn (average 7lb term weight) with a buckle carrier safely, comfortably, and confidently.

Happy carrying,

Emma x