Princess Eugenie and her husband Jack Brooksbank have joined a long line of celebrities including Emily Ratajkowski and Jessica Alba – not to mention fashion editors for the likes of Vogue – in carrying their newborn son, August, in an Artipoppe zeitgeist baby carrier.

When we rolled up to a pub lunch wearing the same yin yang version of the zeitgeist owned by the royal couple, a friend with grown-up children (half) joked that she’d consider having another child if it meant she could tote it around in one of these slings. And she has a point.

The Artipoppe carrier is essentially the “it bag” of baby slings (with corresponding price tags) – and is the antidote to traditional nursery aesthetics. With leopard print, purple tartan and red snakeskin as just a few examples of the patterns – parents don’t feel they are relegated to a world of pastels and practicality.

The Artipoppe truly complements stylish outfits – or even brings panache to what might otherwise be, let’s face it, an ensemble of possibly stained and certainly unstructured loungewear. We aren’t exaggerating when we say that we think an Artipoppe carrier would not look out of place on a parent dressed in black tie.

Baby wearing has been popular for centuries all over the world – if done correctly it’s a safe and easy way of transporting them – and it allows the wearer to have both hands free. Not only this, but it encourages bonding and is an increasingly popular choice for busy, social parents.

Read more:

While the zeitgeist is a thing of beauty it also boasts comfort, safety and ease of use. We put it to the test with a 12-month-old baby for a couple of days – here’s what we thought.

You can trust our independent round-ups. We may earn commission from some of the retailers, but we never allow this to influence selections, which are formed from real-world testing and expert advice. This revenue helps us to fund journalism across The Independent.

Artipoppe zeitgeist baby carrier yin yang

Artipoppe zeitgeist baby carrier indybest.jpeg

Buy now £677, Artipoppe.com

What are Artipoppe Zeitgeist carriers made from?

Wait, first we need to talk about the box it arrives in, which is an artwork in and of itself: a honeycomb design swarming with beautiful bees. Call us suckers but we felt seduced from the moment we saw it, and it was clear we were involved in a luxury situation. Nothing about this said “baby stuff inside”. Inside, you’ll find a protective bag for your carrier – like you might with a handbag or pair of shoes.

The zeitgeist is made from a range of different materials including silk, cashmere, cotton, velvet – all the lush stuff, basically. All are breathable and all are gentle on baby skin. The range of patterns and textures is vast – the phrase spoilt for choice comes to mind. The yin yang 1970 favoured by Eugenie and Jack is made from 60 per cent cashmere, 25 per cent cotton and 15 per cent mulberry silk.

What age range does it cater to?

You can start to wear your baby in a zeitgeist carrier from birth to around two-years-old. However, you’ll need to make sure your little one can hold their head up independently. Obviously, the weight of a child and strength of the carrying adult is a factor, too.

How easy is it to use?

You can wear your little one on the front or back. For front wearing, things are super easy, even when you’re on your own with no one to do any holding, buckling or tightening. We honestly managed to put it on, put baby in and tighten in under 30 seconds. Unlike a wrap – which Artipoppe also offers and needs a lot of practise to perfect their tying techniques (we know, we’ve tried) – the zeitgeist, with its “click in place” buckles, is a breeze.

But preparing to wear it on the back takes a little more practise if doing it on your own. This is no fault of the zeitgeist, it’s more our own fear in our own skills at placing the baby comfortably.

Has the Artipoppe zeitgeist carrier been safety checked?

Yes. It has been declared "hip-healthy" by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Obviously, you’ll always need to be mindful to check that your baby is sitting safely – their knees should always be at or higher than the level of their bottom.

How comfortable is it for baby and their parent or carer?

The straps are nicely padded – quite puffy really – and wide, which is dreamy news for the shoulders!

These, as well as the waistband and neck cushion, can be adjusted, and the padded shoulder straps, waistband and neck cushion are easily adjustable for a personalized fit.

The waistband is really thick and fairly rigidly structured which helps support both the weight of the baby and a wearer’s posture. We ensured the waistband was snug on us without being like a girdle, as this offered optimum security.

Back to top

The verdict: Artipoppe zeitgeist baby carrier

Some versions of the zeitgeist are much more affordable at around £300, rather than the almost £700 you’ll pay for the yin-yang design. Either way, we totally understand that this an awful lot of money to spend on a baby carrier – but it’s safe to say that Artipoppe carriers are something of a status symbol. They are a message that a parent can have a stylish, cool aesthetic that’s dictated by a parent’s taste and not by traditional nursery themes.

They also bring a lot of substance to the table: not only are they are made with luxurious materials and built to last, they are safe for babies and comfortable for the people who carry them. If you can afford it, you won’t be disappointed.

Voucher codes

For the latest discounts on baby tech and other kids essentials, try the links below:

For more options, we’ve rounded up the best baby carriers, from sling to backpack styles

Thank you for registering

We tried the Artipoppe zeitgeist baby carrier owned by Princess Eugenie – here’s our verdict

It’s all the rage with celebrity parents, but is the ‘it bag’ of baby carriers worth the price tag?