If you’re toting baby along on an outing in those first few months (and beyond), there’s no better thanks to take a number of the load off than with a well-chosen baby carriers. But they will be handy reception, too – especially if your baby prefers snuggling to just about anything else.
Deciding to use a baby carrier is that the easy part. Deciding which kind of carrier you’ll be wearing baby in can take a bit more research.
Types of baby carriers
There are many types of baby carriers, so it’s important to find the one that works best for you and your lifestyle. Here are your main options:
- Baby carrier wraps: This is what a lot of new moms imagine when they think of baby-wearing. Essentially, wrap baby carriers are long swaths of fabric that are wrapped around your body and tied in place to hold your baby close. Perfect for puttering with baby at home while you get things done.
- Soft-structured baby carriers: With a more defined feel and lots of straps, these feats of construction tend to distribute baby’s weight to your hips while offering your little one plenty of support, creating a snug, comfortable fit for both of you. Many soft-structured baby carriers have multiple carrying positions so you’ll still use them as your tiny baby grows into a much bigger toddler.
- Baby carrier backpacks: These heavier, backpack-style carriers offer additional padding and boning to keep your little one in place while out on adventures. They offer more structure and security, but they’re a little heavier than the other two options. They also are often only for back-carrying, so you usually have to wait until your baby is a little older and can sit up on her own.
What to look for in a baby carrier ?
- A seat that places baby close: If you choose a front-facing baby carrier, you should be able to plant a peck on the top of baby’s head without leaning too far down.
- A comfortable space for baby: Make sure that there is no fabric blocking his airways or buckles poking him.
- Plenty of support: If you are using a backpack or a soft-structured carrier, look for sturdy, padded straps and strong buckles that click firmly in place.
- A supportive seat for baby: You will want to make sure that his legs are appropriately separated to prevent hip dysplasia.
- A comfortable base strap: It takes pressure off your back and distributes weight evenly around your hips.
- Washable fabric: Blowouts, spit up, the occasional iced coffee spill from above (no judgement!) — it’s the golden rule that almost anything you put near baby should be washing machine-friendly.
Ready to start baby-wearing? Below, you’ll see why we love these slings, wraps, soft-structured carriers and backpack carriers.
Ergobaby Carrier, Omni 360
When it involves a top quality day-to-day carrier, the Ergobaby 360 ticks all the boxes. This baby carrier offers four carry positions (front-parent facing, front-forward facing, back and side holds) and is powerful enough to carry your baby from 12 to 33 pounds. you just can’t get it wrong giving this baby carrier a try.
Parents love that the Ergobaby carrier 360 was designed with baby’s hip development in mind, keeping baby during a comfortable, ergonomic position that protects her spine and hips. The carrier is additionally adjustable — if you and your partner wear vastly different sizes, you’ll easily switch back and forth.
Moby Fit Baby Carriers Wrap
The Moby Fit combines the comfort and versatility of a wrap carrier, the adjustable features of a ring sling and the security of a soft-structured carrier into one. It’s made from a machine-washable, super soft material that’s as comfortable for you as it is for baby. While this baby carrier wrap doesn’t have the same versatility as some others (there are only two carry positions: front inward and front outward), it makes up for that by being simple to put on and flexible enough for a variety of caretakers to use. The Moby is meant to be used for babies weighing 8 to 33 pounds.
Thule Sapling Elite carriers
This carrier is certainly not for the casual baby-wearer. But if you and your family make frequent day-long trips to places where strollers just won’t cut it (like a hike through the woods), the Thule Sapling Elite can feel like a dream come true. It’s recommended for kids who weigh between 16 and 48 pounds. It has a small backpack that can act as a pseudo-diaper bag for everything your baby will need during the day, plus a hydration sleeve for you that carries 3 liters of water, so you won’t get dehydrated toting your extra passenger. What’s more, the Thule Sapling Elite has a smart mirror that lets you check on what’s happening behind you without taking off your backpack. The total weight of the carrier itself is just under eight pounds. The company also makes a less expensive and slightly lighter version, the Thule Child Carrier, which doesn’t have the mirror or the extra backpack.
Kids N’ Such Sling carriers
If your main carrier concern is keeping it as simple as possible, a hoop sling may be a good selection. Sakura Bloom’s slings are made of soft linen that keeps you comfortable in all seasons. All you need to do is thread the material through the rings, then tuck baby into the little hammock you’ve created, making sure she’s close enough for you to kiss the top of her head without stretching. The ring sling is intended for babies between 7 and 35 pounds, and there are a ton of different ways you can carry baby in the sling as she grows from infant to toddler.
Baby K’tan Original Carriers
Yes, the Baby K’tan may be a wrap, but there’s little actual wrapping involved. The handy two-piece wrap, which comes with a double looped main section and a security sash, takes the hardest parts of the wrapping process out of the equation, so you can get your baby in and out in a flash. The Baby K’Tan carrier does come in a few different sizes, so unless you and your partner are of similar height and weight, you might need to buy more than one for a perfect fit. It can be used for preemies and newborns all the way up to 35 pounds.
Red ClevrPlus Cross Country Baby Backpack
This sturdy backpack carrier ensures that you simply and baby stay comfortable throughout the day. It features thick shoulder straps, a padded hip belt and lumbar padding so your muscles and joints don’t feel the consequences of carrying your baby . Multiple pockets offer many room for 2 water bottles, diapers and other necessities. This carrier may be used once baby is sufficiently old to take a seat abreast of her own and until she reaches 33 pounds. It also includes a retractable canopy to keep baby cool and dry. It weighs 5.5 pounds, which is fairly lightweight for this sort of carrier.
Lillebaby Complete All Seasons Carriers
The lumbar support on this baby carrier is excellent. It comes with a large, adjustable belt that helps distribute baby’s weight evenly, making it an excellent choice for dads looking to obtain in on the baby-wearing game. you’ll customize the rear support to suit your needs. This powerhouse can carry your child in six positions: front inward, front outward, hip and back.
Many parents like that this baby carrier has an air panel to stay you and baby cool (a valid complaint for tons of oldsters — for something so small, babies give off tons of heat). The Lillebaby are often used without an extra insert starting at 7 pounds, with a maximum weight of 45 pounds.
BabyBjörn Baby Carriers Mini
Some baby carriers require a particular expertise which will only be perfected over time, but the BabyBjörn is simple to use from day one. All you need to do to get yourself and baby in and out is unbuckle one side buckle, and you’re good to go. The carrier does not have a support band, so baby’s weight is distributed across your back and shoulders with X-shaped straps.
This carrier can be used without an infant insert from 7 pounds up to 24 — so it doesn’t have as long a lifespan as some of the more complicated carriers, but it should last through baby’s first year. There’s also no back carry option, so this feature works for parents trying to find a front carrier only.
Tula Explore Baby Carrier
Want to baby carry well into toddlerhood? The Tula Explore lets you do just that. Baby Tula’s carrier can be used without an insert with babies as small as 7 pounds and up to 45 pounds. The seat area adjusts to stay ergonomic throughout that entire lifespan, and you can also put baby in a back-carrying position once they have control over their head and neck muscles. Parents who love the Tula rave about how comfortable it is for a variety of caretakers, as well as for their kiddos.
Boba Baby Wrap Carrier
The Boba Baby Wrap is the most traditional wrap carrier on this list. Made from one piece of material, you wrap, tie and tuck baby into this adjustable baby carrier.
While there is a learning curve to get baby safely into the wrap, once she’s in there, parents absolutely love it. For one, it’s made of lightweight, soft modal — an absolute blessing in the summer. Parents also love that this carrier allows some cozy skin-to-skin contact with even the tiniest babies, since it are often used from birth until baby reaches 25 pounds. like other wrap carriers, Boba is only intended for front carrying facing in.
