Before you have a baby, you cannot possibly imagine just how indispensable a good baby carrier (or three) will be for you and your baby. Those little ones want to be held ALL. THE. TIME. But also, you are a person who might need to use your arms for something other than cuddling once in a while. And so we use a nifty invention that has actually been around since the dawn of time. Once you know there’s a solution, the question remains: Which is the best baby carrier for you?
Babywearing is often a parent’s go-to when little ones are fussy (or sleepy or on the move or want to face forward or… anything, really). Also, babywearing makes traveling and shopping way easier because you don’t have to drag along a stroller. Modern baby carriers are pretty varied in form and fashion: slings, wraps, lightweight carriers, elaborately structured backpacks. But they all serve the same purpose of getting the child up close to a parent, who can then go about their life because they don’t have to actually hold their baby with their arms.
There are a few considerations to take into account before selecting a carrier. Does it provide a wide seat and give much-needed support for Baby’s hips (no crotch danglers, please)? Does it distribute Baby’s weight so they’re not all falling on the parent’s shoulders or back? Does it provide back support for parent and baby alike so the latter avoids a curved spine and a tilted-down head, which can be dangerous? The answer to all of these questions should be a resounding yes before you commit to a carrier purchase.
Luckily, we’ve done the hard research for you and rounded up some of the most popular brands and types to come up with the best baby carriers out there that conform to these important safety considerations. The picks ahead are all quality, ergonomic (and pretty darn cute) choices for parents who could use a helping hand in the baby-holding department.
Our mission at SheKnows is to empower and inspire women, and we only feature products we think you’ll love as much as we do. Please note that if you purchase something by clicking on a link within this story, we may receive a small commission of the sale.
Boppy ComfyChic
The makers of the famous baby pillow now bring their comfort to a carrier that combines that hug-like feeling of a wrap or sling with the structure of a carrier. Parents of newborns will especially love that there’s no infant insert required. And once your baby grows, you can carry them facing out or on your hip, too. For all that versatility, it’s surprisingly affordable, too. Suitable up to 35 lbs.
Solly Baby Wrap
You tie this wrap like you would most others, but the choice of fabric and prints are what make Solly Baby really stand out. The fabric is made from beechwood, resulting in something breathable, soft, and strong enough to hold your baby up to 25 lbs.
Nesting Days Newborn Carrier
As much as we love slings and wraps for keeping babies close to us from day 1, not all of us are coordinated to master the complicated art of tying them so they’re safe and comfortable. The Nesting Days carrier looks just like a wrap, but it’s so much easier to put on. You slip into it like a dress and pull one strap over your shoulder before tucking baby inside, pulling up the other strap, and tying a little knot at your waist.
LÍLLÉbaby SeatMe Carrier
This carrier offers more positions for holding a baby than you probably thought possible: inward-facing fetal (for the littlest infants), inward-facing front, outward facing front, backpack, and … hip! Remove the top straps of the carrier to allow this to form a convenient shelf for placing a squirmy toddler on your hip, giving your arm a bit of a break. (Holds 7-45 lbs.)
Moby Wrap
A Moby Wrap is often the go-to choice for parents of newborns. It will safely hold up to 30 pounds, but as it’s designed to be stretchy and comfortable, you may find it less supportive as your wee one approaches the 30-pound mark. However, a cozy Moby is probably the best choice for those first few months.
Boba 4GS Carrier
The Boba 4GS baby carrier is what’s known as a “soft-structured carrier,” which means it has some architecture and buckles, but it does not incorporate a metal frame. Once you get a carrier like this adjusted to your liking, it’s super-easy to hoist Baby on and off, and it can be useful for a back carry once they’re around 25 pounds. This carrier works from infancy (infant insert required) through toddlerhood, and your kid can keep snagging a ride with you until they reach around 45 pounds. Boba made the rare move recently to offer its newest carrier at a lower price than the previous edition, the 4G.
LÍLLÉlight
If you live in a hot climate or need to pack your carrier, this is a great option for babies up to 36 lbs. The lightweight carrier made from organic cotton and hemp allows for inward-facing, front-facing, and backpack positioning.
Maya Wrap Ring Sling
For those who want a ring sling, Maya Wrap offers a quality carrier at a great price point. The fabric spreads across the wearer’s back, which offers more support for your aching parent bones — and the Maya material offers more support than stretchy wraps, which means you can use it past those first few months. Bonus: It adjusts easily as Baby grows.
Ergobaby Omni 360
An Ergobaby (or Ergo for short) baby carrier is another highly popular soft-structured carrier. The Omni 360 is fun because you can actually wear your baby facing the world, which not all baby carriers can accommodate. The challenge for this type of carry, however, is whether it’s OK for Baby’s hips. Good news, folks: It is as long as kiddo is 5 to 6 months old and up. This is another carrier that can go from infancy (with newborn insert) to around 45 pounds.
Diono Carus Essentials Baby Carrier
Diono is well known for its car seats, and its new baby carrier will be another must-have for parents. It works from the newborn stage to 15 kilograms (or around 33 pounds) and provides a wide seat for baby, which is important for those healthy hips.
Storchenwiege Baby Wrap
This baby carrier is similar to the Moby Wrap, but there are some differences. Known as a woven wrap, the material is supportive and not stretchy at all, so it can pull off some heavy lifting and work from infancy well into toddlerhood. Also, there are a ton of different ways to wrap your baby to your body, and while the woven wrap does have a bit of a learning curve, once you get it, you’ll love how many carry options there are — and how great you feel hefting around your toddler.
Infantino Sash Wrap
A mei tai is a type of baby carrier that consists of a baby-holding center panel that attaches to your body with ties — no buckles involved. It’s easy to customize to your body and your baby, and it supports babes up to 36 pounds.
Baby Tula Free to Grow Carrier
The Baby Tula is another soft-structured carrier that works from newborn to a whopping 45 pounds, so this may be the only carrier you need. Also, Baby Tula carriers don’t require an additional insert for newborns, so that’s one thing you don’t have to worry about (and then inevitably lose).
Infantino Cuddle Up Baby Carrier
This is a soft-structured carrier that has a really accessible price point. While you may worry that cheaper carriers might be subpar, the reviews on this one at Amazon are stellar. It fits kids from 12 to 40 pounds and can be worn on the front as well as baby-backpack style.
Baby K’tan Active Baby Carrier
Let’s face it: Baby carriers are usually designed with comfort in mind. But if you’re active, you and kiddo can get pretty sweaty, which is no fun for anyone involved. Baby K’tan knows this and offers a carrier version with sports mesh that will keep you and your baby cooler. And remember — no wrapping! Just take it out of the box and wear it (but you’ll still get that cozy baby-wrap feel). This one is good for infants and goes up to 35 pounds.
phil&teds Lightweight Backpack Carrier
This lightweight backpack is more than a backpack, of course; it’s also a baby carrier, perfect for kids who can sit up on their own, and it goes up to 40 pounds. It folds flat for storage or travel and has these sweat mesh panels across the back to help keep temps down. It also has a couple of bottle holders and comes with a detachable mini backpack that your kid can don when he’s finally ready to walk around at the market.
Boba Organic Baby Wrap
This baby wrap lacks snaps and buckles — but you don’t need them, especially after a few practice wrapping sessions. This offering from Boba is made from organic materials and works with kids from 7-pound babies to 35-pound toddlers.
Leave a Comment