How to Choose the Best Baby Carrier for You

Your baby carrier should sync with your lifestyle and personal style. So whether you’re an on-the-go outdoor adventure family or need a carrier for neighborhood walks and summer travels, your baby carrier needs to meet both yours and your baby’s needs.

What qualities should I look for in a baby carrier?

Searching for the best baby carrier for you can be overwhelming when sorting through endless options on the internet — but what qualities should you be looking for exactly?

The four features that matter most when shopping for a baby carrier are:

• Ergonomics
• Comfort
• Ease of Use
• Functionality

Ergonomics

Your child’s health is and always should be your primary concern when shopping for a baby carrier. Your carrier should provide adequate support for your baby’s growing head, neck and back.

It should keep her in an upright position, meaning she isn’t slumped and her chin is off her chest, so her airways are open, as well as high enough on your chest so you can monitor her (think close enough to kiss her head!).

Your child should also sit in an ergonomic position inside his carrier, which means his knees are higher than his bum with his legs in a spread-squat position in the different carrying positions.

Other concerns include selecting the most secure and appropriate carrying position for your baby’s age and weight and inspecting the fabric’s quality before using it to make sure there aren’t any rips, tears or weaknesses.

Comfort

If a carrier isn’t comfortable, you obviously won’t use it — and no one wants to deal with a baby squirming and crying while your back is screaming in pain. Different carrier features determine the comfort level for you and your baby.

What makes a baby carrier comfortable for caregivers?

Padded straps and lumbar support are lifesavers for parents. They relieve strain on your shoulders and back while helping reduce muscle tension, which allows you to comfortably carry your baby for longer periods of time. Fabric that’s soft and breathable determines your comfort level as well. Some carriers also come with privacy hoods; a great feature when you’re hiking on a sunny day or want to discreetly nurse on the go.

Keep in mind that your comfort needs might change as your child grows. As your baby gets a little older and heavier, you may more so appreciate those padded straps, lumbar support and different carrying positions to switch between.

What makes a carrier comfortable for babies?

Make sure your baby is as comfortable as possible in her baby carrier by checking the following:

• She is sitting in the right carrying position.
• She is sitting ergonomically in a seat with a wider bottom.
• She’s being closely held in a carrier made of fabric that’s soft, breathable and has anti-allergenic properties.

Ease of Use

Parents can agree on two things—you’re all, as a general rule of thumb, busy and sleep deprived. Don’t make your life even harder with a baby carrier that’s difficult to use, put on and take off.

Find a carrier with easy-to-use straps and fasteners and that only requires you to read the instructions or watch a quick instructional video once.

You should also make sure your baby carrier is easy to clean, as your baby is bound to drool and spit up on the carrier. Look for one that’s machine washable, so your washer, and not you, has to put in the cleaning effort.

Functionality

The more versatile a baby carrier, the more use you’ll get out of it. Choose a carrier that offers three or four of the standard carrying positions:

1. Front carry, inward facing
2. Front carry, outward facing
3. Hip carry
4. Back carry

With these different carrying positions, you’re able to choose the most comfortable and best engagement positions as your baby grows and matures.

Which carrier is the best infant carrier for me?

The best baby carrier is one that safely and ergonomically holds your baby, is comfortable for you and your baby, is simple to use and offers the functionality your lifestyle requires. But after years of caregivers trying different babywearing methods, coupled with today’s technology, you’re presented with more carrier choices than ever. How do you choose which infant carrier to get?

The four most popular types of carriers include:

• Wraps
• Slings
• Soft-structured Carriers
• Mei-Tais

Our Aura Baby Wrap is great for new moms and little babies. But if you’re looking for a carrier that will keep your baby ergonomically supported from the newborn to toddler stage and keep you comfortable with padded shoulder straps and a thick waistband, then you want one of our soft-structured carriers.

We offer four different soft-structured baby carriers:

• Omni 360
• 360
• Adapt
• Original

Below we’ve broken down the product details for each carrier, so you can find the best baby carrier for you, your baby and your lifestyle.

Omni 360 Carrier

For an all-in-one carrier, our Omni 360 is excellent for supporting your baby as he grows.

• Holds babies and toddlers, from 1 week old to 48 months, 7-45 lbs
• No infant insert needed
• 4 ergonomic carrying positions
• Lumbar support
• Padded, crossable shoulder straps
• Baby privacy hood
• Nursing-friendly
• Detachable storage pouch
• Machine washable

360 Carrier

Offering both of you complete comfort and a chance for adventure in four ergonomic positions, here’s what else you need to know about this carrier:

• Holds babies and toddlers, 12-45 lbs
• Infant insert needed for babies 0-4 months, 7-12 lbs
• 4 ergonomic carrying positions
• Adjustable padded shoulder straps
• Lumbar support waistband
• Baby privacy hood
• Nursing-friendly
• Machine washable

Adapt Carrier

Our Adapt carrier does what its name implies—it easily adjusts to your baby as he gets bigger. Here’s everything you need to know about this carrier, including how it allows you to carry your child with comfort and ease:

• Holds babies and toddlers, 7-45 lbs
• 3 ergonomic carrying positions
• No infant insert needed
• Comfy and crossable shoulder straps
• Lumbar support
• Made of 100% premium cotton
• Baby privacy hood
• Nursing-friendly
• Machine washable

Original Carrier

Our Original carrier is our first baby carrier and still one of our best sellers. Made for everyday, all-day comfort, here’s what you get with this award-winning carrier:

• Holds babies and toddlers, 12-45 lbs
• Infant insert needed for babies 0-4 months, 7-12 lbs
• 3 ergonomic carrying positions
• Lumbar support
• Comfortable shoulder straps
• Baby privacy hood
• Nursing-friendly
• Extra large storage pocket
• Machine washable

ORIGINAL CARRIER

Toddler Carrier

Looking for a baby carrier that works well for bigger and older kids? We understand that keeping your little ones close is beneficial for both parent and child, and that carrying your child in a baby carrier is a great way to maintain your bond and help them stay comfortable, both in your home and on the go. Our partner, Baby Tula, offers toddler carriers that allow you to do this even as your child grows!

What features do their toddler carriers include?

• Supports a 25-60 pound child
• A supportive design that compliments both parent and child
• Adjustable straps
• Breathable, lightweight material
• Various ergonomic positions, including options for both front and back carrying
• A design that is easy to adjust to perfectly fit your needs

TODDLER CARRIER