Best Baby Carrier

Best Overall Baby Carrier

Nalakai Ring Sling

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$61.95

(5% off)
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The Nalakai Ring Sling is a straightforward, comfortable sling that is easy to use and super cozy for passengers. It is a soft bamboo and linen blend that stretches somewhat for comfort and has quick-drying properties for fast cleaning. We appreciate that you can make adjustments with your baby in the sling to improve fit or comfort for passengers and parents. You can even pull the fabric up for head support or tighten the sling to bring your little one closer to you. This ability can make a huge difference when offering comfort to your baby by increasing close physical contact. We love almost everything about this budget-friendly simple sling.

The Nalakai requires line dry after washing, which is a potential flaw as it takes longer to return to use than those options that can be tossed in the dryer. So, there is the possibility that you'll be without a sling when you need one. However, this fabric dries quickly. Our tests' drying times were lower than the padded or structured carriers (drying times vary depending on your local climate and humidity level). Overall, the Nalakai has a reasonable price, is easy to use, and comfortable for most users, making it tough to beat and one of our favorites.

Read review: Nalakai Ring Sling

Best Comfort Sling

Maya Wrap ComfortFit Sling

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$95.00

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The Maya Wrap ComfortFit Sling is a ring sling with somewhat rougher fabric than the competition, but it has a super useful zippered pocket on the tail. This sling is easy to use with a single shoulder adjustment. It offers impressive comfort to wear and for passengers with a close-hold design. We like that this sling works for children from 8-35 lbs. The shoulder strap of this sling is lightly padded. It includes more material for a broad placement across the shoulder and back when wearing it to increase comfort. The thoughtful design translates to longer, more comfortable adventures, making the Maya one of the most comfortable products in this lineup.

If your child has delicate skin, the Maya may not be at the top of your list, given that the material is somewhat scratchy. However, the Maya zipper pocket is so useful and easily within reach, giving the wearer a feature we didn't see on any other sling in our tests. Overall, the thicker fabric can be comfortable for the wearer and ideal for winter use, and we feel the wearable comfort makes up for the lack of softness.

Read review: Maya Wrap ComfortFit Sling

Best Traditional Carrier

BabyBjorn One

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$190.00

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The BabyBjorn Carrier One is a soft structured option with three positions for little ones between 8-33 lbs. This product is a quality contender with multiple adjustment points providing parents and babies with a custom fit for comfort and security. This BabyBjorn has safety buckles that work well and has forward pull adjustment straps for quick on-the-go alterations, and the seat width is adjustable depending on the baby's age or size. The One is easy to put on, and you can attach it before you pick up your baby, making it significantly more straightforward (and potentially safer) than the wrap carriers we tested that often necessitate a secondary helper.

This carrier is one of the most expensive in the review, which might put it lower on the list for parents with smaller budgets. However, for a structured carrier, the price is average compared to the competition. The One is also drip dry only, resulting in a significant downtime depending on your climate (humidity is not your friend). Outside of the unfortunate washing instructions (babies are messy and cleaning could be frequent), we think most parents will find the One can be the potential "one" for them.

Read review: BabyBjorn One

Easy to Use Wrap

Baby K'tan Original

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$49.95

at Amazon

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The Baby K'tan Original is a wrap "-ish" carrier without the convoluted wrap features that make them harder to master without assistance. This "special" wrap is two loops of fabric linked together, making it easier to put on without holding your baby and easy to put the baby in, once the carrier is in place. We love this unique design, the soft, somewhat stretchy fabric, and the use of 100% cotton for little ones from 8-35 lbs. The K'tan's price is reasonable and ideal for tighter budgets, and the easy-to-use design makes the minimal price bump over ordinary wraps totally worth it.

The K'tan's design isn't as versatile as a regular wrap and it can be more challenging to fit this wrap for parents who are vastly different in size or shape; it is also challenging to make minor adjustments for fit or comfort as there are no adjustment to be made. However, if you are average size and you and your mate have similar shapes or don't plan to share, then the K'tan is an easy-to-use "wrap" we think you'll love.

Read review: Baby K'tan Original

Great Wrap on a Budget

Boba Wrap

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$39.95

at Amazon

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The Boba Wrap is a wrap carrier that looks is essentially a broad length of material that wraps around your body in various ways depending on the desired position for carrying or the age/size of your baby. The Boba wrap is super duper soft and has stretchy fabric that pulls your baby securely into your body with the ability to move while retaining snuggly comfort. We love that this option is budget-friendly, versatile, and works for little ones from 7-35 lbs. The Boba is machine-washable and dryable, which reduces cleaning time (potentially during a nap or overnight), so you can use it more often without waiting for air drying (a common drying method in the competition). It is also useful for parents of different sizes and growing little ones because you can make adjustments on-the-go for a custom fit for comfort or size, and the fabric is long enough to work with almost any size adult.

Wraps can be somewhat challenging to use because there is a learning curve that often requires holding your baby as you maneuver the fabric ends around your body. Some even need to carry a cheat sheet card on how to wrap for several weeks before committing the process to memory. The Boba could be trouble as your little one gets bigger and becomes more interested in the world around them. While it has positions where little ones can look out at the world, it can be limiting because the fabric stretches, and some babies won't want to be pressed so tightly against their parents. However, if budget is a concern, or you want a comfy, easy-to-care-for wrap that may not last until 35 lbs, then the Boba Wrap is a good choice that will fit in most budgets.

Read review: Boba Wrap

Lifetime Carrier for Infants to Toddlers

Tula Free-to-Grow

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$113.48

(29% off)
at Amazon

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The Tula Free-to-Grow is a soft structured carrier with a variety of possible adjustments, so it can grow with your baby and should work for the lifetime of your babywearing years, potentially translating to a "one and done" choice that can save you money and hassle over time. This carrier is super comfortable for parents to wear even on prolonged adventures, and the strap style means you can make minor adjustments on-the-fly for both comfort and fit. The structured design of this Tula gives babies a little more space to wiggle and breathe than wrap or sling options.

This carrier might not be the best choice for those on a budget or families looking for various positions for a baby to ride. This Tula is one of the most expensive in the review and only features two potential riding options. However, this carrier is a high-quality choice that works well, feels good, and can function for several years without issues. Depending on your wearing goals, it could be the right fit for you and your goals.

Read review: Tula Free-to-Grow

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Why You Should Trust Us

BabyGearLab has been testing baby carriers for over 6 years with various styles and types in our wake. Founder and board-certified pediatrician, Dr. Juliet Spurrier uses her background as a mother of two and a pediatric doctor to help her during product selection and test development to choose products safe for developing hips and convenient for parents.

Senior Review Editor, Wendy Schmitz began her carrier love after having her first child 10 years ago. With a closet containing over 10 carriers, she's tried every style and brand with her own two children, as well as almost every carrier tested at BabyGearLab. The team also includes Senior Analyst Bob Wofford, father of 7, for the male perspective on child wearing. Bob has been professionally testing baby gear since 2014 and has a vast knowledge of baby carriers and their recent rise in popularity. Senior Review Editor, Abriah Wofford, a BabyGearLab contributor since 2015, rounds out the team.

Jump to: How We Tested Baby Carriers

Analysis and Test Results

Babywearing has been around for centuries (probably as long as there have been babies), and today's technology and design advances present safer wearing choices than ever. Carriers continue to evolve in their designs to meet the needs of modern parents and busy families looking for safe, hands-free alternatives for carrying little ones for comfort, convenience, and bonding. We test each carrier for parent and child comfort, ease of use, and ease of cleaning, so you can find an exciting and useful carrier that best fits your needs and lifestyle.

Jump to: Buying Advice for Baby Carriers

Value

One of the nice things about carriers is the variety of price ranges available, which means most families can find a suitable option within their budget that meets their needs. Alternatively, should the carrier of your dreams be outside your budget, you should consider putting it on your registry or skipping a stroller until your baby is older to postpone the purchase until you aren't spending as much on gear. The Boba Wrap is a straightforward option with a reasonable price and various wrapping methods that work with little ones up to 35 lbs. The Baby K'tan Original is in the same price range and is easier to use, with almost 10 more points for its overall score. The Nalakai Ring Sling is also fairly inexpensive compared to the competition, and it offers a lot for the price. Want a structured carrier? High-quality soft structured carriers (SSC) can last for years through multiple children, which can justify a larger initial investment. Some parents skip buying a stroller and choose something like the Tula Free-to-Grow with a higher list price but small compared to a quality stroller. While structured options typically come with higher price tags, you can usually use them for longer, and if it translates into forgoing a stroller, it can save you even more money.

We tested a variety of styles and options in our newest review of baby carriers including the most popular brands and types.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

The Nalakai offers soft, stretchy support for little ones with a simple design that both supports and conforms to their body and movement with little restraint.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Baby's Comfort

Wearing your baby isn't going to work for very long if your little one isn't comfortable. We considered which positions the baby favored, and if they fell asleep, were they able to stay asleep comfortably?

The material also significantly impacted comfort, so we considered which materials were hot or caused chafing or didn't offer enough support or the right kind of support. We looked for proper head and neck support, a nice deep and wide seat, soft fabric, stretchy materials, and an overall sense of security.

The Infantino Flip and several of the other soft structured carriers aren't as comfortable for little ones because they don't have give for freedom of movement and the space for baby can be too small with few ways of adjusting some of them for size.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Some carriers are more comfortable for babies than others, and some are better for newborns but grow uncomfortable as little ones get bigger. In our tests, little testers were happiest in options with the most adjustability for size and carriers with softer and somewhat stretchy fabric that allow natural body postures without sacrificing support. These preferences mean the slings have an advantage over the structured carriers, with the Nalakai Ring Sling and the Maya Wrap ComfortFit Ring Sling both earning an 8 of 10 for baby's comfort (the high in the group). The most uncomfortable products have rougher fabrics, less adjustability, or designs that limit movement or growth. Several carriers earned a low score of 5, and all were soft-structured products, including the Infantino Flip Advanced.

The BabyBjorn One is so comfortable to wear that no trip is too long.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Parent's Comfort

As with a baby, if the person wearing the carrier is uncomfortable, using it regularly isn't going to happen. The chief complaints are shoulder and back strain, so we test how long we could wear the products before experiencing discomfort.

Things that make a difference for us are padding (especially in the shoulders), strap width, lumbar support, and waist strap adjustability. Being able to wear your baby in various positions is also crucial to comfort, including quickly and easily switching from front to back, etc., when desired.

While most parents can wear any of the carriers in this review for a short time without significant discomfort, we feel they should be as comfy as possible so you can get the most from your babywearing and bonding time. The BabyBjorn One is the most comfortable carrier for parents, with nicely padded shoulder straps and a supportive waistband that helps distribute your baby's weight evenly for a comfortable fit. This carrier earned a perfect 10 of 10, something unrivaled by any competitor in our tests. The Maya Wrap ComfortFit Sling (above left), Nalakai Ring Sling, and the Tula Free-to-Grow all earned 9s, making them almost as comfortable as the One. So whether you prefer a structured pack style carrier or a shoulder sling, there is a carrier that works for you. The most uncomfortable option is the Infantino Flip Advanced (above right) with a 3 of 10 and less padding in the shoulders with a supportless waistband. While you can wear this product for short durations, it won't work for long adventures or frequent use.

With only one adjustment point, the Nalakai Ring Sling is easy to use.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use

Carrier ease of use on a day-to-day basis can make or break whether you choose to use it more than a couple of times. We started our ease of use testing by taking the products out of the packaging to ensure a complete experience.

We prefer user manuals with clear illustrations and directions. We consider how straightforward a carrier is to grab and go or to use without assistance. Does it fit inside a diaper bag? How quickly can you get it on? Once on, we compare how easy the carriers are to adjust, both for fit and if your baby needs to move or shift.

The ComfortFit is intuitive and simple in design with the advantage of a storage pocket which makes it easier to use than some of the more convoluted competition.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Simple carriers are easier to use, both out of the box and on-the-go. The slings have only one ring adjustment point and one end to pull or loosen, making them the easiest to put on, use, and fit. The Nalakai Ring Sling and the Maya Wrap ComfortFit Sling (above) earned 9 in this metric. The wraps are complicated with a giant swath of fabric that requires significant wrapping skills while holding your baby as you put it on. The learning curve is high, including remembering how to perform the wraps and holding the baby while you do it. Both the Moby Wrap Classic and the Boba Wrap earned 4s and function the same way with the same challenges. The soft structured carries vary for ease of use between 4 and 7 depending on the number of straps and adjustment points and how hard they were to use when wearing the carrier with a baby inside.

The Free-to-Grow is easy to clean on the go and in your washer and dryer.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning

Cleaning is a crucial factor as you can predict significant wear and tear with a well-loved carrier. Carriers are often grabbed, stuffed, dragged, chewed, drooled on, covered in spit-up, or victims of accidental blow-outs.

To put it simply, your carrier will require regular cleaning, making it essential to know ahead of time how easy or difficult this process will be to complete. The options that score highest for ease of cleaning are machine washable and can go in the dryer. The second best includes those that are okay in the washer but are hang dry only. Unfortunately, when dealing with babies, sometimes only a good machine wash will do.

Air-drying your carrier means more downtime between uses. If you reside in a humid climate, this time could equal more than a day for a padded soft structured carrier to completely dry. This extended drying time means you and your baby will have to wait to use your carrier longer than if it could be tumble dried. Several carriers earned 9 of 10 for ease of cleaning. The Baby K'tan Original (above left), Boba Wrap, Moby Wrap Classic, and Tula Free-to-Grow are all machine washable and dryable. These contenders are also easy to spot clean on-the-go. Several options, including the Nalakai Ring Sling, can go in the washer but need to hang dry. Slings dry quicker than structured carriers like the Tula Explore with thicker padding that increases drying time. The hardest to keep clean are those with the longest possible downtime for hang drying earned 4s and include the Beco Gemini (above right) and the Infantino Flip Advanced.

Buying Advice

After several months of extensive testing of top-rated baby carriers, we learned a few things about their functionality and which features matter for parents on the go. With babywearing rising in popularity, the number of competing products has grown, giving the modern parent a myriad of styles and choices to consider. In this article, we'll share the lessons we learned so you can narrow your options down to a few carriers that will work best for your baby and your budget.

A great baby carrier can help you get things done while you bond and nurture your little one. We find that holding baby helps reduce baby meltdowns and increases your freedom to resume your normal daily activities.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Why Purchase a Baby Carrier?

Babywearing is a great practice for keeping your baby happy and building a stronger bond. Carriers allow you to keep your baby close and content while leaving your hands free to perform other tasks. The ability to hold and bond with the baby while still getting things done almost makes a great baby carrier a must-have piece of baby gear.

From soft structured carriers to wraps and slings, we tested them all in our new baby carrier review.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Types of Baby Carriers

Although babywearing has been around for centuries, today's technology and techniques present more choices than ever before. Today's carriers are evolved modern-takes on the historic wraps, papooses, backpacks, and slings used in the past. There are five basic types of carriers: wrap, sling, mei-tai, soft-structured carrier, and frame backpacks. Below is a brief description of each.

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  Wrap — This style is a long piece of fabric that wraps around you and your baby, tying the loose ends to create a snug and secure resting place for little ones. Wraps are usually easy to clean and comfortable but harder to use and often hot to wear.

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  Sling — A sling is a single piece of fabric that goes over one shoulder and forms a pouch to hold your baby in front of you or on your hip. Slings usually adjust by pulling the loose end of the fabric through rings near your shoulder.

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  Mei-Tai — This style is a hybrid between a wrap and a soft-structured carrier. A mei-tai has four straps attached to the carrier's main body (that resembles a soft structured carrier body) and can be tied in various ways.

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  Soft Structured Carrier (SSC) — A SSC has padded straps and a thick waistband connected to the main body. They are often adjustable with extra integrity to help support and disperse your baby's weight on your hips and shoulders.

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  Baby Backpack — A backpack carrier is for wearing your older baby or toddler on your back for long periods of time. Since this type is not suitable for infants and younger babies, we discuss it separately in our Best Baby Backpack Review.

Wearing Baby Safely

It is important to follow safe use practices when wearing your baby at any age in any carrier. Tiny infants are particularly susceptible to airway compromise while being held in a carrier as they have less head and neck control. The UK-based School of Babywearing has a convenient babywearing safety acronym called T.I.C.K.S. shown below.

T.I.C.K.S. Rule for Safe Babywearing

Credit: School of Babywearing

Also, we encourage you to read our for further information on safe babywearing. While babywearing can be very convenient and fulfilling, it isn't without inherent risks, and the more you know, the safer you can be.

CPSC Sling Safety Video

If you are considering using a sling carrier, we also encourage you to take 3 minutes out of your day to watch the video below from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urging parents to use extra caution when using an infant sling.

In the past, poorly designed slings and a lack of knowledge led to unfortunate and largely preventable infant deaths. While several of our award winners are slings, and slings can be very safe when you use them properly, we still believe you should know how to use slings safely to avoid complications.

Carrying Positions and Holds

There several types of carriers, and most offer a few different carry positions or "holds." Versatility in carrying positions is an important factor when selecting a product because as the baby grows, the most comfortable position to wear your baby will change. The most common carry positions are riding on the front of the parent, facing either in (front carry facing in) or out (front carry facing out), or riding piggy-back on the parent's back (back carry). Riding on a parent's side (hip carry) is another popular option, but that position can restrict or limit the use of one of your hands depending on the carrier.

The more carry positions, the better. Variety can help keep both baby and parent comfortable and happy while on the go. Shown here, the Beco Baby Gemini does a great job of this.

Credit: Beco

The carriers in this review ranged from 1 to 5 possible carry positions. Most of the competition offers three or four positions, with manufacturers counting forward front carry and facing parent front carry as two different options. Some carriers, particularly the wrap style, are capable of different types of "holds." For example with the Baby K'tan suggests a Kangaroo hold or the Hug hold, both performed while wearing your baby in the front carry facing in position.

Quick Tip:The instruction manual that comes with your carrier can help you learn how to accomplish the various carrying positions your carrier offers. Still, we suggest checking out videos, either on the manufacturer's website or ones they've added to YouTube. Seeing someone else perform the movements it takes to get a baby safely into the proper carrying position can be extremely beneficial.

How to Find the Best Carrier for You

After testing multiple carriers in this review and years past, we find that the market is full of many quality choices. Many offer as many compelling and innovative designs and fabric choices as there are new babies to fill them. However, those options leave many parents more perplexed than ever about which carrier to buy and why. Even determining which style of carrier is right for you can be difficult, not to mention which option within that style is the best.

Our testing left us feeling that two factors are more important than any other: comfort and ease of use. Why? First, if a carrier isn't comfortable, you won't use it. Whether it has you or your baby squirming and wincing, an uncomfortable carrier is more likely to end up sitting in a closet somewhere than out and about on adventures. Second, the last thing sleep-deprived parents is another complicated piece of baby gear that goes unused because of the time and effort involved. A simple but comfortable baby carrier is a winning combination.

If you need to wear baby for prolonged periods, a comfortable carrier is a must have like the Maya Wrap ComfortFit Sling with the wide padded shoulder.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

How long will you wear your baby?

Some parents believe the "holy grail" of baby carriers is a product that can work from newborn to toddler by allowing seamless carry position changes while retaining comfort in each stage. A carrier that works well in the first few months may not perform well as your baby reaches a year and beyond. However, if you only plan to use your carrier until your baby is a specific weight or age, and can't imagine carrying a toddler off your front side, then this fantasy carrier is unlikely to impress you, and a simpler more infant suited option may be what is best for your family and budget.

Determining how long you plan to carry your little one can save you time, money, and frustration down the road. While it is true that many new parents may be unable to answer this question before the baby arrives, others will already know that they have limitations in desire or physical prowess that may limit how much weight they can/want to carry. A great economic wrap may be all you need if you plan to stop carrying your little one after they can sit up on their own. But a wrap will be a little harder to use with a 30 lb squirming toddler, and the stretchy fabric and lack of structure may have you gritting your teeth and wishing you'd invested in a soft structured carrier with more support for you and your little monster.

The BabyBjorn Original has limited positions and a seat width that is not adjustable making it a good option for younger babies but harder to use with larger babies.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

The fact is that when your baby is a young infant (birth to 4 months), they weigh a wonderfully light (7 to 15 lbs). During those first months, a front carry position is ideal, with the baby facing inward toward the parent with ample neck support. The wrap-style products shine in this age range. But, once the baby gets older and heavier, the virtues of competing designs become more evident. For example, in the 6-12 months age range, when your baby can be over 20 lbs on average, many parents feel that some carriers are uncomfortable for extended wearing and may cause neck/shoulder or back pain if they lack a waistband.

Being able to wear little ones on your back can increase the longevity of your baby carrier and babywearing time. The BabyHawk Meh Dai (shown here) can be worn on your back with older babies.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Wearing a baby on your back is another great way to get longevity out of a carrier as your baby grows. However, many options do not work in this position, including most of the wraps and slings. So if you plan to wear your child as long as possible, and can't imagine their feet ever touching the ground, then you'll want a carrier with a wide weight range and multiple carry positions for the long haul. The Tula Free-to-Grow is good for carrying children from 7-45 lbs, the largest range in this review, on your front or your back.

The BabyBjorn is a soft structured truly hands free carrier for babies from 8-33 lbs.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Is it comfortable?

Wearing your baby should keep the baby happy and make your life easier. But, if your baby isn't comfortable, neither of these things will happen. Babies need to feel secure to feel comfortable and safe. Carriers that hold the baby close to your body and up high enough for you to kiss the top of their heads are ideal (and safe!). The baby's head and back should be supported properly as well. Soft-structured carriers do an outstanding job at this. Wrap style carriers also keep the baby in a close, almost womb-like swaddle, but the fabric stretches to allow freedom of movement and a natural curved back body posture. Wider seat bottoms or larger "pockets" for baby's tushie also make a carrier more comfortable for little ones, so they aren't dangling from their crotch (ouch!).

The most comfortable babywearing position will change as the baby grows. In their "fourth trimester" (0-3 months), young infants feel comfortable tightly swaddled or snuggled up close to their parents in front carry facing in position. Around four months of age, babies typically become more social and enjoy the front carry facing out position, allowing them to begin exploring and interacting with the world around them. And, as older babies become more active and progress through the toddler years, riding in the back carry position provides the opportunity to take in their surroundings comfortably for both parent and child. None of the slings have a back carry position, and most of the wraps don't either. However, most have a hip carry position that allows for both forward and back visibility.

Your comfort needs will change over time as your little one gets bigger and more mobile. Newborns and smaller infants are relatively easy to carry, and most parents can do so for more extended periods of time. As your baby starts to grow, you'll soon see the advantages of padded shoulder straps and the additional support of a waistband to help distribute your baby's weight to keep greater adventures comfortable. Being able to change positions or make minor adjustments on the go is also important to staying comfortable as the day passes. Carriers with multiple positions or easy adjustments are the best choices. Slings allow for quick, small changes for fit or comfort and work for parents and little ones of various sizes for a custom fit. Soft-structured carriers with ample shoulder padding, great waistband support, and the ability to tighten or loosen straps as needed to shift the baby's weight or to find a more comfortable position are comfy with older or larger babies.

Wraps, like the Storchenwiege Woven Wrap, are more difficult to learn and use with multiple wrap style changes and holding your baby while you put it on.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

How much effort does it take?

With all kinds of straps, buckles, snaps, pouches, and zippers, some of these products can be pretty complicated to use. For the most part, once you've used one a few times, it becomes more fluid, but some have more of a learning curve than others. Wraps are far more difficult to learn and use, but they are budget-friendly and super easy to keep clean. Soft-structured carriers have lots of buckles and straps, but their increased adjustability means more comfort, and most of them let you put the carrier on before you pick up your baby. You'll want to consider how much effort and time you are willing to put into using the carrier, and the type you choose will be based on the time and method you think will work best for you and your family. How difficult is it to put on the carrier? Do you need to hold the baby while you put it on? Are there methods you'll need to memorize? Is it adjustable for size so that parents can share it? Slings are super easy; they slip on, have a single adjustment point, and are easily sized for parents and babies, even on the go.

How We Tested

To determine the absolute best in baby carriers, we researched the top-rated and most popular models on the market. From those, we selected the top options to test and compare side-by-side. Over several months, we used the carriers in all types of situations, from walking the dog, roaming the grocery store, and doing chores around the house. We used each option in all of the carry positions they offer with little ones of different sizes and ages and wearers of both sexes and sizes. We stowed them in diaper bags and stuff sacks in the same way most families use them in the real world.

When it comes to baby carriers, there are some common complaints that can really put a damper on your babywearing experience. We focused our testing on the main trouble spots a carrier can present, such as comfort and ease of use, and then gave each a score of one to ten based on their performance. Using the carriers interchangeably and comparing them side-by-side gives a clear perspective on the performance of each.

Finding a carrier that is cozy for your baby is key to finding a good product for long-term use.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Baby's Comfort

An uncomfortable baby equals an unpleasant experience for both baby and wearer. A tell-tale sign of a baby's comfort is whether he or she falls asleep and stays asleep in a carrier or is fussing and hard to settle. We considered this, along with additional features such as support, softness, and breathability of the fabric, when assessing how comfortable each carrier is for babies.

The Tula Ring Sling is a comfortable carrier made of soft material and good for little ones from 8-35 lbs.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Parent's Comfort

One of the biggest complaints when wearing a baby is shoulder and back strain. We considered how the carriers distributed the baby's weight and the type of support they provide for comfort. We also compared the materials for features like breathability, softness, and padding. Some carriers were uncomfortable from the get-go, while others were comfortable enough for long outings and repeated use. The main differences were insufficient padding in the shoulders, back, and waistband or a poor design that didn't distribute the baby's weight over a wide enough area.

The overall scores for the carriers emphasized performance for ease of use as well as comfort. It is no wonder that the award-winning products are all easier to use.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Use

How easy a carrier is to put on, take off, and adjust regularly can play a big part in your babywearing experience. The ability to put the carrier on and adjust it before putting the baby inside is also a factor, as it is far easier than those you put on while holding the baby in place. We like instruction manuals with clear pictures and simple instructions. Carriers that offer more carry positions that are easy to change are better than products with complicated buckles or a steep learning curve. Other factors in ease of use are out-of-the-box use, hoods and pockets, and whether or not you can use the carrier in all positions without another person's help.

Th easiest carriers to clean can be put in the washer and dryer for little downtime and in-depth deep cleaning.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Ease of Cleaning

The products that are machine washable and can be thrown in the dryer afterward are rated the highest in this category. On the opposite end of the spectrum, carriers that can only be spot cleaned or must be hung to dry scored lower. Excessive downtime while a carrier air dries impacts its score in ease of cleaning.

Conclusion

With so many carrier options on the market, it can be difficult to figure out which options are the best. Use our detailed review to help you narrow the options to find the best choice for you.

Credit: Abriah Wofford

Choosing the right baby carrier for your baby can be a potentially confusing task as there are various styles, types, and fabrics to choose from. Our exhaustive testing includes an analysis of testing details for each product in the review. We use an intensive side-by-side comparison to help narrow the field of competitors so that you can find the best choice for your little one, wallet, and needs. We doubt one product will work well for all families, nor is there a perfect style for every baby. However, we do think there is something for everyone in this review of popular carriers.