Top 10 Baby Carriers

There's a reason native cultures around the world strap their babies on their backs (and fronts) to get around: It's just plain practical. New moms are notoriously busy – and occasionally, you're going to need your hands free. (Plus, “baby-wearing” can be great for baby's development and bonding. You both win.)

There are a ton of options when it comes to toting a baby: Ring-slings, wraps, pouches, soft carriers, structured carriers...and who knows what they'll come up with next. Here, I've pulled together today's top players. As you look through for the best way to schlep your spawn, consider what factors are most important to you. Do you need to be able to share your carrier with others, or is it more important for it to fit you to a tee? Do you plan to breastfeed on the go? Do you need it to be more compact, or more supportive? Other things to think about: ease of use, comfort, ergonomics, versatility and yes...style.

Maya Wrap
As an easy-to-grab, easy-to-use sling for quick trips, the Maya Wrap is dang near perfect. The lightly padded shoulder keeps things comfy, baby can ride in several different positions, and the “tail” pulls double-duty as a nursing cover. Plus, since it's a ring sling, it's a simple carrier to share with your partner or another caregiver. (A medium seems to fit most folks.) *$65.95, Peppermint

> Video clip: How to wear a Maya wrap


Ergo Baby Carrier
Everything about the Ergo is made for comfort. The straps make sure baby's weight is distributed to your hips and shoulders (instead of your back), and it's specifically engineered to make sure baby sits pretty -- with correct positioning of the hips and spine. Unlike many carriers that have baby supported by a piece of fabric under the crotch when upright, the Ergo ensures a more proper seated position. Is it the most stylish option out there? No. But it might be the most comfy. From $94 - 110, Ergo

> Video clip: How to wear an ERGO carrier

Didymo Sling
Didymos wraps don't come cheap, but the gorgeous fabrics are irresistible. These German wraps are woven with a diagonal stretch to keep baby secure (but not bouncy), and several of them are weaved with natural or “color grown” fabrics, meaning they aren't dyed and can be washed on super-hot temps without bleeding. The cotton is all organic, and dyed fabrics are all nontoxic. There are over 50 patterns you can choose from. Plus, the company offers tons of great tips for ways to wear them, and I love that there's six different sizing options, with pointers on the best ways to wear each length. $141 - 159 TheSlingStation

GypsyMama Bali Breeze Wrap
Ideal for hot climates (and for moms who like to dress up), the gorgeous Bali Baby Breeze wraps are made of 100 percent cotton gauze, hand-dyed (nontoxic, of course), and batiked in Bali, Indonesia. You won't find many other options out there that are so compact, lightweight...and did we mention beautiful? $75.50, AttachedToBaby

BabyHawk Mei Tei Carrier
We think it's safe to say that many Moms lean toward the Mei Tai for its style, but this carrier doesn't slack on functionality, either. An Asian-inspired carrier, this one essentially supports baby in a big rectangle of (really cute) fabric, and you wrap and tie the shoulder and waist straps around you in a way that supports baby and fits you best. (The company’s website offers great instructions.) The tying means it always fits just right, and the color combos mean you can have a style that's all your own. From $80-95, BabyHawk

> Video clip: How to wear a Mei Tai Carrier

BabyBjorn Synergy
Who DOESN'T know someone with a Baby Bjorn? There's a reason why these suckers are everywhere you look: They work. Especially good when baby is small, the Baby Bjorn offers great support for baby's head and neck, and the support can fold down later for front carries. The company worked closely with docs to be sure baby's arms and legs are positioned correctly, and the synergy version provides an awesome blend of padding, lumbar support, and breathability. Plus, the style is pretty darn slick.$160, Giggle

> Video clip: How to wear a BabyBjorn

Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch
The main problem with most pouch-style slings: You can't resize them. This fleece pouch is not only uber-comfy for baby, it's adjustable -- meaning you can share it more easily with your partner and others or switch it up to fit your own changing body (if, say, a younger sibling is in the works). If your climate's too hot for fleece, check out their mesh and all-season (cotton) versions.$62, KangarooKorner

> Video clip: How to wear a Kangaroo Korner pouch

Baby K'tan
Possibly the ideal blend of sling and carrier, the Baby K'tan can be worn eight different ways -- all without complicated wrapping or snapping. This mom-invented contraption is lightweight and compact like a sling, but it goes over both shoulders to more evenly distribute baby's weight and has adjustable back support, more like a structured carrier. You can even carry infant twins in the Baby K'tan, and it comes with a matching baby hat. (Come on, how cute is that?) $57.75, Baby K'tan

> Video clip: How to wear a Baby K'tan wrap

Moby Wrap
After a couple of practice runs to get the hang of tying it on, the Moby Wrap is king. The real difference here is that the Moby goes on in such a way that baby's weight is evenly distributed and your body catches a big break. Plus, you tie it on yourself, so you have total control over the fit. This one's perfect for simply getting your hands free to do chores (or, say, fix your hair), and it's awesome for keeping a baby or toddler secure (without killing your back) if you'll be shopping, hiking, or anywhere on your feet for a while. $39.95, EcoStyle Baby

> Video clip: How to wear a Moby wrap

New Native Organic Cotton Baby Carrier
The New Native carrier is just about as simple as it gets: a cotton pouch sling that’s supported by one shoulder and the opposite hip. It isn't adjustable, but the advantage is that you can find the size that really fits you just right. (Sizes go from XS to 5XL.) You can hold baby in the front, on your side, or in the back, and there are no special ties, wraps, or buckles to figure out -- just sling it on and set baby inside. Doesn't get much easier than that. $54, NewNative

> Video clip: How to wear a New Native carrier

*All prices are subject to change.

-- The Bump Editors

May 28, 2009

See More: Baby Registry , Baby Gear

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I have gone through 3 different baby carriersMoby was a PITA and DS was never comfortableBaby Bjorn was easy to use but again DS was uncomfortable I finally bought the Ergo, my son lves being in this thing he is a terrible napper but will fall asleep within minutes when I put him in the ergo nice thing about the ergo is that it has so many different positons and it is comfy!Also if your LO falls asleep snap on the sleeping hood for extra head support for your baby.

by TakYelgif

I just traded in my Bjorn for the Beco after trying it and the Ergo out. The Beco is much easier to get on for a back carrier and the patterns are very cute.

by Poeia

Ergo Ergo Ergo!!We have tried a ton of carriers, and the Ergo wins on all levels. Comfortable for me, daddy and baby!

by LaurenL1976

Peanut shell! Loved the bjorn, but our peanut shell sling is the best.

by futureMrsV

The awesome thing about baby carriers is that there really IS no BEST carrier. They are all good for different people, in different situations, on different days (or even different hours of the SAME day!). My kids loved to choose their favorite carrier (from ring sling to mei tie to wrap) when they wanted to be worn, from the basket in the corner. We had one of each in both cars, so that no matter where we went, from the park to the zoo to in and out of a million and a half stores on errand day, we'd have the right carrier. :) And it meant that we had the happiest babies in the neighborhood, because we got our "stuff" done, and their needs were being met.

by mammamayI

How could you overlook the Beco Butterfly II? You can take the carrier on and off and move from back to front even with baby in it!

by Mommy2Gav

The reason baby slings and carriers are so confusing is that NO ONE uses the same metric for measuring them... even in the above article.. some say 4 months, some are newborn, some are by weight, some are for tall people, etc. You really have to go into a store with a knowledgeable person and try them out. The cost varies HUGELY, too. It would have been great if this article compared the carriers on all aspects: price, positions, tall vs. petite, etc. Event he stuff written in BOLD is not consistent. I think this article could have been a lot better with a little more effort. I saw another web site that had a grid that let you see which ones were "best" for you. I agree with previous poster that there is no best carrier.

by KappaGirlATL

Check out the lillebaby EveryWear. It's new, similar to the Ergo, but more attractive (imo).

by carn25

I found http://www.thebabywearer.com/ invaluable in helping us find the PERFECT carrier. So much info a truly great resource!We were told by many who owned a Bjorn that their backs would hurt once baby got a lil big; so that made that product not so great for its valueErgo; we discovered is not a compassionate company. something about inequality towards workers ...Beco we love and its made in the USA! we needed a carrier that my husband would WANT to wear and the beco butterfly II is it. It has buckles (no ties or bows or lots of cloth to deal with) beautiful patterns (we got the Avery)Its great at distributing weight (I wore it almost 7 hours straight as I went about town doing errands and meeting up friends for coffee!)two thumbs up we love our Beco Butterfly II

by eigen76

I love my Bee By Me wrap! It is super comfortable and in my opinion, easy to use. There are tons of choices on the website to create your own and show off your flair for fashion! I still carry my son in his wrap if he's having a rough/clingy day with teething and he is 21 months/27 lbs! It doesn't hurt me one bit and I am able to carry him for hours if need be. I literally threw my baby bjorn and sling in the trash after finding this wrap! I highly recommend it and why not be cute while carrying your baby? :)

by hvanack

I loved loved loved my moby wrap. My husband was deployed when my son turned one month and from that moment on the moby wrap was a necessity. If he would fight a nap I would put him in the wrap and he would be out in 2 minutes or less and I could move on with chores or whatnot. I found it too be so comfortable and it is so easy to use once you use it just a couple of times. I live in the pacific northwest so it doesn't get very hot here so I never had any problems with overheating but I would warn those in hotter climates that it might get too warm to wear. I think the ergo wrap looks very intriguing but it is disappointing that you can only use it from 4 months on, the moby wrap can be used the night the baby comes home and grows with them from there.

by marklissa

Oh! You missed the best one!!! The Beco Baby Carrier is so fabulous!!!! After toting 5 babies in 6 years, I have tried just about every baby carrier there is!! And the Beco Butterfly II is absolutely my favorite for tiny babies all the way through toddlers!!! Plus, they are GORGEOUS :)

by PAXbaby

Great article! There are lots of great baby carriers out there, and it's often overwhelming to choose the best ones. You've nailed it on a lot of fronts (with the exception of Beco, and probably the Pikkolo, since it's a great buckle carrier that can do forward facing carries (unlike ERGO or Beco). We sell many of these carriers at our shop because they are some of the best out there. We also have a great Learn section on choosing the right one for you. Your readers may be interested!

by SlingLady

Oops, it seems my link didn't work properly. It's Carry Me Away.com

by SlingLady

Ergo, hands down. I tried the sling, Moby wrap, and ended up buying and totally loving the Ergo the best of all three. Baby's weight is put exactly where it needs to be, your hips. Super comfortable to wear for me and my husband and my baby loved it. I'd still be using it with him if i weren't 35 weeks pregnant. The ergo can carry up to 40lbs so if you are into wearing your child for a while then you have that option. The infant adapter works very well and is quite snugly for the little ones.

by tdelianedis

These slings are too pricey. For $20 you can go get some material and make your own.Look online for no sew baby slings directions and then purchase the rings. Look on youtube as well for directions.

by JOY

I have a Baby K'tan carrier and I really love it. It really is the perfect blend. My baby loves being in the forward facing positing but when he gets sleepy i can put him in the pouch position and he sleeps forever. I also have an ergo which i like but he doesn't seem to sleep in it.

by tammyz25

I have tried more than a handful of baby carriers, my favorite is Beco Baby Carrier. I found it to be less bulky than ergo baby and I thought that the infant insert on the Beco Baby Carrier works better too!

by jjmaldonado

Just get to a store and try some of these out. I went to a store in Northbrook IL and they let me try several carriers with my LO in tow. We tried one until I settled on the sleepy wrap and the picalo.

by FirstTimeMommy2010

We loved the BabyHawk for when our son was very small and then the ERGO. As they get bigger the hotsling was also very useful to put on go with.

by msbutow

I really want a better front/back convertible baby carrier - the only option listed here is the Ergo - does anyone else have any other suggestions?

by lady99

I agree with all the statement you written up there. Nowadays, moms were so busy to have time carry their babies with their own hands which could stop them working. For me, Baby Carriers is the number one most important baby equipment to have whoever is in charge to watch over the baby. Yochanan Berkowitz

by khentloujohnson

I loved my Moby wrap, but my DS is now a year old and very heavy. I'm looking at getting an ERgo. Anyone have an Ergo Performance? I'm trying to decide between the original Ergo or the Performance. I do a lot of walking around.

by butifulmess

Discovered a really great front/back carrier which also has a vent for those babies who heat up easily or those hot summer days - check out http://www.pognaeusa.com - they just did their grand opening of their USA website this week!

by lady99

I hope that my baby will work as a forex broker because I have a friend who works as a broke and he is doing great.

by Starky20