Best Baby Carrier for Summer 2024

Be sure to read my advice on how to prevent overheating when using a baby carrier in hot weather.

1. IZMI BABY CARRIER from £80

Izmi Baby is a British brand known for lightweight, adjustable newborn carriers, fabulous from birth to around 6 months. Their full range of baby and toddler carriers was relaunched in 2023, so keep an eye on IzmiBaby.com for all the new releases.

It’s also ventilated mesh version called the Breeze – but even the regular organic cotton ones are dreamily light for summer, and for all seasons.

Izmi carriers have wrap-style shoulder straps which help spread your baby’s weight – and shield your shoulders from the sun. They have open sides to help with airflow.

Plus they have hardly any padding, so you will feel cooler and transfer less heat to your baby. So all the lightness and comfort of a wrap, without any wrapping.

A removable hood and handy pocket are also available, for some extra shade and somewhere to keep your keys and phone. They are great for front, back and hip carrying, and at £80 they are astonishingly good value.

2. MINIMONKEY MINI SLING £39.95

The Minimonkey Mini Sling, £39.95, is a super-compact front and hip carrier suitable from birth to at least 12 months. It basically works like a ring sling, but its easier for most people to get the hang of and is more lightweight.

This neat, quick-drying mesh sling allows you to carry your baby in a natural, ergonomic position, on your chest (from birth) or on your hip (from around 5 months)

Perfect for on the beach, by the pool AND around the house and quick-up-and-downs. It weighs the same as a mobile phone at just 175g and is absurdly good value.

It’s a great just-in-case carrier to accompany your more structured everyday baby or toddler carrier.

3. TULA LITE £94.90

The Tula Lite, £94.90, is an ultra-compact foldable carrier and waistbag in one! Ideal for babies from 3 to 15 months for both front and back carrying.

The carrier panel and straps pack neatly into the attached waistband pouch, perfect for your baby’s ‘on demand’ carrying stage. The pouch will still have room for all your daily essentials even when the carrier is packed away.

Made from lightweight and quick-drying ripstop fabric in three of Tula’s bestselling prints, the Lite supports two ergonomic carrying positions – a parent-facing front carry, and a back carry.

It doesn’t have any of Tula’s characteristic thick, squishing padding – so while you might not want to carry a heavy child in it for 8 hours a day (as you certainly could in most Tulas!) it is AMAZING for shorter trips on hot days.

4. LITTLE FROG RING SLING from £59.95

The ideal solution for little ones who want to come up for a quick cuddle – then down again! These beautiful slings are perfect for quick trips out and around the house, and are adjustable from birth to around 3 years old.

Made from a single piece of breathable cotton, they’re ideal for hot days.

5. INTEGRA SOLAR CARRIERS from £85

The enormously popular and completely brilliant Integra Solar Baby Carrier  (identical to the now-discontinued Connecta Solar Carrier that preceded it, just a different brand name) is fantastically lightweight and one of our favourite summer slings.

Integra Baby Carriers are very light and have minimal padding, so are ideal for all seasons. The Solar version is made from even thinner, lighter, quick-drying fabric. It’s also sun-protective, protecting baby from the sun’s UV rays, and folds down small enough to pop in your bag.

Made by a small British brand, they are so popular that they sell out quickly in the spring and summer months. But fear not, a standard model of Integra carriers will serve you very perfectly well, too. For toddlers aged 1.5 to 3years, get yourself a Solar Integra size 2.

6. LENNY LAMB UPGRADE MESH from £130

All the features of the bestselling Upgrade carrier from Lenny Lamb, but with a soft, breathable mesh panel to help keep your child cool.

It’s brilliantly adjustable for babies aged 1 month to at least 2 years; and fits all dads and mums from a UK size 6 to 24.

This carrier is supportive enough to wear for whole days out, on your front or back (from 6 months).

Like the Omni range from Ergobaby, the comfy padding means you will get a bit sweaty, but your back will be comfy and your child will be very nicely ventilated!

7. TULA TODDLER COAST £149.90

This breathable mesh version of this ever-popular toddler carrier is a real classic. It’s a simple to use rucksack-style carrier for front and back carries from around 2-4 years

Offering a sensible level of padding to the shoulders and waistbands and they fit a wide range of adults – not ideal for Very petite mums, who are likely to find the waistband too deep and bulky.

 We love how simple and supportive they are- and the huge range of gorgeous prints it comes in. Superb as back carriers, really nice as front carriers too.

8. FREERIDER SLING, from £58

Freerider Slings are made from ultra light, silky soft Tencel and are very thin, making them perfect for hot weather. They come in the most exquisite colours and limited edition patterns, so you’re likely to want more than one.

This environmentally-friendly fabric is made from sustainably-sourced eucalyptus trees. It’s soft, silky and strong, much thinner and lighter than conventional cotton-blend stretchy wraps.

Produced from wood pulp from sustainably managed tree farms, the fibres are compostable and biodegradable, with a much lower carbon footprint than traditional fabrics.

9. TULA EXPLORE COAST, £174.90

A fun, all-position carrier with a soft mesh panel to help keep your baby cool. Ideal from newborn to 18 months, this will be perfect for you if you want a well padded carrier that can you wear all day.

10. ERGOBABY OMNI BREEZE BABY CARRIER, £184.90

A bestselling, all singing, all dancing, does-it-all baby carrier. It’s ideal from birth (from 7lbs) to 2 years and suits all mums and dads.

It’s my favourite front-facing carrier, as well as being perfect for parent-facing (all ages) and suitable for back carrying from 6 months. Its mesh fabric and integrated hood means extra ventilation and shade for your little one.

It features a super supportive lumbar support panel and a handy pocket to keep your keys, phone and wallet in. It comes in a huge range of sleek and classy colours.

You’ll be able to wear it for HOURS, all year round – and you can get a handy lightweight rain cover to go with it, so your baby will be protected from all the elements.

It has a padded and supportive waistband and shoulder straps – meaning you’ll still be warm around your middle, so many parents often end up getting a great value, ultra-light carrier like an Izmi Baby Carrier (£80), Tula Lite (£94.90) or Mini Sling (£39.95) as well, especially for travels and extra hot days.