How To Choose a Baby Carrier

How do I choose a baby carrier? There are so many!


DON’T RELY ON GOOGLE AND AMAZON

Search engines and Amazon will steer you towards the biggest brands with the largest marketing budgets. Likewise for reviews and awards, many of which are paid for.

DON’T JUST RELY ON BIG BRAND NAMES

You may have heard of BabyBjorn and Ergobaby. Does that mean they’re definitely the best for you? Not necessarily. Some of the comfiest, easiest baby carriers are from lesser-known names like Manduca, Izmi Baby, Lenny Lamb ….. there are heaps of others on the market.

DO READ OUR HONEST, INDEPENDENT GUIDE TO THE BEST BABY CARRIERS

My team and I have worked with many thousands of families over the last 10 years. Between us, we’ve carried our own babies for more than 100 years. So we really are the experts.

We’re totally independent – and we only recommend products we love and that we have tried and tested. Here’s our complete guide to the best baby carriers.

DON’T PUT UP WITH SHOULDER OR BACK PAIN

A well-fitted baby carrier that suits you and your baby, and is adjusted correctly, WILL NOT HURT. Even if you are carrying a heavy toddler. If your current carrier is hurting, book a video consultation with our team (£15/30mins) – rather than causing yourself long-term discomfort.

There may also be a sling library near you.

DON’T ASSUME BABY WRAPS ARE TOO COMPLICATED

Stretchy fabric wraps, which are IDEAL for newborns, can be pre-tied so you can just pop baby in and out through the day. Genius.

DO BEWARE OF FAKE ERGOBABY CARRIERS ON EBAY AND AMAZON

If you see a brand new, boxed, unused Ergobaby Omni baby carrier for sale on eBay or Amazon for under or close to £100 – it’s probably a fake. There are a huge number of them. Always ensure you buy from an authorised retailer.

DON’T WORRY IF YOUR FRIEND LENDS YOU ‘THE COMFIEST SLING EVER’ AND YOU HATE IT

Just like shoes or jeans, what works for one person may not work for another. It’s all about personal preference and getting a good fit.

DON’T BE SURPRISED IF YOUR FRIEND LENDS YOU A PRACTICALLY NEW SLING AND YOU DON’T LIKE THAT EITHER

If it’s practically new they probably never used it themselves. That might tell you something about how useful it was.

DO STICK TO THE TICKS GUIDELINES FOR SAFE BABYWEARING

These are very important: always wear your baby upright, with their tummy against your chest (when front carrying), with the whole length of their back supported. The whole of the carrier needs to be fitted snugly around you both so baby can’t slump down inside it.

Never let baby’s chin slump onto their chest. Baby’s face should always be uncovered, with baby positioned high enough that you can easily kiss the top of their head. You can read the full babywearing TICKS safety guidelines here.

DO MAKE THE MOST OF THE SNUGGLES

You will not spoil a baby by carrying them. When they are good and ready they’ll happily wander off across the playground. And probably make a dash for it across Tesco’s car park.

FRONT FACING OUTWARDS BABY CARRIER ERGONOMIC SAFETY ADVICE BABY BJORN OR ERGOBABY
Hannah Wallace

Hannah Wallace

One of the UK's top babywearing consultants, Hannah founded Wear My Baby in 2015. She has worked with over 20,000 families and has trained with Slingababy, the School of Babywearing and L'ecole A Porter. And has owned over 300 baby carriers (oops).

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2 thoughts on “How To Choose a Baby Carrier”

  1. Pingback: What's the best sling for a newborn? | Wear My Baby | Babywearing Made Easy

  2. Wow, this blog post couldn’t have come at a better time for me! I’ve been researching baby carriers for weeks now as I’m expecting my first child in just a few months. This post is a goldmine of information, and it has truly helped me understand the different types of carriers available and their pros and cons.

    I appreciate the thorough explanations and the helpful tips on choosing the right carrier for my needs. Safety is my top priority, so I’m glad you emphasized the importance of proper positioning and ensuring the baby’s comfort. The video demonstrations were especially useful, making it easier for me to visualize how to use each type of carrier.

    I’m definitely leaning towards a soft-structured carrier based on the comfort and versatility you mentioned. It seems like a great choice for both my husband and me to use, and I love the idea of keeping my baby close while having my hands free.

    Thank you for this fantastic guide! It’s given me the confidence to make an informed decision, and I can’t wait to start my babywearing journey once my little one arrives.

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