Choosing The Right Baby Carrier For Your family

Choosing a baby carrier can be a bit daunting as there are so many options when it comes to fabrics, styles and types of carriers – it can be hard to know where to start!

We often get asked ‘What is the best carrier you sell?’ however there is no simple answer, as it will depend on what you are looking for in a carrier and the needs of your family.

All of our carriers have been hand-picked by our team of qualified baby-wearing consultants to offer the best in style, support and comfort for the wearer and one-on-one support is available free of charge after purchase, with zoom or in person fittings.

We believe we have Australasia's best selection of carriers and in our collection, you'll find well-known styles from Beco, Boba, Ergobaby, Wildride and Carifit alongside specialised options from Neko, Hoppediz and Lenny Lamb. We stock many other well-respected brands, limited editions and exclusive designs.  

Our baby carriers will all take you through at least one full year of your baby’s life and depending on the style some will do the second year too! They also all provide vital support for your little one’s spine and neck, as well as great knee to knee support which is important for both hip socket development AND comfort – for both you and your baby.

Most Suitable Carriers for Newborn Babies

Stretchy wraps, like Boba or Moby are lovely for newborn babies. They’re made from soft, stretchy cotton that you wrap around yourself (or your partner!) and tuck your new bundle into for a hands-free cuddle or some skin-to-skin bonding where they can hear your heartbeat. Particularly in the first few months they are comfy enough that you can sit down and relax once your baby has fallen asleep safely on your chest.

As this is a full fabric option and a very stretchy fabric, most people will find that by 8-9kgs their little one will be getting quite heavy in this type of carrier, and it may be time to move on to something with a bit more structure and support for continued babywearing.

Soft Structured (SSC's) or Buckle Carriers are a very versatile choice and are commonly referred to as front packs, although many can also be worn on the hip or back once baby grows and has good neck control. This style covers brands like Ergobaby, Boba, Beco and Carifit.

The reason for their popularity is that they are super quick to put on and very supportive, adapting and growing with you and your baby on your babywearing journey. Each brand will have its own fitting advice, however buckle carriers usually do not require any learning or technique in the way traditional carriers like woven wraps or ring slings do.

This style of carrier is very popular with Dads and those who like a carrier that's quick to put on and take off and simpler to learn. Buckle carriers will generally cover a wider age and weight range of children, from between 3-20kgs, depending on the carrier. To suit the needs of newborns right up to toddlers, many carriers have adjustments available to reduce or extend the back panel length and also the hip spread at the base of the carrier. Check the age and weight information for each carrier, as well as any adjustable features before making your choice.

Buckle carriers are very popular for active families that enjoy hiking and provide fantastic support for long-term wearing, including specific toddler carrier options from Beco and Lenny Lamb. The Lenny Lamb preschool carrier can be used up till around age 6.

Unless specified, buckle carriers are only to be used on your front with baby facing inwards towards the adult (this is the most ergonomic and comfortable for both baby and caregiver) or for back carrying an older infant in a piggyback position. Some carriers offer a ‘world facing’ or outward position for babies while being worn on their caregivers’ front, however we recommend only using this feature for 30 minutes maximum at a time to avoid overstimulation and for comfort and safety. Do not allow your baby to sleep in a world-facing position as this could compromise their airways.

We have extensive Soft Structured Carrier comparison charts and details here.

Want the comfort & softness of a wrap, but the ease of a soft structured carrier? Choose a Hybrid carrier such as the Boba Bliss or Ergobaby Embrace.

What exactly is a hybrid carrier? Well, it's a combination of a buckle carrier and a stretchy wrap. They have a softer fabric and tend to have a more supple waistband which moulds around you and your baby, making it easier to sit and more comfortable for the wearer and baby. There's no need to learn to tie a wrap and they're generally small enough to easily place in a bag to have on hand when you're out and about.

Ring slings are made from lengths of woven wrap fabric with two rings sewn in one end and are generously sized to fit most caregivers and babies of all stages. They distribute the weight over one shoulder and will take you from newborn through toddlerhood by changing the position they are worn on your body. Ring Slings are a comfortable, supportive option for newborns as when correctly tightened, they support the “C-shape” curve babies are born with.

Ring slings are also fabulous with toddlers as you can pop them in and out easily once they’re starting to want to walk on their own, but inevitably end up tired halfway along! They fold up easily and can be carried in a nappy bag.

There is a small learning curve with feeding the fabric through the rings and how to correctly tighten a ring sling to ensure adequate support across all parts of the infant’s body however, with practice, this will become second nature very quickly.

Ring slings are available in a wide range of designs and fabrics to suit different climates, including mesh options for very hot countries. Our top picks include the classic and stylish linen ring slings by Boba and the beautiful, bold prints in Lenny Lamb ring slings.

Woven wraps are long pieces of specially woven babywearing fabric.

They come in beautiful patterns/colours and are designed to be strong and secure and have a good stretch/give across the diagonal to mould around your baby. They have a bit of a learning curve, so you need to be prepared to watch some YouTube or manufacturers’ videos to ‘learn’ how to wrap. You can also pop along to a babywearing meet/group to get some hands-on pointers or book a carrier consultation with Coralie, our qualified baby carrier consultant
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Woven wraps come in different lengths or ‘sizes’, with longer ones for more complicated carries that wrap multiple times around the body or shorter ones for simpler styles. They will fit caregivers of all shapes and all ages of babies, from newborn up.

Because the fabric doesn’t stretch, you can use them in lots of different styles, front, side and back. You can use them in one-shoulder and two-shoulder carries, some wrap snugly around your chest to distribute weight and others that sit more like a backpack. Our babywearing experts love Lenny Lamb woven wraps.

Onbuhimo Carriers

Based on a traditional Japanese way of back carrying, Onbuhimo are unique in that they feature comfy shoulder straps but no waistband. Onbuhimo are ideal for use during pregnancy or for those who prefer not to have a waistband for aesthetic or comfort reasons.

Wearing an Onbuhimo is like a hands-free piggyback and they pack down smaller than most buckle carriers for easy transport when not in use. These carriers are generally more suited to toddlers or larger babies who are already able to sit up independently.

Why choose an Onbuhimo rather than other buckle carrier?

• Ideal for pregnancy

• No 'muffin top' or tummy rolls from a waist band squishing your middle

• More compact than a regular buckle carrier to carry round with you.

• Onbuhimo can be very reasonably priced.

• Generally worn with a toddler who can help put it on by sitting on a chair or standing.
  
  

Find out more about Onbuhimo carriers >

Mei Tai (or Meh-Dai) are based on the traditional asian style carrier. They are more structured than a woven wrap but without the padded waistband and buckles of a structured carrier.

Mei Tai are very versatile and are tied to fit the wearer, so fit a wide range of sizes. A Mei Tai has four straps (one at each corner, and the top two straps are longer). Tie the shorter straps round your waist, like an apron, then position baby and lift up the back panel. Then wrap the longer straps over your shoulders and across to secure in front of your baby.

These carriers are often available in beautiful designs and are made by small boutique businesses. They offer a middle ground between the learning of a woven wrap and the simplicity of a soft-structured carrier.  

More safety information from Babywearing International:

Babywearing International believes that babywearing is an inherently safe activity. But as with any other baby or child product, it is important to observe a few basic safety tips.

Make sure your child’s airway remains open at all times while babywearing. The best way to do this is to keep him or her in an upright position, high enough on your body to monitor breathing and ensure that her chin is off her chest. Babywearing International recommends that infants only be held in a horizontal or cradle position while actively nursing (if desired) and return to an upright or vertical position as soon as they have finished.

It is also important that your carrier provide adequate support for your infant’s developing neck and back. Ideally baby should be held with his knees higher than his bottom with legs in a spread squat position and support from knee to knee although with older babies and toddlers full knee to knee support is not always possible or necessary. An ergonomic carrier (whether a soft structured carrier, Asian-style carrier, sling, or wrap) will provide better support for baby and will be more comfortable for the caregiver as well.

Always inspect your carrier for wear or damage before use examining it for weak spots, loose stitching, worn fabrics, etc. BWI recommends purchasing a carrier from a reputable manufacturer to ensure that it meets all current US safety, testing, and labeling standards.

Practice all carries—especially back carries–with a spotter, over a bed or couch, or low to the ground until you are completely confident. A BWI meeting is the perfect place to learn new skills with the assistance of a Volunteer Babywearing Educator. In most cases it is best to be comfortable with front carries before attempting back carries.

Always exercise common sense while babywearing. Baby carriers are not an approved child restraint or flotation device and should not be used in moving vehicles or boats. Avoid babywearing in situations where it would not be safe to carry an infant in-arms.