If you are in the market for a baby carrier, read this post to find out what is available right now. I just recently bought one and did a ton of research on this topic. There are lots of carriers available beyond the Baby Bjorn and Snugli!
Front Carriers ($20 and up)
Front Carriers are the most common style of baby carriers. This style includes carriers like the Baby Bjorn ($80 and up) and the Snugli ($20 and up). They are easy to use and practical. I have used my original style Baby Bjorn for two babies now, and it has held up very well. However, I find that it really only lasts for a few months with each baby. The manufacturer says it is suitable for babies up to 22 pounds, but it starts getting pretty uncomfortable for me once the baby is about 15 pounds.
Baby Bjorn does have an active style for $120 that puts the baby’s weight on your hips instead of your shoulders. I have heard this active carrier is better than the original, and it is widely available. But read on to find out what else is available before you buy, as even this active carrier can only hold babies up to 26 pounds.
Structured Carriers ($90 - $125)
There are several great structured carriers available for babies weighing up to 45 (or more!) pounds. I honestly can’t imagine wearing a baby that weighs more than 40 pounds. Most allow you to wear the baby on your back, on your front or even on your hip. The straps are adjustable and fasten together with plastic buckles similar to the Bjorn style. They have a thick waist belt that supports the baby’s weight on your hips. The July 2007 issue of Mothering Magazine wrote an extensive article about baby carriers and recommended the Beco, the Patapum and the Ergo in this category. I agree with these recommendations. Here is what I know about the 3:
- Patapum ($89) - This is the most practical of the 3. It looks very similar to the Bjorn. I haven’t actually worn it, but I know a lot of moms that are happy with this brand. And it is the lowest cost of the three. The Patapum baby carrier can be used from about 5 months to 40 pounds.
- Ergo ($97) - This carrier has a rugged back-pack look. It is very versatile in terms of the number of ways you can wear your baby, has a newborn baby insert (sold separately), and is VERY comfortable for the adult. It can hold babies weighing up to 40 pounds. It comes with an attached hood. This carrier is nice for hiking or walking long distances. Our very good friends have one, and the father puts his 30 lb son on his back and hikes for miles in complete comfort. I borrowed it once to try it out, and I agree that it is very comfortable for the adult… but it didn’t seem quite as comfortable for the baby as the Beco.
- Beco ($125) - I have the 4th Generation Beco Carrier. You can use it with your newborn baby and all the way up to a 55 pound child. It comes in a wide variety of fabrics. All are handmade in the USA. The Beco has a high back, and seems to provide good back support for the baby. It is comfortable, and my husband is willing to wear it. It is structured like the Bjorn, but has a wide waist belt that supports the baby on your hips. It looks great and is very comfortable for the adult and baby. And to be honest I think the Patapum carrier is just as good as the Beco… I just liked the look of the Beco better.
Un-structured Carriers (about $90)
Unstructured carriers are those that do not have buckles or clasps. You wrap and/or tie the fabric around yourself. The most popular style of carrier in this category is the Mei Tai carrier. The Mei Tai carrier is similar in fit to the Beco carrier, however instead of buckles it has straps that you tie each time you wear it. It is modeled from the carriers used in Asia.
I have a good friend that wanted a Mei Tai carrier, and she did a ton of research to find the best one. She chose the BabyHawk with head rest. I borrowed her carrier to try it out. It is very comfortable for the adult and baby. The fabric is high quality - possibly higher quality than even the Beco. The only complaint that I ever hear about Mei Tai carriers in general is that people aren’t sure what to do with the straps once they’ve tied all the knots. That seems like kind of a minor problem though.
Slings ($20 and up)
A sling is a wrap of fabric that you wear on one shoulder that either ties or fastens together with a buckle or clasp. Honestly every baby I know loved their sling up until the time they were about 3 months. You can get them for as little as $15, and they help a lot if your baby has colic or is excessively fussy. A popular baby book (that I highly recommend if your baby is fussy - The Happiest Baby on the Block) highly recommends slings.
I don’t know if any one sling is better than the next - all my friends have them, and they all appear to be about the same. I have the Slingezee, which has extra padding in it… I truly don’t have any complaints about it, but sometimes I wish it didn’t have all that extra padding, because then it would fit into my bag better. The padding does make it more comfortable though - it is a trade-off. A popular sling without the padding is the Maya Wrap.
Framed Carriers ($100 and up)
Framed carriers have fabric fitted around a metal frame and are intended primarily for hiking. Kelty Kids makes framed backpack carriers ranging in price from about $100-$200. The $100 model is meant more for walking around town. The $200 model is meant more for hiking. The REI Piggyback is also nice for $165. I have tried both, and both worked great. If you live in an area where hiking is a common recreational activity, sporting goods stores will rent these backpacks to you. We live near an REI that rents the Piggyback for about $8/day. These backpacks are big and bulky, and personally I would only ever use one while actually hiking.
Where to Shop
You can find front carriers in any store that has a baby merchandise department (like Target) or Babies ‘R Us. You can sometimes find slings in baby boutiques or specialty shops in your town. Slings are widely available online. Sporting Goods Stores (like REI, Dick’s Sporting Goods) sell Hiking Backpacks.
The only place I’ve found the other carriers mentioned in this post is online. I bought my Beco carrier at Sobe Babies, which had a good return policy (although I didn’t return it). It is hard to buy something like this online, but the following web sites provide reviews of their products, so I would start here:
Finally, in my opinion the best uses of a baby carrier include:
- Grocery Shopping
- Traveling Through Airports
- Navigating Through Crowds in the City
- Going to the Zoo, Museum, Botanic Gardens, etc.
- Going to a Dr. Appt for an Older Sibling
- Soothing a Fussy Baby
