The baby gear industry pushes a lot of questionable products onto new and inexperienced parents. It’s easy to get overwhelmed wondering whether you actually need all these baby products, or if certain things are just a nice luxury.
To help new parents navigate the baby gear landscape, I’ve spent the last few months surveying THOUSANDS of parents to get their opinions on different products. Today, I’m tackling the question of the baby carrier.
I personally think baby carriers are essential, and still wear my toddlers around the house sometimes. I’ve also recommended baby carriers to moms as a certified doula, and I’ve reviewed baby carriers for Scary Mommy. However, I wanted to see whether others agree with me.
So today, I got the input of over 500 parents in two different parenting-focused Facebook groups, asking whether they considered baby carriers to be an essential purchase for new parents. Here’s what they had to say.
(And if you’d like to read about ALL the baby products 6,000 moms did (and didn’t) recommend over my six months of research, you can read my essentials-only baby registry checklist article here!)
So Do I Need a Baby Carrier?
A baby carrier is definitely an “essential” item, according to 88% of the 528 parents surveyed. What’s more, plenty of parents from the 12% who said it wasn’t essential still recommended getting a carrier if possible. As one mom said, “I would rather do without clothes than a baby carrier.”
Traditionally, women in many cultures wear their babies as they go about daily life. Asia, Africa, North and South America, and even some European cultures all have practices of baby wearing that go back thousands of years. Though modern parents aren’t often hunting and gathering, generational wisdom suggests these moms are all onto something.
Here are some of the specific reasons the surveyed parents said baby carriers are an essential purchase:
- Naps on-the-go.
- Chasing toddlers & older children is much easier.
- Nursing whenever and wherever.
- Makes multitasking possible.
- Easy to pack for traveling or running errands.
- Strangers won’t try to touch your baby as often.
- Barely takes up any room when stored away.
- Colicky babies were more calm and cried less.
- 100x the baby snuggles.
- Overall happier babies.
Are Baby Carriers Worth the Price?
Baby carriers are definitely worth purchasing for most parents, even if it means getting one secondhand. Babywearing has been linked to reduced crying, secure attachments between mother and baby, and good sleeping habits according to research. If the cost is a stumbling block, you have options.
You can always find quality used carriers at baby consignment stores. Facebook groups like “Babywearing on a Budget” are another place to look. My favorite carrier brand, Ergobaby, has also started selling “pre-loved carriers” on their website. (And you can sell yours back when your baby outgrows theirs!)
Brand new, good-quality carriers typically cost $50-90 for wrap and ring sling styles, and $100-$230 for soft structured carriers. This can be a significant cost for many people, but it’s also much less than other new baby gear like travel systems, cribs, and swings.
If you’re still not sure whether a baby carrier makes sense for you, I’ve gone through and pointed out some situations to help you narrow down your decision.
Reasons a Baby Carrier Might be Essential for You
1. You’re expecting your second (or subsequent) child.
As I mentioned above, having more than one child makes a baby carrier more useful. Because you’ll be caring for a toddler or older child, being able to carry your baby dramatically simplifies your life. Let me tell you, it’s MUCH easier to chase after a misbehaving toddler when you don’t need to find a safe place to place your baby.
2. You need to multitask.
If you want to get anything done around the house with a baby, you’ll probably want a carrier. When they’re little, babies want to be held and sleeping, preferably at the same time. This makes it hard to fold laundry, cook, type, or do anything else that requires two hands. Wearing your baby as you go allows you to hit two birds with one stone.
3. You like walking or hiking.
Anyone who wants to continue regular walks or hikes with a baby has two options: carriers or strollers. Both can have a place in your home, but strollers [especially the jogging style] can be bulky and hard to fit in certain vehicles.
However, if you’re looking into whether or not you need a stroller as well, I’ve also written an article analyzing how 1,400+ moms feel about this piece of baby gear.
4. Your baby was premature
Obviously, you’ll want to check with your baby’s pediatrician first, but many premies benefit from babywearing. Plenty of studies show “kangaroo care,” both in and out of the hospital, is beneficial for babies born prematurely.
Keeping your baby close can also make strangers less likely to reach for your little one. This can really help if your baby catches colds and infections more easily, as is the case for many preemies.
5. You plan to do a lot of traveling
I’ve worn my babies through airports, around major cities, and during family vacations, and I wouldn’t have it any other way. Having a carrier that I could easily roll up and tuck inside the diaper bag was great for limited packing space. Plus, it meant one less bulky thing to maneuver around TSA checks or busy sidewalks.
6. You want a “minimalist” babyhood
Want to avoid a sea of swings, rockers, bouncers, loungers and Moses baskets in your house? A baby carrier can take the place of most of these tools, or at least a few of them.
Reasons a Baby Carrier Might Not be Necessary for You
Of course, even though I’ve loved using my carriers, they don’t work for all parents or all babies. Here are some of the reasons I heard parents say they didn’t think carriers were essential for everyone.
1. You have preexisting back problems.
You should check with your doctor if you have serious back issues like scoliosis or a degenerative disc disease. Some women can make it work, but results will vary.
In the comments section of my survey, Karmellah said that “It was just easier for me without one. They hurt my back a lot more, even though I had it properly fitted.”
2. You live somewhere really, REALLY hot.
I know they make multiple carriers with lots of mesh, breathable fabric, or with wicking properties. But there’s some amount of sweat and discomfort that’s guaranteed from a hot, squishy baby pressed to you for hours. If you live somewhere really hot (especially if you don’t have air conditioning all the time), you might consider whether you’ll use a carrier often enough to buy one.
Elizabeth said “We’re all hot bodied, so we’d be all sweaty after just a 30 min grocery run.”
3. You have a certain body type
Some parents with either large chests or plus-sized body types might not find baby carrying to be as comfortable. This isn’t to say baby wearing is impossible for larger mamas (plenty of big busted women said they love babywearing), but it seems to be a reason some think twice.
One mom surveyed, Melissa, shared the following: “[It] depends on your body type. I tried with both kids and my chest was too large to make it comfortable. I tried all sorts of carriers.”
4. Your baby can’t stand them.
The problem with this, of course, is you won’t know until they try it. For whatever reason, there are some kids who just hate carriers. Of all the reasons people gave for not considering carriers essential, this was the most common.
Michelle said, “I had two different baby carriers over 3 different kids and my kids HATED them. If I wasn’t physically carrying them in my arms, they were not happy.”
Another parent, Nat, elaborated further, “I’m sure there are some moms whose babies enjoy/tolerate them, and probably couldn’t imagine life without them. I pictured myself being one of them, but my little one did NOT share that sentiment.”
What kind of baby carrier should I get?
If you’re considering getting a baby carrier, the next question is which kind to get. This can feel overwhelming, because there are dozens of brands, each with multiple styles and versions of carriers. The parents in my survey also had a lot of thoughts about the best carrier types, which I thought was worth sharing.
If at all possible, you should try different kinds. This might mean borrowing one from a friend to get a feel for the style. It also might mean finding a “baby wearing lending library” in your area. They might charge a small fee (mine charges $10/month) to test as many wraps, carriers, or slings as you want. The best kind of baby carrier is the one both you and your baby are comfortable with.
If you don’t plan on using your carrier more than an hour or two a day, you might do just fine with the most budget-friendly brand, Infantino. Infantino is an outlier among most baby carriers, at around $30 for a brand new soft-structured carrier. Plenty of moms love theirs, but it also comes with less padding and support, and doesn’t hold up well to long-term use or abuse.
Most of the other carrier brands have better support, more comfortable fits, and better longevity. Though many are good, there are a few carries that kept coming up in the comments section of my survey. Here are the carrier brands moms suggested over others.
Newborn-3 months
Most moms described using the stretchy wrap-style or ring-style carriers with their newborn babies. For those who gave specific recommendations, I’ve included some links and what the moms had to say to help you understand the differences.
Moby Wrap
“Absolutely loved my moby wrap.”
“Moby wraps are great for the early days.”
“My first kiddo? I loved the Moby.”
One of the most popular types of baby wrap is from the brand Moby, mostly since they’re relatively inexpensive (you can check their current Amazon price here, but they’re currently around $40) and super customizable.
Boba Wrap
One mom, Lexy, had high praise for another brand. “We had two Boba carriers—one for car and one for home. [They] held up for all three kids, patched many times, one of them is even okay to wear in water which is great for pool or beach. One size does not fit all, so I would recommend trying a few and even taking a babywearing course if there’s one available in your area/virtually to learn how to fit them specifically to your body.”
Moby Ring Sling
Ring slings are a third popular choice for baby wearing newborns and young infants. One mom, Dottie, was a big fan: “My ring sling was a life saver with all four. Easy on & easy off. Gives you the ability to do some tasks especially when your babe wants to be held.”
3 months- Toddlerhood
Older babies and even toddlers can still be worn around in a baby carrier- and thank goodness for that! Though they’re often too big for the soft, stretchy wraps, you can get carriers for bigger babies (often called “soft structured baby carriers”) that safely support their growing bodies. Here are the three most recommended types.
Ergobaby
With seven different moms independently recommending them, the Ergobaby takes the cake for most popular carrier in my survey. (And I didn’t even ask for recommendations!)
Actually, let’s say 8 moms recommended Ergobaby carriers, because I’m a huge fan myself. We also have an infant insert that allows me to wear even my littlest babies in my Ergo carrier. These carriers are DURABLE, and mine is still going strong after three years of near continuous use.
They offer some models on Amazon, but you’ll find their full product line on their website. And don’t forget to check out the pre-loved carrier section of their site!
Another mom, Bridget, also shared that “I loved loved loved my Ergo and so did my boys.”
LÍLLÉbaby
LILLEbaby is another popular soft structured baby carrier, and was also recommended multiple times by moms in the comment section of my survey.
Though extremely similar to the Ergobaby in price, durability, and versatility, I definitely like the look of the LILLEbaby more. They have cuter prints, and I feel like I see new ones popping up frequently.
If you don’t care as much about aesthetics and just want something that works great, definitely see if you have a baby carrier lending library to test out how each fits you. (And if you don’t have one near you, try borrowing from a friend, getting a gently used carrier, or look for a store with a generous return policy!)
BabyBjörn
Finally, to round out the list of recommended carriers, the BabyBjorn did get two thumbs up from different moms. The main difference between this style of soft structured baby carrier and the two listed above is where it sits on your body. The BabyBjorn sits a bit higher, not fitting closely around your hips. It also tends to be a bit more expensive.
Cathy mentioned “the baby bjorn was the only way for me to get anything done through all 4 kids!”
There you have it! Hopefully, you now have a better sense of whether a baby carrier is going to be right for your family.
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