If you are currently pregnant and have spent any time at all looking at baby carriers, you may have burst into tears from all of the options. If you’re new to baby-wearing, it can be difficult to sort out the differences between all of the types of carrier, even before you move onto the gazillion different brands.
On a scale of “I put a Baby Bjorn on my registry” to “I own five carriers and have a Pinterest board devoted to the other ones I want to get”, I fall somewhere in the middle. I have used them and liked them, but managed to avoid a pernicious baby carrier addiction. Here are things I like about carriers:
1. Babies cry less when they’re held often
2. Newborns like to be held almost constantly, and a carrier means you can use your hands again
3. Carriers often put my babies to sleep
4. Carriers are a good way to identify other crunchy mothers in the wild
Now, what kind? It depends somewhat on how old/big your baby is, for what and how often you’re going to be using the carrier, and how many carriers you’re planning to get. I’ll go over four types of carriers: best ages and uses, as well as some favorite brands of my expert baby-wearing friends.
Ring Slings
Pros: short learning curve, easy to get on and off, small enough to throw in a diaper bag or purse, easily adjustable to multiple wearers, can use on your front, hip, or back, some models include a pocket for diapers/wipes/phone/keys
Cons: may get uncomfortable if wearing for long periods of time or if your baby/toddler is heavy since it only goes over one shoulder
Best for: newborns, older babies, smaller toddlers
Weight range: up to 35 pounds
Brands I like: Sleeping Baby Productions, Maya Wrap, Sakura Bloom, Etc. Sling, Girasol
Price: $40-$200 (which is obviously insane, but they are pretty)
Note: The second sling pictured is a wrap conversion ring sling (WCRS), which is sort of a combination of a wrap (see below) and a regular ring sling. They offer a few more carry/position options, have higher weight limits, and can be worn over one or both shoulders. Both Etc. Slings and Girasol slings are WCRS. Like a wrap, they are a LOT of fabric (2 1/2 to 5 1/2 yards) so aren’t going to fit in your pocket like a regular ring sling.
Expert tip: Adjust the sling by pulling on the tail. If baby’s head is flopping, pull on just one side of the tail to pull just the top tighter. (This is probably totally obvious to a normal person, but it only occurred to me when another LLL leader was showing a new mom how to use her ring sling. It BLEW MY MIND.)
Wraps
Pros: nearly endless carry options (back, front, hip), adjustable to multiple wearers, nearly endless fabric/color/dye options
Cons: longer learning curve, may lead to baby carrier addiction
Best for: any age
Weight range: I’ve seen an adult carried in a woven wrap (also, pets, but that’s another topic altogether)
Brands my expert baby-wearing panel likes: Pavo, Girasol, Didymos, Natibaby, Poe Wovens, Firespiral, Moby
Price: OK, forget everything I said about $200 being insane — woven wraps start around $100, but limited-edition, handwoven, fair-trade wraps can run into the $500+ range.
Note about the Moby Wrap: Mobys are stretchy knit (unlike the other brands listed, which have little to no stretch). They are fantastic for newborns, but not so great as your baby gets heavier/older. You should also never wear your baby in a Moby on your back. The Baby K’tan is another stretchy wrap-hybrid that gets good reviews as an infant carrier. Many people find the K’tan less complicated than the Moby.
Mei Tais
Pros: can be used from birth, can be used on your front or back, adjustable to multiple wearers, may come with useful accessories like a pocket, nap hood, or headrest
Cons: longer learning curve than the SSC or the ring sling, not quite as versatile as a wrap, long straps drag on the ground when you’re putting it on
Best for: newborns, babies, and toddlers
Weight range: birth to 45 pounds
Brands I like: Babyhawk, Kozy Carrier, Infantino Sash (note that this is NOT the regular Infantino that looks like a Baby Bjorn), BB Tai
Price: $35-150
Expert tip: If you are ordering a custom mei tai, do not pick light-colored straps because they can get dirty when you’re putting it on (again, this is probably less of an “expert tip” and more of a “stating the obvious for everyone except the author of this blog”).
Soft Structured Carriers (SSC)
Pros: short learning curve, great for most ages (though some carriers require an insert to use with a newborn), can be used on your front or back, may come with a pocket and/or nap hood, perhaps the most likely carrier to be used by a dad or other caregiver, best for taking your baby into the wilderness or a field of wheat
Cons: not quite as adjustable as the wrap or the mei tai, not as great as the wrap or ring sling for newborns, not as many carry options
Best for: older babies (4-5 months and older) and toddlers
Weight range: with an infant insert, most SSCs are 7-45 pounds
Brands I like: Ergo, Beco, Boba, Tula, Kinderpack
Price: $120-150
For more info: Check out this comparison of the Boba, Tula, and Ergo.
Why not Baby Bjorn?
If you spend any time at all around professional baby-wearers, you will start to notice that none of them own a Baby Bjorn carrier. Listen closely and you will find that they rarely even SAY Baby Bjorn, but occasionally refer to something called a “crotch dangler”. These are, in fact, synonyms. Some babywearing sites warn against the Baby Bjorn and others like it because they believe babies will develop spine and/or hip issues when worn in them. To date, there have not been any studies done to determine whether this actually occurs or not. Regardless, many mothers find them uncomfortable and many babies will not settle/fall asleep when worn in the front-facing position. The SSC brands listed above beat the Baby Bjorn hands down for comfort, versatility, and, most importantly, babywearing street cred.
How many carriers do I need?
Asking a babywearing enthusiast how many carriers one needs is like asking my husband how many bicycles a person needs. In fact, the answer is exactly the same: you always need one more than you currently have. Personally, I think two is a reasonable number: one easy-on, easy-off carrier (probably a ring sling or SSC) to wear for short periods or for errand-running, and perhaps an additional carrier (a mei tai, SSC, or wrap) for longer walks/hikes or for fussy/high-needs babies who need/want to be worn a lot of the day. Alternatively, you could get one for the newborn period (perhaps a Moby or a ring sling), and then trade it in for a different carrier when your baby gets bigger.
Of course, this is a different question than how many carriers you might WANT. Lots of babywearing enthusiasts put carriers more in the “accessories” category rather than the “baby gear” category, which means they think of them more like shoes or scarves. If this is you, you may wish to check out some of the carrier buy/sell/trade groups on facebook:
For More Information
You can find detailed carrier/wrap instructions on most manufacturers’ websites, and there are TONS of good how-to videos on youtube. Locally, check out BWI of the Twin Cities. They also hold in-person meetings where you can try out different carriers and bring your new carrier for expert instruction on how to use it. This can be particularly helpful if baby seems uncomfortable/fussy in your carrier, or if wearing your baby hurts your back/neck/shoulders, or if you’re not quite sure you’ve got the thing on right. A big thank you to FM Baby Wearing for letting me use pictures of them and their beautiful babies and toddlers!
Paisley Doula 
