Best baby carriers for hands-free baby wearing

Voted Best baby carrier in the 2022 Best of BabyCenter Awards, Infantino’s soft-structed convertible carrier provides many of the bells and whistles of more expensive carriers for a fraction of the price. The carrier’s best quality is its adjustability: There is a pair of flaps under your baby's bottom that you can fold in to make a narrow infant seat, or pull out to widen for an older baby. McMill says this option "can help parents comfortably carry their babies for a longer period of time by giving babies more support as they get heavier.”

There are adjustment options for parents, too. The padded backpack-style straps can be lengthened or shortened for different bodies, while the waistband can be cinched or let out to fit waists from 24 to 49 inches. The Flip allows four carrying styles and can be used for newborns starting at 8 pounds — no insert needed. And get this: When it gets dirty, you can throw the whole carrier in the washing machine.

Heads up

Many parents report it isn't comfortable for extended periods or heavier babies. 

Parents say

“I'm glad I opted for the $40 Infantino over the pricier carrier I originally wanted. It's super lightweight and my fiance and I both wear it comfortably.”

"I'm happy with it. And my baby is happy with it. I got the Moby first and returned it."

“That’s the only carrier my daughter likes! She falls asleep immediately in it."

"If I'm in it long enough my shoulders hurt, but it isn't so bad. I like how it fits my baby – and she loves it."

Specs

• Carrier type: Soft structured

• Carrying styles: 4 (front facing-in with narrow seat, front facing-in with wide seat, front facing-out, back)

• Fabric: Cotton, polyester

• Weight range: 8-32 pounds

• Age range: Newborns and up

The Ergobaby Omni 360 is the gold standard when it comes to supportive baby carriers. The waistbelt is wide and padded, with a contoured panel that sits at your lower back to give you more support. The cushioned shoulder straps can be worn straight up and down or crossed, which McMillin says is more ergonomic and comfortable for most. 

Olivia DeLong, BabyCenter’s Senior Health Editor, says that the Omni 360 was "super supportive" and she used it well into her daughter's toddlerhood. Christine Mattheis, Editorial Director, also used it from infancy to toddlerhood, and says that the waist strap "helped relieve some pressure from my achy lower back.” 

Christine also appreciated that the Omni 360's adjustability made the carrier easier to share between caregivers: the waistband fits 26 to 55 inches. “The buckle-and-strap system is very easy to adjust on your own, no help from a partner required,” she says. “The carrier fit both [my husband and I] very well, even though he's much taller than I am," (5'7" and 6'3" respectively).

Heads up

The carrier comes in a polyester mesh version for cooler ventilation.

Parents say

“Love my Ergobaby Omni 360. I have an Ergo wrap style carrier as well and I just feel like it is too difficult to get on and my baby into whereas the Omni 360 is so easy I can do it myself and my baby loves it.”

“We have the Ergobaby Omni 360 and love it. No infant insert needed and grows with your baby. We used a wrap when she was a peanut but now prefer the Omni.”

Specs

• Carrier type: Soft structured

• Carrying styles: 4 (front facing-out, front parent-facing, back, hip)

• Fabric: Cotton, polyester mesh

• Weight range: 7-45 pounds

• Age range: Newborns-48 months

With a waistband that can extend from 24 to 52 inches (or 61.5 inches with the Lillebaby waist extender), the Lillebaby Complete fits many different bodies. It has impressive comfort features too. Lisafé Carreon, Senior Product Manager at BabyCenter says she loves the panel at the back of the waistband that provides extra support: "I tried an Ergobaby as well as two cloth wraps and would end up with a sore lower back," says Lisafé. 

Lisafé also likes the zip-down front, which peels away thick outer fabric to reveal a breathable mesh inner layer: "more airflow for baby's back during warmer periods," she says. That and the (removable) sunshade helps her daughter doze off on walks. 

Heads up

Some parents say this carrier's inner mesh layer chafed their baby's delicate skin.

Parents say

"I love my Lillebaby! Both my husband and I can use it. (I'm 5 foot 2 and 150 pounds, and my hubby is 6 feet and 220 pounds.) I can also quickly change it to fit either my 15-month-old or my 3-year-old."

"There are a ton of patterns and styles of this carrier, and I like that it has an extra back support piece to help with longer wear times."

"This carrier saved my life with my second, and I'll use it again this time around. It's the only one out of six different carriers I tried that didn't hurt my back and shoulders after 5 or 10 minutes. I highly recommend."

"I love my Lillebaby and its extra support pad. It's the best."

Specs

• Carrier type: Soft structured

• Carrying styles: 6 (front legs-in, front facing-in with narrow seat, front facing-in with wide seat, front facing-out, hip, back)

• Fabric: Cotton, tencel

• Weight range: 7-45 pounds

• Age range: Newborns and up

The BabyBjorn Baby Carrier Mini is ideal for those early months when you want your baby close but don’t have the mental energy to learn how to use a wrap. The Mini is easy to put on (all the buckles are on the front of your body) and it’s equally straightforward to unfasten and lift out a sleeping baby. 

"I could never get the hang of wraps," says Sarah Darby, BabyCenter Senior SEO Content Strategist, who says that the Mini was much easier to put on. She put her carrier through its paces – "I walked probably two to three hours a day on maternity leave with [my son] in the carrier" – and found it comfortable and soothing: "It was SO soft, seemed to hug him, and he would snuggle up. I could do anything with him in it."

Heads up

The BabyBjorn Mini also comes in polyester mesh for babywearing in warm conditions.

Parents say

“I found most carriers to be really bulky; this is so much slimmer and comfier especially for around the house.” 

“It’s a little easier to get on by yourself than a wrap if you are home alone. Also holds a newborn well and fits my husband with good straps and back support.”

“I have a wrap too but felt more secure in the BabyBjorn.”

Specs

• Carrier type: Soft structured

• Carrying styles: 2 (front facing-out, front parent-facing)

• Fabric: Cotton, polyester mesh, or polyester/cotton/elastane jersey

• Weight/height range: 7-24 pounds, 21-30 inches

• Age range: Newborns to 12 months

When your baby is very small, you may find structured carriers are too big and bulky. Many parents prefer to wear newborns and infants in a wrap carrier, like the soft, stretchy, and dependable Boba. Made of 95 percent cotton and 5 percent spandex, the Boba has just enough stretch to securely hold your baby close yet allow parents to move and bend and reach without anything chafing, or your baby's weight shifting. The fabric is strong, but not heavy or thick: It's less "sweaty" than similar wrap carriers. 

The Boba is endlessly adjustable and fits parents of all sizes. It's also available in many machine-washable and dryer-safe colors and patterns. If you need help learning how to use your Boba, you can schedule a free one-on-one call with a baby wearing educator.

Heads up

Although the Boba can hold babies up to 35 pounds, most parents find it more practical to use this wrap during the early months.

Parents say

"I've used a Boba wrap for all five of my children. I absolutely love it and can't imagine how I would have survived without one. My Boba has been with me through family vacations, train travel, and just making dinners in my kitchen. It's super simple to use, and after watching one video I was wrapping like a pro."

"It's great for long periods of time and feels very secure. The only drawback is the fabric is so long it drags on the ground while I'm wrapping myself up."

"I prefer the Boba over the Moby! I plan on babywearing way more with this baby than I did with my first (I wish I had done it more with my first!). I love the Boba because it's super soft and stretchy, so much easier to maneuver my baby in and out of the wrap."

"I love it. We go for walks, do short workouts, and I can actually do the dishes with him in the Boba. My only issue is that I use it from wake-up to bedtime, so I have a hard time finding a time to wash it. I'm planning to get a second Boba so we can rotate."

Specs

• Carrier type: Wrap

• Carrying styles: 1 (front parent-facing)

• Fabric: Cotton, spandex

• Weight range: 7-35 pounds

• Age range: Newborns and up

Made with a sturdy metal frame that evenly distributes your child’s weight onto the ergonomically designed hip straps, the Deuter Kid Comfort Child Carrier is strong and comfortable enough for long hauls. The Kid Comfort also takes strain off your shoulders with a sternum strap that clips in front, and "load adjuster" straps on each shoulder that help balance an equal weight on each side. 

The Kid Comfort makes it easy to swap carrying duties between caregivers on the trail with its adjustment options, too. The pack's shoulder straps slide easily up and down to suit different heights, and both the hip and shoulder straps tighten by pulling a couple of straps. 

Heads up

This carrier is expensive but worth it, parents say. 

Parents say

“I love mine. Super adjustable, fits me and DH, optional sun/rain shield, comfy, can actually BACKPACK with it!”

“For hiking at an older age, we prefer our Deuter Kid Comfort Backpack. A front carrier would be too hot for a good hike in the summer with a backpack on as well. The Deuter has some storage space — probably not enough if you are carrying your own sleeping bag, pad, etc, but you could carry food, clothes, or other small items.”

Specs

• Carrier type: Backpack

• Carrying styles: 1 (back parent-facing)

• Fabric: Nylon-coated 210 denier polyester fabric

• Weight range: Up to 18 kilograms (39.68 pounds) 

• Age range: 9 months and up

Twin parenting is a whole new level of juggling, but the TwinGo carrier can help. You can wear two babies at once, or split the carrier in two so Mom and Dad can each carry a single baby. The split is easily accomplished: Just unclip two buckles at the front of the shoulder straps, two more on the waistband, and add shoulder straps (included). It's even easier to link the two carriers together, and with them paired you can carry up to 45 total pounds, whether you're toting twins or siblings. 

Parents sharing twin duties like that the TwinGo Air's waistband can fit waists from 20 to 99 inches. And if you don't want to carry an extra purse (and who would while wearing two babies?), you'll appreciate the pocket on the waistband that's big enough for a phone and keys. 

Heads up

This carrier has a learning curve; TwinGo has easy-to-follow videos that can help. 

Parents say

“I use mine constantly. I prefer to only wear one, but frequently wear both. Sometimes it's the only way they will nap when out and about. I live in the city, without a car, so the pockets are a big deal to me. I use them as a diaper bag.”

Specs

• Carrier type: Soft structured

• Carrying styles: 1 as twin carrier (one baby front parent-facing, the other back parent-facing); 2 as single carrier (front parent-facing, back parent-facing)

• Fabric: Cotton

• Weight range: 10-45 pounds

• Age range: Dual carry: corrected age of 4 months and up with good head/neck control awake and asleep. Single carry: 10 pounds and up for front, corrected age of 4 months and up for back