Baby Wearing: Your Guide to the Best Baby Carriers of 2023!
If you’re wanting a way to deepen the bond with your baby while also having more hands free time to yourself, then baby wearing is the answer for you! Baby wearing is an ancestral practice that has been used around the world for hundreds of thousands of years. A few of the amazing benefits of wearing your baby include the following:
- provides healthy cognitive and social developmental growth
- it prevents flattening of the head
- helps with colic
- helps support healthy weight gain
- breastfeeding friendly/helps increase milk supply
- helps with baby’s sleep
- reduction in postpartum depression
- allows for bonding and time spent with older children
- reduction in reflux
- supports physical growth in preemies
- encourages mother/baby bonding
- less crying
When I talk with new moms about tips/tricks with having a baby, baby wearing is always one of the first things I touch on as I am a huge advocate for wearing your little one! My boys are 21 months apart and I honestly don’t know what I would do if I wasn’t able to wear my youngest on me all the time to keep up with my 2 year old. Baby wearing has allowed me to be the involved and present mom I strive to be with both boys at the same time, a priceless gift that I’m so thankful for. Let’s talk below about the different type of carriers available and which ones would work best for you and your babe.
Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links to products I own and love, as well as those I highly recommend. As an Amazon associate, I earn from qualifying purchases when you click on the links at no additional cost to you.
Wraps
My absolute, hands down favorite style carrier for wearing a newborn is a wrap. Its basically a long piece of fabric that you twist and configure around your shoulders and midsection to create a cozy, womb like feeling for your baby. I love how wraps are easily adjustable to fit all body types/sizes while still getting that snug feel your baby desires. Often women can be intimidated by the wrap style, so I highly suggest watching some videos on YouTube to practice wrapping yourself so that you’re a pro by the time that little bundle arrives. I own both Solly Baby and Moby wraps, which I equally love for their own differences. The Solly Baby is a lighter, more breathable fabric which I find has suited me best during the hot summer months and when my babies are infants. Once a few months old, I like switching to the Moby wrap for the thicker material which helps support my boys weight while still giving securely wrapping them snug against my body. The Boba wrap also has incredible reviews from moms as it fits all body types and will grow with your baby up to 35 lbs!
Slings
For a more short term baby wearing experience (due to the uneven weight distribution), slings are a wonderful option for keeping your babe close while getting some things done around the house. A sling is made up of a wide piece of fabric that goes over your shoulder and torso, creating a cozy pouch for your little one to snuggle up in. A few of the top favorite slings include the Moby Ring Sling, Nalakai Ring Sling and the Hip Baby Wrap.
Hybrids
Hybrid carriers provide you with the snug feel of a wrap, but also the the convenience of a structured carrier. The Boppy Comfyfit Hybrid Baby Carrier has top reviews for its soft, breathable fabric and the 3 simple steps it takes to put on. It has a padded waist belt for support as well as wide shoulder straps to help distribute weight evenly. Theres also a small zipper storage pouch. The Moby Easy Wrap Carrier is another top favorite when it comes to hybrids for it soft 100% cotton T-shirt style fabric, padded back support as well as buckles to easily adjust the sizing to get the perfect fit.
Structured Carriers
Soft structured baby carriers are versatile as they can not only be used from the newborn stage through toddlerhood, but many of them also offer multiple carrying options such as front inward, front backward, back and hip. They’re easy to throw on when you’re in a rush, and many offer added support and padding to keep both the parent and baby comfortable while on the go. I personally use (daily) and love the Ergo Baby Omni 360. It has lumbar support, padded straps and a cooling mesh fabric to keep both my baby and myself cool and comfortable through hikes, sporting events, beach walks and everything in between. The straps are easy to adjust and makes switching between my husband and a breeze. Many friends of mine own the Baby Tula Coast Explore Mesh Carrier and cannot say enough amazing things about it. If you’re a mom of multiples, the Twingo Original Baby Carrier is a wonderful option.
I hope you’ve found this post helpful in figuring out what the best carrier option is for you and your baby and I wish you many fun adventures ahead! I’d love to hear from you in the comments below about which carrier is your favorite, and the places you’ve worn your baby!
