How to Choose a Baby Carrier: Expert Tips for New Parents

Babywearing is a beautiful skill that can be brought into your journey with your little one! It provides an opportunity to embrace more connection, respond easily to baby's cues as well as supports and nurtures baby's physical, cognitive, social and emotional development.

Deciding on the type of carrier, in your particular season, that provides both a sense of ease and comfort can feel a little overwhelming. This post has been created to simplify that process and guide you in your decision, so that you can confidently find a carrier that will meet the needs of both you and your baby.

Understanding the many benefits of babywearing is an important part of embracing more confidence in your babywearing skills. When we know the reason why we do what we do, we are better able to do what we do with more intention and purpose.

Let's begin.

Table of Contents

1. Benefits of Babywearing
2. Types of Baby Carriers
3. Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Baby Carrier
4. Best Baby Carrier for Your Body Shape and Size
5. Best Baby Carriers for Different Age and Weight Ranges
6. Best Baby Carriers for Mothers' Weight Ranges
7. Best Baby Carriers for Father's Weight Ranges
8. Baby Carriers for Different Occasions
9. Facing In vs. Facing Out: Which One?

Benefits of Babywearing

• Physical Benefits:

  Babywearing supports the natural development of the spine. Babies are born with a C curvature of the spine, and as a baby starts to lift up his head, and during tummy time, the cervical curve will develop. The carrier should support the natural C curve of the spine in that newborn and early season and should never force a baby into any unnatural positions or restrict natural spinal development.

  Babywearing supports digestion. By holding your baby in an upright position and moving about, we provide a little massage around the digestive system which facilitates gravity with moving milk down the digestive tract. Oxytocin is also released when you hold your baby close, and this hormone helps your baby to absorb more nutrients from the milk, making digestion more effective.

  Babywearing facilitates temperature regulation. Being held upright against the parent heart to heart will help to guard against the loss of body heat. These indicators therefore highlight that babies expect to be carried as well as shine a light on how they expect to be carried.
  Babywearing facilitates baby's breathing. Baby's breathing reaction is not yet innate and therefore the mother/primary caregiver's breathing and heartbeat is helpful in regulating that of the newborn. Positioning baby heart to heart is effective for the newborn to hear and feel the mothers heartbeat and regulate it's breathing.

• Emotional and Social benefits ~ Babywearing facilitates bonding, attachment and emotional development.

  Babywearing promotes the production of Oxytocin. Babywearing promotes the release of oxytocin, known as the bonding hormone, which strengthens attachment and has a calming effect by reducing stress hormones and increasing anti-stress hormones.
  Hormones and an increase of anti-stress hormones, causing an overall calming effect.

  Babywearing allows you to respond to baby's needs more readily and effectively. Babywearing also helps you respond to your baby's cues, making them feel safe, secure, and emotionally connected with you.

  Babywearing can be calming and grounding for you and baby. You are able to bring your baby into activities throughout the day (for example talk to your baby while going for a walk) being mindful of what you can see, hear, feel, taste and touch which promotes a sense of grounding and calm.

  Baby is also calmed by you moving about your day, while keeping your baby close in the carrier. The movement as well as being held close has a calming effect on both you and your baby.

• Babywearing promotes cognitive development and social interaction.

  Babywearing provides an opportunity for more social interaction between you and your baby throughout the day; mirroring sounds and expressions allows for development of speech and communication. You are able to talk to and point out certain things as your baby is brought along in close connection to experience the activity at hand.

• Other helpful reasons to babywear:

  Babywearing promotes confidence as a parent. It facilitates an overall attunement to your baby and improves your connection to understanding your baby's needs.
  Babywearing is useful when traveling. You can easily use public transportation, navigate airports and train stations while keeping your baby close. It also avoids others wanting to touch and hold your baby and potentially spread germs. Babywearing allows parents to tend to other tasks around the house as well as respond to the needs of other children in the home.

Types of Babywearing

There are 5 main types of baby carriers, namely soft structured carriers, ring slings, the stretchy wrap, woven wrap and meh dai. We will briefly outline these below.

• Soft Structured Carriers

  A soft structured carrier consists of a middle panel, shoulder straps and a waist belt. This carrier usually has buckles and is padded for comfort and support.Most soft structured carriers can be worn from newborn however some do not have the option to accommodate the newborn setting and therefore require an infant insert. The infant insert can be cumbersome as it is an additional piece to the carrier.

  The Aerial baby carrier is a beautiful, go-to soft structured carrier that provides ease of use, support and comfort for both you and your baby. It also features full lumbar support, with padded cross back straps and a padded waist belt. It can be worn from the newborn stage and is a great option to consider to grow with you and your baby.

  

• Ring Slings

  Ring slings consist of a length of fabric with two rings sewn in the fabric on one end of the fabric. It is worn over one shoulder with the ability to adjust and customize the fit to the baby and wearer. It does not have buckles or straps but is made to hold and support the baby, conforming his natural position against your body. A ring sling can be worn from newborn and is also a great option. It is not as intuitive to use as the Aerial soft structured carrier but with a little practice and support you can easily learn to use the ring sling in your babywearing journey.

  The Wildbird Ring Sling is made in a wide selection of beautiful fabrics and is a versatile option allowing your baby to be carried in different positions. It keeps baby snug and once you feel confident in using it, can be a great quick and easy on off carrier. Think nursing while out and about as well as dealing with multiple kids or even a quick go to for a toddler in and out of the grocery store.

  

• Wraps (stretchy and woven)

  A wrap consists of a long piece of fabric which you learn to wrap around your body and can then bring your baby on board. The baby is brought on in such a way that the wrap securely supports the baby against your body in an ergonomically, safe, and comfortable manner.

  There are typically two different types of wraps, namely a stretchy wrap and a woven wrap. The main differences between the stretchy wrap and the woven wrap is the type of fabric as well as the way that these are worn. The WildBird Aerial Buckle Wrap is a unique and newer option that combines the coziness of a soft newborn wrap with the ease of a buckle carrier. It requires less wrapping and is intuitive to use.

  The fabric of a stretchy wrap is usually made of a soft material that has some stretch to it, along the length and width of the fabric, whereas a woven wrap will not have any stretch and is made of a strong woven fabric. The stretchy wrap is mainly worn from newborn, conforms well to baby's natural position and generally is worn in a front cross carrying position (baby facing inwards, towards you, heart to heart)

  A woven wrap has more of a learning curve as the fabric is not as easy to manipulate and can feel heavier. A woven wrap has more durability however and can be worn from newborn and long into toddlerhood. It can also be worn in multiple ways, so is versatile for front, back & hip carrying. It can also be worn in a style of a ring sling by creating a slip knot at the one shoulder, as the adjustable piece, instead of the use of rings.

  A stretchy wrap usually comes in one size whereas a woven wrap varies in length, depending on what carries the wearer wants to achieve.

  

• Meh Dai or Bei Dai (often mispronounced and misspelled as "Mei Tai")

  This is an asian inspired carrier, which is worn apron style and is typically suited for a wearer with a smaller frame. It has a middle fabric panel with two long shoulder straps and a shorter waist strap. This carrier does not have any buckles or extra padding and is said to have been the inspiration for many western carriers, including the soft structured carrier.

  Type of Baby Carrier

  Description

  Features

  When Can a Baby Use

  Usage

  How to Wear Them

  Soft Structured Carriers

  Baby carriers with a middle panel, 2 shoulder straps and waist belt, adjustable buckles, and ergonomic support. A great option would be the Aerial Baby Carrier

  • Padded waist belt with buckle
  • Adjustable crossed shoulder straps for greater weight distribution across the back
  • Multiple carrying positions

  Suitable from newborn to toddler stages

  Ideal for long periods of wear; Great for outdoor activities, travel

  1. Waist band brought around the waist, fastened with buckle, tightened securely.
  2. Baby brought up onto body with middle panel, shoulder straps fastened, buckled and tightened securely.
  3. Baby positioned high & tight in carrier with knees higher than bottom, creating M seat.
  4. Back supported from baby's bottom to nape of neck, baby's airway is open & visible.
  5. Regularly check for wear and tear

  Ring Slings

  Long fabric piece with two rings sewn in at one end, used to create an adjustable pouch for the baby. A good option would be the Wildbird Ring Sling

  • Adjustable for multiple positions
  • Compact and portable

  Suitable from newborn to toddler stages

  Ideal for quick trips and on-the-go use; Good for breastfeeding but must adjust the baby to upright position after feeding in a cradled position.

  1. Thread the fabric through the rings securely
  2. Ensure fabric covers from bottom to nape of neck, in a hammock style seat with fabric between you and baby
  3. Knees higher than bottom in M position
  4. Baby's face is visible and not covered

  Wraps (Stretchy vs Woven)

  Long piece of fabric wrapped around the body to hold the baby in various positions.

  • Stretchy wrap has stretch and usually one size
  • Woven wrap has no stretch and comes in different lengths from 2m and as long as 7m

  • Even weight distribution
  • Easy to adjust and adapt to different body types
  • Versatile tying methods with woven wrap, but has a bit of a learning curve

  • Stretchy wraps suitable from newborn to within baby's first year (up to about 30lbs)
  • Woven is suitable from newborn to well into the toddler or even preschool years

  • Stretchy: great option for newborn closeness, bonding throughout the day
  • Woven wrap: keep baby close as well as great as a durable carrier for extended wearing into older toddler years
  • Woven is versatile and can be used in various carrying positions (front, hip, cradle, side, back)

  1. Practice and prepare wrap securely before bringing the baby on board
  2. Position baby with fabric supporting 3 ways across the back (stretchy wrap in front wrap cross carry)
  3. Position baby high and tight against you, fabric fully supporting baby from bottom to nape of neck
  4. Knees higher than bottom to create deep M seat
  5. Keep baby's airway clear, visible and unobstructed

  Meh Dai or Bei Dai

  Asian inspired carrier, worn apron style.

  • Middle fabric panel with two shoulder straps and a waist strap
  • No buckles or extra padding
  • Inspired many western carriers including the soft structured carrier

  Can be used from newborn and beyond. Typically used by a smaller framed wearer

  Versatile, can easily adjust to baby and wearer, *need to adjust base panel by cinching in with a scarf; can be worn on front and back

  1. Wear the carrier on the front like an apron
  2. Waist strap is tied securely in a double knot
  3. Bring baby on board with middle panel fully along baby's back up to nape of neck
  4. Shoulder straps criss cross over the shoulders and tie off around the front
  5. Pass straps over and then under baby's legs to retie at the back, a bit off center to the waist strap

Factors to Consider When Choosing the Best Baby Carrier

Babywearing is a very personal experience between you and your baby and therefore it is important to consider factors such as your body type, age and developmental stage of baby as well as your and your baby's specific needs for babywearing and what you want to achieve in your babywearing journey. In addition to these, there are a few other safety as well as comfort features you will want to be aware of when deciding on the type and brand of carrier.

Let's unpack a few of these

What season are you in and what are your hopes for your babywearing journey? Are you still pregnant and looking into options? Are you a first time parent and new to babywearing or are you already familiar with babywearing and looking to add to your skill or want to try something different? Do you have a couple of kids and are now adding a new baby to the family?

• What season are you in and what are your hopes for your babywearing journey?
• Are you still pregnant and looking into options?
• Are you a first time parent and new to babywearing or are you already familiar with babywearing and looking to add to your skill or want to try something different?
• Do you have a couple of kids and are now adding a new baby to the family?

Consider what you will be doing when you babywear? While having your baby close to you to promote bonding and connection and being able to respond to your baby's needs more easily, also think about things such as: Do you want to have your baby close to you while carrying out daily tasks at home? Going for a walk? Gardening? Caring for other children? Working from home? Some carriers are better suited to certain situations and more in alignment to you and your baby's needs at different developmental stages.

For example, the Aerial Carrier is a great option for going on a hike as it offers more support whereas a ring sling might be the choice for a picnic or visit with a friend or a quick go-to to run an errand with a toddler at the grocery store.

Fit and Comfort:

It is important to choose a carrier that has ease of use and adjustability, especially if you decide to use the same carrier with two different wearers.

The Aerial Baby Carrier features both of these factors making it an easy option to consider. It can be used by multiple wearers because it is so easy to adjust to fit your body shape and size.

It is also important to obtain an ergonomic, safe and supportive position and in order to do this you need to consider a few safety features.

Hip Health:

Hip health tends to be an ongoing concern when it comes to babywearing and hence carriers can now be recognized as “hip healthy” by organizations such as the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. A study by Safeer Siddicky et al. found wide-base carriers promote healthy hip development similar to the Pavlik harness, unlike narrow-base carriers. This supports using “M” position carriers. Read more here.

Alongside other carriers and wraps, The Aerial baby carrier is a soft structured carrier that proudly meets the requirements for a “hip healthy” carrier by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

What exactly is the M-position? This position refers to the position of the baby's bottom in relation to his knees and legs when supported by the base of the carrier. We want the carrier to support the baby in an “M” shape where the baby's bottom is in a deep seat with his knees higher than his bottom, creating an M shape. This position supports natural hip development and is recommended by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI).

A supportive seat is crucial to facilitate safe, secure and comfortable wearing. A carrier that features an adjustable base is important in order to obtain the ideal width to achieve knee to knee support in the carrier. This way the carrier can accommodate different developmental stages of the baby and can grow with the baby to adjust as he grows. This wide base adjustable seat facilitates proper support to promote healthy hip position in the carrier as discussed above.

The Aerial baby carrier features an easily adjustable base seat to accommodate all stages of baby's development, from newborn (allowing the seat width to be narrow) to well into toddlerhood (allowing the seat width to be widened) by adjusting the clips on the inside of the waist band.

Safety Features of Carriers

When discussing safety features, we are shining a light on the design of the carrier to ensure that practical safety measures are provided to help facilitate safe comfortable wearing. The Aerial baby carrier is designed to allow ease of wear knowing that you and your baby are secure when using the carrier.

1. Head and Neck Support

   Carriers should support your baby's natural posture, especially for their head, neck, and spine. An ergonomic carrier keeps your baby's legs in an "M" shape, which helps prevent hip dysplasia and supports healthy joint development.

   In particular, the supportive design of the Aerial baby carrier ensures proper seat, back and neck support. The added head support for newborns allows the extra support if needed, for example, while the baby is asleep, however is also designed to not be restrictive so the baby can still freely move his head and neck hence supporting natural head & neck control in this early season of development.

2. Secure Fastening System

   Whether it's buckles, ties, or snaps, the fastening system should be robust and reliable. Test the fasteners to ensure they won't come loose or detach during wear, and look for models with double locking mechanisms for added safety.

   The Aerial baby carrier ensures that all fastenings including buckles, straps and clips are sturdy, strong and secure. The way that the waistband is threaded through the secure square ring and back on itself to buckle, provides an added layer of safety to prevent accidental opening. It is important to also remember to listen for the "click" when fastening the buckles.

3. Compliance with Safety Standards

   Look for carriers that meet safety standards and certifications, such as those from ASTM International. Certified carriers have passed rigorous testing, which adds a layer of safety assurance.

   It is good to know if a carrier is certified under safety compliance standards by recognised organizations. The Aerial baby carrier alongside the other WildBird baby carriers are certified with the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM). They are also compliant with the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA).This acknowledges that these carriers are made from high-quality material and are tested to ensure safety over time.

4. Clear View of the Baby's Face

   A clear view of the baby's face is essential for ensuring their safety, comfort, and well-being, particularly when using baby carriers or wraps. It allows parents or caregivers to monitor the baby's breathing, facial expressions, and general comfort, helping to detect any signs of distress. Keeping the baby's face visible also ensures proper airflow, preventing overheating and suffocation.

Comfort for Baby and Parent:

A comfortable baby carrier is crucial to encourage an enjoyable experience for both you and baby as well as promotes a desire to use babywearing in your parenting journey and encourages extended use of the carrier. In order to achieve a level of comfort, the material, padding, support features and aesthetics are important. When shining a light on the Aerial baby carrier we can see how the design of this carrier has taken comfort into account to ensure a beautiful experience for baby and wearer.

Some of these comfort features include:

• Padded shoulder straps which are worn criss cross to ensure better weight distribution across the back.
• Padded waistband which also provides added lumbar support
• Added and adjustable head support for baby to provide added head and neck support if needed
• Ergonomic design: designed to support baby's natural position, with an adjustable base which promotes healthy hip development, as discussed above.
• Adjustable Straps and seat: these features accommodate the growth of your baby and to distribute their weight evenly across your body.

User-Friendliness of Baby Carriers:

A baby carrier needs to feel easy to use so that it is not made to feel overwhelming. An intuitive design enables the wearer to gain confidence quicker and is more likely to make use of the carrier more. A user-friendly carrier facilitates an enjoyable experience for both wearer and baby and helps to ease the process around the learning aspect of babywearing. The Aerial carrier is designed with this intuitive approach and helps to ease the overwhelm that may be felt by the new parent who is wanting to learn the skill of babywearing.

Simplicity: The Aerial baby carrier encourages independence of the wearer to put on and take off the carrier without needing outside assistance.This is so important as it can become a stumbling block for wearers if the carrier is not set up for success. Yes, there is a learning curve and can take some practice, but a simple approach with intuitive design can make such a difference.

Instructions and Learning Curve: Some carriers are more intuitive to use than others so it is important to look for carriers that come with clear instructions or online tutorials. Reaching out to a babywearing educator can be so helpful too.

Wildbird does a beautiful job of creating clear, comprehensive instruction pamphlets as well as video tutorials to help you with the learning curve that comes with using a new carrier. As a company they value the customers overall experience and strive to provide you with confidence, ease and an enjoyable babywearing journey.

Portability: If you travel often, a lightweight, compact carrier that is easy to pack might be beneficial. The Aerial carrier folds up in a compact way and has a bag made to fit your carrier.

Best Carrier Material for Baby Skin:

It is important to consider the durability of the fabric as it must be able to resist tearing and overstretching to ensure safety of baby and wearer. Sturdy fabric will also ensure long term use and ease of caring for the fabric is important too so that it can be easily washed and dried and wont cause the fabric to damage. The texture and softness of the fabric would also be considered to provide comfort. The material of the carrier will be in contact with your and baby's skin so it is important to have a fabric that does not contain any harmful substances.

If you are looking for a carrier that has been created with baby's skin in mind, consider the Aerial baby carrier which is made of 100% natural linen and woven with luxurious European linen fibers. It has a premium polyester mesh lining and nylon straps.
The Aerial baby carrier which is made of 100% natural linen and woven with luxurious European linen fibers. It has a premium polyester mesh lining and nylon straps.
This carrier can easily be washed in cool water by hand or you can machine wash it on a gentle cycle which makes it easy to care for. A gentle liquid detergent free of optical brighteners is recommended to maintain the color of its beautiful fabric.

Best Baby Carrier for Your Body Shape and Size

Human beings come in all different shapes and sizes and therefore we need to consider what might be the best type of carrier to suit our unique body type. Below are some examples of carriers that might be better suited to a particular size and body shape. While some carriers are made to accommodate all sizes, others may not and some may just typically be preferred over others depending on body size and shape. An example is a short, petite woman may find a mai dai more comfortable whereas a tall, broad-shouldered man would prefer a soft structured carrier with more padding and support.

Best baby carrier for your body shape:

Best Baby Carrier for Your Body Size:

Best Baby Carriers for Different Age and Weight Ranges

Certain carriers will be best suited for different developmental stages and seasons of parenting. Some carriers and wraps will be more in alignment to support a newborn size and weight, some better suited to support older babies and toddlers and some that have the versatility and durability to accommodate the growth of your baby from newborn into toddlerhood. The following table will outline the type of carrier that is suggested to best suit specific weight and age ranges.

Best Baby Carriers for Mothers' Weight Ranges

Babywearing is a tool that is accessible to all women regardless of their weight ranges. A babywearing company that is all inclusive with providing options of carriers to suit all frames and weight can be beneficial when looking for a carrier. Here is an indication of which carriers will best suit different weight ranges of a female wearer.

Best Baby Carriers for Father's Weight Ranges

Males tend to have larger body types and broader shoulders than women, hence a carrier with more structure and support seems to better suit a male frame. However, in the newborn phase, males tend to enjoy using wraps which conform to the baby's natural newborn position. It facilitates a feeling of closeness and helps in the bonding process. Below is however an indication of what carrier might work best with different weight ranges of men.

Baby Carriers for Different Occasions

Different occasions will lend themselves to making use of different carriers. It can be more comfortable and supportive to use a padded soft structured carrier with lumbar support, such as the Aerial carrier, when going on a hike or longer walk. A ring sling might be an option for a quick visit to the grocery store. A stretchy wrap may be a better choice to hold the baby close while moving about the house, making a sandwich or keeping baby close in the newborn phase to promote bonding. It is a good idea to consider which carriers are better suited to different scenarios in order to make your experience more comfortable and enjoyable.

Facing In vs. Facing Out: Which One?

When asking this question, we need to consider the baby's development stage. It is important that the way we face a baby is in alignment with their current developmental season so that the babywearing experience continues to nurture and support a baby's continued overall development. Let us unpack when to face out vs face in and how might each of these positions be beneficial.

Facing in:

Babies are born with an expectation and need to be held and carried. The way in which a baby clings to its mother in a spread squat (froggy) position and the natural instinct of a mother/caregiver to hold her baby heart to heart encourages bonding, helps temperature regulation, baby's can easily hear mothers heartbeat which is a familiar sound from the womb and it can be very calming. Head and neck control is still developing and so holding your baby towards you (facing in) provides a natural supportive position. Facing in also supports the natural ‘c' curvature of the spine in this early stage of development.

The carrier of choice should therefore support this natural “facing in” position during the newborn and early infancy stage, predominantly up to 6 months of age. The close contact provides a sense of security and promotes bonding. It encourages parents to check in with their baby more regularly and respond quicker to the baby's needs.

Baby is able to check in with the wearer, make eye contact and mirror facial expressions and sounds which encourages more communication

Breastfeeding and hunger cues: Facing in allows parents to respond to hunger cues and then also breastfeeding in this position becomes a possibility as it offers easy access and can be a comfortable, more descreed position for both mother and baby especially when out and about.

Napping: Facing in towards you allows your baby to sleep in the carrier in a comfortable position with adequate head and neck support as they are also able to lean against your chest.

The Aerial baby carrieris designed as a front “facing in” carrier as well as has the option to to be used as a back carry.

Facing out:

Facing out is typically encouraged for older infants (from 6 months of age) when your baby is able to hold himself up more securely with good head and neck control. Babies who are showing more curiosity and enjoy seeing and interacting with the outside surroundings may enjoy facing out for a short period of time.

Facing out can encourage more active engagement with the environment however this position tends to lead to babies becoming overstimulated so therefore a short period of time of facing out is recommended. Perhaps for a short walk or for a little while during a social event.

It is more tricky to check in with your baby if he is facing out as it makes it more difficult to pick up on his facial cues and expressions.

It is not recommended that a baby falls asleep in the facing out position as there is no head support. When a baby falls asleep while facing out in the carrier, his head will naturally fall forward which can cause an uncomfortable position and possible airway obstruction.

It is a nice option if a carrier has the versatility to face out, however just still be aware of obtaining a good supportive seat with knees higher than bottom and consider your baby's age and developmental stage before trying this out.

A word on back carrying

An alternative carry is a back carry which is a great option to consider once baby is able to sit independently and as he gets older, into toddlerhood, for extended wearing. Using a soft structured carrier in a back carrying position can be a great choice for hiking. This position is better suited ergonomically for both baby and wearer than the “facing out” position. Back carrying can be a fun, explorative activity and still promotes interaction between wearer and baby. Baby is able to fall asleep positioned on the back and will still be well supported by the carrier and lean against your back for head support. The Aerial carrier has the versatility to back carry which can be a good alternative to consider as baby gets older.