Top 5 Best Soft Baby Carriers | 2018 Reviews
Babies thrive best in the warmest and coziest of places, just like things were when they were still in their mother’s womb.
However, making sure that they are provided with such kind of environment after birth can be tough. After all, chores still need to be done. Good thing baby carriers were invented to help keep moms and dads hands-free while still making sure that their little ones stay relaxed and comfortable. And, such feature is not just great indoors but is also a big plus for traveling families.
There are all sorts of baby slings, baby wraps and baby carriers available but the truly best ones are those that are designed to wrap around the baby’s body and provide the best support. It is also important that the carriers allow even distribution of the weight to prevent straining the back and the waist of the wearer.
So, how do you choose the best baby carrier that will meet everyone’s needs and preferences? Make sure to consider the following most important things:
- Weight and height of the baby
- Ease of use
- Ease of cleaning
- Safety and comfort of the baby
- Safety and comfort of the wearer
Choosing the best baby carriers to accompany you through your baby wearing years can be a tough challenge so we have put together a list of baby carrier reviews to help make your decision a whole lot easier. But before that, you may also read our comprehensive Best Soft Baby Carrier Buying Guide here.
Check out below our list of the top 5 best soft baby carriers for your infants and toddlers.
Quick Comparison Table
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Tula Ergonomic Baby Carrier |
Ergobaby Four Position 360 Baby Carrier |
Infantino Sash Wrap and Tie Baby Carrier |
Moby Wrap Moderns Baby Carrier |
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Original |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
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$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
$$$ |
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Birth to 50 pounds |
12 to 33 pounds |
8 to 32 pounds |
8 to 35 pounds |
8 to 24 pounds |
 |
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|
|
|
Tula Ergonomic Baby Carrier
Tula baby carriers first started gaining its popularity among babywearing moms. However, it became one of the most used products available in the mainstream market later on. It may come with a simple design but it certainly does not lack in the performance department.
Among the things we love most about this baby carrier is that it is among the safest product there is. It is able to maintain a clear airway ensuring safety for your baby, provides proper ergonomics as well as full support for the head, neck and spine. In fact, its seat is among the widest in the market so it ensures that babies stay in their natural frog position and prevent the legs from dangling.
The Tula carrier provides comfort for both parent and baby in that it uses a thinner fabric to make it less bulky and more breathable. Even so, it does not compromise safety and still stays strong. In fact, it has one of the highest maximum carrying capacities of all the best baby carriers included in this list.
Infants and toddlers can fall asleep and stay that way comfortably. The carrier comes with a lot of space on top and a deep seat with plenty of support. The leg holes also have padding around the rims for added comfort. As for the parents, the design of the carrier ensures that the weight is distributed properly, no back pains are created and that the muffin top which happens when using carriers are prevented.
We love that the Tula baby carrier can be used at just about anywhere, even when going about the daily routines at home. They can also carry toddlers and older babies as well as infants through the infant insert. It is also machine-washable so you can toss it in the laundry then hung out to dry – and you’re good to go.
For its many pluses, we are placing the Tula carrier at the top of our list.
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Details of the Tula Ergonomic Baby Carrier |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
1.5 pounds |
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Dimensions |
10.4 x 8.5 x 4.8 inches |
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Weight Recommendation |
Birth to 50 pounds |
Ergobaby Four Position 360 Baby Carrier
If you are looking for the best baby carrier that will allow the kiddos to sit front-facing, back-facing or from the back of the parent, the Ergo Baby Carrier is your best pick.
But how does this one differ from the others? Well, the biggest plus we loved so much about this carrier is that it is the ONLY carrier that allowed kiddos to sit in the ergonomic and correct frog position even if they decide to face front. Yep, it has a deep seat that provides a lot of support so they stay comfortable inside. While sitting in the carrier, they can let their weight rest in their bottoms and they can have their knees at the same level as their hips.
In terms of the ease of use, the Ergo Baby does not disappoint. There are just some buttons that you need to adjust in case you want your baby to get inside in a different position but otherwise, there isn’t a lot of fuss when using it.
Unfortunately, there are still a lot of things that we did not quite love about the Ergo Baby. For one, it gets hard to adjust it especially when you have a sleeping baby inside. The waistband is awesome in that it is wide and assures you that the plastic buckle will not keep digging into your skin. However, the Velcro makes a loud noise and has to be completely opened up in order to tighten or loosen it.
Another complaint we have about this carrier is its chest clip. This clip stays between the shoulder blades at the back when in the front carry position but adjusting it proves to be quite a challenge especially with very limited shoulder flexibility.
The limited adjustability, loud Velcro straps and the low maximum weight limit are among the reasons why we had to push this product to the second spot in our list.
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Details of the Ergobaby Four Position 360 Baby Carrier |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
2.2 pounds |
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Dimensions |
6.7 x 6.7 x 10.4 inches |
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Weight Recommendation |
12 to 33 pounds |
Infantino Sash Wrap and Tie Baby Carrier
Yet another recommended product in our list of the best baby carriers is the Infantino Sash Mei Tai. This lightweight carrier is perfect for parents on the go as well as those with babies who tend to be on the heavy side. The carrier is designed to let the baby’s weight stay on the parent’s hips so it doesn’t strain the back or the shoulders.
What did we like about this Infantino baby carrier? For one, it allows the baby to stay in its deep seat and allow the legs to follow the correct ergonomic frog position. Clear airway is maintained and adequate head and neck support is provided. Because of this, baby can sleep in and stay that way in the carrier. Another thing we love about this mei tai carrier is that it didn’t get hot even in warm conditions. The shoulder straps are wide and well padded and the weight of the baby gets distributed around the hips. Since the carrier can easily be adjusted, it is the perfect product for plus-sized users and multiple wearers. It also does not require an infant insert when using it with small babies.
The only thing we did not quite love about it is that we did not quite feel like it had all the necessary support when baby sits in the back carry position. Sure, we can have it tied tighter but the legs become squeezed when doing so. It is, however, much easier to use compared to other wrap-style carriers that constantly need other people when putting it around the wearer and the baby.
We may have been wowed by its ease of use and its easy storage (it can be folded compactly and made to fit in most diaper bags, unlike other bulkier designs), we did not quite like its lack of support. However, for a great price of $35, you do get what you pay for.
After weighing all the pros and cons, we have decided to place this one in the middle of our list.
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Details of the Infantino Sash Wrap and Tie Baby Carrier |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
1.2 pounds |
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Dimensions |
10.2 x 10.2 x 4.3 inches |
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Weight Recommendation |
8 to 32 pounds |
Moby Wrap Moderns 100% Cotton Baby Carrier
While the Moby baby wrap carrier was designed with a simple concept in mind, it proves to require quite a steep learning curve.
The entire fabric is made of soft, stretchy cotton that wraps around the wearer’s body and that of the baby’s. Laid out, this baby wrap can go as long as 18 feet. For beginners, using the wrap on your own can be tricky but it does get better and quicker as you get used to it.
This wrap carrier is best used with small babies as they love to be swaddled and held very close to their mom. We love that the fabric allows even distribution of the baby’s weight and that it keeps them secure even without the parent’s hands constantly around the baby. Since very young babies usually just fall asleep, their heads can stay safely tucked under the fabric. The position of the baby inside the wrap allows their hips and spine to be properly supported.
Unfortunately, even though the Moby Wrap feels like heaven for baby wearers, it actually is not as much. One of the things we did not quite like is the type of fabric being used. It tends to get hot for both parent and baby even during the cooler months. A newer version of the Moby Wrap has been made available to address such issue.
Another thing that hinders parents from using this soft baby carrier is that it tends to be really difficult to use especially during the first few times. Using this with a toddler can be quite a challenge when you do not have help around. It tends to be easier on smaller babies but there is also the problem of dragging around the long stretch of fabric when putting it on.
We also find the wrap carrier to be limiting in terms of position when using with toddlers. As such, we will have to place this one on the fourth spot in our list.
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Details of the Moby Wrap Moderns 100% Cotton Baby Carrier |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
0.2 ounces |
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Dimensions |
3 x 3 x 0.2 inches |
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Weight Recommendation |
8 to 35 pounds |
Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Original
We were a little hesitant about adding the Baby Bjorn carrier into our list but it did have quite a handful of pros when tested.
So, let’s start with the good points. The Baby Bjorn is the perfect starting carrier from 0 to 4 months of age. It provides ample support for babies around that height and weight and they stay inside in quite a comfortable position. We love that this product is lightweight and very easy to use so it is a big plus for both parent and baby. This is certainly a great baby carrier when you have a newborn.
However, as your kiddo starts to get older, it also becomes more uncomfortable to have them seated inside. The seat is not very deep so it does not allow the kiddos to stay in that ergonomically correct frog position. For older kids, the legs tend to dangle nearly straight down, especially when they are placed inside in the front carry position. The major concern is mostly on the hip placement and the pressure being placed on the infant’s genitals, especially in male babies. The baby’s weight can also be a source of major discomfort in the wearer’s shoulders as well. You will definitely feel the strain as the baby starts growing.
This baby carrier is a classic design and it is totally understandable to want something tested and proven especially if it is your first product. However, you might also want to consider other designs instead. You might also want to take note that this product lacks a sleeping hood and a storage pocket, which can be inconvenient for some.
Because of the limited carrying positions and the discomfort it tends to bring to its wearer and the baby inside, we will have to push this down the bottom of the list. It is a great starter carrier but not something to be used beyond 6 months.
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Details of the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier Original |
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|---|---|
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Weight |
1.2 pounds |
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Dimensions |
11.4 x 10.2 x 3.4 inches |
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Weight Recommendation |
8 to 24 pounds |
Conclusion
Finding the right soft baby carrier can be a challenge but you only need to keep in mind the safety and comfort of both the wearer and the kid inside it. Test it out if you have to and make sure that it provides plenty of support and seating space so that your baby stays comfortable no matter how long they inside the baby carrier.
Slings and wraps are also a great option but they tend to be inconvenient for parents so be sure to choose one that you will stay comfortable using. It will be hard to use at first but it will tend to become easier once you get used to it. Good luck and have a great time wearing your baby everywhere you go!
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