Babble Best Picks:
Baby Carriers
There comes a time in every parent's life when they're introduced to something so genius, so life-changing, that they simply can't imagine how they mustered through life without it. And that something is a baby carrier. Whether it's for closer baby bonding, hands-free convenience or an attachment parenting lifestyle, a baby carrier can be an essential baby product for the sleepless newborn days all the way through the heavy toddler years. You just have to find the right one for you.
To make your search easier, Babble tested dozens of baby carriers in every style imaginable - soft-structure, slings, wraps, backpacks - to find the best for your particular lifestyle. Don't see your favorite? Feel free to nominate it!
BEST FOR NEWBORNS | Baby K'Tan
While we generally agree that wrap-style carriers are best for newborns and small infants, we had a hard time deciding between the Moby Wrap and the Baby K'Tan. Both are supportive and well made, and the biggest selling point is that there's no bulky contraption to strap on and off. Parents usually wear small babies more often than toddlers (to get chores done around the house, ease colic, soothe to sleep, etc.), and these wrap carriers are basically like wearing a shirt. You can pretty much leave it on all day without it getting in the way.
That being said, we ultimately decided that the Baby K'Tan is our favorite wrap carrier. It comes in two loops of fabric that can be worn in 8 different positions - even accommodating twins. The Moby Wrap, on the other hand, is one extremely long piece of fabric that needs to be wrapped, twisted and tied, and our tester didn't find it quite as easy to put on. While both the Baby K'Tan and the Moby Wrap take some time to master (we really liked the Moby Wrap once we got the hang of it), the Baby K'Tan simply has less fabric to deal with.
There is a slight downside to the Baby K'Tan, however: Since it's fitted to each individual (sizes x-small to x-large), it might be hard for multiple caregivers to switch off. The Moby Wrap, on the other hand, can be adjusted for any body type - it just takes a little longer to do so.
READERS’ CHOICE | Phil + Teds Pepe
We didn’t find anything glaringly wrong with the Phil + Teds Pepe – in fact, we liked the cushiony feel of the insulating New Zealand merino lining – but there are better soft-structure carriers out there. It’s a bit on the tiny side (our 22-month-old wasn’t very comfortable), but it’s a perfectly fine alternative for younger babies. And because it’s smaller and more lightweight than other options, this might be a good one to keep stashed in the diaper bag for quick on-the-go errands. But if you’re looking for a long-term investment, this isn’t the best choice.
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