With the plethora of baby carriers available on the market these days, choosing one for your particular needs can be a daunting exercise. Below is a quick overview of the different types of baby carriers available which will hopefully help you narrow down your choices. This is by no means a comprehensive list, but should give you a starting point in your research. For recommendation on carriers available in New Zealand, please visit www.slingbabies.co.nz.

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Pouch

A pouch is a popular first carrier because it is simply a tube of fabric without rings, buckles or straps to adjust. Also, a pouch is small and lightweight so it’s easy to wear around the house and pop baby in and out. Since it does not have a tail, pouches also offer a streamlined look. Sizing a fitted pouch is very important for getting a comfortable fit.

Pros: very easy to use, streamlined look appealing for mainstream parents & dads, great for quick trips, great for newborn cradle carry and toddler hip carry, very portable

Cons: weight only on one shoulder so not as comfy for heavy babies, getting the right size is tricky (especially postpartum), cannot be shared between different-sized parents

Recommended pouch brands available in Australia: Hotslings, Peanut Shell, Karma Baby

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Ring Sling

Compared to a pouch, a ring sling does take longer to learn. However, despite the learning curve, ring slings do have a few advantages over a pouch: they are easier to breastfeed in, the tail makes a great breastfeeding cover-up or blanket, they are more adjustable and they offer better head support for a sleeping child.

Pros: very versatile (can be used in many different positions from cradle to hip), adjustable (easier to get a good fit & can be shared between different-sized parents), great for hands-free breastfeeding, great for quick trips, very portable

Cons: weight only on one shoulder so not as comfy for heavy babies, some learning curve involved (must get used to adjusting fabric through rings)

Recommended ring sling brands available in Australia: Maya Wrap, Wildslings, Bear Hug Baby, Zolowear, TaylorMade, Ellaroo

Pouch and ring sling are not only good for newborns and lighter babies, but also excellent for hip carrying older babies and up-and-down toddlers. They will give your older child the security s/he needs while freeing both your hands. Ring sling with a wide shoulder and an open tail allows for maximum comfort and adjustability, unlike commonly available padded slings with clips/buckles.

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Asian-style Carrier

Asian-style carriers distribute the child’s weight across both shoulders, your waist, and upper body and are going to be more comfortable when carrying an infant for long periods of time or carrying a heavy child. Some examples of Asian-style carriers are Mei Tai (China), Podaegi (Korea), and Onbuhimo (Japan).

Pros: weight distributed over both shoulders and waist so great for heavier babies/toddlers, easy to use, one size fit most (larger people may need XL straps), great for front and back carry

Cons: not as secure for newborns, some people don’t like dealing with long straps and tying (especially when outdoors), may not suit some body types for long back carry due to soft waist

Another popular type in this category is a soft structured carrier. These are mei-tai-inspired carriers with buckles, padded shoulder straps and often a padded waist/hip belt.

Pros: excellent weight distribution over both shoulders and to the waist/hip, excellent for back carry, great for carrying heavy children & toddlers, easy to use and adjust due to the buckles and straps (like a backpack), mainstream look appealing to dads

Cons: smaller and larger people may not get a good fit due to the limitation of the straps, some people find the stiff waist belt uncomfortable especially in the front carry, cannot do high back carry (smaller babies cannot see over wearer’s shoulders), most are not ideal for hip carry

Recommended Mei Tai brands available in Australia: Kozy Carrier, Babyhawk, Catbird Baby, Ellaroo, MayaTie

Recommended Soft Structured Carrier brands available in Australia: Pikkolo, Patapum, Yamo, Ergo, AngelPack, Beetlebum, Scootababy Hip Carrier

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Wrap

Wraps are another type of two-shouldered carrier that is comfortable to wear for long periods of time and with heavier children. Essentially long pieces of fabric, wraps are the most versatile of baby carriers (can be worn over one or two shoulders and in many positions), but have the steepest learning curve. Stretchy wraps are easier to learn and are very “poppable” (can take the baby in and out easily), but have a lower weight limit than woven wraps (usually up to 6 months of age). Woven wraps are especially comfortable for carrying heavy child and can be a good choice for people on a budget as one carrier that will last from newborn through preschooler.

Pros: extremely versatile (can be used in many positions - front, back, hip), excellent weight distribution over both shoulders and torso, very comfortable even for long carry, very adjustable & can fit any size, great for hands-free breastfeeding, has multitude of uses beyond babywearing (as hammock, picnic blanket, etc.)

Cons: some learning curve involved (especially in the back carry), some people don’t like dealing with long piece of fabric (especially when outdoor), some wraps can be warm to wear in hot weather

Recommended stretchy wrap brands available in Australia: Hug-a-bub, Moby, Bali Baby Stretch, SleepyWrap

Recommended woven wrap brands available in Australia: Storchenwiege, Vatanai, Lana, Ellaroo, Bali Baby Breeze

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Summary

Depending on the length of time you plan on carrying your child, it’s nice to have both one-shoulder carriers (pouch and/or ring sling) and two-shouldered carriers (an Asian-style and/or wrap) because each is useful in different situations. A pouch or ring sling is great for newborns and lighter babies (especially in the cradle carry), and are also great for carrying older babies and toddlers in the hip carry for quick trips to the store or around the house when the child wants up and down. A soft structured carrier, Mei Tai or wrap is useful for extended carries like sleeping, grocery shopping, hiking or when caring for a sick child.

Best carrier types for different situations:

• Hands-free breastfeeding: open-tail ring sling
• Newborn upright (tummy-to-tummy) position: stretchy & woven wrap, adjustable-bottom Asian-style carrier, open-tail ring sling
• Cradle position: open-tail ring sling, pouch
• Facing out position: adjustable-bottom Asian-style carrier, stretchy wrap
• Heavy baby in front (facing in) carry: woven wrap, Mei Tai with wide and/or padded straps
• Heavy baby in back carry: Mei Tai with wide and/or padded straps, woven wrap, soft structured carrier
• Quick hip carry: pouch, Asian-style hip carrier
• Ease of back carry: soft structured carrier, Mei Tai
• Over-the-shoulder and newborn back carry: woven wrap, Mei Tai
• Fastest for in-and-out and out-and-about with no dragging tail: pouch, ring sling, soft structured carrier

Best carriers by age range:

• Newborn to pre-sitting infant (0-5 months), baby prefers being carried upright, facing in: stretchy & woven wrap, open-tail ring sling, adjustable-bottom Mei Tai
• Newborn to pre-sitting infant (0-5 months), baby doesn’t like facing in, prefers lying down (cradle) position: open-tail ring sling, pouch, short woven wrap
• Sitter/Crawler/Cruiser (5-12 months): woven wrap or Mei Tai for front/back carry; soft structured carrier for back carry; ring sling or pouch or Asian-style hip carrier for hip carry
• Toddlers and Preschoolers (1-3 years): pouch or ring sling or Asian-style hip carrier for hip carry; Mei Tai, woven wrap, or soft structured carrier for front/back carry