Finding the best baby carrier can be a task and a half, especially when it comes to finding one that fits both parents.
Being that we are physically different, what works for mom might not work well with dad and it will become a lot more complicated than you think if you get one that isn’t compatible with both.
From what was supposed to make things a lot easier can turn into a lot of not so comfortable baby carrier experiences and I’m sure we don’t want that happening.
Keep in mind that you won’t be using a carrier for a very long time so there is no reason that you should have to deal with an uncomfortable carrier that isn’t giving you 100% satisfaction.
So for those of you who are in the market for a new baby carrier, here is a list of some of the best ones we have come across that fits great for both mom and dad.
But first, what even determine’s what is “best”?
Let me explain how we decided picked our list of best baby carriers for both moms and dads because getting the best requires a lot more than just looking at it.
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How We Decide on What is Best
Of course we are all different and what works for one person might not work for another, especially when genders are involved.
What fits ones budget might be a little high for another and one style might be awesome for mom but flat out doesn’t go well with dad because well, dad doesn’t do pink.
So we have selected a few categories from what we feel is necessary for a nice, solid baby carrier and that is how we made our final decision.
Comfort
As a parent, baby’s needs will and should always come first.
You are the one who will nurture this child and show them what love and care is all about.
So having comfort is our biggest factor in picking our baby carriers and that’s what we start with.
Now of course we can’t get into the carrier and feel it for ourselves but we have asked different parents as well as found many different reviews for these carriers, so we know what baby actually likes.
Don’t think we were going to leave dad out of it though as those should straps or wrap will be what you as the parent will be having to deal with.
So for comfort, this goes for both baby and daddy as I’m sure if daddy’s not comfortable then baby is going to have to deal with it and it won’t be any good for them.
Support
Baby growth and development is very much important and this goes hand in hand with comfort but with a lot more thought into things.
One would think that a carrier is just a carrier but that’s not really the case as some are actually better than most, especially when it comes to keeping that spine of baby’s aligned.
Personally, I didn’t have this in mind when I got my first carrier but being involved in different parent forums exposed me to a lot of things I never even thought about.
Remember that baby isn’t really able to support themselves and they are definitely still growing.
With that in mind, you want their spine to be aligned right and all that good stuff because it will play a huge role in their post baby life.
Style
Most companies will always have a gender neutral color, so this part isn’t the hardest.
However, sometimes mom will like a specific one due to what other moms have and this will leave us dads with something that won’t suit our taste buds.
So for this posts’s sake, we have chosen carriers that will fit both genders, so no hard feelings mom but dads these days do a lot of mommy type things and I think we deserve to decide on some stuff.
Pink is cool and all but let’s work together and get something that can work for the both of us.
Fit (For Both Genders)
Along with style comes the need to fit for both genders.
You can’t have straps that fit perfect for mom and then come time to put it on dad and there just isn’t enough strap.
Then you can have it fit dad perfectly and then there’s just too much slack that it becomes complicated for the least hefty person.
It may seem that stowing of straps is a no-brainer but some baby carriers don’t allow and as parents, there’s no need to fork out more cash just to have one baby carrier for mom and another for dad.
Safety
This is of course a lot more important than looks but if a baby carrier is not safe to begin with there is no way that we will recommend it.
Period.
However, not all carriers are created equal and some are just a little safer than most.
With things like buckles and straps to worry about, we need to go with a product that doesn’t put much thinking for parents as safety should always be their priority.
Simplicity
There is nothing more irritating than to have something so simple as a baby carrier become the most complicated thing ever.
That’s exactly what happened with our first sling and I had to ditch it because not only did it confuse the carrots out of me but it didn’t feel safe when I felt I got it right.
I’m a very simple kind of guy and I like things that come out of the box and ready to go without having to read a full manual just to see how it works.
So in order to have the best, it has to be simple and very much parent and kid friendly.
Price
This is where I like to help other parents, because these days, our wallets play a huge role on what we purchase.
For something so simple as a baby carrier, I don’t feel the need to overspend as the prices for these things can be a bit on the heavy side.
Although I always consider everything mentioned above, I think the price is a deal breaker for most parents and that is why we have chosen baby carriers that we think can fit different budgets.
Other than that, this is how we decided on what is the best baby carrier and I’m sure you’ll find one for you in the list we have created.
1. Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Carrier
The Flip 4-in 1 Convertible Carrier by Infantino specializes in being extremely versatile.
The design allows the baby rest in four different positions.
- Narrow seat for newborns
- In facing for older babies
- Out facing seat for babies with head control
- Back carry wide seat for older babies and toddlers.
The versatility will help to ensure a few things:
One that you are able to use your carrier for a long time (which is nice because these aren’t exactly cheap) and two, that your baby will be able to enjoy resting in a carrier that is designed to accommodate them safely. Really, that’s the most important thing, right?
This carrier is designed to accommodate weights between 8-32 pounds which means that you should not have any trouble using it well into your child’s toddler days.
It also features a sewn in bib that will protect your clothes and the carrier itself from accidents, and it is machine washable making it easy to clean after all, those accidents find a way of happening anyway.
2. BABYBJORN Baby Carrier Original
This is the carrier that I use, so I will admit that I am a little bit partial to it.
Of course, I wouldn’t use it, or feature it on this list if it wasn’t great, so you can trust me when I tell you that the BABYBJORN carrier really is a good buy.
This package specializes in a couple of different things.
For one thing, it is very comfortable.
The strap system is pretty simple but the padding nevertheless does succeed in taking a lot of the stress off your back and shoulders which will be great after hours of use.
It’s also made to fit tightly so that you and your infant stay very close as you walk around.
This is probably mostly a safety feature—after all, you definitely don’t want your baby to be loose in the carrier as the closeness also serves as a great way for you to bond with your baby.
I love everything about this carrier. I really do—the comfort, the safety, the snuggyness.
It’s a little bit pricy, but in my opinion it is well worth the money.
3. LILLEbaby 6-Position Carrier
This next carrier is even a little bit more versatile than the last that we looked at—featuring six possible positions, and a weight capacity of up to 45 pounds.
Don’t let the picture of a woman fool you though as this one will work for anyone, especially you fathers.
Like all the other carriers featured on this list, it of course also benefits from being safe and comfortable and what really sets it apart, however, is how long you will be able to use it.
That forty-five-pound capacity is pretty impressive, though I am not sure how many people will actually take advantage of it.
If you really think about it, forty-five pounds is fairly heavy—a child of that age and weight is not traditionally still using a baby carrier.
In that sense, this is something of a specialty carrier.
A lot of potential shoppers may not have any need for its extensive range, and may therefore wish to opt for a simpler, less expensive option.
However, if this carrier does suit your situation, or you just like its design and features, then by all means take a closer look at it. It really is a great carrier.
4. Baby K’tan Carrier
This next baby carrier is somewhat simple but ultimately a very classy and user friendly option.
It features a nice, secure and snug design, and boasts an impressive five position capability that will allow you to accommodate children of a variety of different sizes.
Personally, my favorite thing about this carrier is the way in which it combines safety and security.
While many carriers have plenty of complicated buckles, this unit is actually pretty simple to put on and more or less slips over the wearers head when they are ready to us it.
The child is still just as secure as ever, but you as the parent get to be comfortable and stylish (or at least as stylish as you can be in a baby carrier) as you go about your day.
Like I said, it’s a pretty simple carrier, but it does what it needs to.
It looks good, it is safe, comfortable, and easy to clean.
What more could you really want, right?
5. Ergobaby 360
The final carrier that we will be looking at is the winner of an award!
Hey, how about that?
That’s what they say at least, and we certainly don’t have cause to question them.
The award in question is in regards to the 360 degree breathable mesh fabric.
Apparently, the carrier was selected the top option by mothers on the go in a poll of some sort.
How does it hold up for fathers on the go, though? It turns out the moms had the right idea here. This is a really great product for outdoor activities, like walks in the park, because the mesh fabric does leave plenty of room for breathing.
If you have ever used a baby carrier on a hot summer day, then you are well aware of the fact that it can get uncomfortably warm pretty fast.
The breathable mesh fabric featured here does a great job of mitigating that problem by giving the wearer as much ventilation as possible.
But that aside, it’s just a really great carrier. The straps are comfortable, the baby seat is secure, and it features all the carry positions that you could want to ensure that you are able to use the carrier with your infant continuously as they get older.
All that said, this unit does have a couple of draw backs. For one thing, it’s weight capacity is the lowest we have seen on this list at 33 pounds.
For a lot of people, this might not be all that much of a problem, especially if they didn’t plan on using a carrier with their child at that weight anyway.
The price of this unit, on the other hand, might prove to be more of an issue. This carrier is significantly more expensive than any of the others featured on this list, which may be a turn off for some buyers.
If you can get past the price however, it really is a great buy!
Conclusion
For something so simple you would think that this would be an easy task but obviously it wasn’t.
Keep in mind that there are hundreds of other baby carriers out there that we had to choose from, so it took a lot of research just to get this list going.
Some were just lacked in durability while others were just way overpriced, which is why we had to leave them off this list.
I know there are other carriers being created, so we will definitely update this post if and when those new products become available.
Do you know of anything better?
We would love to hear about it, so please do share them with us in the comments section below and maybe even explain what makes it so awesome.
Other than that, thanks for reading and I hope this list of our best baby carriers has helped you on deciding which would best suit your needs.
Good luck and happy parenting!
Nice blog and this is a really helpful guide! To make travel time easy and comfortable for mom it’s really essential to have a baby carrier and I’m glad it is the same way for dads. Thanks for the info on choosing the best baby carrier John!
I am searching for the best baby carrier for dad and this was a really helpful guide. Thanks for such a helpful article John!
Not a problem Marria!
Amazing ideas!Travelling with a baby really taught for Parent.To make easy and comfortable journey with kids, baby carrier really essential accessories for both mom &Dad. Most of the time dad have to carry baby when travelling. So it’s important to choose best baby carrier for dad. I think this blog help dad to choose best one for little one. Really helpful guide. Thanks for sharing such a nice blog.