The best baby carriers
A stretchy wrap, soft newborn carriers and buckled ones that last into the toddler years: five compared on the weights, ages and carrying positions their makers give.
A carrier keeps a baby close and both hands free, for the school run, a walk or a fretful evening. The first choice is how long it has to last: soft newborn carriers like the BabyBjörn Mini and Ergobaby Embrace are made for the first year, while buckled carriers with a waist belt take the weight onto the hips and carry on into the toddler months, some on the back as well. A stretchy wrap such as the Boba does away with buckles altogether and is tied on instead.
Every figure here is the maker’s own, and weight ranges, ages and positions differ more than the listings suggest, so check them against the baby before buying. However it’s worn, the UK’s TICKS checklist for slings and carriers applies: tight, in view at all times, close enough to kiss, keep the chin off the chest, and a supported back.
What matters
- Weight and age range: newborn carriers end around the first birthday; others go on to 14.5–16kg.
- Carrying positions: facing in, facing out (BabyBjörn allows it from five months, Momcozy from six) and back carries; the Boba wrap is for facing in only.
- A waist belt, which takes weight off the shoulders as the baby grows.
- Machine-washable fabric, and a fit that suits everyone who’ll wear it.
#1 of 5
Best overall
BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini, 3D Jersey
£109.90 RRP
A soft, simple first carrier in BabyBjörn’s stretchy 3D Jersey (polyester, cotton and a little elastane), with a front panel that unfastens to lift a sleeping baby out. BabyBjörn launched its first carrier, Close to Heart, in 1973.
What owners say: Owners like how quickly it goes on and off and how soft the jersey feels, and find it a calm way to keep a newborn close when the pram won’t do.
A closer look: Facing out is for babies of at least five months, BabyBjörn says, so the early weeks are spent facing in, in the newborn setting first. With no waist belt the weight sits on the shoulders, which suits short, frequent carries more than long days out, and it’s outgrown sooner than the belted carriers here.
- Newborn, facing-in and facing-out positions
- 3.2–8kg recommended, tested to 11kg
- 3D Jersey: 80% polyester, 16% cotton, 4% elastane
- Machine washable at 40°C
- Acknowledged as hip healthy by the IHDI
Best for: The newborn months
- Baby’s weight
- 3.2–8kg (tested to 11kg)
- Age
- 0–12 months
- Carrying positions
- 3: newborn, in, out
- Waist belt
- No
- Washing
- Machine, 40°C
#2 of 5
Runner-up
Ergobaby Embrace Newborn Carrier
£99.90 RRP
It holds a newborn snugly, like a stretchy wrap, but buckles on, with no tying and no infant insert to fit. A soft waist belt shares the load with the shoulder straps, and it carries facing in or facing out up to 11.3kg.
What owners say: Owners find it gentle on the shoulders and easy to get on, and like the snug, soft fit for a tiny baby.
A closer look: Open sides and less fabric against the baby keep it airier than a padded carrier, and it folds up small enough to live in a changing bag. It’s made for the first year, so a belted carrier with a back carry is the next step for long walks with a toddler.
- From birth, no infant insert
- 3.2–11.3kg, 0–12 months
- Facing in and facing out
- Soft waist belt
- Machine wash at 30°C
Best for: Newborns, for a little longer
- Baby’s weight
- 3.2–11.3kg
- Age
- 0–12 months
- Carrying positions
- 2: facing in, facing out
- Waist belt
- Soft belt
- Washing
- Machine, 30°C
#3 of 5
Best budget
Infantino Flip Advanced 4-in-1 Convertible Carrier
£29.99 RRP
One carrier from the early weeks into the toddler years: facing in on a narrow seat for a small baby, then on a wider seat, facing out and finally on the back, up to 14.5kg. The waist belt moves some of the weight onto the hips.
What owners say: Parents say it keeps both hands free for chores and short walks, and sits comfortably for grown-up and baby alike.
A closer look: Start facing in on the narrow seat, widen it as the baby’s legs grow, and check Infantino’s instructions before moving on to facing out or the back carry. The removable bib catches dribble before it reaches the carrier, and the whole thing goes in the washing machine.
- 4 positions, including a back carry
- 3.6–14.5kg
- Narrow and wide seat settings
- Waist belt takes weight to the hips
- Wonder Cover bib
Best for: Four positions for less
- Baby’s weight
- 3.6–14.5kg
- Age
- Infancy to toddler
- Carrying positions
- 4: in (narrow, wide), out, back
- Waist belt
- Yes
- Washing
- Machine wash
#4 of 5
Momcozy PureHug Baby Carrier, Cotton
£49.99 RRP
Built for babies from three months, with straps that cross in an X at the back and an EVA lumbar support in the waist belt to spread the load on longer carries. The cotton is soft and machine washable.
What owners say: Owners find it quick to put on and take off and comfortable enough to wear for hours, and like the soft fabric.
Heads up: Go by the maker’s limits: Momcozy’s UK site gives 3.2 to 15kg and three months up, lower than the 20kg in the Amazon title.
A closer look: Momcozy advises against facing out before six months, and asks that the baby’s airway and ears stay above the top of the panel at all times. It isn’t made for the newborn weeks (the brand sells a separate newborn carrier), but from three months it takes over for longer walks and days out.
- X-shaped back straps
- EVA lumbar support in the waist belt
- 3.2–15kg, 3–24 months
- Facing in and facing out
- Cotton, machine washable
Best for: Longer carries from 3 months
- Baby’s weight
- 3.2–15kg
- Age
- 3–24 months
- Carrying positions
- 2: facing in, facing out
- Waist belt
- EVA lumbar support
- Washing
- Machine wash
#5 of 5
Best wrap
Boba Classic Baby Wrap, Grey
£39.99 RRP
One long length of stretchy cotton, tied around the body, that holds a baby upright and tummy to tummy against the chest. With no buckles, belt or padding there are no sizes either: the same wrap is tied to fit whoever is wearing it.
What owners say: Owners like the soft, stretchy cotton and how comfortable it is, around the house and out on walks.
Heads up: Practise the tie in front of a mirror before the first real carry, as Boba suggests: the wrap goes on snug first and the baby goes in after, so the tension can take a few tries to get right.
A closer look: Carries are upright and facing the wearer only, never facing out or cradled across the body, according to Boba’s instructions. Tied on in the morning, the wrap can stay on all day while the baby goes in and out, and it works best up to about 9kg (20lb), Boba says, which is when a buckled carrier makes more sense.
- From birth, 3.2–16kg
- Facing in, on the front only
- 95% cotton, 5% spandex
- About 5m long, tied on
- Machine wash, tumble dry low
Best for: Snug newborn carries, no buckles
- Baby’s weight
- 3.2–16kg
- Age
- From birth
- Carrying positions
- 1: facing in, on the front
- Waist belt
- No
- Washing
- Machine, low temp; tumble dry
How they compare
| Feature | #1BabyBjörn Mini | #2Ergobaby Embrace | #3Infantino Flip Advanced | #4Momcozy PureHug | #5Boba Wrap |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Runner-up | Best budget | Best wrap | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.2 | 9.0 | 8.8 | 8.6 | 8.5 |
| Price | £109.90 RRP | £99.90 RRP | £29.99 RRP | £49.99 RRP | £39.99 RRP |
| Baby’s weight | 3.2–8kg (tested to 11kg) | 3.2–11.3kg | 3.6–14.5kg | 3.2–15kg | 3.2–16kg |
| Age | 0–12 months | 0–12 months | Infancy to toddler | 3–24 months | From birth |
| Carrying positions | 3: newborn, in, out | 2: facing in, facing out | 4: in (narrow, wide), out, back | 2: facing in, facing out | 1: facing in, on the front |
| Waist belt | No | Soft belt | Yes | EVA lumbar support | No |
| Washing | Machine, 40°C | Machine, 30°C | Machine wash | Machine wash | Machine, low temp; tumble dry |
| Best for | The newborn months | Newborns, for a little longer | Four positions for less | Longer carries from 3 months | Snug newborn carries, no buckles |
| Check price | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon | View on Amazon |
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