My Thoughts on Seven Different Baby Carriers

I am a mom who absolutely loves to wear my babies. I have gone through several different carriers from several different companies with two different babies, so I’ve got some thoughts!

Babywearing!

I absolutely love to wear my babies. When I had my first baby, I often wore him while he napped so I could clean the house, wash dishes, do laundry, and spend time walking outside. As a toddler, I wear him while traveling and cooking so he can participlate with me. Now, with a toddler and a baby, wearing the baby is one of the best ways for me to give her the attention she needs while keeping house and playing with my toddler.

I have been through quite a few baby carriers with my kiddos. I’ve used a wrap, a ring sling, a Mei Dai, an onbuhimo, a soft structured carrier, and a framed hiking backpack. I like several of them for different reasons. And there are also a couple that I no longer own because they didn’t work for me. This post will give you my thoughts and experience with the seven carriers I have the most experience with.

I’m going to add a table of contents here. If you are looking at a specific carrier and just want my thoughts on it, feel free to skip ahead. If you have no idea where to start and just want some input on a bunch of different carriers, reading straight through will be your best option.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SOLLYBABY WRAP

WILDBIRD RING SLING

BABYBJÖRN MINI CARRIER

SAKURA BLOOM SCOUT

SAKURA BLOOM ONBUHIMO

HAPPY BABY ORIGINAL

HAPPY BABY ONBUHIMO

SOLLYBABY WRAP

This was the first carrier I ever used with Calvin when he was two days old and I instantly fell in love with babywearing. You could say that this carrier was my gateway drug.

The Sollybaby Wrap is a long, soft, stretchy fabric that you wrap around yourself before tucking baby snuggly into your chest. It is designed for use with infants from 7 to 25 lbs. The only way this carrier can be worn is with baby facing inwards on your chest (no outward-facing or back carrying options).

I wore Calvin in our Sollybaby wrap from his earliest newborn days up until he was about four or five months old. Weight-wise, I absolutely could have worn him longer, but by that age he had outgrown the desire to only be facing me when we were out on walks or doing things around the house. He wanted to be able to see more of what was going on around him.

My favorite aspects of the wrap were the amazing softness of the fabric and how snug and secure he felt on my chest, especially as a tiny newborn. I also had no back discomfort while carrying him in this carrier and I didn’t have to change anything I did to wear him as my weight fluctuated during the postpartum period.

My complaints about the wrap would be the learning curve and the time required to get baby comfortably situated. Being able to put the wrap on without the instructional video or using a mirror took a few weeks of regular use. I also found it difficult to put the wrap on while outdoors without the tails dragging on the ground (usually wet and dirty in late winter/early spring) or getting messy otherwise.

WILDBIRD RING SLING

This style of carrier is actually the first that I ever saw (on Pinterest, actually) and that was years before I ever became pregnant and had a baby of my own.

A ring sling is a long, wide single piece of fabric with two rings attached to one end. By threading the other end through the rings, this carrier allows you to carry your baby in a sort of pouch, either directly in front of you or on your hip. Learn all about fabric options here and carry options here. Depending on what material and company you choose, this carrier style can be used with babies weighing between 8 and 35 lbs.

Oh, how I wanted to love this carrier when I was gifted one during my first pregnancy, but I simply could not figure it out with Calvin. I felt so uncomfortable, I couldn’t use the arm on the side of the rings, and Cal insisted on straightening his legs rather than sitting in a froggy pose. I ended up selling the beautiful green ring sling pictured above. Then, when Della was almost six months old, I decided to give it another try. I found a well loved ring sling secondhand for so cheap and took the risk.

I don’t know if it was the fact that the ring sling was well-broken in, that my baby was older, that I was a more seasoned mother and babywearer, or just that Della is different from Calvin, but she and I figured out how to wear the sling comfortable within minutes of opening the package. It was just as easy and fast as I always pictured and dreamed about in my pre-baby days.

One of the biggest pros that I finally got to experience with my second-go in this carrier is that once you and your baby get the hang of it, this carrier can be used for babies through toddlers and can be put on in a matter of seconds. It is such a nice carrier to use when on the go, not to mention they are just so pretty. This carrier is also one of the easiest and most discreet carriers for me to nurse Della in when we’re out and about. I have literally nursed her while walking around Walmart and through the whole self-checkout line. I was amazed.

Cons of the ring sling for me obviously including the learning curve that I found so steep with my first baby. Though I eventually got the hang of it, it wasn’t until my second ring sling and my second baby. The other big con was that due to the linen that this carrier is made of, it was stiff and crunchy the whole time that I was trying to learn how to use my first one. Having a used sling that was so well loved and broken in made such a huge difference to me on my second try. But that’s really hard to know and to have access to when you get a brand new carrier to use with your brand new baby. If you purchase a ring sling new, I recommend going online and looking up ways to break it in and soften it as quickly as possible so that using it is as easy as possible.

BABYBJÖRN MINI CARRIER

This carrier I purchased for our second baby, Della, so I obviously didn’t use it with Calvin.

This carrier comes in two pieces: the straps that cross in the back and the actual carrier that attaches to the straps and holds your baby. This carrier can only be worn on the parent’s front, but your baby can be worn facing in or facing outwards. As this is the “Mini” Babybjörn carrier, it is specifically designed for use in the first year of life only. Size wise, it’s built for babies weighing 7-24 lbs and measuring 21-30 inches tall.

The things I love about this carrier are that it is so easy to put on. There was absolutely no learning curve with this carrier. It’s perfect for tiny, curled up newborns and it doesn’t have a waist strap, so it’s comfortable to wear whether sitting or standing. This carrier is also machine washable (sans straps). It’s the carrier I reached for in those early, early newborn days when I didn’t have time for the wrap and just needed her in something quickly because Calvin was escaping through the door or needed my attention immediately.

Despite the positives about this carrier, it does have downsides. One of the biggest ones for me is that it doesn’t fold down very small or very easily. This is just something that comes along with a structured carrier, but it does make bringing it with me a little annoying (especially because I use a relatively small diaper bag). This carrier can be tricky to adjust to different sized adults. You have to slide the piece of plastic on the cross-section of the straps and it isn’t super straight forward. As Della got bigger, I noticed this carrier wasn’t nearly as comfortable as some of my others.

While this is the only carrier I own that can accommodate a baby in a ”world-facing” position, I personally don’t like to wear my kids that way. It hurts my back and there are better positions for their little hips and pelvises to be held in. Plus it’s a pain if they fall asleep while facing outward. They shouldn’t sleep in that position and turning them around almost always wakes them in my experience.

Though I did enjoy using this carrier with Della, I could have done without it. I’ve since sold it to another mom to use with her baby and I don’t expect to miss it next time I have a baby.

SAKURA BLOOM SCOUT

This carrier was also purchased for Della, after loving our Sakura Bloom Onbuhimo so much (see below). It has also managed to replace the baby wrap as my all-around favorite baby carrier. I still love the wrap, but this one is just amazing for me and my kids.

The Scout is very similar to the Onbuhimo, but it has a waist strap at the bottom of the carrier. This difference is what allow this carrier to be used for kids ranging from newborn babies to toddlers. It can be worn either on your front or your back, both options with the baby facing you. My Scout is made entirely of beautiful linen fabric and can accomodate children weighing from 7 to 45 lbs. It also comes with a detachable hood so you can cover baby’s head if needed for sun protection or nap time and I can discretely nurse Della while wearing her in it.

The Scout carrier is so versatile and so cute. It’s simple to put on, fast to put on, and I can get it on properly without checking anything in a mirror. I first put Della in the Scout the second day we were home from the hospital when she was still sleepy and curly and weight about 8 lbs. She’s now six months old and twice that size, but still fits so comfortably in this carrier. I’ve also worn Calvin in it, and he’s two years old and weighs about 30 lbs. The waist strap is comfortable to sit down with, but also distributes the weight of a heavier child to your hips and shoulders. I have also been able to wear both of my kids at this same time with this: Calvin in an Onbuhimo on my back and Della in the Scout on my front. I can even switch Della from a front carry to a back carry (and vice versa) without taking her off!

This carrier is not machine washable, so keeping it clean with regular spot cleaning is important. This carrier is also expensive in comparison to the first three options I listed. Mine cost me about $180 when I bought it new from Sakura Bloom.

SAKURA BLOOM ONBUHIMO

I was able to wear Calvin in the Sollybaby Wrap until he was about five months, but by then he was frustrated with only being carried facing my chest and we pretty much stopped babywearing until I purchased the Onbuhimo carrier from Sakura Bloom just before he turned one.

The Onbuhimo carrier is a Japanese style that supports all of your baby’s weight in the shoulder straps, without use of a waist or hip strap for support. This carrier can be worn in a front or back carry, both with baby facing your body. It can also be worn with a baby bump due to the absence of a waist strap. You can find them in a variety of fabrics, but this style can only be used once your child is able to sit independently. For information on sizing, weight limits, and how to wear, head to this page.

The main appeal to this carrier for me was the high back carry option. Calvin was at an age where he constantly wanted to be held so he could see what was going on, especially in the kitchen. With the back carry, I could have him up high enough to see the action, while keeping him safe and both of my hands free. This carrier is also my favorite for traveling with a toddler. It’s perfect for wearing him in airports, on short hikes or long walks, while setting up or taking down a campsite or beach site, or just getting things done around the house.

The cons for this baby carrier for me are: the price and the adjustment period. This awesome and beautiful carrier is not cheap (mine cost about $200 new), but I personally think it’s worth the cost. If you can’t afford one while pregnant but want to purchase one, save up over baby’s first six months so that by the time they are developed enough to sit on their own, you can afford the carrier. This carrier also has a learning curve, but a different one than the others. The curve for this carrier is a physical one. Due to the lack of waist/hip support, all of your child’s weight is on your shoulders and this requires use of muscles that aren’t often used otherwise and can lead to temporary soreness. Go slow and let your body adjust.

HAPPY BABY ORIGINAL

When I first started writing this post, it was about the five baby carriers that I had the most experience with. And then, before publishing, I purchase the Original Happy Baby and the Happy Baby Onbuhimo carriers secondhand and I had to include them.

Della was about 4.5 months old when I got the Happy Baby Original. I had had my eye on one for a while, but just hadn’t wanted to pull the trigger and spend the money when the carriers I have were working. When I got a little bit of cash for my birthday, I figured that was the perfect opportunity to give it a try. And I love it.

The Happy Baby Original is very similar to the Sakura Bloom Scout that I discussed above. They are both an apron-style soft structured carrier with a waist belt, a fabric panel that comes up baby’s back, padded shoulder straps with a clip between them, and can be worn as an inward facing front carrier or a back carrier for infants to toddlers. It is also compatible with newborns through toddlers without any additional inserts or pieces (fits children weighing 7-45 lbs).

Some of the features that I prefer on the Happy Baby are the weight of the carrier, the sunhood pocket, and the price point. Happy Baby carriers weigh 30-50% less than most other soft-structured carriers on the market. This makes them more breathable and easier to pack down. I also love that the sunhood can be tucked away into a pocket when not in use, whereas on the Scout it either hangs down or must be detached. The Happy Baby also comes in at a better price point. While I’m writing this post, a Sakura Bloom Scout can be purchased new at $198 or more while a Happy Baby Original can be found new for as low as $133. The Happy Baby Carrier is also machine washable and can pack down into its own hood pocket, which are huge bonueses for me. I can also nurse Della in this carrier.

As far as cons go, I have yet to come across too many for the OG HBC. Certain colorways are limited edition, so once they sell out the only way to snag one is to buy used/second hand. I also run into more issues with the chest strap being a buckle fastener, versus the easy double ring of the Sakura Blooms. If the buckles get twisted at all they are difficult to fasten and impossible to adjust. And although this carrier isn’t as pricey as the options from Sakura Bloom, it is definitely still an investment for you and your babies, as it comes in at over $100.

Overall, I absolutely love this carrier. It is tied for first place with my Sakura Bloom Scout at the moment. If I were to recommend a carrier to someone, these are the two I would suggest. I couldn’t pick a winner because they are so evenly matched in pros and have so few cons for me.

HAPPY BABY ONBUHIMO

Okay, so you may be thinking “She’s already got an Onbuhimo carrier and written a section of this post about it. Why did she buy a second one and why is it included here?” Believe me, I hear you. I think my husband had the same thought when I purchased two Happy Baby carriers from a B/S/T group on Facebook when we already had our two Sakura Bloom carriers that we loved. Honestly, I bought them both because that’s the deal I found online. A seller had both her Original and her Onbuhimo posted and would only sell them as a bundle. It was such a screaming steal of a deal that I went for it and figured I would just resell the Onbuhimo since I already have one. But the differences are enough that I ended up keeping both and I love them both.

One of the biggest draws about the HB Onbuhimo for me is that it is compatible for use with newborns through toddlers (children weighing 7-40 lbs according to the website). My Sakura Bloom Onbuhimo can’t be used until Baby weighs at least 15 lbs and is able to sit up unassisted. This difference is due to the addition of a set of snaps inside the HB carrier. I love my other carriers for smaller babies, but sometimes (especially in the first weeks postpartum) it can be so nice to not have to deal with a waist/hip belt. I also love the detachable hood that packs into a hidden pocket and the super light, breathable linen the carrier is made of.

However, this carrier doesn’t quite displace my other Onbuhimo. I really love the leather straps and the double ring chest fastener. (As I mentioned above, I tend to have issues with the buckle on the chest strap, especially when I’m trying to fasten it by myself). Sakura Bloom also has many more fabric options (like denim, corduroy, silk, and eyelet linen) than Happy Baby, which (as far as I know) typically only comes in linen. This carrier also has padding around the legs which can be a pro and a con. It seems like it may be slightly more comfortable for my kids (though neither of them seem to care one way or the other), but it means that my HB doesn’t pack quite down as small as my SB. And this carrier would likely have had the same adjustment period as the other, but I was already used to this style.

All that being said, my Onbuhimos definitely come in tied for second place on my carrier hierarchy. And they are, so far, the one of the easiest carriers for me personally to nurse in.

A note about tandem wearing (both kids at the same time). I find that I’m able to tandem wear comfortably with a couple different combinations. I can do either the OG HBC or the Scout on front with either Onbuhimo on back or the Scout and OG HBC with either on front. I’ve considered using both Onbuhimos at the same time, but haven’t tried it yet.

If I was starting all over again and could only have three carriers forever, I would have a ring sling, a Happy Baby Original, and a Sakura Bloom Onbuhimo. However, if I could only pick one carrier to have and use, I think I would actually pick the Happy Baby Onbuhimo. Take that semi-confusing recommendation for what you will.

I mentioned at the beginning that I have a framed backpack carrier. I have the Kelty PerfectFit Signature hiking backpack and it’s perfect for my needs. I’ll write up a full review of the backpack in the future.

Thanks for being here and reading what I have to say! I absolutely love babywearing and I think that working through the trial and error to find something that you and your baby both love can be so worth it. If you have any further questions please feel free to get in touch.