How to Choose the Best Baby Carrier: for Boy & Girl, Newborn & Toddler (Unframed backpacks)
Carriers are helpful, safe and fun equipment for you and your child. A carrier is useful because the baby can be near his/her mother from the start. After the baby gets a bit stronger and can hold its head on its own, a carrier is a fun, easy and safe way for a baby to see and explore the world. Also, the great advantage for the person who is wearing a carrier is that his/hers hands are free to run other chores.
There are 5 types of carriers:
- Wraps
- Slings
- Mei Tai
- Unframed backpacks (Soft structured carriers)
- Framed backpacks
Wraps
A wrap is a one-piece of fabric 4 meters (157in) long and 70cm (27in) wide.
A wrap can be:
- Woven - most suitable for newborns and children not heavier than 15kg (33lbs)
- Stretchy - good for babies up to 8kg (17pounds)
- Hybrid - for toddlers and small children not weighing over 15kg (33lbs)
Depending on the type of material, a wrap can be a good choice for a newborn, a toddler or a small child. If it is tied up properly, the baby is in the right and safe position.
The technique of tying up a wrap can be a little difficult to learn, but with a little practice, you will learn a lot of fun ways to wear a wrap. You can carry your child in the front, hip and on the back of your body.
Slings
(picture on the right: ring sling; picture on the left: pouch sling)
A sling is a carrier made out of a wide piece of fabric that is worn on one shoulder. There are 2 types of slings:
- Ring slings- made out of two meters (78 in) long piece of fabric, with two rings on one side and a tail on the other that goes through the rings. A ring sling is good option for newborns and toddlers weighing up to 10kg (about 22lbs). It can be shared between adults and it is very easy to tie up.
- A pouch sling is a tube made out of fabric that is also worn on one shoulder. This sling must be fitted to the person that is carrying a child so they can not be shared. They are inexpensive, but not so secure because of a lack of adjustment. Like ring slings, pouch slings can be a good option for newborns and childern not weighing over 10kg (about 22lbs).
Mei Tai
Mei Tai is a traditional Asian carrier, which is adapted for the 21st century. It has two longer straps that go around the shoulders and two shorter straps that go around the waist. Because of these straps, Mei Tai can be shared between adults. It is very easy to tie up.
This carrier is not suitable for newborns, because the child seat can not provide a proper carrying position for the baby. It is recommended for babies older that 6 months (babies that can hold their head and sit on their own) and children until they reach 15kg (33lbs).
Unframed backpacks (Soft structured carriers)
Unframed backpacks are most commonly used carriers. They are made out of durable fabrics. Soft structured carriers have adjustable and padded shoulder straps for additional comfort for an adult and adjustable waist or hip belt for lumbar support. Every carrier has buckles and strap adjusters for extra comfort and safety both for the person who is carrying a child and for a child as well.
Soft structured carriers are made to fit babies older than 6 months. Even though some manufacturers claim that their carriers are safe for new born babies, you need to check if a carrier has a cushion which can be inserted in the child seat and a head support so a newborn can be in a safe and proper position. Most of these carriers are suitable for toddlers and children not weighing over 20kg (45lbs).
Framed backpacks
Framed backpacks are made out of durable, lightweight and waterproof materials with a frame made out of aluminum or aluminum alloy. These backpacks have adjustable and padded shoulder straps and an adjustable waist or hip belt, and together with the frame, they distribute weight evenly through the shoulders, hips and back of the person who is carrying a child.
Most of the framed backpacks have adjustable straps on the child seat, so the child is in a safe position. Also, as your child grows, you can adapt the back of the seat with those traps.
These backpacks are made for specific outdoor activities, like hiking, climbing, traveling but they are also used a lot for shopping and going through the city rush. Framed backpacks can be worn by several people because of adjustable shoulder and waist straps.
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Have a look at "NimNik" carrier
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If you are interested in a carrier that can easily be transferred in to a child seat (that you can check out here), then your choice can be this carrier that offers lumbar support with extra-long waist straps and adjustable and padded shoulder straps. It is suitable for waistlines up to 124cm (50incs). NimNik carrier is a good option for newborns and children not weighing over 20kg (45lbs).
It is easy to use and because of adjustable straps, both waist and shoulders, it can be used by several people.
You can order your NimNik carrier on Amazon.com for the price of 49.99$ (38.44£) without any extra charges.
On the bottom of the page, you can check other customer reviews and see their opinion of this carrier that is rated 4.7 out of 5 stars.
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Buy Lanova carrier
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Lanova carrier is made out of 100% cotton. Enhanced with a breathable mesh which offers temprature control for both for the carring adult and the baby. Adults can carry a baby from 3 to 36 months or until the baby turn 20kg (44lbs). Thanks to its padded and adjustable shoulder straps, your baby will feel lighter to carry in the long term. The waist belt is also adjustable. The adult can carry the baby both in the front and on the back.
You can see customer reviews on the same page. This carrier is rated with 5 out of 5 stars.
The price for this interesting carrier is 49.99$ (38.02£) with no extra charges.
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Buy Phil&Teds "Airlight" carrier
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As its name implies Airlight Phil&Teds carrier is very light, easy to use and easy to fit (with two buckles in the back and one zip on front). Thanks to a cushion added in the carrier, Airlight Phil&Teds is extremely safe for newborn babies and, when your baby can hold his/her head on her own, you can remove a cushion and carry your child in the back of your body until he/she reach 15kg.
It is made out of 100% Oeko-tex class 1 cotton fabric with breathable mesh to maximize the air flow. You can choose from 6 different colors.
You can order Airflow carrier from Amazon.com for the price of 59.99$ (45.73£) with no extra charges. On the same page, you are able to see customer reviews. This item cannot be shipped outside of USA.
If you are from Europe, you can order your carrier from Phil and Teds official website, where the price is 59 Euros and the shipping fee will be between 5 to 15 Euros depending on your location and shipper.
If you are from another country ouside of Europe, you can choose your country from the dropping down menu, which is located on the top right on the page.
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Check "All season 4 in 1" carrier on Amazon
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The All season 4 in 1 carrier is rated 5 out of 5 stars. In addition, The seller sends instructions in the package and one customer wrote an even easier to understand guide.
The carrier price is just 48.86$ (37.05£) and you can select from two different colors: red and brown.
Also, you should check it out! Unlike many other Amazon sellers, All Season offers free shipment even below 49$!
Like the product name says All Season 4 in 1 carrier has very good featurs for an adult and for the baby/child and is usable for the entire year. As for the baby, this carrier is made out of breathable fabrics that keeps the baby's skin cool in the summer and warm in the winter. In addition, it provides a comfortable sitting position for the baby and a soft head cover for those sunny and/or windy days. The Adult has wide shoulder so carring the baby feels more comfortable for longer walks.
This carrier is suitable for newborns and toddlers not exceeding 15kg (35lbs) in weight.
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Buy "Veenev" baby carrier on Amazon
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You can buy the Veenev baby carrier on Amazon for the price of 49.91$ (37.90£). This carrier is a very good option for babies older than 6 months and toddlers not heavier than 11kg (25lbs). It has padded adjustable shoulder straps and a waist belt which provides additional comfort for an adult. In addition, it is easy to use and people of various sizes can wear it. For extra safety and comfort, the carrier has safety buckles on the chest, shoulders and on the waist belt.
With this carrier, you can carry your child front- facing, on the back or on the hips, which are great for nursing. Ergonomic carrier is made out of 100% cotton. This seller guarantees that the child`s legs, arms and spine are always in the proper and safest position.
Shipping for this carrier is free and it can be send mostly anywhere. You can also read reviews on the same page. This carrier is rated with 5 out of 5 stars.
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Try out Mothercare carrier
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This 3-position carrier comes in 5 different colors and it is made out of 80% polyester. The price is 45.96$ (34.99£). It is suitable for newborns, when you insert a cushion for extra support, and for the toddlers with a weight not over 12kg (26lbs). You can carry your child in the front, back or on the hips. It is very easy to use. Because of straps that can be adjusted, it can be worn by people of different sizes.
If you choose this carrier, just click on 'add to basket' and if that is all, click on 'continue to checkout'. The next step will be to select either you want to check-in as a guest or register to the site. After that, you can choose your delivery method: Delivery for the UK is 3.95£. For international shipping, charges will be 13.07$ (9.95£) for Europe (Belgium, Denmark, France, Germany, Luxembourg, Monaco, Netherlands). For the rest of the Europe and North America, charges will be 19.64$ (14.95£). For Asia and Australia, shipping fee is 36.71$ (27.95£).
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Check out "Original" Ergobaby carrier
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If you like a classical and tried out type of carrier, that has a cushion for newborns and that is good for toddlers as well, a good choice for you can be Original Ergobaby carrier. With a cushion (sold separately), you can carry your baby up to the time he/she reaches 6 kg (12lbs), and, without a cushion, you can carry toddlers and childrenw up to 20kg (45lbs). Original Ergobaby carriers are made out of 100% cotton canvas. The price is 119$. There will be no extra charges.
They are mostly well known for their shoulder-padded straps. You can choose from 3 different and original patterns and colors. They are easy to use and can be worn by people of different sizes.
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Great BabyBjorn "Original" carrier
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BabyBjorn Original carrier for the price of $56.99 (£43.40) if you need a carrier which can host a newborn and be usable until later when the child grows up to the weight of 11kg (25lbs) (usually around the baby's first year) it can be a great choice for you. It`s very easy to use and can be worn by people of various sizes, this carrier can be a good option both for adults and children. BabyBjorn guarantees that this carrier has an excellent head and neck support for a newborn. In addition, the baby's legs and arms are always kept in the physiologically correct position.
On the bottom of the page, you can find reviews of other customers and see their opinions of this carrier.
Shipping is verified for USA (shipment is free), but not for the rest of the world. You can check for shipping to your country with these instructions, so you can see how you can find out if this item can be shipped to you.
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Buy "Ergobaby 360" carrier
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This Ergobaby carrier has 4 wearing positions: front-inwards, front-outwards, hip and back. For newborn babies, Ergobaby made cushions for extra safety and proper position.
You can carry a newborn (with a cushion) until the baby's 3.2kg-5.5kg (7-12lbs). Toddlers can be worn until they turn 15kg (33lbs).
You can order your carrier on Amazon, and with free shipping you can get this carrier for a price of 159$ with this infant insert included in the price. If you are not from the States, please check out if this seller can send it to you, because he does international shipping to selected countries.
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Try LILLEbaby "Original" carrier
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You can find the LILLEbaby Original carrier on Amazon, for the price of 119.99$ and free shipping, but you need to check out if you are not from USA, because this seller does shipping only to selected countries outside of US.
The Original LILLEbaby carrier is made out of 100% cotton. It is a good option for newborns and children until they turn 20kg (45lbs). It has adjustable shoulder straps, so it can be used by people of different sizes. This carrier has adjustable straps on the child seat as well, so it can be adapted especially to your child. In addition, you can carry your child in six different carrying positions: front fetal, front infant, front facing out, front toddler, hip and backs. Your newborn will be in a safe position with a neck support, and you can carry him/her for longer time with a lumbar support and padded straps.
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