Whether this is your first infant or your fifth, you’ll appreciate any bit of assistance once baby arrives. Early on, friends and relatives may swarm around to admire the newborn, but after they depart it can be hard to accomplish much.
When I had my first child, Rose, in 2015, I felt like I never accomplished anything — I was often parked on the couch whenever she fell asleep. I had registered for a few carriers before she arrived, but it wasn’t until I was alone with her that I understood how invaluable a carrier would be in daily life.
With a baby carrier, I managed to get things done far more easily. Grocery runs are awkward when you’re hauling an infant seat, but nestle your baby into a ring sling and you can weave through aisles with ease. Family walks are much simpler with your little one in a soft-structured carrier (SSC) than wrestling a bulky stroller.
I soon discovered I couldn’t do without a carrier… though I could live without the steep price tag that often comes with them.
Scoring an Affordable Baby Carrier
Once you learn about baby carriers, you’ll notice some are treated like collector’s items. Tula, for example, produces SSCs in many prints and fabrics, often in limited runs. That means a carrier that sold for $139 originally can fetch over $200 — and far more for a sought-after print. Parents around the country go wild for certain designs — I’ve seen listings on Facebook groups asking $500 or even north of $1,000.
Fortunately, there are strategies to find a solid carrier that fits your budget, even if initial searches make it seem impossible.
First, learn what to look for. To confirm a carrier’s safety, verify whether it has been tested by the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance. That group is also a helpful source if you want to learn safe babywearing practices.
Stick with well-known brands when possible. Names like Tula, Ergobaby and Lillebaby earn strong reviews from parents. These carriers tend to be pricier when bought new (commonly $139 to $180), but you can often catch them on sale from makers or buy gently used through local babywearing Facebook groups. Unlike car seats, buying a used carrier is generally acceptable if you thoroughly inspect it for fraying seams or tears.
If new premium carriers are out of reach, budget-friendly brands such as Eddie Bauer and Infantino offer functional carriers in the $20 to $50 range.
Different Kinds of Carriers
Another way to save is to think about your actual needs and choose accordingly. Various carrier styles serve different stages of your child’s development.
Mei Tais
While SSCs make durable, long-term choices, you may get a better bargain with a related style called a mei tai.
These resemble SSCs in shape but use fabric ties instead of buckles to fasten around you. They can be an economical, comfortable option that fits your budget, though they come with a learning curve that can be tricky to master.
Mei tais and SSCs usually work well for babies. Many carriers list a minimum weight, but you can often use an infant insert to carry smaller newborns. SSCs are also available in toddler sizes so you can keep carrying your child longer if they allow it (Rose refused after a point).
Ring Slings, Woven Wraps and Stretchy Wraps
Ring slings and woven wraps remain useful into the toddler years. Stretchy wraps and ring slings are particularly handy during the newborn phase, letting you keep baby close for comforting skin-to-skin time.
However, stretchy wraps like the Moby and Boba are best limited to the first four to six months, since they offer less support as infants grow heavier, notes U.K.-based babywearing consultant Mirjam Brockmann.
Try Before You Commit
Not every carrier feels the same, even if they’re the same model. You may adore a carrier’s look only to find it uncomfortable when you actually wear your baby.
Instead of purchasing for aesthetics, try on a range of carriers before deciding — ideally with your baby present. Just as you might prefer one style, your baby may dislike the one you favor and take to the one you dislike.
The easiest way to test many carriers is to connect with a local babywearing group. Start with Babywearing International’s chapter list, but if you don’t see a local group listed, it doesn’t necessarily mean none exist — your nearest meetup might simply be unaffiliated. For instance, Babywearing International listed my closest chapter as Cincinnati, Ohio, yet I found a more convenient Dayton, Ohio group through Facebook.
Keep Your Expectations Realistic
As a new mom, I found myself fixating on every carrier I wanted, but in truth all I actually needed was a ring sling for the newborn days and an SSC for when Rose grew older. We wore her in the SSC until she was 2, and still use it sometimes on walks if she tires. Our pick was a Lillebaby, which we found the most comfortable.
There are many avenues to locate a carrier that aligns with your budget. To uncover the best local resources, join a parenting group or ask a friend who’s in the know. Once you find the right people to guide you, getting into babywearing becomes far simpler.
Alexandra Moore drooled for months over a rare Tula pattern covered in unicorns and rainbows, only to discover it didn’t suit her once she finally tried it. She now relies on a few dependable carriers that got her through infancy and early toddlerhood with ease.
