Your baby wants to be held. All. Day. Meanwhile, the laundry is waiting, your toddler needs a snack, and you would really love a walk in the fresh air. A baby carrier solves all of that at once: your little one stays snuggled against you, and you get your hands back.
Here are straight answers to the questions parents ask us most about carriers, from the newborn days to the toddler years, plus the two carriers we would buy.
Why use a baby carrier?
A carrier lets you keep your baby close while you get on with life. Babies love the warmth, motion and sound of your heartbeat, and many fussy afternoons settle down once they are snuggled in. You get two free hands for the grocery list, the stroller-unfriendly stairs at the train station, or a walk on the beach where wheels would sink.
Can a newborn go in a carrier?
Yes. You do not have to wait until your baby can hold their head up. Many modern soft carriers are designed for newborns from around 7 lb, often with a built-in newborn setting instead of a separate insert. The key is choosing a carrier made for the newborn stage and using it in the inward-facing position, with your baby’s head and neck supported against your chest.
Older carriers often felt stiff and boxy for a tiny baby. Today’s soft knits, stretchy wraps and adjustable seats cradle a newborn much more naturally, so you can enjoy babywearing from the very first weeks.
How much weight can a baby carrier hold?
It depends on the carrier, so check the label. Many soft structured carriers start at 7 lb and go up to 40 or 45 lb, which can take you well into the toddler years. Newborn-focused carriers usually have a lower limit (around 25 lb), and framed hiking backpacks typically start once your child can sit unassisted and go up to about 40 lb.
In practice, many parents keep using a carrier for tired legs on long walks, crowded places and travel days, long after their child is walking. A back carry makes a heavier toddler much more comfortable to carry than a front carry.
When can my baby face outward?
Once your baby has strong, steady head and neck control and meets your carrier’s minimum for that position, which is often around 5 to 6 months. Ergobaby, for example, asks that babies be at least 14 lb and taller than 25 inches before facing out in the Omni Deluxe, with their chin clear of the top of the carrier panel.
Facing out is perfect for short stretches when your baby is alert and curious. When they start to get sleepy or overwhelmed, turn them back to face you so they can rest their head on your chest.
Is a carrier good for my baby’s hips?
A well-designed one is. Look for a carrier that supports your baby’s thighs from knee to knee, with their knees slightly higher than their bottom in a relaxed “M” shape. That position lets the hips develop naturally. Carriers that let the legs dangle straight down from a narrow seat are best avoided, especially in the first months.
When can I carry my baby on my back?
For the Omni Deluxe, wait until your baby can sit upright unassisted and meets its 17.2 lb minimum, usually around 6 months. Other carriers set different limits, and some wait until the first birthday, so follow your manual. For hiking, a framed backpack carrier is a great next step once your child can sit up steadily on their own. See our guide to the best baby backpack carriers for hiking for our favorites.
The carriers we would buy
For the newborn months: Ergobaby Embrace Soft Knit
The Embrace gives you the cozy, wrapped-up feel of a stretchy wrap with the speed of buckles, which is exactly what you want when you are running on very little sleep. It fits babies from 7 to 25 lb with a built-in newborn setting, so there is no separate insert to fiddle with.
It is a newborn specialist, with no back carry, so think of it as the carrier for the fourth trimester and those early months of snuggles.
Browse the Ergobaby Embrace on Amazon
From newborn to toddler: Ergobaby Omni Deluxe
If you would rather buy once, the Omni Deluxe answers nearly every question on this page. It fits babies from 7 to 45 lb, starting at 20 inches tall, and offers four positions: facing in from the newborn days, facing out once your baby is ready, on your hip and on your back. Padded straps and an adjustable seat help you dial in the fit, and built-in storage keeps your phone and keys close.
Browse the Ergobaby Omni Deluxe on Amazon
Babywearing basics
- Keep your baby upright, close enough to kiss, with their face visible, nose and mouth clear, and chin off their chest. Check on them often, especially under four months.
- Take your baby out of the carrier to feed. If they fall asleep, move them onto their back on a firm, flat sleep surface as soon as you can.
- Bend at the knees, and save cooking, hot drinks and ladders for when your baby is out of the carrier.
- For premature or low-birthweight babies, or babies with breathing problems, ask your pediatrician before using a carrier.
Our recommendation
For most families, the Ergobaby Omni Deluxe is the carrier to get. It works from the first weeks to the toddler years, so you only learn one set of buckles. If you are expecting and dreaming of soft, snuggly newborn walks, the Ergobaby Embrace is a lovely place to start. Want to compare more options, including BabyBjörn and Tula? See our roundup of the best baby carriers this year, or our guide to front carriers, wraps and backpacks.
