Photo cred: Artipoppe
An amazing baby carrier is an important gear piece! That is why we have done the research and rounded up the top baby carriers, slings, and wraps that are perfect for NYC parents! Click through to find the best fit for you.
Looking for other easy ways to navigate NYC as a parent? Take a look at our Mom Hacks: New York City Must-Haves
Additional reporting: Mia Salas
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Best for the Parent who Carries 24/7: Ergo 360
With a softly structured carrier design, Ergo Carriers are not only comfortable for both parent and baby but comforting, as you can keep your baby close to you at all times with the freedom and flexibility to still go through your daily routine. The Ergo 360 lets you carry your little one in every position: front carry- facing parent, front carry- facing out, hip carry and back carry. No need to take a break from the baby carrier or feel any stress on your body, because the Ergo 360 has both lumbar support for lower back comfort and adjustable padded shoulder straps for neck and shoulder comfort. You can even breastfeed in the Ergo 360! The carrier is machine washable and has a lifetime guarantee, so if for any reason you find a defect, Ergobaby will replace your carrier at no charge: the ErgoPromise! If your infant is between 0 and 4 months (7-12 pounds), you can purchase the newborn infant insert to go along with the carrier. Comfort is always a priority, but we also care about style, and Ergo 360 comes in lots of adorable patterns and colors.
Let’s not forget dad, this is a great carrier for both mom and dad as it adjusts well to whoever is wearing it and fits well with different heights. This is important as some carriers can either be too bulky on petite frames while not fitting at the right points on a tall frame. The Ergo is our pick for the baby being carried 24/7. $160, ergo.com
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Best Newborn Carrier: BABYBJORN Baby Carrier One Air
Offering five types of baby carriers, BABYBJORN specializes in making life more comfortable in the early years for parents and families. A family-owned company, BABYBJORN sold their first baby bouncer in 1961 and debuted their first baby carrier in 1973. With a strong foundation and history, you can trust that both you and your little one are in good hands with a BABYBJORN carrier. A noteworthy feature of BABYBJORN is their commitment to stressing the role that dads play. They included dads in their baby carrier ads since the 1980s and developed unisex designs for baby carriers that both parents can use. Of all the baby carriers, we love the Baby Carrier One Air, which fits newborns and toddlers ages 0 to 3. Made of airy and cool mesh, the fabric is both soft and keeps you and your baby cool. The size, seat area, and head support are adjustable, so you can modify the carrier as your baby grows.
On a personal note, this carrier has been used by staff at New York Family as well as fellow mom friends. All loved it, but most have shared that once their babies reached that bulky toddler stage, they moved on to carriers that we made more specifically for toddlers.
BABYBJORN also collaborates with Save the Children to raise money to provide a better life and fight for children’s rights all over the world. Carrier One Air $219.99, All Baby Carriers $79.99-$219.99, babybjorn.com
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Best Infant to Toddler Baby Carrier: Tula
Tula offers six different carriers, each with various features and functions. Our pick is the Explore, which provides maximum versatility. The Explore allows you to carry your baby in six positions, accommodates newborns to toddlers weighing 7 to 45 pounds, and offers adjustable head support. The Explore uses breathable and lightweight material and has a cool mesh carrier panel to keep you and your baby cool. The three width settings allow you to adjust the carrier as your little one grows, and the removable hood provides protection from the sun and privacy while feeding your baby. The Tula is the rebel baby carrier brand in that they are very stylish. While most carriers play it safe with solid colors, these baby carriers are famous for boasting fun prints such as animal print patterns, floral, stars, polka-a-dots, and more, all in fun pops of color! Explore Baby Carrier $179, tula.com
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Best Affordable Baby Carrier: Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Carrier
Ever wish that you could simply adjust the seat of your baby carrier as your little one grows instead of buying a whole new one? With Infantino Flip 4-in-1 Convertible Carrier, you can! There are four ways to carry: baby-facing in with a narrow seat for newborns, facing in with a wide seat for older babies, facing out with a narrow seat for babies with head control, and back carry with a wide seat for older babies and toddlers. The easily adjustable seat makes sure that the baby carrier is the perfect size for maximum comfort for your baby. We also love the Wonder Cover Bib, which attaches to the inside of your carrier when facing in, and across the folding rest when facing out. The Wonder Cover Bib protects your clothing and carrier from spit-up and drool — no outfit changes needed throughout the day! We not only love this carrier for being well made and affordable, but it is also lightweight making it a great carrier for travel or to keep in the stroller. $27, amazon.com
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Best Functional/Multi Use: Lillebaby The Complete Carrier
We have to start with the style of Lillebaby carriers because they’re truly one-of-a-kind! Lillebaby offers versatile, solid-colored baby carriers for the parent who’s looking for a more classic look.
A baby carrier that will blend in and match with any outfit. Lillebaby also caters to the parent who’s looking to make a fashion statement. Disney Baby features characters from The Incredibles 2, Minnie Mouse, and Mickey Mouse. Minnie Classic has an adorable pink background with Minnie Mouse silhouettes in all directions — perfect for your little girl! The Incredibles 2 will make both you and your little one feel like superheroes with the colorful blocks of color and the silhouettes of all five of The Incredibles. But the fun doesn’t stop with Disney, Lillebaby also collaborated with World of Warcraft to produce a rainbow, creative design of these little creatures. On to the structure and design, we love The Complete, which offers six carrying positions. Accommodating infants and toddlers weighing 7 to 45 pounds, The Complete also has a zip-down front panel to control your baby’s temperature with breathable mesh. Store your essentials in the slim pockets, adjust the straps and seat, and toss the carrier in the wash — all Complete carriers are machine washable! The Complete $120-$190, lille.com
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Best All Around Baby Carrier Brand: Boba
All of Boba’s baby carriers are breastfeeding friendly, soothing for baby and wearer, and certified hip-healthy! Choose from Boba Wrap, Boba Classic 4GS Carrier, Boba X Carrier, and Boba Air. The Boba Classic 4GS Carrier has an infant insert included to accommodate your newborn with playful prints that make parents feel confident. The Boba X Carrier is Boba’s newest carrier: no infant insert needed, fits all body types creating a custom fit for your baby, and boasts designs by independent women designers! Boba Air is great for your traveling needs, as it is water-resistant and made with durable nylon. Baby Carriers $70-$120, Wraps $40-$50, boba.com
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Best Adjustable Sling: Sakura Ring Sling
Sakura Bloom Ring Sling is perfect for both partners as this sling provides a custom fit for your baby by simply adjusting one strip of fabric and the rings. A family-owned business that crafts all of their carriers in their coastal San Diego workshop (nothing is mass-produced!). Sakura Bloom specializes in textiles, offering Simple Silk, Basics, Maven (made from Matka silk), Chambray, Theory (made from bamboo), and covet (made from tussah silk). Each textile is soft, supportive, and breathable, so browse Sakura Bloom’s Textile Comparison to choose your favorite. Sakura Bloom has a very personal feel with their hand-crafted, nothing mass-produced designs, as well as Unthreaded, the Sakura Bloom community of over 43,500 members. Unthreaded is a great resource for parents to connect with the company and other parents for the ultimate resources. Furthermore, we love Sakura Bloom’s Compassion Project, which focuses on recycling, reusing, and repurposing carriers, silks, linens, and bamboo. $88-$298, sakurabloom.com
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Best Baby Sling: Baby K’tan Baby Carrier
Avoid all straps and buckles with Baby K’tan carriers! The baby sling wraps are comfortable and convenient, slipping on like a t-shirt. For the active parent who doesn’t want to miss a workout, but still wants to keep their baby close, Baby K’tan Active has instant cool technology and flexibility that allows you to stay active. Baby K’tan Organic is made with 100% GOTS certified organic cotton, soft and safe for baby and parent. Baby K’tan Original, Breeze, and Print are the other three options for baby carriers, all supportive and comfortable. For the parent on a budget, Baby K’tan is great. Not only are carriers affordable, but a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of every Baby K’tan Baby Carrier goes to the American Heart Association. $39.95-$59.95, Baby K’tan
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Best Baby Wrap: Solly Baby Wrap
Solly Baby believes that closeness is of the utmost importance. Solly Baby wants you to bring you closer to your little one, all while representing your personal aesthetic in the wrap style. The wraps are made specifically for infants, designed for the first year or up to 25 pounds. All of their wraps are custom-made from certified Lenzing modal, a lightweight, soft and sustainable fabric made from the pulp of Austrian beechwood trees. Solly Baby makes finding the perfect wrap easy with their Pop (of Color) Quiz that gets to know your style and color preferences before recommending two wraps. Solly Baby wraps help reduce infant crying and postpartum depression, improve sleep, prevent flat head, and aid in digestion, making the wraps beneficial and healthy for baby and parent. Solly Baby also supports Every Mother Counts, a non-profit committed to making pregnancy and childbirth safe for every mother. $40-$69, solly.com
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Best Toddler Wrap: Moby Wrap
MOBY (Mother & Baby) is an award-winning brand and leader in baby carriers, providing safety, comfort, versatility, and style. The Moby Wrap grows with your baby from infant to toddler, made of soft and breathable fabric. Easily and evenly distribute your baby’s weight across your back and hips for maximum comfort and support. As your child grows, simply change and adjust positions to accommodate. The wraps are super cozy and come in a variety of patterns and colors, all for an affordable price. $44.94-$54.94, moby.com
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Best Stylish Baby Carrier: Artipoppe Zeitgeist Baby Carrier
Artipoppe is a bit like an honorable mention as purchasing this line of baby carrier entails purchasing through it’s UK website. Founder Anna van den Bogert designs her stylish carriers with all mothers in mind, which is why we are a bit obsessed. If we weren’t done having babies, we would be sporting one of her ethically designed carries that are checked and finished in the Netherlands. The Zeitgeist Baby Carrier has front and back carry options that provide an ergonomic position. The padded waistband and cushy padded shoulder straps help distribute weight with neck and shoulder comfort. The style comes in gorgeous prints, we are loving the baby leopard print as the leopard is truly a classic and perfect for us city moms.