The best baby carrier that’s comfortable and easy to use
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I know how you feel …the first few weeks after your baby is born can be difficult. You want to cuddle your little one for hours on end, but you still have things to do right? I’ve been there three times and what helped me get cuddle my baby non-stop AND be able to use my hands was babywearing! So what is the best baby carrier? Best baby wrap?
Let’s start with the difference between a baby carrier and a baby wrap.
A baby carrier is something you wear that you can place the baby in so you can “carry” the baby around hands free or mostly hands free. Typically when people say “baby carrier” vs “baby wrap” or “baby sling”, they seem to be referring to a carrier that has buckles, snaps, padding etc.
A baby wrap is a type of baby carrier that is usually made of soft material that you wrap around your body in a certain way so that it safely cradles your baby and leaves you hands free.
Which is better? Baby Carrier or Baby Wrap?
Personally, I like baby wraps best! Baby carriers tend to be bulky and warm. I also always worry about clipping my little one with the buckles. On top of that, they always seem huge on me! I’m 5′ 3″ and baby carriers always feel huge and bulky on me.
Why are baby wraps best?
There are so many reasons but here are my top ones:
- Baby wraps are less bulky than your standard carrier. When you have a teeny tiny baby, or you’re petite yourself, you don’t want something that is going to gobble you and the baby up! It should be comfortable to wear.
- Baby wraps are comfortable! They are basically made out of t-shirt-like material and are definitely comfortable!
- They aren’t as warm! That’s right – you’re typical bulky carrier can get super warm and uncomfortable and hot for you and the baby!
- Wraps are most versatile! One of my two favorites can be used to carry your baby in nearly any position!
Most traditional baby wraps are really hard to put on though. The most famous baby wrap is the Moby Wrap. It’s a giant piece of fabric that you have to put on like you’re doing origami! If I’m being completely honest – I couldn’t figure it out. Anytime I thought I had it right, I felt like my baby wasn’t in properly. So I quickly gave up on it and continued my search.
Eventually, I found two amazing baby wraps that I absolutely love and I’m excited to share them with you!
Best Baby Wraps – My Top Picks!
Here are two mini baby carrier reviews for my top picks!
If you’re looking for more than just baby carriers, then check out my “Newborn Baby Must Have” post! It’s my no-nonsense list of budget-friendly must-haves and a few recommended splurge items. It makes for a great checklist too!
Overall Best Baby Wrap: Baby K’Tan Breeze
In my opinion, Baby K’Tan is the best baby carrier because:
- It looks and feels like a Moby wrap but it has much less material
- The material feels thinner (and if you get the “Breeze” version it will be especially great for the summer!)
- It’s pre-sized. You don’t need to worry about wrapping it too tight or too loose.
- You can use it in so many different positions (facing towards, facing out, cradle, hip carry etc)
That last point is key.
That’s right! With just a few easy steps you can put it on and have you baby comfortably inside it without having to do ANY origami!
I ended up purchasing the Breeze version because half of it is made out of mesh which is great during the hot summer months (and on the beach!). Even if you get the black like I did, the thin material and mesh make for a comfortable day out with the baby!
I absolutely love the Baby K’Tan because of how easy it is to use, how light and compact it is, and how versatile it is. I was able to put my son in it and use it within just a couple minutes of opening the box! It’s also priced well compared to some of the other baby carriers and wraps.
See how quick and easy it is to put on in this video! (Oh and… don’t forget to subscribe to my channel!)
The one complaint I have about Baby K’Tan is unique to their Breeze version. The seam between the regular wrap material and the mesh doesn’t stretch well like the rest of the material does. This makes it a bit awkward at the seam. I’ve learned to work around it, but it would be much better if the seam had been sewn with a stretchy thread.
If you get the Baby K’Tan breeze, you just want to make sure the seam between the two materials isn’t in an awkward spot on your little one. It’s a small extra step, but should be worth it if it helps the baby stay cool in the summer!
Many Baby K’Tan models are available on Amazon but these are the two that I recommend:
Best Newborn Baby Carrier: Nesting Days Baby Wrap / Shirt
Nesting Days actually calls theirs a Baby Shirt and in many ways it is! Without the baby inside, it looks like a tunic. Like the Baby K’Tan, this feels and looks like a wrap, is great for petite or short moms, and is PRE-WRAPPED!
I absolutely love how I can wear it with or without the baby so that I’m always ready to pick him up and put him inside it (You can’t do that with the Baby K’Tan).
That said, the only downside to this one is that it really only works for younger babies and you can only face the baby in (towards you) with this one.
I love this “shirt” so much though that I plan to use this one as much as I can until my son outgrows it – and then I’ll switch back to using the Baby K’Tan as my primary.
Like the Baby K’Tan, you can order yours with 2-day shipping from Amazon! Click below and try it out without any risks (Amazon is great about returns!)
So those are my two recommendations!
Which do you like more? Got a question? Comments below and be sure to share with your friends who might be looking for a baby carrier!
Did you ever use this on the beach or in hot temperatures? I didn't see an update to the blog.
(sorry…keep mistyping thanks to the little ones trying to take my phone! Here is what I have been trying to send…)
I sure did ! Thanks for reminder. I'll need to update it !
The breeze worked out amazingly! I carried the little one everywhere while at the beach. Even though it was a black carrier, both baby and I were comfortable. No more or less than I would have been in the heat in a black shirt basically.
I have it stored away safely so I can use it again with baby #3 (I hope !)
Thanks for reading my blog and inquiring ! If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask !
I absolutely agree with you! I’m so glad you did a review of the breeze. I only own the original. I wrote a review about the original Baby K’tan wrap, but couldn’t give my personal experience about the breeze-even though my husband and I live back and forth between Florida and Puerto Rico! It is seriously, so incredibly hot year round. This product sounds perfect for us! I’m happy to see another Baby K’tanner whoo whoo!
Omg it’s great! Definitely sounds like it would be perfect for you!
thanks for the product recommendations! BTW, it’s seam, not seem and sewn, not sown.
Thank you for catching that! That’s what I get for writing this post while nursing my son! I’ve made the edits thanks to your help. Glad you liked the post (despite the spelling errors!)
I love the Baby K’Tan too! I used it a little for my 1st baby and I just had my baby and everyone tells me that you’ll be baby wearing a lot more with the second so I plan on using it a ton!
I love how wraps are becoming so stylish while maintaining their functionality! We used a wrap with both of our girls (and I’m so thankful we did) because you can use it in so many different ways!
Thank you for the review! I try to recommend only the best products on the market for my clients, and this is definitely getting added to the list.
This wrap looks easy to tie, most of the other ones really look complicated to wear!
I love wraps for newborns, but I really loved my babywearing shirt with this last baby (my 4th!). The LalaBu babywearing shirt is awesome! It just has a pocket on the front that you just drop the baby into. It made the first month or two a breeze.
I love the look of the Nesting Days baby shirt for next time. My little one is already 19 months old now (it goes by too fast!) and we mostly wear our Tula now.
Your posts are always super helpful. Thanks Rachel for this list!
Aww thank you! So glad you found it useful!