Best baby carriers: the safest slings and wraps for babies

Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Ergobaby All Position 360 review (previous model)

The Ergobaby Omni 360 is an ergonomic and versatile baby carrier and a great all-rounder - ideal for long periods of use. Suitable for babies from birth to 20kg, it offers a choice of four different wearing positions depending on the age of your child.

An upgrade from our parent-tested Ergobaby All Position 360, the Omni 360 is suitable from birth without requiring a newborn insert. The updated design also has improved lumbar support, providing additional comfort for parents across the base of their back. Made from cool mesh fabric, it allows good breathability and enhanced airflow, even on warmer days.

The Ergobaby Omni 360 offers a comfortable and secure hold, with Velcro straps that can easily be adjusted to adapt to your baby as they grow. Winner of an AGR healthy back award and declared hip healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, it ensures your baby’s legs stay in the healthy ‘M position’ at all times, with good hip alignment and a natural curve in their spine. It also follows the TICKS guidelines - ensuring a tight fit with your baby in full view, close enough to kiss, chin off their chest and with adequate support for their back.

For young babies, the integrated head support will help keep them safe and secure, even when sleeping, while the UPF privacy hood allows discreet breastfeeding and can protect them from the elements on warm or windy days.

From around five months (or when your baby can confidently hold their own head), you can switch the Ergobaby Omni 360 to the ergonomic forward-facing mode, folding down the support cushion so your baby can clearly take in their surroundings. Finally, from six months onwards, you may wish to carry your baby on your hip or use the Ergobaby as a back carrier for increased freedom during longer journeys.

Whilst it can be a little tricky to reach the strap at the back, getting your baby in and out of the Ergobaby is relatively straightforward. While some of the buckles require you to squeeze and lift simultaneously for safety reasons, the majority of the adjustments can be done quickly and easily, even one-handed. The instructions are also easy to follow, with detailed videos on the Ergobaby website.

With excellent weight distribution, the cushioned shoulder straps can be worn ‘rucksack style’ or crossed across the back, allowing a snug and secure fit even on more petite parents. With wide lumbar support and a chest strap for use in back carrying mode, the Ergobaby Omni 360 is also easy to adjust for multiple users. We love the inclusion of a detachable storage pouch, which ensures you always have easy access to your keys or phone without needing a separate bag.

On the flip side, it’s worth noting that unlike sling carriers such as the Izmi Essential Wrap or Boba Wrap, the Ergobaby Omni 360 doesn’t fold down flat, so it’s not the easiest to stash away into your changing bag or pushchair storage basket. Accessories such as the drool bib, teething pads, rain cover and winter weather cover are also all sold separately and considering the price of the carrier itself, we feel they’re a little on the costly side.

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While the Izmi Essential Baby Wrap may look overwhelming at first, this long, soft and stretchy strip of fabric can quickly become a comforting carrier for your newborn, providing a safe and snug hold against your chest in a natural foetal position. Whether you’re petite or plus-sized, this one-size design is suitable for all sizes and body shapes, making the Izmi a practical choice for parents who want to share in the babywearing.

Suitable from birth until your baby is approximately nine months old, the Izmi is an ideal introduction to babywearing during the so-called fourth trimester. Being held in close proximity to your heartbeat is incredibly calming for your newborn, providing familiarity and reassurance to help them gently drift off to sleep. For parents, the close proximity to your baby can also provide a healthy dose of the oxytocin ‘feel good’ hormone, providing a welcome boost to your well-being and postnatal mental health.

Practice definitely makes perfect with this carrier and while the visual instructions are helpful, you may want to watch the online videos to ensure you’re getting the correct fit. As a five-metre-long piece of fabric, it’s also recommended you fit this wrap indoors to prevent it from touching the floor, before adjusting it to ensure the correct amount of tension and support across your shoulders and back.

Once secured, you can easily place your baby inside, gently manipulating the fit until their back is curved and their legs are hanging in the healthy ‘M’ position. The three layers of material provide a secure and firm hold against their back, however, you may need to increase the tension as your baby gets bigger.

Overall, the Izmi Essential Baby Wrap offers natural hands-free carrying and surprisingly good support when fitted correctly, but you may find yourself placing your palm on their back for additional peace of mind. With a practical carry pouch for travel, it’s easy to whip out as and when required, but you may want to switch to a more structured baby carrier for prolonged use.

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Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Boba X review

The Boba X is an easy-to-use hybrid carrier, offering the support and reassurance of a structured carrier with the softness and comfort of a baby wrap. Offering excellent value for money and good longevity, it’s suitable to use from birth through to 20kg (around three to four years of age).

With a choice of front, hip and back carrying modes, the Boba X easily adapts to your baby’s size and needs, providing inward-facing reassurance and comfort for your newborn, as well as a high vantage point on your back so your toddler and preschooler can interact with the world around them. It’s also a convenient choice for breastfeeding, with the option to unclip and create some slack before moving your baby into an upright nursing position.

While fitting the back strap and clip can be a bit tricky (with some minor contortionist skills required) it’s relatively easy to adjust once secured into place, with dual pull shoulder straps and a sliding chest strap for additional support. Alternatively,  If you’ve got someone around to help you, it’s far easier to have them clip it up from behind. The adjustable seat width and extension pieces for larger babies ensure that your child will always be well-aligned and seated in a healthy ‘M’ position as they grow.

Unlike the Ergobaby Omni 360, there’s no built-in lumbar support on the Boba X, so whilst the padded straps can be crossed for additional comfort, it may be better suited to short-term trips than all-day rural or urban adventures, particularly with heavier babies.

Our testers loved the built-in loops for toys, teethers or dummies and the integrated storage for stashing your keys and phone, but it’s not as easy to clean as some carriers - with spot-clean-only fabric that could become stained over time.

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If you want the support of a structured baby carrier but are worried about the thicker cotton or mesh fabrics feeling warm or uncomfortable against your newborn’s delicate skin, the Ergobaby Embrace could be the perfect solution. Made from a soft jersey knit fabric in a small and compact design, it’s a convenient choice for taking on family adventures, keeping your hands free to care for older children or simply multi-task on your travels.

Providing the ideal combination of a structured carrier with the closeness of a baby wrap or sling, the Ergobaby Embrace is designed specifically for the fourth trimester but is suitable from birth until around 12 months of age. The gently padded straps on the Ergobaby Embrace can be crossed across the back to help distribute weight evenly across your shoulders, while the strap around the waist offers additional support and can be adjusted to suit various body sizes.

While it’s perhaps a costly choice for the relatively short period of use and less adjustable than the Ergobaby Omni 360, it’s far more portable, with the option to stash in a changing bag or pushchair basket when not in use.

Reviewers say it’s easy to get on and secure with easy-to-fasten clips, before moving your baby into the hip-healthy and ergonomic ‘M’ seating position. It’s also been certified as ‘back-friendly’ by experts at the AGR (Campaign for Healthier Backs), allowing newborns to stay close and well supported, with a reassuring snug hold against your chest so that they can hear your heartbeat.

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With the choice of a stylish blue marina or a black and white monochrome design, the Joie Savvy is a popular multi-position baby carrier suitable from birth until approximately three years of age. Offering complete flexibility to suit your lifestyle, it has a choice of four different carrying positions that you can switch between depending on your baby’s age and size.

As a newborn, your baby can be positioned inward facing, sitting in a curved foetal position on your chest, with an optional head support that can be raised to protect their neck should they nod off during your travels.

Certified ‘hip healthy’ by The International Hip Dysplasia Institute, the wide and supportive ergonomic seating position can be lowered as your baby grows, ensuring your baby’s spine maintains a natural curve and good hip alignment, with your baby’s legs in a healthy ‘M’ position.

By around six months of age, your curious baby will love switching to forward-facing, allowing them to interact, engage and gain full visibility of their surroundings. From nine months and above, you can also switch to back carry mode, providing extra stability for longer walks and hikes.

With padded shoulder straps and a waist strap that offers good lumbar support for parents, this carrier can also be put on quickly and easily without assistance. Although some of the straps may require some wriggling to reach, the Joie Savvy has impressive magnetic clips which are far easier to operate than traditional clips or buckles as seen on the likes of the Ergobaby Omni 360.

Although some parents may prefer the super soft fabric of a wrap or sling, we love the lightweight and breathable fabric of the Joie Savvy, which ensures good airflow when the temperatures rise. The built-in sunshade is also a real blessing on hot summer days, protecting your baby’s head from those harmful UV rays.

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Tested by Mumsnet: Read the full Boba Wrap review

The Boba Wrap is the best baby wrap for your little one's earliest months. Unlike the structured Boba X microcarrier, which is suitable for both babies and toddlers, the Boba Wrap is a stretchy fabric that is wrapped around the body, creating a carrier with a close and comfortable hold for younger babies.

Suitable for all parent shapes and body sizes, this one-size fits all, four-way stretch fabric allows you to create a truly customised fit. Whilst slightly more expensive than the Izmi Essential Baby Wrap, it’s made from luxurious French terry cotton and provides a secure hold with less bouncing for a comfortable carrying experience.

While the Boba Wrap may be limited in terms of longevity, the lower price tag makes it an attractive option for parents with newborns. The stretchy fabric keeps your baby close and calm, while the built-in headrest can gently support the back of their head if they tend to fall asleep in the fresh air. Breastfeeding-friendly in an upright position, it also allows discreet nursing on the move - ideal if you’re also looking after an older child who wants to head to the local park or play area.

With no structured parts, fitting the Boba Wrap is certainly a learning curve, with many parents opting to watch the videos to ensure they’re securing it correctly. You may also want to seek support from your local sling library or babywearing expert first, who can ensure you’re confident with the tension and level of support provided. If you’re on the petite side, you may find excess fabric hangs down at the waist, but if worn correctly, the Boba wrap meets the TICKS guidelines for healthy babywearing.

The Boba Wrap is suitable for up to 15kg, however, due to its inward-facing-only design, you may wish to switch to a more structured carrier such as the Ergobaby Omni 360 once your baby outgrows the newborn stage.

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Tested by Mumsnet: Read our full Phil & Teds Parade review

As your baby grows, switching to a back carrier can be a great way to maintain your freedom, travel hands-free and achieve good weight distribution when carrying a heavier child. Unlike front-facing carriers, baby backpack carriers are well suited to longer carrying durations, making a great alternative to a pushchair or stroller in crowded city streets and rural off-road surroundings.

With excellent Mumsnet reviews and recently rated Mumsnet’s top pick for the best baby carrier backpack, the Phil & Teds Parade is a popular choice with parents thanks to its compact, lightweight design. It weighs just 2kg and folds down flat for simple storage. Unlike some of the more bulky hiking carriers like the Osprey Poco Plus and Thule Sapling, it comes with a relatively affordable price tag too.

Suitable for babies aged six months and above, the Phil & Teds Parade has a robust internal aluminium frame that allows a secure and comfortable back hold. With a safe and secure four-point safety harness and ergonomic seat design, your baby will be content and comfortable as they experience the world from your eye level.

With adjustable harness height, padded shoulders and a secure, comfortable hip belt, this carrier can be adjusted to suit parent preferences, with a ventilated back panel to ensure you don’t overheat even on warmer days.

We love the handy support anchor which provides a sturdy base, allowing you to pop the carrier down on the floor during comfort breaks without toppling. There’s a wide range of storage too, with the 12.5-litre internal capacity offering plenty of space for drinks and snacks. The smaller detachable backpack is sure to appeal to toddlers, with plenty of room to stash the pinecones they pick up during their travels.

It’s worth noting that there’s no in-built weather protection on the Parade, so for warmer days you may also want to purchase the Phil & Teds sunshade, which is sold as an optional extra. If you’re planning to take your baby on lots of outdoor adventures, particularly during the summer months, you may need to factor this into the overall price.

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If ensuring an ergonomic seating position for your baby is your top priority, the latest BabyBjörn Harmony 3D Mesh is a great pick - with a luxurious and stylish mesh design that is super soft, breathable and offers a comfortable ergonomic hold for your baby.

Declared ‘hip healthy’ by The International Hip Dysplasia Institute, you can confidently position your baby subject to TICKS guidelines, sitting high enough to kiss your baby’s head when placed in the newborn carrying mode.

While some of the older BabyBjörn models have been criticised for their less angled seating position, the BabyBjörn Harmony 3D Mesh performed well in Which? lab tests, claiming the consumer champion’s coveted Best Buy status. This newer design offers structured back support and a wide seat that can be locked into place with zips, keeping the hips well aligned once you’ve found the right position and creating a natural ‘C’ curve in your baby’s spine.

Suitable for babies from birth until two to three years (or 15kg), it has three unique carrying positions - newborn inward facing (with no insert required), front-facing from five months or a back carrier for babies one year and above. You can even reduce the size of the leg holes for smaller babies to ensure a safe and secure fit.

Fitting and adjusting this carrier is relatively straightforward, with four intuitive clips that are easy to secure. That said, reaching the back strap requires some flexibility and, in back carrying mode, you’ll need to place your child in the front before rotating into place.

Overall, while it doesn’t come cheap, this comfortable ergonomic carrier may be the only one you ever need to buy, making it a practical alternative to a buggy.

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Suitable from birth to 16kg (around three years old), the Nuna Cudl may look very similar in appearance to the Joie Savvy, but this versatile carrier has thicker and sturdier fabrics that can provide additional peace of mind when carrying older babies and toddlers. Mumsnet users praise the Nuna Cudl as a more robust alternative to a sling or wrap, allowing hands-free carrying as you go about your day.

Available in a choice of eight different colours, you can choose a shade that best compliments your style. It comes with lots of accessories too, including two attachable organic cotton bibs (great for dribbly babies), two harness covers, a sunshade for warm weather protection and a removable head support, helping to support your baby’s neck if they drift off whilst on the move.

With a choice of four carrying positions, the Nuna Cudl can adapt to your needs as your baby grows - whether that’s the comfort and reassurance of an inward-facing front carry for your newborn or the raised height of a rucksack-style back carrier for your preschooler.

The Nuna Cudl comes with magnetic buckles that make securing relatively quick and straightforward. That said, adjusting some of the straps requires some effort, particularly under the arms. It’s also worth noting that the tension of the back support will increase as you raise the height of the straps, which can make it feel tight across your torso. As such, you may need some practice to create the perfect fit.

Despite some of these challenges, the Nuna Cudl is an ergonomic choice, confirmed as  'hip healthy' by the Hip Dysplasia Institute and creating a frog-legged sitting position with good hip and spine alignment. With well-padded shoulder straps that won’t rub or dig in and a wide secure waist belt that ensures good weight distribution, the Nuna Cudl provides a comfortable carrying experience for parents, even over a longer duration.

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If you’re looking for a supportive baby carrier that can be shared between parents, the Tula Explore is a good solution, with a generously sized waistband that can easily be adjusted to accommodate both petite and plus-sized parents.

A popular choice with sling libraries and babywearing experts, the stylish Tula Explore Baby Carrier is also a great choice for those who like to stand out from the crowd. Unlike the more traditional muted greys, blacks and blues, Tula Explore comes with a choice of bold and patterned prints including florals, leopard skin and polka dot.

Suitable from birth (3.2kg) up to 20.4kg (around three or four years old), the Tula Explore has three carrying positions: front inward-facing (used for newborns), front outward-facing and back carrying.

Certified by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, it ensures a natural, ergonomic position for your baby with healthy hip and spine alignment. It also adjusts to your child as they grow, with different seat settings, padded leg openings and an adjustable neck pillow that can offer extra height support as and when required.

Tula Explore is made from 100% thick cotton that is super soft against your baby’s skin and breathable with excellent airflow - a real plus for active parents. With a well-padded waistband and cushioned straps, it offers excellent weight distribution, allowing you to wear it for longer without experiencing any aches or discomfort.

Like most carriers, perfecting the installation of the buckles and back connector on the Tula Explore becomes much easier over time, with the clips and adjustment settings that can be a little overwhelming at first.

Despite having a higher price tag than the Ergobaby Omni 360, the Tula Explore doesn’t come with a hip carry option. But for many, the super soft fabric and varied design choices make it worth the additional cost.