Trying to find the best baby wrap carriers can be stressful, so I’ve tried them all to help take out the guesswork. Here are what I think are the best baby carriers for newborns and older infants.

I’ve been promising this post and video for awhile now, comparing a bunch of baby wearing options.

Today we are going to look at knit wraps, woven wraps, and a few different variations of baby carriers, and go in-depth into everything you need to know about all these different baby wearing options.

I’m a mom of six, with my youngest being two months old, and I have been baby-wearing regularly for the last 10 years.

Baby wearing is the key to me getting everything done around the house, getting everything done in my home business, being able to homeschool, and just being present with the other kids. In my world, baby-wearing is a must.

For those who are new to baby-wearing, if you just get past the learning curve, you will be in love with it. I have not met a baby who doesn’t like to be worn.

It just makes life so much easier. I don’t know what I would do without my baby wrap, especially for my newest babe. He doesn’t like being put down, and if he is laid down, he cries. But I can still get so much done with my day because of baby-wearing.

So let’s dive into it.

Baby Wearing Safety

A quick disclaimer: safety is always a priority. When you wear your baby, they should be close enough to kiss, and you should be able to see they are breathing at all times.

It can be dangerous if not done properly. Always do your research, and exercise caution when baby-wearing.

Use common sense with strangulation hazards, especially with wraps and carriers that contain strings and ties.

I can’t tell you what is right for your family, but baby-wearing (with proper safety) is something that our family loves.

This post contains affiliate links, which means I make a small commission at no extra cost to you. See my full disclosure here.

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• DIY Cloth Diaper Inserts

Best Baby Wrap Carriers

Knit Wraps

These are made with stretchy, long fabric. There are probably dozens upon dozens of knit wraps on the market, and I’ve tried six or seven of them.

Pros of Knit Wraps:

Depending on the brand, they can carry kids up to 45 pounds. More lightweight fabrics can only carry smaller babies.

Tuck baby’s head in. One of the biggest pros, in my opinion, is that you can tuck the baby’s head in up against your chest when you are going about your day, so you are completely hands-free. I can be emptying dishes, changing a diaper, cutting out fabric on the floor, etc. They are super secure and tucked in.

Some wraps work better for tucking in their heads. Wraps that have stretch to them will be more comfortable, and allow you to get your baby super tight and secure. I have a whole post on How To Wrap A Baby Wrap.

Wear like a T-shirt. The straps fit broadly across the shoulders and the back, so it feels like you are wearing another piece of clothing. I tried wearing the more structured carriers in the past, and they hurt my back. With the straps being so broad on your shoulders, it really allows the baby’s weight to be more evenly distributed, making it so much more comfortable to wear.

One Size Fits All: With woven and different varieties, you get different sizes based on your size or type of wrapping you want to do. Knit wraps are sold in one size. If you are a smaller person, you will have longer tails that you can just tie back so you are not tripping on any ties. If you are a larger person, you won’t have as long of tails.

Baby can go in and out without taking the wrap off: I will take Daniel in and out throughout the day without taking the wrap off, whereas with the Mei Tai, you will have to take it off and completely redo it every time you take the baby out.

Cons of Knit Wraps

Learning Curve: There is a bit of a learning curve. I’ve been using them for so long that they go on really quickly for me. But if you haven’t done it before, it can be a little tricky. The first couple times, you will probably not get it tight enough, or won’t feel secure enough.

It’s A Lot Of Fabric: You may feel like there is just so much fabric, and you’re just tripping over the wrap. You can easily tie it back, but it still can be seen as a con.

Cannot Back Carry: Older toddlers are more comfortable with back-carrying for the wearer. Unfortunately because knit wraps are stretchy, you cannot back-carry due to the risk that they may fall out.

Favorite Brands Of Knit Wraps:

Boba:

This one is my current favorite. It’s a lot like the Keababies.

Pros:

It’s a bit stretchier, which I like because he is more snug and secure.

It has great support.

This one is a little heavier than Solly, but quite a bit less heavy than Moby.

They also just introduced a lot of really cool prints, and they are cheaper than many other wraps, making it a great budget-friendly option.

Solly Wrap:

Pros:

Super lightweight.

Wears just like a T-shirt and is perfect for summer babies.

Comes in beautiful colors and prints. It has a minimalist feel, and is more stylish, in my opinion.

Cons: 

Doesn’t support older babies because the fabric is so lightweight.

They are also expensive.

Moby:

This is the one I’ve had the longest. It is faded and worn in many spots.

Pros:

Baby does feel secure, like any other knit wrap.

It is a thicker fabric, so this one will be great for the fall and winter to provide some warmth.

Cons:

The fabric is not quite as stretchy; maybe Moby has improved their fabrics since I’ve purchased one. But my sister has one as well, and it wasn’t that stretchy either.

Baby K’Tan:

Technically a knit wrap, it is made with fabric similar to the Moby, and is not very stretchy.

This is great for those who are not very confident in the knit wraps, and is a little easier to put on.

You put it on like a necklace and put your arms through. Then, you put your baby’s leg through, just like you would with a regular knit wrap. Lastly, you tie the sash around the middle to mimic the exact same set up as the other wraps.

Pros:

It is a little easier to tie. Personally, since I’m so used to my other knit wraps, this is not easier for me to do at all. It probably is, once you get used to it.

There is much less fabric, which is nice.

Cons:

Not one size fits all. Currently, I’m wearing an extra small. Daniel is only two months old, and he feels secure in this, but I don’t think it is going to last much longer. In a few months, I don’t think this size will work for us. As of right now, it’s really comfortable, but there just isn’t much room to grow.

Not stretchy: I prefer the stretchier fabrics, and this one just doesn’t stretch much.

Keababies Knit Wrap:

Pros:

• This one is super budget-friendly, and I found it on sale for cheap.
• It can be wrapped super tight.
• It has a tag at the center point, so you can easily find the center.
• About the same weight as the Boba. Lighter than the Moby, heavier than the Solly.

Cons:

Fabric is slightly stretchy, but not as stretchy as the Boba.

Does feel more cheaply made. If this was the only one I had, though, I would be just fine.

Woven Wraps

They are much more supportive for larger babies and toddlers.

Pros:

• Appropriate for a back carry. I could easily put Micah on my back and wear him for a day at the zoo.
• Come in beautiful fabrics. Because they are made with woven cotton or linen, there are just some beautiful fabrics. If you do a search on Etsy for some handwoven fabrics, you will find some beautiful options if you want to make your own.
• Organic material: You can find options made from organic fabrics like cotton, hemp, and bamboo.
• There are so many ways you can wrap your baby. If you are wanting to explore different wearing options, this might be for you.

Cons:

They can be really expensive. Especially if you are looking for those beautiful, handwoven options, they can be upwards of $200. I DIYed a woven wrap for about $30 with some Osnaburg fabric, and dyed it with fabric dye. That is still more expensive than some of the knit wraps.

Not as comfortable. To me, woven wraps are just not as comfortable as the knit wraps. They hold the support well, and can distribute the weight evenly, but because they aren’t stretchy, it feels like you have something on. The knit wraps just wear more like clothing.

UPDATE: I ended up getting very used to wearing a woven wrap with Daniel and found it quite comfortable once I got used to it. I found this Beautiful Woven Wrap by Daisue for a lot cheaper.

Mei Tai:

This is an East Asian style of wrap that is essentially a piece of square fabric with straps coming out at each corner. I made a DIY Mei Tai and added a little hood to it, which is great for the winter for warmth, or use it for sleeping and head support. You can purchase ones already made here, here, or here.

Pros: 

So easy to put on. If you’ve tried the other wraps, and you don’t feel like you can get it right, or the baby doesn’t feel secure, this might be for you. You essentially put the square over where the baby is, and tie all four ties, and the baby is nice and secure.

Head support. If you have the hood head-support option, then you can still go about your day doing all your chores without worrying about your baby’s head.

Super comfortable. It provides even weight distribution since the straps are wide.

Fabrics. Because it is made with woven fabric, there are many beautiful options on the market, and you can even make your own.

Easy to lay baby down. I found that with this type of wrap, if the baby falls asleep, it is easy to untie the wrap and lay baby down without waking them up. With other knit and woven wraps, it is very difficult to remove the baby from the wrap gently enough for baby to continue to sleep.

It is also possible to put the baby in the Mei Tai without waking them. With the Moby wrap or the other wraps, I have to lay the child back down to put them in the wrap.

Can carry older babies and toddlers. This baby carrier can grow with baby, and can easily accommodate toddlers.

Can back-carry older babies and toddlers. Mei Tais can easily back-carry older babies and toddlers, because they are made from non-stretchy fabric, and are more structured. Now, you wouldn’t want to back-carry a newborn, because you want to be able to see their heads and their head support is not stable enough for that. Usually, back-carrying is for babies closer to one year old.

Cons:

It is not as comfortable as the knit wraps, in my opinion. I love this wrap and think it is super beautiful, but it is just not as comfortable as my Boba wrap for the day.

You can’t take baby in and out. With the knit wrap, I can easily take the baby out, put them down if they are being happy, or hand him off to Luke and keep wearing the knit wrap all day. With the Mei Tai style of wrap, I can’t do that. Since the fabric is tight and not stretchy, you have to take the carrier off to get the baby out.

Cannot nurse in it: With woven and knit wraps, you are supposed to be able to nurse in them (although I’ve never been able to figure that one out, and find it easier just to take my babies out to nurse and then put them back in). With a Mei Tai, you can’t.

There you have it: the best baby wrap carriers, in my opinion. Baby-wearing is such a treat and I’m so thankful that we do it.

What are your favorite baby carriers?

Shop My Favorite Baby Wraps

Solly Baby Wraps

Beautiful Woven Wrap by Daisue

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