There is nothing like those first few moments of skin-to-skin contact with baby. Your little one's desire and need for closeness continue long after they first meet you. They love the warmth and safety of being in the womb, and babywearing gives them similar security.
With summer on the way, we wanted to round up a few of our favourite breathable baby carriers. Some are mainstream and others have just hit the market so read on to decide which one is best for you.
Carry Positions
The “Hangover” baby made the outward front carry famous [for Dad’s] but there are many other positions that can be used and all of them are based on the age and stage of your little one. There are 3 basic carry positions...
Front carry- inward
Front carry- outward
Back carry
A few of the carriers we have noted below offer extra options like the hip carry that allows you to use your carrier for breastfeeding. As far as features, all the carriers we have highlighted below have built in infant inserts for convenience which means you can use them from birth with no additional purchase or attachment required. Remember to always fasten the waistband of your carrier on top of your hips (think high waisted jeans) to ensure baby is up nice and high and in a kissable position.
To start, simply clip the carrier around your waist and adjust as necessary to get the proper fit. This carrier has comfortable shoulder straps and lower back lumbar support so your little one won't “break your mother’s back” + breathability for you and baby makes it a top contender in 2022. The mesh allows for ventilation that keeps both you and baby cool —even when hiking on warm days.
Taking on the sun? It also has a UPF 50+ hood that can zip out to protect baby from the elements. It has a foolproof colour-coded guide inside of the carrier that allows you to gradually adjust with Velcro to ensure your little one stays in an ergonomic seating position no matter their size. They have also revamped this carrier with a slider adjustment that allows you to quickly switch baby to face in or out—no buttons to fiddle with.
It’s important to note that the ERGObaby 360 Cool Air Mesh carrier also has the highest weight limit of all the carriers we are reviewing today.
Nuna CUDL Carrier
The CUDL Carrier by Nuna is off the charts easy to use.
It has a Velcro waistband and strong magnetic clips that allow you to feel in control when popping baby inside. The entire carrier is made of organic cotton and soft padded mesh for breathability to keep those sweaty babes cool. The CUDL also has a built-in infant booster seat that you can easily unzip once your little one reaches 15LBS. Bonus with the CUDL carrier is that Nuna has included all of the accessories you may need like x2 cotton bibs and x2 harness covers so that your baby can drool and slobber until their heart is content. These accessories easily Velcro on and off to protect your carrier
The One Air carrier from BabyBjörn is their premium carrier model. Some carriers in the carrier line-up are meant to only work facing in or facing out—but the Air series does allow for added versatility with the back carry option. The One Air is made of the soft and airy mesh where the vs. the soft cotton blend of the original Air. At first, you are drawn to the modern neutral colour palate. Like the other carriers we’ve spoken about – it also has built-in support for newborn and adjustable head support.
To use this carrier, you pop it over your head like a t-shirt and secure baby using magnetic buckles. It also has adjustable zippers that allow you to customize the seat and leg area. As babe gets older – you can open or close the zippers allowing for a wider seat.
Lascal M1 Carrier
Do not judge a book by its cover, ok? The M1 carrier may look a little bulky—but looks are deceiving as this carrier is full of padding to keep the wearer feeling comfortable. Petite mom? There is a removable piece on the waist strap that you can remove to allow for a customized fit.
The M1 has wide cozy straps that allow your shoulders to feel comfortable and the straps tighten in a forward motion. Like the other carriers we've reviewed—it is made of 3D mesh which makes it breathable for both the baby and the wearer. It too comes with a zip-in insert for smaller babies [use this function from 8-12LBs] which elevates the baby keeping them up nice, high, and close enough to kiss. The insert also creates a smaller leg hole for babe allowing them the proper M-shape when seated.
The M1 uses convenient clips to secure baby inside [very similar to the Nuna CUDL and BabyBjorn One Air].
As part of our carrier round-up, we wanted to include a handful of versatile soft structured carriers to suit your style, needs, and budget. Enter LILLEbaby! We love that LILLEbaby has a carrier for everyBODY with their selection of ring slings, wraps, and carriers like the LILLElight. The simplicity of the LILLElight is what makes it a team favourite. Features we love? It is made of organic cotton and natural hemp blended fibers, it has padded shoulder straps for comfort, and truth be told we love that it will match nicely with any outfit you wear.
Baby Beluga Bamboo Baby Wrap
Lastly, we love a good wrap!
We know, this isn't technically a soft structured carrier like the others– but the Beluga Baby wrap is Snuggle Mama approved and the bamboo material makes it breathable just like the others. Now, it's not just our staff members who love this wrap - Beluga Baby has also been getting attention from some of your favourite IG Mama’s accounts. We love the breathable bamboo fabric and the Canadian story behind the brand. Plus, there is no cuter-looking wrap out there from stripes to trendy tie-dye you name it they’ve made it.
If you are drawn to the idea of a wrap over a carrier you can learn more about wraps and ring slings here. You'll need to watch a tutorial video or two to get the hang of things—but once you get the hang of things you will no doubt love babywearing.
