Recommendations when it comes to carriers don't really work, as I find different types of straps suit different people, some have features that you may feel are over-engineered, are not the most intuitive, or lack features that you can likely find elsewhere / would like had you been shopping for your preferences. There are possibly styles that are off your radar that are very mouldable for a lovely fit too - Half Buckles, Ring Slings and Wovens, all perfect for exploring in a library or consultancy setting like mine!
First, if you have any of the carrier's listed below and they work for you that's great. I'm coming at this post from a point of view of overall quality, longevity, adjustability and comfort. (Remember I've seen and tested quite a few carriers)! Buy wrong, buy two or even three times, and then potentially give up carrying, which can not only be expensive, but a loss; I truly feel there are so many benefits to carrying when done well, with a carrier you love (research backs this up too)! And I do feel there's something out there for everyone!
So what if you've been gifted a sling, or multiple from a well-meaning parent / friend, or you've found something on a local free group, or come across a 'great' bargain carrier while charity shopping/ looking on vinted?
Think about the why's around how the carrier has ended up here. It may have worked well for the previous owner, or they could be parting with it as they found they barely used it - you may or may not find this carrier works for you!
If you are keen to use your gifted carrier /bargain , first check the below and cross reference with some of the other pointers in this post...
Do you know the age of the carrier? I suggest retiring slings that are more than 8 years old due to natural wear and tear.
Is the webbing super stiff, or is there any other obvious wear and tear that could affect the carrier's use or integrity such as holes, weak buckles etc? Remember you will be placing your baby into this, and you will want to keep them safe and snug. I'd you're unsure, why not reach out to your local sling library or consultant for a little bit of advice on the carrier, if you can't find much to go off online. You can also likely get fitting help with your gifted sling too!
Be mindful that carriers have changed a lot over the past 10 years, some carriers now feel quite dated – many carriers are now much more adjustable than they used to be with softer fabric options too, so some panels on older models can feel quite rigid; things like inserts (in most cases) can feel much more faffy. With many newer carriers, you can simply adjust the waist in seconds, and get really mouldable knee-to-knee support. Inserts can often make carriers feel more bulky too and in the summer this can feel warmer too (one that comes to mind particularly is the old style Ergo 360).
Some sling styles are simply not advised (those bag type slings) - or anything similar which places your baby horizontally into a cradle carry position - unfortunately these slings are simply dangerous - we want to easily be able to monitor baby's airways, and have their face free from fabric, up nice and high, held tightly against our body so baby is tummy to tummy/back or seated sideways with consultant support in special situations.
On a tight budget? Know that there are very affordable options out there on the preloved market, I'm currently hiring out stretchy wraps 3 months free of charge too when you book a 1:1 appointment to learn how to use these safely if you haven't got your own!
If you want to buy something new yourself or you're on a budget - ideally after something below £50, (though whatever budget) consider sling hire first, to save money in the long run. (I offer local hire from just £7 a week no appointment) Or if that's out of the question see if you can try a friend's - always remembering your safety checks when putting on, and if neither of these are viable options my advice would then be:
For newborn shopping stick to stretchy wraps, some brands of 2-way stretch (more intuitive to use when learning) I like are Lifft, Izmi, Joy & Joe , Hana or the pre-tied styles - particularly close caboo or Koala Care. Or you could opt for a preloved Woven, woven style Meh Dai, or Ring Sling and book a consult to get learning - with the ring sling and woven something stripey or with a gradient will be easiest for learning, so you can really track what fabric tightens where around yours and baby's body.
Amazon (super speedy, but retails everything, so how do you sift through the rubbish?!) One of the latest fads seem to be the Momcozy carrier, popping up all over Tik Tok - These are not the worst option out there, but they are quite stiff feeling, and will not fit baby's pre-3 months old (base is too wide, and panel not adjustable enough in height). They also only offer one position well, and there are no instructions with their manual to hip or back carry, so although you technically could, I probably would be cautious about doing so. The infantino flip - is another seemingly affordable Amazon carrier - again they aren't megga adaptable for newborn, or the most supportive once baby starts getting bigger, so can feel heavier sooner, and thus you may feel your baby is simply too heavy to carry, which, when you find the right sling for you, is simply not true - I still carry my 2 year old, and it feels super comfortable! Unknown branded cheaper amazon carriers, or brands that sell lots of baby items besides carriers like RedKite, Vtech, Chicco - if the price and what the carrier seems to be offering seems to good to be true (4 position 3-36m) then it probably is unfortunately. I've noticed (Boots / Tesco offer seemingly 'good' carriers for very affordable prices, which I don't think are the best option if looking to carry your newborn, or for the upper limit they often suggest either! I've heard Shein do carriers too now, which is worrying considering their lack of specialism in this field.
Instead look to the pre-loved market, for some reputable brands - more on this towards the bottom, then seeking support if unsure on how to use safely.
If you are considering asking someone for a carrier as a baby shower present, or would like to try a few things I'd actually make a blanket recommendation of asking for a 1:1 carrying consultation voucher instead - read more about what you are get at these type of appointments in this post.
But I've had a good read of reviews online, or everyone's raving about a particular carrier on Insta should I get it too? ...
When you Google 'What is the best baby carrier' the brands that come up first will be the ones that have the most marketing budget, and saturate the marketplace does this mean they are good - well they can be for some people! Are they the only options out there, absolutely not – I tend to find the top rankings in Google are also quite pricey and in terms of bang for buck; there are other brands that I feel have so much more to offer - more longevity etc. So when showing people what's on the marketplace these aren't usually the top of my list. If, however, you are set on a certain brand then contact your local sling library or consultant to see if they have it in stock for you to hire / and offer support with fitting so that you can get the most out of your hire. If they don't quite have that brand, trust them they'll likely have something similar!
Hip healthy carriers. Please be aware that this label is something manufacturers can buy, and no carrier will cause hip issues of used correctly. But if we constantly over-extend baby's legs, or use a narrow-based carrier (where the base doesn't adjust, if any hip issues are present and/or have been missed then such issues can be exacerbated.
With narrow-based carriers baby's knees after a certain point of growth, usually 3/4 months, can't physically be held higher than bum, meaning baby's leg's will hang down, straightening baby's spine more, and weight distribution will add more pressure to your shoulders too. The Bjorn Mini is a very popular buckle carrier that has a narrow-base and as a sling which is most comfy in the fourth trimester, especially if brought new, is quite an expensive option in comparison to something like a stretchy wrap or if you like the convenience of buckles something like a Dracomom Hatchling, offering much better longevity! If however you do own and are enjoying your narrow-based carrier, when baby is bigger you can always use a scarf to create better knee-to-knee support for baby, and keep things more comfy for you both for a little longer. Once hips have fully developed knee to knee support is more of a comfort thing!
Pouch carriers - unless you are importing a Hippie Joey, then anything on Instagram that claims to be like one, hands free, hip style carrier thing or wildride I don't particularly rate, I'd instead suggest a lifft pouch perfect from 6m up.
Another style for smaller baby's I like is the Mini Monkey mesh sling - again, if considering, I would stick to this brand rather than similar looking imitations.
Carriers with inner harnesses - not my favourite (Infantino flip, Najelle, Baby Bjorn - out of all their models the Bjorn Harmony offers the most longevity.) They won't be the simplest or most comfy to breastfeed in. These harness styles can also be quite complicated looking/ and can feel faffy in terms of getting a good fit with initially - especially if you have a short torso you may need to crunch these up a bit to sit right (which is not the most comfy). These may also come with an infant setting, which is yet another thing to think about!
Outward-facing slings. You don't have to face your baby out past a certain age, a lot of carrier marketing shows baby facing out, simply as you can see baby's face which can make for a 'better' campaign. Know that slings with this functionality have less longevity, because the shoulder straps sit in a narrower position, and the main panel tends to be narrower in width to effectively synch well & still hold baby tightly against you. Facing out naturally will be less comfy for both of you, due to how baby's weight will pull forward. If you do decide to outward face brands that offer such functionality well in my opinion are Ergobaby (only new though, through a verified retailer such as John Lewis due to counterfeits) Tula Explore, or Beco (Gemini / 8).
On the flip very expensive carriers - particularly Artipoppe - are they worth it when they only do inward facing well and dont fit newborns at all well. Read my post comparing this brand with another here. If spending over £150 what you are getting tends to be style over function most of the time. Carifit, unless you are purchasing as a fitness carrier with the app workouts, then again I think this is very expensive for it's offering. Caripod - by Seraphine – a big consultant has recently reviewed it and it took her half n hour to figure it out, I think even I'd pass up on fitchecking one, hell to the no!
Shopping at mainstream retail stores like John Lewis - potentially good as a place to try on quickly before buying, but don't rely on staff when fitting you to get the settings right! I have alsp had consults where customers have been sold un-needed inserts, simply because staff don't really know what they are doing!
There are retailers like Bundle of Love, Sling Spot and Bambino Baby where your £'s on a carrier will be much better spent instead, if you have questions all are sling experts who can answer your queries before purchasing. With some of these brands I also have discount perks for Little One Snug Customers.
There are also some brands I will definitely shout about over others after trying so many! I will highlight though that any of these brands fitted poorly will not feel comfy either, and could be a reason why baby gets upset when you put them in the carrier - and is another reason why seeking support is so important (in my opinion) when you're unsure, to ensure things are safe, and get confident :)
So without any further ado the brands I like include but are certainly not limited to: Beco, Boba, Caboo, Diddymos, Dracomom, Kahu, Hana Integra, Isara, Izmi, Joy & Joe, Lenny lamb, Little Frog, Mamaruga, Manduca, Mini Monkey, Neko, Oscha, Storchenweige, Tula - also remember all of these feel very different to one another when on, and will fit baby's from different ages, plus some of these brands offer a number of sling-types.
So, one more time, if you can try before you buy, I have most of the above in my library or similar!