After so many requests, the baby carrier roundup is here! I have finally gotten to compile all my thoughts on all of the wraps & carriers we’ve used with Shay. Scrolling through the archives to find these photos made me a lil teary- I won’t lie! Time is flying by and I simply can’t believe how much Shay has grown over the course of the last 15 months. He looks like such a scrunchy lil meatball!

All of the thoughts/feelings/words in this blog are my own, but I reached out to some of the wonderful brands mentioned & they sent generous discount codes for you!

01. WildBird Ring Sling

Details: Ring Sling, Sparrow Linen + Gold Ring – Use code HAYDEN10 to save

I’m fairly certain this is the first carrier I really tried with Shay, and was so excited to use it. WildBird has a ton of great resources on their Instagram for how to use a ring sling safely, whether it’s with a newborn or an older baby. Personally, I liked the ring sling best when Shay was between about 3-12 months old. He was a tiny boy, so prior to three months I think he was a bit too small. Shay is just a bit too wiggly for this one anymore, but I loved it throughout his first year. I even used it as belly support before he was born to help with the 3rd-trimester aches that come with a growing belly!

I’ve also been dying to try their new Aerial Buckle Carrier! It’s a cross between a structured carrier and a cozy wrap, and it’s simply so beautiful! I’ll definitely be grabbing one of these before we have our next baby! (ps– if you’ve been wanting one too, the 10% off code also works on these!)

02. Sakura Bloom Scout Carrier

Details: Scout Carrier, Oak Leather + Carmel Linen

I really, really love this carrier. It’s comfy, high-quality, and just really beautiful. It’s a lot sturdier than the ring sling or wraps, but not as structured as the Ergo Baby. I think it’s an incredibly versatile and really well-made carrier that works from the newborn days well into toddlerhood (it’s rated for 7-45 lbs!)

I think my only “downside” to this one is that you really do need help putting it on, at least the first several times you wear it. Technically, you can do it yourself, which I have successfully done a few times, but the D-ring behind your back can be really challenging with a tiny or wiggly baby. Also, because the strap is leather, it’s really stiff and hard to adjust one-handed behind your head until it’s worn in a bit! Now that the strap is worn in, it’s a lot easier for me to do it on my own. But, if you have any sort of limited shoulder mobility (or a babe that’s moving all over as you try to put the carrier on) you’ll need a friend to help you.

03. Solly Baby Wrap

Details: Wrap – Flax use code HAYDENLOALBO10 for 10% off anything

Once you get over the learning curve of tying the Solly wrap, it is a game-changer for newborns. I LOVE this wrap for tiny, squishy newborns and used it so often in Shay’s first few months. This wrap really gave me my hands back postpartum and was the key to getting him to go to sleep for so much of the first several months. Again, since Shay was tiny for many months, I felt like I got pretty good use out of it. However, the wrap is pretty thin, which limits how long it really feels sturdy for as they get heavier. According to their website, they can be worn up to 25 lbs, but I really feel like it’s most useful with newborns.

Solly also has great video resources on how to tie their wraps & make sure baby is nice and secure. It will definitely take a few tries, but I loved this wrap once I got my head around it!

04. Lalabu Simple Carrier

Details: Simple Carrier, Natural

The Simple Carrier is a true cross between a wrap and a structured carrier. It has a combination of D rings and a buckle and is really easy to put on yourself. This one can’t be used with fresh newborns- they recommend starting around 14 lbs- but I really like it & still reach for it to this day if Shay is just wanting to be held. It has an incredibly long use life, up to 2 years. It’s a lot softer & more lightweight than the Ergo, and the design is a lot nicer (and more classy) in my opinion. Plus, the color options are stunning (I’ve been in such a brown mode lately, I’m DROOLING over the Driftwood version!)

05. ErgoBaby Embrace Cozy Knit

Details: Embrace Cozy Knit, Heathered Grey

This will likely be your husband’s favorite carrier, and with good reason. It’s definitely the most straightforward carrier and leaves baby feeling super secure. This is the only wrap Landon wanted to use or bring with us anywhere, because you do a few buckles, tighten the straps, and you’re good to go. It’s soft, but structured and rated for babies up to 25 lbs. When I bought ours, the cream color was OOS forever but I definitely would’ve gotten that one if I could have! I also just saw this new olive color which is super cute as well.

06. Boba Wrap

Details: Boba Wrap, Grey (I think they call it Grey but it is really brown. I bought it at a thrift store, so I’m not 100% sure but it looks like the same color in the photos!)

This one is an Amazon wrap, but I found it at the thrift store and decided to try it out. The material is thicker than the Solly wrap, which I honestly liked as he got a bit older. However, it’s not as breathable so it gets warm. Altogether, I’d say it’s a fairly decent dupe if you’re on a budget!