If you read my previous post, you will know that I love to breastfeed in a baby carrier (even at home, especially when my baby was a newborn).

Can you nurse in any carriers?

Unfortunately not. Not all carriers allow for easy and comfortable breastfeeding.

Having said that, I thought it would be beneficial to share with you some of the very best baby carriers that are great for 

They come in various forms and styles and well, they are not perfect either. So, in this post, I would discuss in details my top 5 baby carriers for breastfeeding, with its detailed pros and cons.

PS: Watch out for some PRO TIPS in some of them. You’ll be glad you know these.

 

Let’s begin the list, in no particular order.

1.Ring sling

Ring sling is a long piece of fabric that is looped around your body and threaded into two metal rings.

among all ring sling models brand, one brand stands out. It’s Maya Wrap.

Pros:

• 100% cotton fabric handmade in Guatemala, great quality and long-lasting, can last up to several babies.
• Not too hot, very breathable (great for summer / tropical climate)
• Easy care (machine washable)
• Pretty pattern
• Easily adjustable by the ring, once adjusted, no need to adjust anymore
• Easy pop in pop up, that means very fast to wear, perfect when you are dealing with a crying baby
• The tail can be used to provide extra coverage while breastfeeding or as sun-shade in a hot sunny day.
• Small and compact, easily fit in the diaper bag
• Breastfeeding positions: upright or cradle  position

Cons:

• One-shoulder carry (fine with newborn and small infant, cannot carry too long for bigger baby / toddler, will need to switch shoulder to avoid pain)
• If not worn properly, can dig into the shoulder
• Adjusting the sling so that it is snug and save can be tricky for beginners.

>>Click here to find what other moms think about Maya Wrap<<

2.Stretchy wrap

This is a long piece of fabric wrapped around your body to hold your baby snug and close.

Pros:

• Perfect for newborn phase, a typical newborn loves to be held all day long
• Various type of carries, front carry, hip carry, back carry, high back carry. Back carry is especially useful when doing things around the house that cannot be done if baby is in the front, eg cooking, ironing.
• Dual shoulder supports for long-term wearing
• Easy care (machine washable)
• Easy to learn (compared to woven wrap
• Can be pre-tied since it is a bit stretchy and you can simply pop baby in and out  to your pretied wrap.
• Breastfeeding position: upright or cradle )

Cons:

• Can be very hot (in summer, tropical region)
• Fabric is very long (can be cumbersome)
• Takes some time to tie (not as quick as ring sling)
• Too bulky to put inside the diaper bag
• Will start sagging once the baby gets heavier (typically more than 3 months old), although it is stated that it can support up to 35 lbs.

Among various brands, two stands out: Boba Wrap and Moby Wrap.

Below, I have put a table to compare them side by side.

	Boba Wrap	Moby Wrap
Dimension	Shorter but wider	Longer but narrower
Thickness	Thick (like a sweatshirt)	Thinner (like a tee shirt)
Material	95% cotton + 5 % spandex (stretchier)	100% cotton
Price	(check price here)	(check price here)

>>Learn more about various baby wrap here<<

3.Mei Tai

Originated from Chinese culture, a Mei tai is a rectangle panel of fabric with two pairs of straps: one set of waist straps (shorter) to tie around your waist and one set of shoulder straps to wrap around your body.

Depending on brands, the straps can come with paddings or not.

Among all brands, Infantino Sash Mei Tai is the most popular one.

Pros:

• Suitable for newborn up to toddler phase (see pro tips below for carrying a newborn).
• Dual shoulder support
• Very adjustable in terms of sizing (can be use interchangeably between mom and dad without adjusting.
• Various mode of carries: front carry, back carries, hight back carries, hip carries.
• One size fits all (great for parent with extreme size, e.g. Super petite or plus-size).
• Easy care (machine washable)
• Easy to learn
• Great for all weathers, not too hot
• Detachable good for extra nursing coverage or sun shade
• Breastfeeding position: upright

Cons:

• Long straps can be annoying especially if you are tying it outside the house
• Since the padding is not as thick as soft-structured carrier (such as Ergo), it can be tiring to carry a toddler (> 20 lbs) for more than 3 hours
• The tie can get loose over the time and need to get tightened again (especially true for toddler).
• Not all parents are comfortable carrying a newborn in it.

>>See what other moms say about Infantino Mei Tai (more than 1000+ reviews!)<<

4.Ergo

Ergo is one of the most popular brand of soft structured carrier (i.e baby carrier that comes with paddings and buckles).

One of its highest advantage is sufficient  paddings and support such that you won’t get tired easily even after carrying your toddler for more than 3 hours!

And admit this, Ergo looks cool, and that’s why your husband won’t mind wearing your baby in it. It is surely designed with dads in mind.

Pros:

• Suitable for newborn all the way up (for newborn, you need a newborn insert)
• Fully padded shoulder and waist straps
• Ample of buckles to keep your baby safe
• Some models come with a hood for extra coverage
• Great looking for dads and moms
• Easy to use (provided that you love buckles)
• Breastfeeding position: upright

Cons:

• Great fitting for average size men/women, may not make it for plus size / too petite people
• For newborn, breastfeeding in an ergo with infant insert can be a pain
• Bulky to keep in a diaper bag (better to just wear it all the time with or without the baby

>> Click here to learn more about various Ergo models <<

SEE ALSO: 10+ Tips to Breastfeed in A Baby Carrier (with videos!)

5.Woven wrap

Woven wrap is very similar to a stretchy wrap.

The difference is the fabric is not stretchy and therefore provides a great support way beyond toddlerhood.

Additionally, these wraps are usually hand-woven, and therefore tend to be more expensive.

For beginners, Bblens and Gyrasol are two of the most recommended brands (you can buy this from Granola Babies).

Dydimos, on the other hand, is popular , because it carries various types of fabric blend and has a stunningly beautiful pattern.(Learn more about Dydymos here).

Storchenwiege, on the other hand, is very supportive even for carrying toddler. Some moms dislike this wrap because it is very hard to break in, but once you get use to it, you will fall in love with it.

If you are in tropical region, or want a light-weight woven wrap for summer time, Beach Front baby wrap is a good alternative. It is made from lightweight performance athlete mesh fabric and can be used inside the water, too.

Pros:

• Suitable for newborn all the way up
• Various materials available, from 100% cotton, cotton-linen blend, 100% linen, etc.
• Pretty pattern
• Great support (you won’t easily get tired for carrying your baby all day long)
• Different ways of carry: front carry, hip carry, back carry, high back carry
• Various sizes available: size 2 (2.7 m) up to size 7 (5.1 m). For average size person wanting to do all types of carries, size 6 is the most recommended size.
• If folded, slim and compact to be put inside a diaper bag
• Breastfeeding position: upright, cradle hold.

Cons:

• A new woven wrap needs break in, before feeling soft and comfortable
• Longer learning curve
• Fabric care will depend on materials, some are machine washable while some other needs to be hand-washed

Click here to learn more about various woven wraps, beginners recommendation, and where to buy.

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So, that’s the top 5.

Now.. do you need all?

Absolutely not.

Although I know some moms who really loves babywearing tend to have more than 3 types of baby carriers that I mentioned above.

So you ask me, which one to choose?

…

Really it depends on  your personal preference..

But let me give you a rough guideline.

For newborn phase, people tend to use ring slings or stretchy wrap.

Whereas when the baby grows a little bigger, they switch to carriers which offer good supports (either mei tai, Ergo, or woven wrap).

For me personally, a ring sling is a MUST-HAVE.

I don’t know how I would survive the newborn phase without it. I don’t prefer wraps, because of its long fabric. To me, I need to be as quick as possible when dealing with crying and hungry baby, and a ring sling give me that convenience.

For elder babies, I would recommend an Ergo, because of its great support. But not for extreme size person, please. Sorry to say that.

I myself is very petite, and therefore, Ergo won’t give me a great fit. And that’s why I choose Mei Tai. Also, Mei Tai is more affordable. So, budget plays a role here.

Again, this is a very personal preference. Your choice can, of course, be different than mine.

I hope this little guide will help you to learn more about best baby carriers for breastfeeding.  If you have any questions, just shoot me up, and I’ll be glad to help you.

Have you ever use a baby carrier? Or even, have you ever nursed your baby in the baby carrier? Which baby carrier is your favorite?