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Whether they're being held, cuddled or fed in your arms, babies love to stay close, but this makes it tricky to do much else. Baby carriers enable you to maintain that closeness whilst freeing your hands, so they’re an invaluable investment for new parents.
Babywearing isn’t a modern-day parenting phenomenon, though. It’s said that an American woman invented a baby carrier in the late 1960s after seeing African women carrying their babies on their backs. Now, most new parents have a baby carrier in their arsenal. These practical carriers can be beneficial for your baby's development, too.
According to the International Hip Dysplasia Institute: “When proper hip position is maintained while babywearing, there may be substantial benefit for natural hip development. This is recommended as a healthy habit, with [your baby’s] thighs spread around the mother’s torso and the hips bent so the knees are slightly higher than the buttocks, with the thighs supported.”
When it comes to your baby’s position, your baby should be close enough for you to kiss their head, with their spine supported and their hips open and wide. Look out for what is known as the “M” position, a natural clinging position for babies. If you’re unsure whether your carrier is hip healthy, take a look at the approved list on the IHDI website.
From stretchy slings designed specifically for newborns to more robust options for toddlers, keep scrolling for our pick of the best baby carriers.
How we tested
We had a couple of mini testers (a five-month-old and a 10-month-old – with an 8lb weight difference) to help us review a range of baby carriers. We took on coastal path jaunts, dashes to the supermarkets, woodland walks, as well as quick stomps around the block to test these carriers in a range of scenarios, some outings taking over an hour, many around 15-30 minutes, to help baby get off to sleep while we were on the move.
When putting the carriers to the test, we paid close attention to comfort for the wearer, including breathability, how many carrying positions were offered, and ease of use in terms of putting it on and taking it off. We also gave points for any handy extras, such as storage pockets and pull-out sunshades. Ultimately, we wanted our babies to be content in the carrier and drift off while we clocked up the steps. As always, we kept a close eye on price, too, as the cost of various baby paraphernalia soon mounts up.
Why you can trust us
Rebecca Moore is a writer who specialises in the parenting sector. She has written about the best products on the market for parents and kids alike, including pram mittens, musical toys, baby carriers and much more.
The best baby carriers for 2025 are:
- Best overall – Ergobaby omni breeze carrier: £149.90, Pramworld.co.uk
- Best budget buy – Infantino flip advanced 4-in-1 baby carrier: £33.12, Amazon.co.uk
- Best for newborns – BabyBjörn baby carrier mini: £94.41, Amazon.co.uk
- Best luxury buy – Artipoppe zeitgeist unnatural zebra in cotton: £330, Artipoppe.com
English (US) ·