Choosing by Child’s Age 

Newborn     Older Infant     Toddler     All Ages

Newborn Most of the carriers at Carry Me Away are appropriate for use with a newborn.
Recommended: stretchy wraps, pouches and ring slings.

Pouches are a great carrier for a new mom because of the ease of use, and babies love them, too.

• super simple, you simply pop baby in and go.
• No adjusting necessary!
• Are decent for breastfeeding in

Check out Hotslings pouches.

Stretchy wraps are especially lovely if you plan to wear your baby a lot, or if you have back/shoulder problems.

• offer two-shouldered support for mom and are extremely comfortable for wearing your baby a lot.
• They are slightly easier to "get the hang of” compared to woven wraps but still offer great support for mom and baby.
• You can easily breastfeed in a stretchy wrap.
•Can also be pre-tied, so baby can be taken in and out without re-tying. This is wonderful for the newborn stage when you will want to get baby in and out relatively quickly, especially if they are crying!

Check out the Moby and the Bali Baby Stretch.

Ring Slings function similarly to pouches but offer greater adjustability

• Excellent for discreet nursing
• The extra material offers sun protection
• Infinitely adjustable

Shop for Ellaroo Lightly Padded Ring Slings

If you’d like to be able to put your newborn on your back (yes it’s possible!), consider an Ellaroo woven wrap or some of our Mei Tai Carriers, including the Kozy, Sachi and Ball Baby.

If you love the Baby Bjorn, consider the Pikkolo. It has similar functionality but can also be worn on the back as well as the front.

Pouches are still a great option. You can now start using a pouch in the hip carry position. Some people find that pouches are uncomfortable as baby gets heavier, due to the one shouldered aspect. Pouches do not offer a very secure forward facing carry or a back carry.

Ring slings

• Like a pouch they are quick and easy to use, and offer the benefit of a coverup for nursing or the sun. They are also only one-shouldered
• Can be used for a secure forward-facing carry, which many kids enjoy at this age.

Mei tais or structured carriersoffer two-shouldered carries and are a good idea for longer carries, especially you have any back/shoulder injuries or weakness.

• In addition to back and front-facing in carries, Mei tais can be worn in a front facing out position or in a high back carry, which allows kids at this curious age to get their fill of seeing the world.
• The ERGO is a great option as your baby gets older: it distributes the weight to your hips, much like a back pack carrier does.

Toddler/older child
The only carriers that I don’t recommend purchasing for a toddler or older child are stretchy wraps. The stretch does not make them as supportive due to the weight of the child. While it is possible to use the Gypsy Mama BB Stretch for heavier children, woven wraps are a better choice for this age.

For quick carries:

• Pouches and ring slings are still my favorite for quick carries. No fuss and I don’t find myself weighing whether it’s worth the trouble putting on the pouch for that fast run into the grocery store.
• Pouches and ring slings are also wonderful for kids who want to get up and down a lot.

For longer carries: Consider a woven wrap, a mei tai or a structured carrier.

• Woven wraps (Ellaroo and Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze) are very comfortable and can be worn in varied ways so as to reduce your risk of fatigue, soreness or injury
• Mei Tais are also comfortable and many people find them easy to use. They are not as versatile as wraps, but have a variety of holding positions.
• Structured carriers offer easy up/down without any straps to drag on the ground while you are out and about. They are somewhat less versatile than mei tais.
• The ERGO is my favorite hiking carrier with a heavier child, due to the distribution of weight to the hips. For something sleeker that might fit in your diaper bag, go for a mei tai or the Pikkolo.

Looking to buy just one carrier that’s wonderful for all ages and carries and lets you breastfeed as well?

• A woven wrap (Ellaroo and Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze) is truly the one do-it-all carrier. Wraps can be used from birth to3 or 4 years old (at least), can be worn comfortably for hours and can be worn in a huge variety of ways. The learning curve is higher, but wrap enthusiasts know it’s worth spending a little time for such great rewards.
• If you just know that a wrap isn’t for you, consider a pouch or ring sling. These can also be used from birth through toddler hood and beyond. They accommodate nursing easily, even at the start. Their main limitation is that the one-shouldered aspect may make them less comfortable for extended use.
• A mei tai or structured carrier can be used from birth (the Ergo requires an infant insert). They do not accommodate infant breastfeeding or cradle carry, but are ideal for any upright hold (which many children prefer, anyway)