Plus and Petite Sized Baby Carrier Considerations

The most important aspect of a baby carrier is that it fit you JUST RIGHT. Having a carrier that is too big, too small or uncomfortable in any way sets you up to fail on your babywearing venture. If your carrier is too big, your baby will be worn too low on your body. This poses both safety risks to the baby and shoulder/neck/lower back pain for you. If your carrier is too small, it will cause both you and your baby discomfort. If you have any questions about fit, please don't hesitate to contact us for assistance finding the right size for you!

Wraps are so versatile that you should be able to use any of the wrap brands. In some situationas, you might be limited to some of the simpler carries, but that still affords you a wide range! Wraps can be worn in a variety of comfortable and flattering ways, even such that you can avoid having anything around your waist whatsoever.

The Moby Wrap is 18 ft long and will accommodate larger sizes well. Plus-sized wearers may need to knot the Moby at the back instead of the front, which doesn't affect use. It's stretchiness is also very comfortable.

Wrapsody: Stretch wraps are a great alternative to the Moby and, since they are more supportive, can be used for longer.   They can also be used for back carries.

Wrapsody: Breeze baby wraps are our #1 choice for plus-sized caregivers looking for a woven wrap. The gauze also makes for a very cool wrap, which comes in handy if you run warm.

Ring Slings Very lightly padded ring slings like the Maya Wrap give you a lot of flexibility because they are super adjustable. The open-tail allows you to adjust the top and bottom rails separately to get a perfect fit. Many plus-sized caregivers find the padding makes these more comfortable than a completely unpadded ring sling. The Maya wrap has an XL size that fits almost anyone!

Mei Tais with (such as Kozy or BBO) are another great option. Standard Kozy straps fit to sizes 20-24 (men's 2-3X) while the XL straps are recommended for anyone who fits above these sizes. The downside to MTs is that many plus-sized parents don't find the waist strap super comfortable (it can dig) nor is it always flattering.

Buckle Carriers: If you are interested in a buckle carrier, pretty much any of the buckle carriers can work.  Ask any plus-sized buckle carrier wearer which is the favorite and you will get a different answer every time!  Some love the Beco carriers, some love the Pikkolo and some love the ERGOs.  Of the  ERGO baby carriers, the Sport has the most room, and you can use the ERGO waist extender with it as well.

That being said, babywearers of all sizes sometimes complain about that buckle carriers can be unflattering in the stomach area and again, if you prefer not to have anything at your waist, a wrap, pouch, or ring sling might be more your style.

Pouches Pouches are the most problematic option for plus-sizes, since they are usually not stretchy or adjustable. 

Hotslings pouches come in sizes up to 9, which fit a t-shirt size 3X. However, some plus-sized caregivers find that the lack of give in these pouches is less comfortable and can roll up or dig, even when they are well-sized.

Carriers for Petite Sizes

Pouches Both Hotslingsin size 1 and the Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Pouch in size small are great for most petite-sized moms and/or older children carrying siblings. We know a 4'11" very petite mama who wears a small KKAFP comfortably.

Buckle Carriers The Pikkolo and Beco baby carriers are our choice of buckle carriers for petite wearers, they both size down quite small. The unpadded waist of the Pikkolo is very adjustable and less bulky, which is appealing to many petite wearers. We generally don't recommend the ERGO for petite wearers because it is often less comfortable for people under 5' and for people with narrow shoulders. Some petite wearers also find that the Beco Gemini is not comfortable for back carries, although this varies a lot from person to person.

Ring Slings The Maya Wrap Ring Sling in size Small is a good option for smaller people. If you find the fabric on the tail overwhelming, wrap it around the rings.

Mei Tais The adjustability of mei tais makes these a great option for petite people. If the straps are too long, you can just tie them again around your waist. XL straps wouldn't be needed for a petite person, even for doing more complicated ties such as Tibetan or the Lexi twist.  Some people find that the Kozy is not the best mei tai for people with very narrow shoulders, due to the wide angle of the shoulder straps. 

Wraps Wraps are so adjustable that pretty much any sized person can wear them. For a very petite wearer, the smallest size wrap will still allow you to do a wide variety of carriers. Extra material just gets wrapped around your waist. The above-mentioned 4'11" mama loves her Wrapsody: Stretch.