7 Best Baby Carriers (2023): Slings, Wraps, and Packs

The Tula Explore is my favorite baby carrier. It accommodates a large weight range, from a 7-pound newborn to a 45-pound toddler. At 30 pounds, I can still carry my lanky four-year-old in it when she falls asleep on planes. The 100-percent cotton fabric doesn't irritate my son's sensitive skin and is much thinner than other structured, clip-on baby carriers. You can adjust it to let the baby face outward. It also comes in Tula's highly covetable, limited-edition prints.

I carried an 8-month-old up Banff's Sulphur Mountain and around Lake Louise in a Lillebaby Airflow Complete, in September weather that went from being warm and sunny to a full-on snowstorm in 30 minutes (ah, Canada). It seemed to keep my daughter cooler in the warmer months, and it's light, springy, and comfortable for both me and my infant. I also liked the included back panel for additional lumbar support on longer treks.

Learning to use a ring sling is deceptively simple. It requires a bit of a learning curve, as you tweak and fidget the linen band around your baby's body and adjust the tension through the ring, and you'll need to use it a few times before the linen breaks down and becomes more soft and comfortable. Once you get the hang of it, it's by far the smallest carrier to pack, and it's easy to throw it over your shoulder, quickly tuck your infant in it, and pick up some milk at the store.

The name BabyBjörn is synonymous with baby carriers in the way Q-tip has come to refer to any cotton swab. The company sells several different kinds of carriers, but the cozy Carrier Mini is designed with newborns in mind. It's soft and smaller, but still fits little ones up to 22 pounds, so you can wear it most of the first year depending on your baby's size. It's also easy to adjust while you wear it and has only shoulder straps (no bulky waistband!) since it's only for the younger months.