Becoming a parent brings so many joyful moments… and a few everyday challenges, too! Your baby will naturally seek closeness for comfort and reassurance, and those snuggly, all-consuming moments are incredibly special. But they can also make day-to-day life feel a little trickier, with hands full and simple things suddenly taking more planning. Whether it’s making a cup of tea, stepping outside for a walk or finding a moment to feel like yourself again, it’s completely normal to crave some freedom without sacrificing that closeness your baby loves.
That’s where a baby carrier can make all the difference. Designed to keep your baby safe, settled and close, while freeing up your hands, a carrier helps you move through everyday moments with more ease and confidence. From your ‘to-dos’ at home to getting back out into the world, it supports both connection and independence.
For many parents, a carrier quickly becomes a baby travel essential – alongside a pushchair and car seat – providing the flexibility and freedom to parent on the go in a way that suits you and your lifestyle.
From the everyday benefits to the features that really matter, this article highlights what to look for in a baby carrier – and how our newly-launched Mamas & Papas Kudo carrier offers an intuitive solution for modern parents.
What is Babywearing?
If you’re a first-time parent, the term ‘babywearing’ might sound a little odd, but it’s a practice parents have relied on for centuries to keep their babies close while on the move. Traditionally, simple fabric baby carrier wraps and slings were used to carry infants safely and comfortably. Nowadays, those softer styles sit alongside more structured – yet still highly comfortable – baby carriers, thoughtfully designed to support your baby’s natural position while offering ergonomic support for you, too.
There are also different ways to ‘wear’ your baby, depending on their age and stage, and the type of carrier, from front-inward-facing and world-facing to hip and back carrying.
Some styles make ideal newborn baby carriers, designed to be suitable from birth with added support and inserts, while others grow with your child, comfortably carrying them up to around 36+ months.
Why Buy a Baby Carrier?
The benefits of baby carriers extend far beyond just freeing up your hands, including emotional, developmental, and bonding benefits. Parents often associate a baby carrier with heading outdoors with their little one, but there are just as many advantages to using a carrier indoors around the home.
Top Baby Carrier Benefits
Builds a strong bond - Keeping baby close helps them feel safe and comforted, whilst giving you a boost of the love hormone, oxytocin. There’s even research to support a positive link between babywearing and secure attachment.
Frees up your hands - Giving you freedom to have some time for yourself or get little tasks done while baby stays close. A survey of 3,000+ parents found 97% used a baby carrier to multitask more easily.
Keeps baby calm and content - Your warmth, movement, breathing and heartbeat all help to soothe baby naturally, with a study by paediatricians revealing babies carried in carriers cried up to 51% less.
Recreates womb-like comfort - Close contact helps babies feel secure as they adjust to the world, often making it easier for them to relax and fall asleep.
Supports parent wellbeing - Making it easier to get out and about with your little one, a carrier can help top-up your good energy, whether meeting friends, enjoying gentle exercise or simply getting some fresh air.
Encourages development - Being carried helps babies engage with you and the world around them, supporting their early language, social and emotional development.
Boosts caregivers' confidence - Carrying baby close helps you become more in-tune with their needs and, in turn, feel more competent in your caregiving role.
How to Shop for the Best Baby Carrier
These are the key considerations to keep in mind when choosing the best baby carrier for you and your little one:
Style
As mentioned, there are different styles of baby carriers, ranging from baby carrier slings and wraps to hip seats and structured carriers. Although all provide the main benefit of keeping your baby close and freeing your hands, each varies in how it fits and fastens, as well as in its suitability for different stages.
Longevity
Some carriers are designed specifically for newborns or older babies, while others can transition right from birth to toddlerhood. If you want one that lasts, look for designs with a higher weight capacity and carrying positions that face inward and outward.
Support
The right carrier should support your baby in the hip-healthy “M” position, with knees higher than their bottom. For parents, structured shoulder straps and a supportive waistband help distribute weight evenly and encourage good posture.
Comfort
As mentioned, there are different styles of baby carriers, ranging from baby carrier slings and wraps to hip seats and structured carriers. Although all provide the main benefit of keeping your baby close and freeing your hands, each varies in how it fits and fastens, as well as in its suitability for different stages.
Fitting & Adjustability
Being able to get a carrier on and off and adjust it with ease – especially if you’re sharing the carrier with loved ones – helps make life with a baby that bit simpler. Look to reviews for real parent insights and, if possible, try on the product and practise the fitting process before making your decision.
Care
The reality of babywearing is that there will be spills, spit-up, and dribbles, so your future self will thank you for choosing a machine-washable design.
Meet Kudo: The Baby Carrier Every Body Loves
Introducing Kudo, our newly launched Mamas & Papas baby carrier designed to click you, your baby, and your day!
Co-created with experts at McTimoney College of Chiropractic, Kudo supports healthy posture for parents as baby grows – so connection with your little one never comes at the cost of comfort.
With specialist lumbar and pelvic support, its ergonomic structure promotes correct posture and evenly distributes weight, while the innovative Posture Align™ ‘click’ dial gently pulls the shoulders back and encourages a healthy carrying posture, helping avoid discomfort or strain.
And it’s not just expert insights that have helped shape Kudo’s intuitive design, but also feedback from real parents to develop a product that will have your back in more ways than one…
Key Features of Kudo
- Pull forward adjustments so you can tighten or loosen the fit yourself and avoid twisting or reaching around.
- Suitable from birth to approx. 36 months with the lift section, enabling newborns to be carried in the correct position without compromising comfort.
- Quick clip magnetic connectors making getting baby in and out super easy.
- Made from 100% soft, recycled, temperature-controlled fabrics so your baby is comfy, cool and snug when on the go.
- Includes a particle-filtering, pull-out privacy hood to cover your baby’s head, minimising exposure to sun, dust, fuel emissions and viruses.
- Kangaroo pocket at the front so you can rest your hands cuddled around your baby.
- Adjustable seat base to achieve the correct carrying position as baby grows.
- Large ‘over the head’ opening making it easy for you to get the carrier on and off, and you can even step out of it, if holding baby.
- Machine washable, so it stays looking its best for longer.
Curious About Kudo?
Visit us in store to try on Kudo and experience its features firsthand, or book a virtual appointment for a quick, expert-guided demo via one-way video call.
Sources:
Science Direct. Infant Behaviour and Development. Volume 58. February 2020.
Journal of Women’s Health Physical Therapy. Infant Carrying in the United States. January/March 2022.
National Library of Medicine. Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying. May 1986.
International Hip Dysplasia Institute. Babywearing Summary Statement.
