Baby Carrier Reviews

Comparing baby carriers

With all the baby carriers on the market today, it's not uncommon for new parents to feel confused. To help consumers find the right fit, we carefully analyzed all the options.

The first thing we learned: It's important to know what kind of baby carrier you prefer. Products are broken up into three categories: soft front carriers that support the baby vertically, cloth slings that cradle the baby in soft fabric both vertically and horizontally, and backpack carriers that allow the baby to sit forward and up high on the parent's back. We then sorted through a slew of recent reviews. What we found: The fairest reviews are written by parenting experts, pediatricians, child-development experts and parents. One standout source, the book "Baby Bargains" by Denise and Alan Fields, bases its picks on personal testing, manufacturer reputation, customer service and parent interviews.

ConsumerReports.org also offers some insightful information. The magazine's April 2007 evaluation (available online to subscribers) reviews soft and backpack carriers as well as slings. While there's no discussion of individual carriers, the article does offers some excellent general information, including detailed descriptions of various features that are important to consider.

TheBabyWearer.com, another solid review site, includes a helpful forum for parents to share their experiences and discuss the pros and cons of individual carriers. Retailer sites such as Amazon.com are also useful in gathering first-person feedback. Lastly, Cookie magazine and Tibesti.com both feature baby carrier reviews written by editors working with a testing panel.