How To Pick The Best Baby Carrier For Dads And More
Picking The Best Baby Carrier For Dads
Parenthood is one of the most exciting times in any adult’s life. This is especially true and no less than life changing for the daddies! For many men, fatherhood is a time of bigger responsibility, greater commitment, and real bonding time with children. This bonding time starts at a young age.
A good baby carrier can let a father carry his child safely and comfortably. Also, a baby carrier should have a well ergonomic design so that the carrier does not put pressure on your baby delicate bone structure as well as hurt (i.e., back, shoulder or hip) you for using the baby carrier. This is why choosing the best baby carrier for dad is something that is paramount.
Got no time to read the post but still want to know which one is the best baby carrier for dads? No problem! Toggle for the table of content and jump to the best baby carrier section below and check out all the cool carriers for fathers.
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Baby Carrier, A Must Have Gear For Parents
Baby carriers are of great help for parents who are always on the go but would still like to spend quality time with their babies and toddlers. It is of excellent use for multitasking moms and dads.
Moreover, having a baby carrier is a very convenient way of keeping your baby cuddly and close while you go along with the rest of your day. It is, by all means, a perfect fit for both father and child!
Types of Baby Carriers
Not all baby carriers are made equal. There are plenty to choose from so that you can find the best baby carrier for dad!
The most common baby carrier is the wrap baby carrier. The parent just has to wrap it around his body to keep the baby cuddling close. Another common type of baby carrier is the sling baby carrier.
For those wanting to hold their baby for an extended period of time often choose to use the baby backpack which uses a metal frame for holding the baby. If your child is much bigger or older, a metal frame baby backpack carrier can provide more stability too!
Similar to the baby backpack is the soft-structured carrier (i.e, the popular ErgoBaby 360 Carrier), which is composed of padded straps and buckles. Finally, the hybrid Mei-Tai baby carrier is a cross between a wrap and a soft-structured carrier. It appears to be more flexible and convenient for many users.
If you are considering using a sling-type carrier, I strongly suggest you spend some time to watch this short video on Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) video urging parents to use extra caution when using an infant sling.
Carry Positions and Holds
Image courtesy of Beco
The versatility of various baby carriers in supporting different forms and positions in holding the baby serves as the ultimate litmus test in finding the best baby carrier for dad.
Especially for fathers, comfort should be given much thought. The most common types of carrying a baby would be front carry facing in with the baby’s head rest down. A front carry lets your child facing out and peeking happily.
Another position is the hip carry where one hand should firmly be supporting the baby. Moreover, the last two carrying positions are the back carry with the headrest up or with the headrest down.
What’s The Difference Between A Baby Carrier For Women And Men?
In finding the best baby carrier for dad, it is important to keep in mind that dads may prefer to have more solid colors compared to women. In this day and age, a father might still cling to some semblance of machismo, and so color is one of the important factors in choosing the best baby carrier for dad.
On the other hand, moms may tend to be less picky and more experimental when it comes to selecting colors.
Another factor worth considering in choosing the best baby carrier for dad would be the baby carrier’s easy-functionality. Men are suckers for simple functionality.
Hence, it is of vital importance to select a baby carrier that is simple, lock-fast and is very functional. Luckily, nowadays, the majority of the popular baby carrier brands are designed with user-friendly in mind.
7 Best Baby Carriers For Dads (& Moms too!)
Ergobaby 360 Carrier
The Ergobaby 360 Carrier claim to fame is its premium on the baby’s ergonomics. This means that this baby carrier was designed for your baby’s maximum comfort - with great care to your child’s body frame, size, weight, and hip-friendly (frog-leg-position).
The Ergobaby 360 Carrier also giving premium to the parent’s convenience when using the product is a very close second priority as well.
This brand also works well for fathers of all sizes and is versatile enough to support four baby positions. The product may also carry babies from 7 pounds all the way to 33 lbs. The material is also made of 100% cotton to ensure maximum comfort.
On the other hand, many parents are not happy with the Velcro sound which is too loud when unfasten - which potentially wake up the baby when want to transfer from carrier to bed.
Quite often too, the baby’s limbs get in the way when walking outdoors or trying to multitask, but it's not a stopper for parents to go for this superb baby carrier.
The Good Stuff
- Correct Baby Ergonomics - Babies will always be in an ergonomic frog-leg, seated position with knees even to or above hips, and spine in curved "C" position.
- Four Carry positions: Front-inward, Front-outward, Hip, and Back.
- Adjustable padded shoulder straps.
- 100% Cotton Canvas shell and 100% Cotton Poplin lining.
- Baby weight range: 7- 33lbs (newborn with infant insert).
- Machine washable.
The Cons
- Poor Velcro quality.
Product Review
Product Demo
Product Demo (with Infant Insert)
Mo+m Classic Cotton Baby Carrier
Convenience is the main selling point of this brand. Many parents are happy that they can enjoy maximum comfort in using this baby carrier by Mothers On The Move. The degree of comfort is also very praiseworthy such that your baby can comfortably sleep while you are using it. A vented window keeps your child cool and a hood to provide shades.
It is also versatile enough to load your child conveniently in 3 positions and just use the product with ease and hands-free!. The Mo+m Classic Cotton Baby Carrier design provide a great overall support for your body, and you won't feel pressure from using it for a longer period nor it will give you back hurt.
However, some parents complained that when they unzip the back to reveal the breathable mesh, the back can be tucked into a slot pocket on the waistband but it does not fit well in the slot.
The baby carrier by Mothers On The Move come with 2 type of design – the classic design and a more trendy color design. Both of these designs are simply awesome, and I bet you will love all of them.
The Good Stuff
- Ergonomic design - Weigh is distributed evenly, so its does not put stress on your shoulder or back.
- ASTM F2236 - 14 Certified, CPSIA Sec.101 & Cal. Prop 65 passed.
- Good ventilation design.
- Convenient features.
- Ample pockets for storage.
- Machine washable and compact.
- Fits in a diaper bag.
The Cons
- Some parents think that this carrier has a bit too much safety buckles to the point of annoying them.
Product Review and Demo
Classic Design
Trendy Design
Baby Bjorn Baby Original Carrier Black Cotton
The Baby Bjorn carrier is the best baby carrier for dads. Most parents preferred this baby carrier who are taking care of newborns and those who are below 10 months old.
Made of 100% cotton, this product offers a more intimate rearing of your baby as it provides closeness and easy contact with your child. It also greatly supports your child’s vital body parts - such as the neck and the back.
The Baby Bjorn Baby Original Carrier Black Cotton is perfectly designed for newborn and growing babies.
On the downside, a significant number of users have given the feedback that the baby carrier feels warmer and moist during hot summer days. This could prove to be a bane for both baby and parents that live in the warmer places.
For dads that tend to perspire more; he may give more priority to a baby carrier that can give feeling airy and comfortable.
The Good Stuff
- Easy to use, fits parents perfectly and securely with only a few adjustments.
- Easy to unstrap and place baby into the crib without waking them.
- Specially developed to give the proper support for baby's head, neck, spine, and hips.
- Approved per the Oeko-Tex Standard 100, class 1, eco-certification.
- Available in 8 colors and 3 styles.
- Machine washable
The Cons
- Not very breathable during hot weather.
Product Review
Product Demo
Beco Soleil Baby Carrier
The Beco Soleil Baby Carrier boasts of great flexibility and versatility - as your baby can fit inside this carrier and be comfortable in 4 distinct positions.
It also adjusts as your child grows and gets heavier (use from newborn to toddler 7-35 pounds). Hence, this product is praised not only for its versatility but also for its flexibility.
The Beco Soleil Baby Carrier is a user-friendly baby carrier as it designed to easily snaps and locks and one need not purchase additional materials to use the product very comfortably.
On the other hand, while the product is easy to use, some users have claimed that durability is not one of the product’s main selling points.
A few users have claimed that the lock snaps easily - but can also break easily. Therefore, an active baby or an active dad may feel frustrated with a product that is highly functional but not very durable.
The Good Stuff
- Ergonomic for baby. It's designed to protect against hip dysplasia.
- Crossable straps make babywearing comfortable and easy.
- Breastfeeding friendly.
- No infant insert or additional purchases required.
- Distributes baby’s weight across your hips and shoulders, so the carrier does not stress your body.
- 4 positions-front facing in, front facing out, back, and hip.
The Cons
- Lock buckle is not fool-proof. Can create confusion if not buckle properly.
Product Review
Product Demo
Infantino Sash Mei Tai Carrier
The Infantino Sash Mei Tai Carrier is admittedly one of the most advanced baby carriers available in the market today. It is perfectly designed for your child’s extreme comfort and to also support your child’s back and other body parts - an important product feature because the baby needs to have this kind of physical support to be able to grow properly.
Moreover, it also contains a removable hood to protect your child just in case the sun is shining too brightly or if a light drizzle suddenly occurs. It also designed with an adjustable shoulder caps as the product expects the baby to grow as the months progress.
On the other hand, users have posted some areas for improvement. The first would be the product does not lend itself well for comfortable ventilation. The baby tends to perspire faster compared to other products. Also, the locks and straps are not very user-friendly.
The Good Stuff
- The carrier supports baby in natural seated position.
- Includes detachable hood to protect the baby.
- Lumbar support helps relieve shoulder pressure.
- Extra wide padded straps.
- Breastfeeding friendly.
The Cons
- A bit challenging to put the baby in by yourself.
- Not suitable for long period use due to not very breathable design.
Product Review
Product Demo
Boba Air Baby Carrier
The Boba Air Baby Carrier has been praised for its ultralight quality. The light design enables this baby carrier to fold up into a self-storing hood pouch and fit in small spaces for easy storage.
Since the Boba Air Baby Carrier is very light (0.7lbs), you can feel that carrying your baby in Boba Air Baby Carrier is lighter somehow. This product is highly recommended for newborns and reasonably priced too. The carrier is recommended to use from 15 – 45 pounds.
A negative characteristic of this product is its durability. Since it is lightweight, a lot of parents have voiced out their doubt that the product can withstand the test of time or if one chooses to use it for an extended period of time.
The Good Stuff
- Folds up store even in a diaper bag.
- Light - just 0.7 pounds.
- Duraflex buckles and YKK zippers.
- Shoulder straps comfortably fits a wide range of heights.
- Safe, sturdy and excellently ergonomic.
- Made of 100% easy-clean, hold-tough nylon.
- Sleeping hood shields baby from sun or rain.
The Cons
- Not very easy to fold back the baby carrier into the bag unless your are a origami master.
Product Review
(You need to turn up your volume as the dad is speaking very soft and trying not to wake up his baby :-D)
Product Demo
Moby Wrap Baby Carrier
The Moby Wrap Baby Carrier is well-loved for the degree of comfort that it offers even when it is used for longer periods of time. The product is simply very durable!
The manufacturer, Moby, also made sure that the baby carrier can still be used as your child grows as the months pass by. It is 95% made of cotton and 5% spandex for the extra stretchy so that babies and parents of all sizes may use it in full comfort and ease.
Nevertheless, the product must innovate on its ventilation. While the material itself does not seem too hot, but when you press a little body next to your body and wrap it tight, it gets hot!
Some parents living in the warmer weather commented that their child would be sweating after wearing it for a little while. You can browse the full range of Moby Wrap at Amazon.
The Good Stuff
- Easy front and infant tying styles suit the way you move.
- Machine washable.
- A variety of colors and patterns.
- Free from any harmful dyes or chemicals.
- Breastfeeding friendly.
- Multiple carry options.
The Cons
- It’s a giant piece of fabric and potentially to get dirty easily.
