Which Baby Carrier Is Right for You?

When Can I Start Carrying My Baby?

Our general principle is: the earlier, the better – provided that the carrier is suitable for the baby and is used correctly. Babies naturally seek physical closeness. Body contact, warmth, movement, familiar scents and the voices of their caregivers provide closeness and orientation.

Newborn babies can therefore be carried from the very beginning. However, age and weight alone are not enough to determine whether a particular carrier is suitable. Especially during the first few weeks, the baby's individual body proportions play an important role.

A baby carrier that is approved by the manufacturer from, for example, 3.5 kg does not automatically fit every newborn weighing 3.5 kg equally well. Body length, torso length and especially thigh length can vary considerably between babies of the same weight.

Why Is the Spread-Squat Position Important?

One of the fundamental principles of ergonomic babywearing is the spread-squat position. The baby's legs are bent and gently spread, with the knees positioned higher than the bottom.

Viewed from the front, the position of the legs resembles the letter “M”, which is why it is often referred to as the M-position.

However, the visible “M” alone is not enough to assess a good carrying position. The interaction between pelvic position, seat width, back support and the baby's overall posture is what matters.

How Should a Baby's Back Be Supported?

Newborn babies do not yet have the trunk control of an older baby. A suitable carrier therefore needs to provide reliable, even support around the baby's body.

A young baby's back should not be artificially forced into a straight position. Instead, the carrier should adapt to the baby's age-appropriate posture while providing sufficient support.

As the baby develops, their posture changes. An adjustable baby carrier should therefore ideally be adaptable not only in width but also around the back panel.

Why Is the Seat Width So Important?

The seat is the part of the baby carrier that runs between the child's legs and supports the thighs. Its width is particularly important for newborn babies.

If the seat is too wide, it may extend beyond the backs of the knees and force a small baby into an excessively wide position. If it is too narrow, an older child may not receive sufficient thigh support.

An adjustable seat width is therefore particularly useful in baby carriers designed to grow with the child. It allows the carrier to be adapted as the baby's thighs become longer.

Is Every Baby Carrier Suitable for Ergonomic Babywearing?

No. Design, adjustment options and fit can vary considerably between baby carriers. A carrier should support the child's natural posture and adapt to the baby as much as possible – rather than forcing the baby to adapt to a rigid carrier.

A suitable seat width, good back support and a close carrying position are particularly important.

We therefore select our baby carriers and wraps specifically with ergonomic, close babywearing in mind.

Why We Advise Against Forward-Facing Babywearing

We generally do not recommend carrying a baby facing forwards and away from the person carrying them.

When facing the wearer, a baby can snuggle into their mother, father or another familiar caregiver. If the surroundings become overwhelming, the baby can turn their head away, lean against the wearer and reduce their exposure to external stimulation.

This opportunity to retreat is missing when the baby is carried facing forwards. The baby is directly exposed to the sights, sounds and activity of the surrounding environment and cannot withdraw from them in the same way.

Babies do not yet have the same ability as adults to independently filter incoming sensory information and regulate their attention accordingly. A highly stimulating environment can therefore quickly become overwhelming.

We also prefer inward-facing carrying from an ergonomic perspective. A good carrying position should support a natural position of the pelvis, legs and back while providing the baby with stability, closeness and security.

Our principle is therefore clear: babies should face the wearer and be carried close to the body with appropriate support.

Which Carrying Positions Do We Recommend?

Baby Carrier or Baby Wrap – Which Is Better?

Both systems can provide an excellent carrying experience. The choice mainly depends on the type of handling and carrying feel you prefer.

What Types of Baby Carriers Are Available?

Half Buckle or Full Buckle?

Which option feels more comfortable depends on the individual wearer. Some people prefer wide fabric panels, while others feel more comfortable with padded shoulder straps.

Why Is Weight Distribution Important?

As the baby becomes heavier, effective weight distribution becomes increasingly important for carrying comfort.

Structured carriers often feature a supportive waist belt that transfers part of the load to the wearer's pelvis and hips. Padded shoulder straps distribute the remaining weight across the shoulders and back.

With half-buckle carriers and baby wraps, wide fabric panels perform part of this function. Ultimately, the carrier should suit the wearer's anatomy and be adjusted correctly.

How Important Are Wide and Padded Shoulder Straps?

Wide or well-padded shoulder straps can significantly improve carrying comfort, particularly as the child becomes heavier or when carrying for longer periods.

A larger contact area can help reduce concentrated pressure. Whether wide wrap-style panels or padded straps feel more comfortable is a matter of individual preference.

As babies become larger, a well-fitting waist belt can also become increasingly useful because it can transfer part of the weight away from the shoulders and back towards the pelvis.

Materials and Fabrics

Babies have close contact with the fabric of a carrier. Their hands and face touch the material, and they may occasionally put shoulder straps or fabric edges into their mouths.

For this reason, many parents pay particular attention to high-quality and tested materials. Organic cotton can also be an important consideration when choosing a carrier or wrap.

Which Baby Carrier Is Suitable for a Newborn?

A newborn carrier should allow particularly precise adjustment to a small body. The smaller the baby, the more important details such as seat width, back-panel height and the type of head support become.

Why Can Renting a Newborn Carrier Make Sense?

A carrier designed specifically for newborn proportions can provide an excellent fit during the first few weeks, but naturally may not be used for as long as a larger structured carrier.

This is why we offer a rental service for selected baby carriers. Your baby can use a particularly suitable carrier during the first stage without requiring you to commit immediately to the carrier you will use throughout the entire babywearing period.

As your baby grows, you can then switch to a larger carrier designed to grow with your child.

How Long Can I Carry My Child?

How long a baby carrier can be used depends on the particular model, the child's size and the comfort of the person carrying them.

The manufacturer's maximum weight rating is only one consideration. Just because a carrier has been tested for, for example, 15 or 20 kg does not automatically mean that it will provide an optimal fit for every child and wearer up to that weight.

As children become larger and heavier, sufficient seat width, an appropriately sized back panel and good weight distribution become increasingly important.

Which Baby Carrier Is Suitable for Multiple Wearers?

If parents or other caregivers regularly take turns carrying the baby, the carrier should ideally be easy to adapt to different body sizes.

Half-buckle carriers can be particularly practical because the shoulder panels are tied individually each time. This reduces the need to readjust multiple shoulder buckles.

Full-buckle carriers can also be shared between different wearers. Depending on the model, however, the shoulder straps and other settings may need to be readjusted.

Our Carrying Systems at a Glance

How Do I Know Whether My Baby Is Positioned Correctly?

Which Baby Carrier Suits Me?

What Are the Benefits of Babywearing in Everyday Life?

A baby carrier or wrap provides close physical contact while keeping your hands free. This can make a significant difference in everyday family life.

Stairs, public transport, walks, shopping or busy city centres can often be easier to manage without having to manoeuvre a pushchair.

At the same time, the baby experiences everyday life from the security and closeness of a familiar caregiver. They feel the wearer's movements, hear a familiar voice and remain physically close.

A baby carrier is therefore more than simply a means of transport. When used correctly, it combines mobility with physical closeness.

Common Mistakes When Choosing a Baby Carrier