Best Baby Carriers 2017
With all that in mind, below are the best baby carriers of 2017.
1. LILLEBaby Complete All Season Baby Carrier. This is a truly excellent carrier, and this is the first year the LILLEBaby carrier was tested for inclusion in our list, and it made it right into the first place position! The LILLE Baby series is relatively new to the baby carrier market, using beautiful and highly functional Scandanavian styling, and including some very comprehensive features. They make three categories of carriers: the COMPLETE series, CARRY-ON series, and ESSENTIALS series. As the name would suggest, the COMPLETE series is the most versatile, with six carry positions, a wide weight range that includes infants down to 7 pounds, and big kids up to 45 pounds. Within the COMPLETE series, they have the All Seasons, the Airflow, the Original, and the Embossed version. Unless you live in (and never travel outside of) southern CA or Florida, which might lead you to purchase the Airflow version, we highly recommend the All Seasons. The All Seasons version a cotton exterior fabric, a highly breathable 3D mesh lining, and has an awesome zip-down front section for warmer conditions. This was an awesome touch, because many of our moms reported that there are very few single carriers that are versatile enough to adapt to different weather conditions. Often, you will begin a walk in the morning when the weather is a bit cool, and then carry again around lunchtime when the weather was warmer. This carrier allows you to effectively reduce the insulation and allow more airflow to the baby's back, sides, and/or torso. There were several other features we loved about this carrier. First, unlike the ERGO, there is no awkward infant insert to deal with: the carrier is already shaped to support infants as small as 7 pounds without any insert. Second, the carrier configures into 6 different carry positions, which are all really awesome. The first uses the fetal tuck, the second is a tuck with legs out, third and fourth are front- and rear-facing toddler, fifth is a trendy hip sling style, and sixth is a back carrier for the bigger kiddos (all the way up to 45 pounds!). We found that all 6 positions were highly supportive, well constructed, and very comfortable for both mom (or dad) and baby. A third thing we loved is that it has an adorable sleeping hood, which also is great to protect baby's head a bit from the sun and elements. Fourth, we loved that mom and dad's comfort were taken into consideration throughout: nice wide waist belt, a large lower back/lumbar support pad, super comfortable shoulder straps, all while staying quite lightweight. Fifth, it has some additional little features that are worth mentioning: it comes in a ton of truly stylish and adorable styles, colors, and patterns, it has a convenient zippered pocket on the front for storing little things (phone, credit card, keys), and the carrier itself is adjustable in several ways to both the wearer and baby. In our testing, we also found that it was rather easy to put on and take off (after reading the manual and practicing for about 10 minutes), put baby in and out, and that it was well-built and reliable. LILLEBaby has made some recent modifications to fix a strap issue, and the resulting carrier is very reliable. Downfalls? Well, not much, but if we are being picky: the storage pocket is on the outside of the zipper-down flap, so it's hard to access when the flap is unzipped. Could have been nice to put the storage pockets on the waist band! Overall, a truly excellent carrier highly deserving of this spot on our list. Usually under $100, check out a ton of styles and colors here.
2. Ergobaby 4-Position Baby Carrier. We didn't get our hands on this for testing last year, but we're happy we did for 2017! The Ergobaby 4-position "360" carrier is the newest addition to the already great Ergobaby carrier line up; a couple years ago, their Ergo Original 3-position carrier was rated #1 on our list, so they have a great history of making excellent carriers. The Ergobaby 4-position carrier is definitely the most comfortable carrier on our list. In our testing, we found it to be super lightweight, comfortable, soft, and easily adjusted to nicely fit nearly any body shape. We wore it for several hours around town and along some trails, and our backs and shoulders felt completely fine. Definitely more comfortable than the LILLEBaby, and we also thought it was a bit easier to breastfeed while wearing the Ergobaby versus the LILLEBaby. We also found it easy to put on, take off, and adjust, even when carrying the baby. However, the shoulder strap adjustment needed to be done by someone else while carrying a baby. It also has a small hood to protect baby from the elements, or give a little shading for a nap. However, it just isn't as versatile as the LILLEBaby. The weight range doesn't go up nearly as high (7-33 pounds), you have to buy an infant insert separately, and it doesn't have the "bucket" adjustments to accommodate both infants and toddlers thighs. So you end up with the four positions, and need to purchase the infant insert to make that 5. We also thought it needed a small storage pouch to carry a paci, keys, phone, etc, and that the Velcro around the waist was great but also quite loud to use. So those are the reasons we chose the LILLEBaby as #1, though honestly it was a close call. The ERGObaby is just so comfortable for parents and babies, that it was a difficult decision. A truly excellent baby carrier with just some small shortcomings. Usually around $150 and available in a ton of colors and patterns here. 
3. BOBA 4G Baby Carrier. The BOBA carrier used to sit at the top of our best baby carrier list, and for some great reasons. It is comfortable, stylish, durable, and very well-made and reliable. The thick waistband tends to support a lot of the baby's weight so you shoulders don't get too sore, with a nice even distribution around the body. We also liked that the waistband has two adjustment points, which helps quite a bit to even out the cinching around the waist. It also has the adjustments for the shoulder straps right under the arm pits, helping you customize the fit even when wearing your baby. Some advantages of the BOBA over the ERGO is that it includes an infant insert, supports from 7 pounds all the way up to 45 pounds (like the LILLEBaby), and it has a small zippered pocket along the waist. Though working with an infant insert is a bit awkward relative to having it built in to the system.It also includes little foot straps (stirrups) to support tired hanging legs. Also, we found the range of strap adjustment is very wide, fitting a wider range of body shapes and sizes. So this carrier does in fact have quite a few advantages over the ERGO. So why is here on the list? Well, in our testing, the majority of moms agreed that the ERGO was simply more comfortable for mom, and seemed a bit more supportive for baby. That's not to say that this isn't a comfortable carrier, because it definitely is. Just not quite as comfy as the ERGO, in our opinion. Like the others, it comes in a ton of cute colors and patterns, and we tend to see it for around $125 online. Check it out here. 
4. TULA Ergonomic Baby Carrier. The TULA series is definitely one of the most adorable, stylish, and trendy baby carriers on the market. It is also quite comfortable, has a simple design, and is lightweight. We liked the front Velcro pocket, though it was a bit difficult to access for moms with shorter arms or larger babies. It can be used from 15 to 45 pounds, giving it a decent upper range but a very restrictive lower range. Basically, you're not going to be able to use this carrier until your infant is a few months old, unless you purchase the separate infant insert. But once you use it, you and your baby will definitely love it! The shoulder straps are highly padded and comfortable, the baby thigh/leg supports are softly padded, the hood is well-sized and removable, and its simplicity makes it quite easy to get on and off. However, while the baby thigh/leg padding is a nice touch, note that that area is not adjustable like it is in our better options, so there will be a sweet spot when your infant fits perfectly, but before then it will be too wide and maybe a bit uncomfortable for baby. After about an hour, several of our test moms did complain of some back pain and wanted to get back into the LILLEBaby with its cross-straps and lumbar support, or the ERGO. They also noted that it doesn't have very good circulation, and thought it could benefit from some 3D mesh for better airflow. Overall, this is a great carrier with some basic limitations. For the price, we were expecting it to be a real winner, and walked away thinking it's great, but not quite as great as the others above it. It is available in a ton of truly beautiful colors and patterns, putting many of the other carriers to shame! Tends to sell for about $150 online, you can check it out here. 
5. BabyBjorn Original Baby Carrier. The Original BabyBjorn is a classic, and really started the style revolution for soft carriers. Suddenly it was stylish to wear a baby carrier, and it was no longer giant, bulky, and utilitarian like the baby carriers your mom might have stuffed you into back in the 80's. The BabyBjorn still remains a staple in the soft baby carrier market, and the price of the Original version has fallen considerably since its introduction. The Original is very basic - shoulder straps only, not much adjusting, and no frills (no newborn insert, no waist strap, no pocket, no hood, etc). It's a good carrier, but will make for sore shoulders and neck after about an hour of use. Because of these complaints, and because the market was getting taken over by more versatile and comfortable carriers, BabyBjorn decided to come out with their own version of a larger, more padded, and more versatile carrier. The One carrier is just like the Comfort model from last year, and has a lot of the basic capabilities of our top rated carriers: front-facing option, waist strap to relieve shoulder pain, multiple adjustments, soft padding, etc. But there is no newborn insert (8 pounds minimum baby weight), no storage pocket, no sleeping/sun hood, and is much bulkier and harder to store relative to the Boba and Ergo. Also, in our trials, we found that the BabyBjorn One doesn't quite take the weight off the shoulders like the Boba or Ergo. So if you're looking for a relatively simple, stylish, well-built and reliable baby carrier for under $50 or so (see it here), this is probably a great option for you!
Best Budget Baby Carriers
A $100-150 baby carrier not fitting you budget? We have been testing baby carriers for many years and have seen some great options under $50. Not great enough to get into our annual top 5 list, but definitely worth considering if you're looking to save some cash! Start with the Baby Bjorn, listed above, for about $50. But if you want something a bit more versatile and like the more comprehensive carriers, check these out:
1. Bebamour Baby Carrier. This is an awesome hip-seat option, one of two hip-seat carriers on our list (the other is below). This one is super versatile, with 6 different carrying positions. It can be used on you chest, for inward or forward facing (3-36 months), on your back forward facing ("backpack position"), and as a versatile hip or front seat. So without the hip-seat it's a pretty typical carrier: you can use it as early as 3 months, and it supports babies up to 44 pounds. It has tons of awesome little pockets for cell phones, pacifiers, and keys, and a ton of adjustments to make it fit virtually any mom shape and size. We loved the number and range of all the adjustment straps! It also has a nice breathable hood that attaches using little loops, so there is no loud snap or clip that might disturb your sleeping baby. They also did a nice job with the softness of the fabrics, nice wide and padded shoulder straps and hip belt, and overall decent fit and finish. It is a big carrier, and we thought that it would be most appropriate for babies over about 4-5 months, unless you have a larger baby. Otherwise it's a bit roomy. The hip-seat aspect is nice. When worn like a typical carrier, it does a nice job putting most of the baby's weight on you waist rather than back and shoulders. It can also be worn independenty of the rest of the carrier. This is great for very little babies, for resting their bum or side on the hip seat, for instance while nursing, or rocking to sleep. It's also great when they get a bit bigger and can hop onto the hip seat and use their arms to hold on - this is great for toddler and older. Overall, we really liked this carrier. The only drawback is really the large carrier size that doesn't accommodate smaller babies. There's also the fact that it's a Chinese company and made in China, which makes the descriptions and instructions a bit difficult to digest. Overall, this is a great carrier, especially for the price. Usually around $40. 
2. Mother Nest Ergonomic Baby Carrier. One of our favorite all-time carriers under $50, with features and versatility that are quite good for this price range. Supporting babies from 12 to 33 pounds, this carrier does not have an infant insert and can only support babies after they are a few months old. It can be used rear-facing on the chest and on the back, but doesn't work as a front-facing carrier which is unfortunate. But that's where the limitations end. It has nicely padded shoulder straps that we thought were quite comfortable, and it does have a small strap to connect the two shoulder straps and help keep things in a nice comfy position for mom and dad. It has a removable hood, and more pockets than most other carriers on this list, with four zippered pockets, some on the carrier itself, and some around the waist band. Speaking of the waistband, it is quite wide and thick for this price range, and uses Velcro in addition to a clip, keeping it secure. In our testing, we thought the fabric was impressively soft and durable for a carrier in this price range. It also comes with some drool pads that you can remove and wash separately. Overall, this is a really great carrier for this price range, though like the others it's not appropriate for babies under about 12 pounds, and has limited versatility in terms of carrying positions. Tends to sell for about $50, you can see it online here.
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