Best Baby Carriers to Start Your Consulting Work

In the ever-changing world of baby carriers, the answer to the following question is tricky - to say the least. Almost as soon as I create a list, a company will go out of business or discontinue a carrier, so the answer will change with time.

It’s just that I get this question practically every week.

“What baby carriers do I need to start with as an educator or consultant?”

There are an infinite number of possible answers to this question. Certainly, there will be people/businesses who wish me to respond with a list that includes their brand or retail shop. Inevitably, there will be hurt feelings or ill will because their carrier/brand is not included.

I’m in a bind when attempting to answer this question.

The other hurdle to a simple answer is that my brain spits out a host of questions before answering the question for the individual asking—instead of just giving a generic list.

So, I’m going to answer the question from the vantage point of a person who:

• is near the beginning of their educator/consultant journey. (Which, for me, is generally a doula, someone with three years or less experience, or who has only personal experience.)
• has access to commonly found big box stores and the internet to buy from. (This means no specialty stores are physically located nearby.)
• is marginally comfortable with the online BST (Buy, sell, trade markets).
• Is not interested/comfortable in DIY-ing their carriers.
• has a small budget of about $500 or less to begin.
• is willing to do some leg work - i.e., send email, do some online searches, and visit some local stores.
• is planning on using these carriers to educate others.

Okay, if you fit this description in any way, then keep reading! I’ve created a list for you!

I still shock myself when I share that with you. LOL.

Even when just starting out, an educator needs some baby carriers to learn with and practice their techniques. Even if your clients will have their own carriers, you will need a few baby carriers immediately.

Remember, before you buy baby carriers, you want to think about your client first.

• What carriers are the families in your town using the most?
• What will they find when searching for baby carriers online or buying used ones?
• What price range are they comfortable spending on baby carriers and other baby items?

Being familiar with the answers to these questions will help you decide between carriers/brands!

Okay, then, drum roll, please; here is a starter list to explore.

• A Full-Buckle Carrier with a structured waistband, otherwise known as a Soft-Structured Carrier, is often what people think of first when you say baby carrier or babywearing. Consider something like a Kinderpack*, a Beco Gemini (the lowest-cost option), or an Ergo Omni Breeze (a popular registry item). If you have extra funds, a Standard Tula would also be a good addition. All of these are likely very easy to find on a BST board (Buy Sell Trade) or in a second-hand shop.
• A Woven Wrap or a Simple Piece of Cloth (SPOC), this is a staple of any consultant or educator kit. It needs to work for you - and those you serve - in length, meaning long enough to be securely tied for the wearer and baby. This is a potentially deep hole to fall into in terms of complexity. I like to keep it simple to start. I suggest a 100 percent cotton wrap that can easily be washed and dried. Something with visual cues for your learner, such as the Didymos Double Face, the Girasol Rainbow, or the Tekhni Eema Waterfall with Repreve®*. An alternative might be the Oscha Linen/cotton blend. (Definitely check the BST - Buy Sell Trade - boards for these or similar options.)
• A Stretchy Wrap, otherwise known as a SPOC (a simple piece of cloth) that stretches when you pull on the fabric, is typically long. Most searches currently produce the Solly Baby Wrap*; however, you can also look at the Boba Wrap (lowest cost) and the Moby Wrap. These are also likely very easy to find on a BST board (Buy Sell Trade) or in a second-hand shop.
• A Ring Sling long enough for your average client’s size and you. Options include Hope & Plum*, Sakura Bloom*, Maya Wrap (get an ombré version where the edges are different colors), or Wildbird* (lowest cost). These, too, might be easy to find second-hand.
• A Meh Dai or Half Buckle Carrier — in the case of the hard-to-find meh dais — I often suggest looking at the BST market to start and search for a BabyHawk or a CatBird Baby. The sad fact, though, is that these carriers remain challenging to find. Alternative options: the Chimperoo, Hope & Plum Meh Dai*, or the Didymos DidyKlick.
  • I suggest looking for a ‘half-buckle’ carrier as an alternative and a good substitute. This carrier subs in buckles for the waist instead of tying. You do lose some freedom and flexibility with these carriers, but they can provide an excellent alternative for many of your clients. Look for something like the MySol Meh Dai or the Didymos DidyKlick.

We have barely scraped the bottom of the carrier bucket, to say the least, and there are several additional carriers that I think a new educator/consultant would want to consider adding to their kit. I typically refer to these as “Hybrids’ as they often have components that resemble other carriers in a sort of ‘mash-up.’  Above, I have already introduced at least one ‘Hybrid-style’ with the Half-buckles.

A few other Hybrid-Style baby carriers you might want to consider:

• Ergobaby Embrace or the Boba Bliss (lower cost) are both carriers that are suitable for newborns and are direct competitors. And while they are similar, there are also differences to explore. 
• I strongly suggest a Baby Bjorn Harmony or One Air. Despite a lousy rep from old marketing spins, these carriers are of remarkable quality and provide great support, at least as much as their direct competitors. Many clients will be familiar with the brand and interested in exploring and comparing the options.
• The Baby K’tan is another carrier you could consider. Just make sure to get at least your size to start with. These carriers are often found on gift registries and even second-hand (make sure you get all parts, though). I find myself pulling this carrier out frequently—it might surprise you, too.
• The Happy Baby* Original and Revolution offer a waistband different from the one in the soft, structured carrier above. This might be immensely helpful and more comfortable for some people.
• While the Sakura Bloom Scout* is last on the list, it is certainly not the least. This carrier offers a lot of flexibility and is of exceptional quality. I could see some clients falling in love with its textiles, quality, and comfort.

As a reminder, you don’t need ALL of these carriers to start out, but you will need a few. You can slowly and methodically add to your kit. Use the questions at the top of this post to determine what suits you and the families you'll serve.

Consider joining me in the Foundations Training to discover how each carrier could serve various situations, families, and body types. Every dyad is unique!

If you’re taking the Foundations Training, why not consider renting carriers for the course either as a complete set or to fill in your gaps? It might seem expensive initially, but it would allow you to explore several carriers/brands and see what others use during class. At the same time, you dig deeper into your community’s carrier preferences. Before spending money on carriers, you might later wish you hadn’t purchased.

Another option is to take advantage of one of the custom carrier-kit discounts from our beloved retailer, Little Zen One. Here, you’re guaranteed to get current and popular carriers for a significant discount. 

Several, but not all, of the companies listed, also have custom discounts for Foundations Graduates, which are available to all our graduates in the Graduate portal.

PLEASE NOTE:
This list is neither sponsored nor an affiliate list, so if your brand—or your favorite brand—is not included, it’s not personal or financial. I might not have the carrier or even be familiar with it yet. I won’t list something—or a brand—I’m not familiar with personally. This list came from the top of my mind and the top of Google!

Do you feel like this list is missing a carrier? Please send an email and share what you like with me! I would love to hear from you!

* Made in the USA