Congratulations! You are a dad. The only thing you can imagine doing with your arms right now is holding that new baby.
Trust us, though; holding that baby will get old. You have stuff to do, and you’re going to need a carrier. Like a lot baby things, picking the right one can seem…well…hard, but this list of best baby carriers for dads will get you on the right track.
The List
All the carriers listed have 4.5 stars or higher from hundreds of reviewers on Amazon. Fathers looking for comfort, ease of use, and versatility will find all these things in the products listed.
Ergobaby Performance is one of the biggest names in the baby carrier industry, and this particular carrier comes with breathable fabric and a moisture wicking lining. It is ergonomic and won’t case stress or damage to baby’s growing hips. It distributes the weight of your baby evenly across your hips and shoulders for comfort. However, it doesn’t include the infant insert.
Beco Gemini is a versatile carrier that allows the wearer to decide the best position for the straps to maximize comfort. It’s a light carrier that will fit a wide variety of people, making it great for both mom and dad, and doesn’t require an infant insert. The sleep hood isn’t in the best position, though, and may cause some discomfort.
Tula Urbanista is a hand stitched carrier that will last a long time. It is also extremely adjustable for the baby’s positioning, including buckles on the front straps. It comes with plenty of storage, and two different pockets on solid color options. Once again, though, the infant insert is sold separately.
The Onya Baby Outback is a versatile carrier that has pockets, loops, a key ring, and a vertical pouch for keys and phone. It is made of breathable fabric and can even be converted into a chair harness. It cannot be dried in the dryer however, making it a little difficult to clean.
The Maya Wrap is a ring sling, which offers a lot of customization for carry position and sizes. It comes with a larger pocket for keys, phone, or a diaper and the shoulder is padded for comfort. It doesn’t need an infant insert, which is great, but it might not fit both mom and dad.
Reviews of the Best Carriers for Fathers
Ergobaby Performance
The Ergobaby Performance Cool Air Mesh 3 position carrier is an excellent choice for dads looking for something breathable.
If you plan to spend a lot of time outside, you need a carrier that will allow air to flow as best it can to cut down on sweat and heat. The carrier has a moisture wicking mesh lining, and is made of durable synthetic materials for easy washing and quick drying.
The great thing about Ergobaby is that this particular carrier is made to ergonomically carry your child in a position that doesn’t put stress on his or her developing hips. The design holds your child’s thighs in a more natural sitting position.
It’s also more ergonomic for you. The wide hip belt more evenly distributes your baby’s weight across your hips rather than relying on your back. The straps are tapered and cushioned so you’ll be able to go longer carrying the baby.
It offers three positions for carrying, front, back, and hip, though babies under a certain weight and without sufficient head control should be carried only in the front with an insert sold separately.
Things we liked
- 3 positions.
- Moisture wicking, breathable fabric.
- Ergonomic design for baby and for you.
Things we didn't like
- Young babies need an insert which is sold separately
- Cannot carry with baby facing front.
Beco is another ergonomically designed baby carrier that’s designed for multiple sizes of wearer.
Dads can easily adjust the Beco to accommodate a wide range of sizes, without adding bulk to the carrier itself for when mom needs a turn.
The carrier itself comes in a range of really minimalist patterns that dads will appreciate, and there are options for extra storage and infant inserts. The Gemini carrier doesn’t need an insert for a newborn, though, which is a nice perk.
The Beco can be used for a front, back, or side carry, and can be adjusted for children who prefer to face out, without sacrificing the ergonomic design. Straps can also be crossed at the back when front carrying to ease strain of longer trips.
Several customers have complained that the sleeping hood isn’t a good design for older babies and toddlers because it doesn't go up far enough. There is also a two buckle safety design that can take some practice to fasten and undo without help.
Things we liked
- Highly adjustable for a range of sizes
- Gemini doesn’t require a separate infant insert.
Things we didn't like
- Less than ideal sleep cover
- Hard to work safety buckles (may not be a con for some protective parents)
Tula is an ergonomic carrier rated from 15 to 45 pounds and can be use for both front and back carry positions.
Tula is hand stitched by expert seamstresses, giving this carrier a well made artisanal feel. It also has some great details, such as pocket storage on the front waist band, another pocket on the body of solid color carriers, and a really comfortable three part waist band.
It has adjustable buckles on the front straps so that you can adjust not only the waist band measurements, but the fit of the body of the carrier as well so that your child feels snug and secure.
It comes with a removable hood to help when the baby is sleeping, but younger infants without proper head control must be in the insert which is sold separately.
Things we liked
- Hand stitched for great quality
- Highly adjustable including front strap buckles
Things we didn't like
- Infants require an insert which is sold separately
Onya has created somewhat of a swiss army knife of baby carriers. It’s water resistant, fade resistant and made of ultra breathable nylon.
The Onya is very supportive, keeping baby in an upright ergonomic position and effectively supporting the head. The rise comes up a little taller than most other carriers, which is good for babies who are fond of arching and in danger of pushing themselves out.
The fabric is durable nylon, but is lined with another moisture wicking fabric to keep baby cool and to help with air flow. It also helps keep dad cooler and more comfortable on long carries.
The carrier has key rings, pockets, toy loops, and an adjustable sun shade. It even includes a vertical zipper pouch for things like keys and cell phones. One unique feature is an extra piece of fabric that converts the carrier to a chair harness so that when you finally sit down, baby can still be safely and comfortably restrained.
It is washable, but cannot be put in the dryer. It also requires the use of an infant insert which is not included.
Pros- many pockets and loops, including a zipper pocket.- converts to a baby chair harnessCons- cannot be put in the dryer- requires an infant insert
Things we liked
- Many pockets and loops, including a zipper pocket.
- Converts to a baby chair harness
Things we didn't like
- Cannot be put in the dryer
- Requires an infant insert
The final option isn’t a traditional carrier at all, but a sling. Although dads may not think of a ring sling right away when choosing a carrier, but the ease and comfort of a sling design might win over even the most skeptical new father.
Ring slings are designed to be easy to use and supportive of baby without sacrificing comfort. Slings are easily adjustable without the use of buckles, and can be highly customized to support the baby whether large or small, younger or older.
Since slings are so adjustable, they don’t require the use of an infant insert. The Maya also includes a pocket for keys or cell phone, and is completely machine washable. The shoulder is padded for comfort.
Slings come in different sizes, though the Medium is fine for the vast majority of people. However, you might need a different size than you partner. It comes in a variety of colors, but the gray is our favorite.
Things we liked
- Highly adjustable.
- Does not need an infant insert.
Things we didn't like
- May require mom and dad to buy different sizes.
How do I choose?
There are a long of things to consider when trying to find the best baby carriers for dads. It’s not just about the look of the carrier, but comfort and safety for both you and your baby.
Although experts agree that carrying a child encourages bonding, the weight can be stressful on your back and shoulders. Some carriers that seem to have less bulk are actually less comfortable overall because of the positioning and padding in the shoulders and hips.
Other carriers offer a variety of options, but allow the baby’s legs to dangle freely. This puts a great deal of stress on growing hips and joints.
A carrier should be designed to keep the legs in a natural seated position. It also may be appropriate to purchase a separate infant insert to keep a small infant’s head and airways supported.
Because infants cannot support themselves, it is important to make sure that any carrier you use can keep them in a position that doesn’t make their breathing difficult or cut it off altogether.
Once you have baby’s positioning and your own comfort figured out, it’s time to decide what kind of features you want to have with your carrier. Most people want some kind of storage, but how much is up to you.
Some carriers offer quite a few pockets and loops, while some keep storage minimal to cut down on bulk. Carriers can also be converted sometimes to other uses such as a chair harness or breastfeeding cover.
The final option is the fabric choice. Though finding a masculine or neutral color is definitely important, your fabric decisions should also include what kind of activities you’ll be doing and in what kind of weather.
Baby wearing can be hot. It’s important that you and your baby don’t overheat, and that your baby has a lot of airflow especially for extended wearing sessions and in hotter climates. It can be extremely dangerous for you or your child to overheat.
Conclusion
Overall, we like the Onya Outback carrier for its versatility and design. It’s lightweight, breathable and can be used for both mom and dad.
Compared to the other carriers, it offers the most options for whatever you’re doing. Pockets, loops, and the ability to convert it to a chair harness mean that this carrier will go with you all day.
With the infant insert to keep your smallest ones in the correct position, this carrier will be great for you and your kid as he or she grows into toddlerhood.