Best buys · The new dad

The best baby carrier worth buying

Our pick is the Ergobaby Omni 360. Below: why, what actually matters when buying one, what to get for less, the step up, and whether today's price is a good one.

The carrier

Ergobaby Omni 360

Works from newborn to toddler without an insert, carries on the front, hip or back, and spreads the weight across the hips. Two free hands is worth more than any gadget.

Buy it for
Walks, errands, and the evening when nothing else settles them.
Skip it if
You want a stretchy wrap for the first weeks only. It is softer, and cheaper.

What actually matters when buying a baby carrier

  1. Weight carried on the hips, not the shoulders. It is what makes a carrier bearable after the first twenty minutes.
  2. Whether it fits a newborn without a separate insert, and up to what weight the maker rates it.
  3. Buckles one person can do up alone.
  4. A position where the baby's face is visible and the airway is clear. The maker's fitting guide matters more than any review.

Either side of the pick