Which Baby Carrier Should You Put on Your Registry?
This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Heyday is a retailer of the products mentioned in this post.
A baby carrier is one of the hardest things to choose for a registry. You are picking it before you have met the baby, before you know whether they will want to be held all day, and before you know which parent will wear it most. It is also one of the gifts you will use the longest.
It is the item most often bought from our shop through a registry, so we get this question a lot. Here is how to choose one, and the three we recommend.
Why a Carrier Belongs on Your Registry
Most new babies want to be held, and most new parents need their hands. A carrier gives you both. You can make lunch, walk the dog or get through the grocery store with your baby settled against your chest.
It also makes a good registry gift for a practical reason. A quality carrier costs more than most people spend on themselves in the first weeks, and it sits in a price range that a grandparent, an aunt or a group of coworkers is glad to cover.
What to Look for Before the Baby Arrives
A weight range that starts at newborn
Look for a carrier rated from 7 lbs that does not need a separate infant insert. You will want to use it in the first weeks, and an insert is one more thing to buy and keep track of.
A healthy hip position
Your baby's knees should sit higher than their bottom, with the fabric supporting them from one knee to the other. This is called the M position, and it matters most in the first six months. Rose, our co-founder and a registered nurse, explains it in her guide to hip-healthy carrying.
A fit for both parents
If two of you will share it, pick a carrier that adjusts quickly between different body sizes. Buckles are faster to adjust than a long wrap.
How long you want it to last
Some carriers stop at 35 lbs and some go to 45 lbs. Either one covers the baby years. The higher limit matters if you expect to carry a toddler on hikes or long days out.
Easy to wash
It will get spit up on. Check that it can go in the washing machine.
Three Carriers We Recommend for a Registry
Mabē Monarch: the one to pick if you want every option
The Monarch is the carrier our customers add to registries most. It works from 7 lbs with no insert, the seat narrows for a newborn and widens as your baby grows, and it lets your baby face outward once they have full head and neck control. The straps cross in an X on your back, which spreads the weight. It is machine washable, and it comes in patterns that look more like clothing than baby gear.
Choose it if you want one carrier that covers the newborn weeks through about 35 lbs.
WildBird Aerial: the one to pick if you plan to carry a toddler
The Aerial also starts at 7 lbs with no insert, and it goes up to 45 lbs. It carries facing in and on your back. It does not face outward. The linen blend is light, which helps in warm weather.
Choose it if you hike, travel a lot, or expect to carry an older child. Not sure between these two? Rose compared them side by side in WildBird Aerial vs Mabē Monarch.
WildBird Linen Sling: the one to pick as a second carrier
A ring sling is a single piece of linen that threads through two rings. It packs small, goes on fast once you have learned the adjustment, and is good for short carries around the house or quick trips in and out of the car. It costs about half as much as a buckle carrier, which makes it an easy gift for someone to pick off your list.
Choose it on its own if you want something simple, or add it next to a buckle carrier so you have one for long days and one for quick ones.
One Carrier or Two?
One is enough for most families. If you only add one, make it a buckle carrier like the Monarch or the Aerial, because it will be comfortable for longer stretches and for a heavier baby.
If you have room on your registry for a second, a sling at a lower price gives gift-givers another option and gives you something lighter for the early weeks.
How to Add a Heyday Carrier to Your Registry
You can add anything from our shop to your Babylist or MyRegistry registry. When someone buys it for you, the order comes straight from us.
- Open the product page for the carrier and color you want.
- Click the Add to Babylist button on the page. If you use MyRegistry, use its add button or browser extension on the same page.
- Check that the color is right, then save it to your registry.
One tip: add the exact color you want. Each color is its own listing, so your gift-giver will buy the one you chose.
Common Questions
When should I add a carrier to my registry?
Add it when you build the registry. Carriers are useful from the first week, so it helps to have one at home before the baby arrives.
Do I need a newborn insert?
Not with the carriers on this list. The Monarch and the Aerial are both rated from 7 lbs without one.
Can both parents use the same carrier?
Yes. Buckle carriers like the Monarch and the Aerial are made to adjust between wearers, so two parents can share one.
Can I put a carrier from Heyday on my Babylist?
Yes. Use the Add to Babylist button on any product page.
