20 BEST Baby Carriers for Travel in 2024
Baby carriers are compact, cuddly, and practical. They’re a new parent’s greatest fashion statement and a great way to keep babies close on away-from-home adventures without the bulk of a stroller. If you’re shopping for a new baby carrier for travel, we’ve done all the research for you and rounded up the 20 best picks for 2024.
Our Favorite Baby Carriers
Baby wraps
- Best baby wrap: Solly Baby Wrap
- Best budget-friendly wrap: Boba Classic Wrap
- Best hybrid carrier-wrap: Moby Easy-Wrap Carrier
Soft structured carriers
- Best four-position carrier: Beco Gemini
- Best for front-facing: Ergobaby Omni 360 Mesh
- Best materials and patterns: Artipoppe Zeitgeist
- Best budget-friendly carrier: Infantino Flip 4-in-1
- Best newborn baby carrier: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini
- Best for warm weather: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Harmony
- Best for varying climates: LÍLLÉbaby Complete 6-in-1 All-Seasons
- Best minimalist design: Happy! Original
- Best with all the extras: Nuna CUDL
- Best with storage: Infantino Carry-On Multi-Pocket
- Best for toddlers: Tula Explore
- Best twin carrier: TwinGo Original
Backpack, hip, and shoulder carriers
- Best travel hiking backpack: Osprey Poco LT
- Best backpack for long hikes: Osprey Poco Plus
- Best budget-friendly hiking backpack: ClevrPlus Cross Country
- Best hip carrier: TushBaby
- Best shoulder carrier: MiniMeis G4
Detailed Buying Guide
Let’s dive into the nitty gritty on our 20 favorite baby carriers, from wraps and soft structured carriers to hip, shoulder, and backpack carriers.
We’ve included all the necessary specs, including whether the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) has certified the product as hip-healthy. A carrier lacking the IHDI’s stamp of approval isn’t necessarily unsafe, but it may not have been evaluated for its impact on hip development. For more on the connection between baby wearing and hip dysplasia, see the IHDI’s parent education materials and full list of certified hip-healthy products.
Baby wraps
Best newborn wrap: Solly Baby Wrap
- Approximate cost: $69–74
- Weight range: 8–25 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in
- Color choices: 14
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes, and tumble dry!
The Solly Baby Wrap is a comfortable and secure way to carry your new baby. The fabric is soft, lightweight, and breathable, keeping your child warm and cozy against Mom or Dad’s skin. The Solly comes as a universal fit for petite and plus sizes. For more on why we love this wrap, read our complete Solly Baby review.
Best budget-friendly wrap: Boba Classic Wrap
- Approximate cost: $40–60
- Weight range: 7–35 pounds, but works best under 20 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in
- Color choices: 11
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes, and tumble dry!
The Boba Classic Wrap’s French terry-cotton blend fabric is thick, so it keeps babies warm in cooler climates and doesn’t bounce too much. It distributes weight well for parents of all sizes and doubles as a breastfeeding cover. Parents can slide baby in and out easily once the wrap is tied.
Best hybrid carrier-wrap: Moby Easy-Wrap Carrier
- Approximate cost: $50
- Weight range: 8–33 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in and front facing out
- Color choices: 5
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: Yes
The 100% cotton Easy-Wrap Carrier combines the hug of an infant wrap with the structure and ease of a standard carrier. It slides over Mom or Dad’s head, cinches with buckles at the side, and secures via an attached sash.
Soft structured carriers
Best four-position carrier: Beco Gemini
- Approximate cost: $80–140
- Weight range: 7–35 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, back carry, and hip carry
- Color choices: 12
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
Beco’s 100% cotton Gemini carrier, which fits adults from XS to XXL, has adjustable baby-width options with padded leg openings, padded waist and shoulder straps, and a small waist belt pocket. We can say from experience (read our full review!) that the Gemini is comfortable for long periods of time, even for parents of varying sizes. Straps can be crossed in the back or connected in an “H” orientation via the adjustable chest strap. No infant insert is needed.
Best for forward-facing: Ergobaby Omni 360 Mesh
- Approximate cost: $145–179
- Weight range: 7–45 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, back carry, and hip carry
- Color choices: 7
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
The Omni 360, made of lightweight, breathable mesh, includes a baby sun hood and detachable storage pouch, as well as lumbar support and crossable, adjustable straps. Read our complete Ergobaby omni 360 review here.
Best materials and patterns: Artipoppe Zeitgeist
- Approximate cost: $370 to over $3,500, depending on pattern
- Weight range: 7–45 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, and back carry
- Color choices: 40+
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
The celebrity-loved Zeitgeist comes in luxe silk, cashmere, cotton, organic velvet, linen, or denim. It adapts to four baby sizing positions, with an adjustable neck cushion and a facing-out insert. Also included are loops to hold strap excess, crossable shoulder straps, a padded waistband, and padded leg openings. Read our Artipoppe vs. Ergobaby comparison and how to get a secondhand Artipoppe.
Best budget-friendly carrier: Infantino Flip 4-in-1
- Approximate cost: $36
- Weight range: 6–32 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, and back carry
- Color choices: 7
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: Yes
The Flip’s supportive waist band adjusts from 24” to 49”. This carrier has padded head support, narrow and wide baby seating options, padded shoulder straps, and an included bib.
Best newborn carrier: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Mini
- Approximate cost: $100
- Weight range: 7–24 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in and front facing out
- Color choices: 19
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: Yes
The Mini, made of soft jersey, mesh, or cotton, holds babies from 0 to 12 months. The entire front unfastens to lift a snoozing baby out of the carrier undisturbed. The Mini has adjustable head support for baby and crossed back straps for Mom or Dad instead of a waist belt.
Best for warm weather: BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Harmony
- Approximate cost: $240
- Weight range: 7–40 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, and back carry
- Color choices: 6
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
BabyBjörn’s coolest carrier, the Harmony, is made of lightweight mesh fabric with padded shoulder and waist straps. The carrier’s head support, length, and seat size are all adjustable.
Best for varying climates: LÍLLÉbaby Complete 6-in-1 All-Seasons
- Approximate cost: $84–120
- Weight range: 7–45 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, back carry, hip carry, and newborn fetal carry with purchase of the infant pillow
- Color choices: 12
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
A front panel on the All-Seasons zips down to reveal breathable mesh or zips up for windbreaker protection on breezy days. Crossable straps, a waist belt that extends up to 52”, and an extra-wide lumbar support pad keep parents comfortable. The carrier has padded infant head support, a removable sun hood, adjustable seat widths, and a separately available storage pouch.
Best minimalist design: Happy! Original
- Approximate cost: $145–169
- Weight range: 7–45 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in and back carry
- Color choices: 4
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
The Happy! Original, made of breathable linen or corduroy, is simple and streamlined. The lightweight carrier cinches down for smaller babies and includes a storage pocket, a sun cover, a waist belt extending to 54”, and padded leg openings.
Best with all the bougie extras: Nuna CUDL
- Approximate cost: $220
- Weight range: 8–35 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, and back carry
- Color choices: 6
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
The CUDL has all the fancy features: self-guiding magnetic buckles, two removable bibs, padded straps, folding head support, customizable leg openings, a sun hood, a storage pocket, and a removable infant booster.
Best with storage: Infantino Carry-On Multi-Pocket
- Approximate cost: $68
- Weight range: 8–40 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, and back carry
- Color choices: 1
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: Yes
The Carry-On has six clever pockets that stretch outward instead of putting pressure on baby. It has a supportive waist belt, padded shoulder straps, and an adjustable, ergonomic seat with a mesh panel to keep parent and baby cool.
Best for toddlers: Tula Explore
- Approximate cost: $179–780, depending on pattern
- Weight range: 7–45 pounds
- Positions: Front facing in, front facing out, and back carry
- Color choices: Over 100!
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
The Explore’s wide (5”) waistband adjusts from 27” to 57”. The carrier comes in a variety of artisan designs and materials, including linen, mesh, and cotton. It comes with a neck pillow, adjustable seat settings for baby, and padded shoulder straps that connect in an “H” shape.
Best twin carrier: TwinGo Original
- Approximate cost: $215
- Weight range: 10–45 pounds
- Positions: One baby in front (facing in or out), and one baby in back
- Color choices: 2
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: Yes
- Machine washable?: Yes
The 100% cotton TwinGo Original has a firm waistband that expands to 100”, padded shoulder straps that fit parents from 4’11” to 6’5”, a large storage pocket that can stash the entire carrier, sleep hoods for both babies, and a separately available infant insert. Parents can use the TwinGo as a double carrier or split it into two single carriers.
Backpack, hip, and shoulder carriers
Best travel hiking backpack: Osprey Poco LT
- Approximate cost: $300
- Weight range: 23.8–48.5 pounds
- Positions: Backpack carry
- Color choices: 4
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: No
The Poco LT (reviewed here) weighs only 5.1 pounds and folds flat for travel. It boasts a built-in UPF 50 sunshade, a drool pad, multiple zippered pockets, a hydration sleeve, and an adjustable sternum strap with a rescue whistle. Its frame locks into the open position and stands on its own. The Poco LT has a continuous foam panel along its interior to provide suspension and ventilation for parent and baby.
Best backpack for long hikes: Osprey Poco Plus
- Approximate cost: $395
- Weight range: 23.8–48.5 pounds
- Positions: Backpack carry
- Color choices: 2
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: No
Osprey’s Poco Plus weighs in at 7.9 pounds. It contains front-facing arm loops for easy child loading, a machine-washable drool pad, loops for toy attachments, a built-in sunshade, ventilated side panels for baby, and mesh-covered foam suspension. Zippered compartments and stretch mesh pockets hold plenty of gear and water on the go. The backpack’s hip strap lengthens or tightens on the go, and the adjustable sternum strap contains a rescue whistle. All surfaces that come in contact with baby’s skin are soft and padded, and parents can adjust the seat height and removable stirrup length as their child grows.
The Deuter Kid Comfort Pro is another great contender.
Best budget-friendly hiking backpack: ClevrPlus Cross Country
- Approximate cost: $104
- Weight range: Up to 33 pounds
- Positions: Backpack carry
- Color choices: 1
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: No
The 5.5-pound ClevrPlus Cross Country has padding on the shoulder straps, hip belt, and lumbar area to keep cool and comfortable. It includes a 60” waistband, a washable drool bib, a sun canopy, a rain cover, two water bottle holders, and a large back pocket. Children stay secure thanks to foot stirrups and a safety belt system. Babies should be at least nine months to ride in the Cross Country, which folds flat for packing and storing.
Best hip carrier: TushBaby
- Approximate cost: $83–$115
- Weight range: As breastfeeding support from birth, and as a carrier from 4 months to 45 pounds
- Positions: Breastfeeding support (side-lying position), front facing in, front facing out, and hip carry
- Color choices: 11
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: Yes
The TushBaby allows parents to carry their children the way they normally would on their hip, with the added support of a seat underneath them. The hip carrier, which weighs less than one pound and looks like a large fanny pack, boasts five pockets, a bottle holder, stain-resistant fabric, and a 6” wide waistband that expands to 57” long.
Best shoulder carrier: MiniMeis G4
- Approximate cost: $189
- Weight range: 6 months to 40 pounds
- Positions: Shoulder carry
- Color choices: 4
- Deemed hip-healthy by the IHDI?: No
- Machine washable?: Yes (removable fabric)
The purpose of the 3.5-pound MiniMeis G4 is to give parents more security when carrying their child on their shoulders. A stiff frame with ankle straps and a waist belt keeps baby secure, with a removable shoulder strap harness for babies less than 10 months old. The carrier cinches across Mom or Dad’s chest and folds flat when not in use. A matching backpack that fits underneath the MiniMeis is available separately. Parents should note that the shoulder carrier is not intended for sleeping.
The Final Verdict: Choosing a Travel Baby Carrier
In general, baby carriers are lightweight and packable, making them ideal for travel. We love the Solly Baby Wrap, the Beco Gemini, the Artipoppe Zeitgeist, and the Osprey Poco LT, among the other winners on our list. Always check with the pediatrician for clearance before babywearing a newborn, and keep your little one’s face visible while in the carrier. Whichever carrier you choose, be sure to enjoy those baby snuggles as you bring your child along for family adventures.
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