Front facing baby carriers are designed to be worn on top of your chest as you are carrying toddlers or infants around in them. That enables the parent wearing it to closely watch their dear child while they are traveling around in style. So choose for the best forward facing baby carrier your baby
In addition, it enables the little one to be able to see what you are seeing so that your infant can have fun and look around while you’re on the go.
There are diverse options to choose from when looking for these products. That is to say, there are numerous quality brands that are available for you to choose from. In this review we will be looking at the top three, best front facing carriers that you can use to bring your baby anywhere you go.
In this review
It includes some very attractive options that are comfortable for both the baby and parent, including quality breathing material, quality shoulder straps, waist belts, lumbar support, and machine washable features. Each one is also made so that it is easy to use. However, it does help you to look at each option’s pros and cons as well.
Putting together your registry and don’t know which forward facing baby carrier to choose? Moreover, picking out a forward facing baby carrier can be stressful. They aren’t inexpensive and it can be difficult to know if you’re choosing one that you (and your baby) will love.
Don’t let the process overwhelm you, though. In this article, we’ll share with you the best forward facing baby carrier and why we love them. We’ll also take a look at some of the things you might want to consider when shopping for your carrier.
Editor’s Choice
Lillebaby Six-Position
Why is it better?
- Carefully padded
- Fits children at every stage
- Sleeping hood
- Dual adjustable straps for nursing
- Pockets for storage
The Lineup At A Glance
| Product | Brand | Model | Ship Weight | Check price |
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6 Best Forward Facing Baby Carriers In 2023
1. Flip 4-in-1
Its convertible seat makes it ideal for infancy and on to the toddler years.
Its shoulder straps and waist belt distribute your little one’s weight evenly for a more comfortable fit.
- Provides optimal hip positioning
- Machine washable
- Can only handle a maximum of 32 pounds
- Not a lot of storage area
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The Flip Advanced baby carrier’s unique, convertible seat makes this the ideal carrier for infancy through toddler years. That is to say, use the narrow seat position and padded head support to comfortably hold small infants.
Switch to the wide position to continue to provide an ergonomic, facing-in seat while your child grows. Includes the handy Wonder Cover bib to protect your clothing and carrier.
Securely carry infants from 8-32lbs/5.4-20.4kgs. Machine washable.
You can get it in black as well.
What’s more?
Convertible Seat:
Many carriers require extra infant inserts or force little legs into an uncomfortably wide position. The Flip Advanced Carrier allows you to narrow the seat for small infants, creating a comfortable seat for little babies. In addition, as your child grows, expand the seat to continue to provide knee-to-knee support for older babies and toddlers
Comfortable Carrying:
Extra padded shoulder straps and a supportive waist belt evenly distributes the weight of the child. Adjustable straps create a comfortable fit for Moms and Dads of all body types.
Wonder Cover Bib:
Protect your clothing and your carrier from spit-up and drool with Infantino’s patented Wonder Cover bib. Attaches to the inside of your carrier when facing in, and across the folded head rest when facing out. In addition to being functional, it also provides a fun pop of fashion.
2. Lillebaby Six-Position – Most Comfortable
Carries your child in six ways, including on your hip or back, as well as facing either in or out.
Its wide, sturdy belt that affords stability, relieves pressure, and ensures lumbar support.
- Ready to go in just a few clicks
- Large zippered storage pouch
- May be uncomfortable if certain positions are not familiar to you
- Easy to lose track of its fasteners
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This top-rated baby carrier includes EVERYTHING: Six ways to carry your baby, Unique lumbar support, Headrest, Sleeping hood for support & sun protection, Zippered pocket, Dual adjustable straps for easier breastfeeding, Generous padding and more
Moreover, putting Your Baby’s Safety and Your Comfort First. Safe for baby’s hips and acknowledged as a HIP HEALTHY carrier by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. This baby carrier has adjustable seat and leg openings facilitates proper hip support, frog-leg seating, and curved C-spine position. Adjustable back panel grows with your child and provides support for baby’s neck and head.
In addition, endlessly adjustable straps and waist belt for a completely customized fit form petite to tall parents and makes for an exceptionally comfortable child carrier. Straps have dual adjustments and allows for both H-style or X-style.
What’s more?
ERGONOMIC AND HIP- HEALTHY
The International Hip Dysplasia Institute has evaluated the COMPLETE as a hip healthy carrier for all babies. Moreover, the adjustable seat keeps baby’s hips and legs in a comfortable “M” poistion that promotes proper hip development at all ages and stages.
READY TO USE – IT’S COMPLETE
Without the hassle of an infant insert, the COMPLETE is ready to use with your little one from birth. The streamlined and thoughtful design provides ideal support & comfort for your little one every step of the way (7-45 lbs.)
PRICELESS LUMBAR SUPPORT
LILLEbaby offers superior comfort thanks to the unique lumbar support. This included accessory provides stability, relieves lower back pressure & allows baby’s weight to be evenly distributed for a more comfy ride.
3. Baby New Baby Carrier One Air
The two convenient side latches make it a breeze to remove him or her.
It also comes with a protective cover that can help shield your precious cargo from wind and rain.
- Made of mesh so it’s extremely cool and dries easily
- Adjusts easily for multiple wearers
- Folds up compactly
- This carrier doesn’t suit children over 33 pounds
- Poor lumbar support
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Easy and secure – 24/7
The baby carrier is easy for you to put on and take off by yourself, which means you can use it at night too if you choose.
The smart safety click
Lets you know you’ve done it right. Thanks to the colored buckles and the smart safety click, it’s not possible to fasten the baby carrier incorrectly.
The two-part design
Allows you to lift your sleeping baby out without waking them. Just unfasten both side latches to open the front completely.Moreover, the sturdy and adjustable head support. Provides proper support for head and neck.
Ample back support
While legs and hips are held in an ergonomically correct position.
What’s more?
Upright position
Keeps your baby’s airways free and allows you to check on your baby’s breathing.
Free movement for arms and legs. Which develops muscles, motor skills and coordination.
Made of Polyester, Provides essential closeness and contact to help you bond with your new baby. Two safe and ergonomic carrying positions: baby facing-in and baby facing-out. Perfect for newborns – no infant insert needed. From birth to approximately 12 months. Developed with pediatricians to give the proper support for baby’s head, neck, spine and hips
Lastly, small, safe and easy to use – fits perfectly and securely with only a few adjustments
4. Bebamour Designer 2 in 1 – Best Forward
Removable shoulder straps to support your back.
It has small, zippered compartment where you can tuck your keys or phone.
- 5 color choices
- Removable hood and 2 bibs
- Bulkier than some other carriers
- Back clips make it difficult to put baby in without a second person to help
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Using the whole baby carrier or the single hip-seat, different position suit for baby.
6 ways to carry baby for you choose according to your baby’s growth, details in paper instruction manual.
Adjustable shoulder strap and waist strap are all using broad and wide cotton padding (waist-belt adjusts 65-118CM / 25-46.5″)
Attached 1 head hood and 2 baby bib are removable, there is a zipper pocket on the belt. There is a piece foam wedge pad inside the hip seat, which used to be a seat for your baby when using the baby carrier. If you want wash the carrier, take off the foam pad, and hand washing.
What’s more?
Head cover sew with skin-friendly mesh. 1638 vacuum holes to facilitate air circulation, breathable and comfortable. ‘noiseless buckle’ design, care baby to sleep. The fabric is select breathable mesh, skin- friendly and soft.
In addition, the big waist band for a variety of body, humanized design of waistband, custom-made like senior clothing. The length can be 130cm.There is a zipper pocket on the belt. It’s a very useful gear for a trip to the store or family outing.
Lastly, with 2 baby bib are removable. Simply attach the bibs around the shoulder straps of the carrier and you are all set to go.
Have a look at the best carrier you can have this summer.
5. Boppy Comfy Fit
Hybrid between a structured carrier and a soft, cozy wrap.
It’s simple setup process is just in 3 steps.
- Lightweight spandex fabric
- Portable carrying pouch
- May not feel as secure for an older or heavier baby
- The one-size-fits-most approach may not work for this carrier as it’s on the smaller side
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Three easy steps —simply click, strap, tie and go
Made of soft fabric with spandex, which makes it comfy just like yoga apparelLightweight, hybrid carrier with a structured seat for a secure position every timeOne size fits most, which makes sharing between caregivers quick and easy
Perfect fit, no infant insert required; recommended baby weight: 8-35 lbs. Comfy just like yoga apparel with 4-way stretch that moves with you and your baby supporting your lifestyleLightweight, semi-structured hybrid carrier offers 2 comfy carrying positions. Ideal for your baby’s first year.
One size fits most easy to share, adjusts simply between caregivers
What’s more?
Machine washable
Machine washable for easy care because drool happens. 3 Easy Steps :
1.Click:Click the belt. Position the belt above your waist. (For most this will be on your belly button.)
2.Strap:Place straps to your shoulders. Spread the shoulder straps to avoid twisted, bunched up fabric that could cause discomfort.
3.Tie :Cross the straps and tie. Tie excess straps out of your way by wrapping them once or twice depending on your waist size. Comfortable shoulder straps are wide to help distribute your baby’s weight evenly.
Zippered pocket to store your phone, keys or wallet conveniently in reach.
Lastly, stash n’ Go pouch makes your carrier small and portable.
6. Evenflo Breathable
Its vented outer fabric and mesh panels.
You’ll appreciate its extra cushioning around your shoulders and back.
- Holds up to 26 pounds
- From a trusted name in baby gear
- Somewhat tricky to unclip
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The breathable carrier is the perfect carrier for any parent on-the-go. With 2 carrying positions, baby can face in or out. Use facing out when she gets a little older and can hold her head and neck unassisted. It is easy and safe to use with the single side-entry buckle and patented, automatically adjustable back straps.
In addition, the vented exterior fabric and the playful interior fabric creates a soft and cozy baby area. While the carrier is machine-washable, it also comes with a removable bib for a little extra protection. The breathable carrier features a little extra padding in the places that count – in the shoulder pads for parents and in the head support and leg holes for baby. For use with babies 7 to 26 lbs.
Moreover, it’s versatile, Baby can face in or out
Breathable Carrier can be used forward facing for newborns and baby can face out when able to hold head and neck up unassisted
What’s more?
Breathable Mesh Fabric
Mesh fabric and unique design allow for maximum air flow to keep baby and parent cool, comfy, and cozyRemovable/Washable Bib. Bib is fully removable and machine washable.
Automatically Adjusting Padded Back Straps. Extra padding in the self-adjusting straps help keep parents comfortable, too.
Secure Size Entry Buckle
Side enry buckle allows for quick and easy entry and removal of baby. Securely ‘clicks’ into place to keep baby locked in snugly.
Picking the Best Forward Facing Baby Carrier
For full details about how to choose a baby carrier, check out our new baby carrier buying guide! Babies love being held close to mom or dad, feeling the warm comfort of their chest and the gentle rhythm of their breathing and heartbeat.
But unless you’re Ronda Rousey or Mark Wahlberg, your arms and shoulders are going to get very tired from lugging around a growing baby all day. Hence, that’s where baby wraps and slings (see our best wrap baby carriers and slings here), and soft-structured baby carriers come in!
Lastly, each year, there are several new entrants into the baby carrier market, like the Baby Ktan and several random Chinese brands that saturate eBay and Amazon, making it harder to make an informed decision about which ones are best for you and your baby.
1. Ergonomics
To ensure proper hip and back development, the ergonomics of a baby carrier are very important.
Moreover, there are a few things to look for here. First, you want your newborn infant (first couple months) to adopt the C spinal alignment, which means there is a nice curvature to your baby’s back, with legs tucked up.
In addition, this is called the “fetal tuck” position, and it reduces pressure on the spine and hips, promoting calmness and easier digestion. Second, you want your infant (3+ months) baby’s buttocks and hamstrings to be supported, putting the baby into a “frog leg” position.
In other words, you never want the legs to be dangling down below the carrier (just from the calves down), and this is true for at least the first couple years of life.
2. Versatility
Gone are the days when a baby carrier can only support a single carrying position. You no longer need separate infant, toddler, big kid, and hiking (back) carriers. We have a review of the best hiking carriers for you here.
That is to say, nowadays, if you invest in a carrier for newborns, it will be versatile enough to support multiple carrying positions as the baby grows into a toddler and beyond.
At the low end, some carriers have 2 positions, usually forward-facing and backward-facing.
Lastly, at the high end, carriers have six positions, including backward-facing newborn (fetal tuck), backward-facing infant (legs out), forward-facing toddler, backward-facing toddler (without as much head support as the infant position), hip sling, and back carrier (like a hiking carrier).
3. Safety & Reliability
There is no more important factor to consider than safety. There are a lot of factors to consider here. How is the stitching along the important seams, and where the buckles and zippers attach?
What is the quality of the zippers? What is the quality of the clips, fasteners, adjustment slides and loops, and Velcro? How do these components stand the test of time, with repeated wearing and adjustment?
That is to say, many carriers use lower quality connectors, fabrics, and stitching, and don’t do well with repeated wearing. The last thing you want is a malfunction of a weight-bearing component.
Safety also considers the baby position, the breathability of the fabric, and the appropriate head and neck support. Lastly, our testing considered short-term hands-on use, and reviews from long-term use, pulling together a wide range of data regarding these safety considerations.
4. Ease of Use
Some carriers look great, feel great, are super comfortable and reliable, but are a total pain in the butt to put on, take off, or adjust.
Carriers have come a long way in terms of convenience and ease of use, but some are still quite poor in this regard.
Our best carriers list carefully considers ease of donning, doffing, and adjusting the carrier.
5. Comfort & Breathability
After ergonomics are considered and you are certain the baby is in a proper position for safe carrying, comfort is a determining factor as to whether the baby will be happy and comfortable for an extended journey.
The padding needs to be in the right places: along the back contour, where arms and legs meet open air, on the bum, and wherever a body part might come in contact with a fastening or adjustment component.
Less padding around the head and face to ensure breathability and high airflow where it matters.
6. Cost
Carriers vary widely in pricing, from as low as about $25, to upwards of $200 for the higher quality and more versatile ones with all the bells and whistles.
Because our list values versatility, reliability, comfort, safety, etc, it also tends to include some of the more expensive carriers, with a lower price range around $100, up to around $150.
We do provide some very limited reviews of lower cost (and limited feature) options toward the end of this article. In that section, we consider the NimNik, Mom Classic, Bebamour, Infantino Cuddle Up, and Mother Nest carriers.
Some of these less expensive options have some great features and can make a really great baby registry gift.
Frequently Asked Questions
When can babies be forward facing in a carrier?
You can start using a baby carrier from day one. Most are meant to hold babies when they’re a newborn up to 2-3 years old. Babies who are younger than 4-6 months should only be carried in the inward facing position in your newborn carrier with proper head, neck, hip and bottom support
Are forward facing baby carriers safe?
Carriers (used with baby facing in OR out) for babies before 6 months of age (and ideally after that) should support the back of the thighs, not just the baby’s bottom
Are baby carriers bad for hips?
The risk of hip dysplasia or dislocation is greatest in the first few months of life. … Some types of baby carriers and other equipment may interfere with healthy hip positioning. Such devices include but are not limited to baby carriers, slings and wraps.
How long can you carry a baby in a carrier?
Theoretically, babies can be carried in a carrier as a newborn. But you have to keep one thing in mind: babies need to be at least 4-5 months old before their neck muscles are strong enough to support their head
What age can my baby sit forward facing?
If you are using an i-Size car seat, you must legally rear face until a minimum of 15 months. Eventually, all children will be rear facing to at least 15 months by law. However, ideally you would not move forward facing until they are at least 18 kg/4 years old
When can a child switch to forward facing?
Once your child exceeds the height and weight limit of his infant car seat, purchase a convertible car seat with a higher height or weight limit (most go to 35 pounds rear-facing) and continue to use it rear-facing until age two, or until your child hits the height or weight limit for rear-facing use.
Are baby carriers safe for newborns?
The answer is actually quite simple: if you carry the baby in proper position it supports good hip development or even may prevent the baby from hip dysplasia and dislocation. Now you may ask what is the proper, safe position for the infant in a baby carrier.
Do baby carriers expire?
Yes, car seats typically expire after six years from the date of manufacture.