I've used this Tula baby carrier to take my daughter to Disney parks, grocery stores, and day hikes - it's comfortable for both of us and she often falls asleep in it
- The standard Tula baby carrier (starting at $121.18) is designed for inward-facing front carry and back carry, and works for babies and toddlers up to 45 pounds.
- When my daughter was a baby, I put her in the carrier almost everywhere we went, and it made my life so much easier.
- The carrier is comfortable enough for me to wear for hours, and it must be comfortable for my daughter too because it often puts her to sleep.
The process of choosing a baby carrier before my daughter Ellie was born was very intimidating for my husband and me.
We had no idea how they worked or even what type to buy - wraps, structured carriers, ring slings, forward facing styles, backpack styles - there are too many options.
I have a history of back problems, so I knew I was going to need a comfortable carrier that would help distribute the baby's weight. After doing some research, I discovered that I wanted a carrier that I can wear on my chest and carry my child facing outward or inward (to prevent overstimulation). All of my research led to me purchasing the standard Tula carrier, and I'm so glad I did.
The Tula carrier has two carrying positions: front- or back-carry, and in both positions, your baby faces your body. Back-carry isn't appropriate until your baby has very strong head control, so I used this carrier in the front-carry position all the time up until Ellie started crawling and wanted to start exploring the world more on her own.
When I say Ellie and I used the carrier all the time, I really do mean all the time. This carrier went everywhere with us - from Disney World to grocery stores to day hikes. It was also great for everyday use so I could have my hands free around the house.
If your baby's head isn't strong enough to hold itself up, you can also purchase a separate infant insert to give your baby's head more support. The insert is intended for babies weighing 7-15 pounds; we stopped using the insert when Ellie was around four months old.
Wearing your baby in the Tula carrier is almost like putting on a backpack, it's easy to use and comfortable to wear
I had no problem taking my daughter in and out on my own.
I simply held her to my chest with one hand and pulled the straps over my shoulders and around her back just like I was putting on a backpack. It's also very easy to adjust the straps for different wearers, so my husband could wear her as well.
The straps are padded and very comfortable. They clip together for extra support across your shoulder blades, or across your chest when in the back-carry position. There is also an adjustable waistband that helps support your baby. I found Ellie's weight to be well distributed, even when carrying her almost all day at the Disney parks.
Specs of the standard Tula carrier include:
- Suitable for 15-45 lbs (or 7-15 lbs with the infant insert)
- Compatible with breastfeeding
- Removable hood for privacy or to protect your baby from the elements
- Front waist pocket storage (perfect size for a phone, some money, your car keys, or other small items)
- Machine washable
- Comfortable padded straps
It's so comfortable for my daughter that she can fall asleep in the carrier
Ellie's comfort is even more important than mine, and the Tula carrier must be comfortable for her too because she was always much happier in the carrier when we went out to a crowded place than she was in her stroller.
Another telltale sign that she loves the carrier? She often fell asleep while in it.
Carriers that aren't designed correctly can be uncomfortable for babies and parents alike, but even worse, they can be damaging to babies' hips. When Ellie is in her standard Tula carrier, her legs and hips are properly supported and her legs form the "M" shape that the International Hip Dysplasia Institute (IHDI) says is proper form. The carrier is also recognized by IHDI as a "hip-healthy" carrier, which gave me a boost of security knowing I was using a safe product around my child.
The carrier also gave me a lot more confidence as a new mom because I knew Ellie was content being right next to me, and I never had to worry that she was too far away from me where a stranger could touch her or she could get upset not knowing where I was.
When you're a new mom and you take your baby out on your own, you want to do everything you can to set yourself up for success, and the Tula carrier was key for me in that aspect.
It's made my everyday life so much easier because I can carry my daughter and still have my hands free to whatever I needed
I never wanted to put Ellie when she was an infant down, but I also had to do things like vacuum the house or shop for Christmas presents. Once I got the hang of using the carrier, it took me less than a minute to pop Ellie in and be ready to go about my to-do list.
My husband and I used the carrier until Ellie was four-months-old, and we sometimes use it even now that she's a little older than 14 months. It comes in handy for long walks or when I really need my hands free around the house but she just wants to be held. The back-carry position is also much more appropriate for her now that she has full head control and she's not as prone to getting overstimulated.
My only real complaint about the Tula carrier is that it's not very breathable, so Ellie and I tend to get hot quickly, especially in very warm weather.
New parents would benefit from the ease of use and convenience of the Tula carrier
Having a baby carrier makes life a lot easier with newborns, infants, and even toddlers. And if you have a baby who refuses to be put down, they're a necessity. When recommending must-haves for friends who are new parents, the Standard Tula carrier is always at the top of my list.
Keep in mind that this carrier is not designed for a baby to face forward in the front-carry position, so if you want a carrier for an older infant or toddler to face forward, check out Tula's Explore Carrier (starting at $143.20). The Ergobaby 360 (starting at $143) is another carrier I love that allows the baby to face forward in the front-carry position as well.
Pros: Comfortable and ergonomically designed for wearer and baby, hip healthy, easy to put baby in and out, simple to adjust straps for different wearers, lots of cute prints available
Cons: Body heat plus thick fabric can make it really hot