Soft Baby Carriers

Soft infant carriers can be split into two categories: structured soft carriers and unstructured soft carriers. Structured soft carriers use firmer fabrics and padding to allow the carrier to maintain its shape even when it is not in use. These carriers offer an easy learning curve for parents. First-time baby wearers are typically able to put on the carrier, adjust the fit and wear their baby successfully with little knowledge or practice of babywearing.

Unstructured soft carriers do not maintain their shape when not in use; however, they have a short learning curve as well. The term unstructured soft carrier is often used to refer to Asian baby carriers such as the Mei Tai and podaegi.

Soft carriers provide parents with a wide variety of carrying positions. The most commonly used carry position used with soft carriers is the snuggle position in which the child sits up facing you with his legs popping out of the bottom of the carrier. As long as the child is able to support his own head, the sumo carry position can be used which involves the child sitting up while facing outward with his legs outside of the carrier; this position is typically used with structured soft carriers.

There are some soft carriers that will allow for such positions as the semi-reclining cradle, newborn snuggle (same as snuggle, but legs are inside carrier) and Buddha (same as sumo, but legs are inside carrier) positions.

Many soft carriers can be worn on your back with the infant facing you while his legs are outside of the carrier. There are some structured carriers that allow the child to face outward while on your back, and others that offer a hip carrying position as long as the child is facing inward.

The design of soft carriers enable the child to be worn closer to the parents bond providing a secure, nurturing environment. Soft carriers also provide parents and other wearers with a high level of comfort during extended periods of babywearing. By the very nature of their design, soft carriers are lightweight and foldable making them easy to store and take along while traveling.

If a soft carrier doesn’t seem to be the best type of carrier for your babywearing needs, you may find that our article on the different Baby Carrier Types and our Baby Carrier Buying Guide can help to lead you in the right direction.