Best Comfort: Solly Baby Wrap

Let’s talk baby wraps.

Wraps are one long piece of cloth that is twisted and folded to create a pouch for baby. Typically the fabric has some stretch to it. This type of carrier has the steepest learning curve for parents. Most designs are intended for smaller, younger babies up to 35 lbs.

After testing the most current crop of wraps in the real world (and writing about baby carriers in general since the mid 90’s), we pick the Solly Baby Wrap as the best bet for comfort. This wrap is made of Tencel and is among the most comfortable wraps we’ve ever tested. Here’s more:

What We Liked

• Easy to use instructions.

• Good stretch.

• Starting weight is 8 lbs.

• Sewn in the USA.

• Online tutorials.

• Tops in comfort among brands we tried.

• Machine washable (delicate) and dry (low).

What Needs Work

• Pricey.

• Learning curve requires practice to use.

• Top weight is just 25 lbs. Other wrap carriers we tried go up to 35 lbs.

Best For Tall Parents: Boba Wrap Baby Carrier

Not all baby wraps work well for all parents—take taller folks, for example. Many wraps we tried just don’t work well, since they are a single piece of fabric after all. For taller parents, we like the Boba Wrap–it performed tops in our tests, especially giving the multiple wrap and carry options.

What We Liked

• Soft cotton fabric. Yes, the carrier has a dash of spandex for stretch.

• Works to 35 lbs.

• Machine washable.

• Instructions and video are very helpful. 

• Versatile—lots of wrap and carry options are better for taller folks.

• Fabric holds its shape well even after long term use.

What Needs Work

• Can take some practice at first. The key to making this carrier work is getting a tight enough fit. If it’s too loose, the fabric will sag and your back might hurt.

• Too long for shorter parents.

• Can be hot in the summer.

• Some parents note they had to tie it so tight, they had a hard time slipping the baby into it.

Best Budget-Friendly: Acrabros Baby Wrap Carrier

Yes, baby wraps can get rather pricey . . . but they are basically just a single piece of fabric. So why are some rather expensive?

The solution: we found one wrap that works well and is easier on the wallet: Acrabros. This wrap comes in 10 colors and real world testing has been positive.

What We Like

• Lighter weight fabric great for summer.

• Soft.

• Affordable.

• Machine washable.

• Includes storage bag.

• Breathable.

What Needs Work

• Too stretchy, reported some of our readers.

• Limited instructions or videos.

• Not as plus-size friendly as others we tried.

Best Less Stretch: Moby Wrap Baby Carrier

When it comes to baby wraps, there are two camps of users: those who like stretch, and those who don’t.

There isn’t a right or wrong answer here . . . it’s a personal preference. Moby Wraps is our pick for parents who don’t want the stretch. This wrap allows moms to adjust the fit by how tight they wrap the baby.

Without the stretch, some parents tell us they think the wrap provides extra security for baby. And it doesn’t need to be re-tied repeatedly to keep baby in the right spot. 

What We Liked

• Soft fabric.

• Comfy.

• Easy to use.

• Not too stretchy.

• More affordable than some of the premium brands we researched.

What Needs Work

• Works better for smaller parents, based on our reader feedback.

About the Authors

Denise & Alan Fields are consumer advocates and best-selling authors. The Fields have authored 12 books with three million copies in print, including the best-selling guide to baby gear, Baby Bargains.

The Fields have been featured and quoted in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal and Los Angeles Times.

As consumer products experts, the Fields have been guests on the NBC Today Show, Good Morning America and ABC’s 20/20.

How We Pick Products To Recommend

We often turn to our readers (3 million strong!) to find products to recommend. We ask our parent readers for their favorites and consider their real-world experiences in our recommendations.

When we test a product, we always purchase it with our own monies. We do not take free samples, as we believe that compromises our independence.

We also fact check manufacturer information with our own measurements. If a maker claims a product weighs X pounds, we will weigh it to make sure. If the battery life is supposed to be six hours, we will see how it stands up in the real world.

In some cases, we will do interviews with experts in the field to get additional feedback on products.

To get hands-on time with products, we regularly meet one-on-one with gear companies and even tour manufacturing facilities. (When we do this, we pay our own travel expenses).

Why Trust Us

We’ve been rating and reviewing products for the home and families since 1994. We do extensive research, evaluating products with an eye toward quality, ease of use and affordability.

We make our living from affiliate commissions, but we always recommend what we think are the best bets for our readers (not the ones that are the most expensive). We are always looking for products that offer the best bang for the buck.

Our independence is a key reason why we have been doing this so long. As we mentioned above, when we purchase a product for hands-on testing, we do so with our own money.

Here’s another key point: we don’t take money from the brands we review. No free samples, no sponsors, no “partnerships.” Our work is 100% reader-supported!