Hip Seat Carriers

There are three styles of baby carriers to choose from: wraps, soft structured carriers, ring slings and hip seat carriers. When shopping, keep in mind that newborns and older babies have different needs. A newborn wants to snuggle close with their head on your chest, and an older baby wants to stretch their legs and see the world. Many families opt for two carriers: one for the newborn stage, like a wrap, and a soft structured carrier for older babies or toddlers. Other families get one carrier that adjusts to different ages. Read our editors’ top recommendations for baby carriers.

A hip seat carrier is a type of baby carrier that features a padded seat attached to a waistband. It allows parents to carry their babies on their hips, providing added support and comfort.

Hip carriers are suitable for babies with strong head and neck control, typically around 4-6 months, and can be used until your child reaches the carrier’s weight limit (usually 36 pounds).

Hip carriers are designed for shorter wearing sessions (typically 1-2 hours) and are ideal for quick errands or household tasks rather than extended wearing.

You’ll want to look for a carrier that distributes your baby’s weight over both shoulders and around your waist, and you’ll want to avoid any carrier that doesn’t have a waistband or that only goes over one shoulder (such as ring slings, onbuhimos or any hip carrier). Stretchy wraps fit the bill for the newborn days because you can spread out the fabric wide across your shoulders and back, which will help with weight distribution. However, once baby reaches about 15-20 pounds, stretchy wraps aren’t as supportive and it’s best to move to a well-fitting SSC. Get more expert tips to help you choose a baby carrier.

While there are some carriers designed specifically for newborns and others made just for the toddler set, there are many that work right from day one up until your little one is heavy enough that you probably won’t want to carry them any longer. These “all in one” carriers often boast several carry positions (inward-facing, outward-facing, side/hip carry and back carry) and are a great investment if you’re looking to limit the amount of baby gear you’re bringing into your home. While it’s definitely possible to make wraps and ring slings work for older babies and toddlers, our favorite newborn-to-toddler carriers fall into the soft structured carrier category or a hip seat carrier. There are lots of choices, and many times what you’ll end up loving best simply comes down to a matter of personal preference. Read more about baby carriers that parents love.

Consider factors such as weight limits, adjustability, carrying positions, and safety features when choosing a hip seat carrier.