BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One

When it comes to baby wearing, you want a carrier that’s safe, easy to use and comfortable for everyone involved (it's not always all about baby!). Thanks to its sleek design, clever construction and ease of use, the BabyBjörn Carrier One fits all of these criteria and easily earns the Today’s Parent Approved seal. The carrier can be used for infants 8 pounds and up (with a built-in infant insert that allows you to adjust the height) and can accommodate kids up to 33 pounds. It offers three carrying positions, including front-facing inwards, front-facing outwards and a back carry.

BABY SAFETY

If your little one can’t hold their head up yet or needs some extra support while sleeping, the carrier provides great neck support and has a head support that’s flexible and easy to adjust (it’s also really simple to fold down when not in use). There are several zippers inside the carrier that help ensure a good fit for your babe — you can adjust the seat height depending on how tall your infant is and can also choose between a normal- or wide-leg position for maximum comfort.

The carrier is designed so your baby is seated in a natural frog position. (This means her hips fall apart naturally, while her legs and thighs are supported and her knees are slightly bent.) The BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One carrier has been deemed “hip healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. It also has two adjustable seating heights, newborn and baby, so that baby's airway is always clear. (You can make these adjustments by unbuckling the head and back support to switch the zipper options.)

BABY’S COMFORT

Ensuring your babe is comfortable is a key component of happy baby wearing. The BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One carrier works in a number of ways to improve the odds of a cozy ride for your little passenger: all of the buckles are covered with fabric so there’s no hard plastic that can rub their skin; the inside of the carrier is also soft to the touch; and the carrier is made from a breathable mesh material and cotton so they won't overheat.

All of our parent testers agreed that their babies seemed comfortable, yet supported, while in the carrier and could freely move their lower legs, arms and head (if they didn’t need support).

PARENT’S COMFORT

Even the smallest infant can feel like a big load when you’re trucking her around for a couple of hours, but this carrier proved it's possible to cart kids around without sacrificing your own comfort.

Our testers agreed that the carrier did a good job of distributing their children’s weight evenly across their shoulders. Plus, the waist belt helped take some weight off their shoulders without being burdensome. None of the testers complained about pain or discomfort in their upper or lower backs while baby wearing, and no one had any issues with overheating. As an added bonus, the shoulder and waist straps are well padded.

EASE OF USE

No matter which type of carrier you choose, there’s always a learning curve. The One comes with easy-to-follow instructions that most parents felt they only needed to read once. (If you do need a reminder, there's a set of instructions tucked into the carrier that you can refer to.) And most of our testers also thought setting the carrier up for the first time was pretty simple, too, although they were a bit more divided when it came to using the infant insert for their newborns.

As for ease of adjusting when it come to the straps and waist belt, everyone agreed that it was pretty effortless, and securing and unfastening the waist belt presented no major issues either. The back clips took a little more work, but as one person commented, the carrier easily adjusts from one wearer to another so parents can share the load. Tying up or tucking away excess straps is a cinch, too. During lab testing, our editors gave this carrier top marks for its construction quality, and noted its well-made clips and sleek straps.

Our testers all felt that taking their babies in and out of the carrier in either of the front-facing positions was pretty simple, and the one tester who tried out the back carry didn’t have any issues either.

It’s important to note that one tester did note that someone with a more petite figure may have a harder time adjusting this carrier as it just doesn’t seem to work as well on that body type.

CLEANING

Dirt and mess go hand-in-hand with little ones, so it's extra handy that this carrier can be tossed in the washing machine (the cotton and mesh pieces need to be washed separately, though, and allowed to drip dry). Most of our parent testers agreed that the carrier was easy to wash and to spot clean as well.

VALUE

Overall, the BabyBjörn Carrier One is a well-constructed piece of baby gear. Our editors found everything from the fabric to the buckles and straps are strong and durable, which means this carrier is built to last—a good thing, considering the price. One parent noted that the price is worth it if you want a carrier for daily use because it holds up well and you can use it for baby number two (or three...), or pass it along.

Parents felt that, based on the comfort and quality of the materials, this carrier is worth the price, especially when you take into account its extra features, including the adjustable seat height, head support and covered buckles.

FINAL WORD

Based on the quality, comfort and ease of use, all of our testers agreed that they would recommend this carrier to others. The BabyBjörn Carrier One is a well-made product that supports your babe without putting undue strain on whoever is doing the baby wearing. It's easy to adjust and allows various carrying positions so you can use it from infancy through to toddlerhood. The product is priced slightly higher than other carriers, but is built to last with soft, yet durable, fabrics. A product designed with no hassle or fuss, the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier One impressed both our parent testers and editors and earns the Today's Parent Approved seal.