Finding the best baby carriers in India that are safe for your baby and easy on your back is a challenge as most people are unaware of safety standards and baby carrier certifications.
Baby carriers are the best companions of young parents who want to bond with their little ones and soothe them with a skin-to-skin bond while having the convenience of going hands-free. I have used a baby carrier from the time my son was 2.5 months to until he turned 3.5 years. I can tell you from my experience that it was the most practical baby gear I owned and used.
In this blog, I explain the safety aspects of a baby carrier that you need to know before buying a carrier to help you make an informed choice as a parent. I also have here a list of the best and safety-certified baby carriers in India.
How to Identify Safe Baby Carriers
For your baby’s safety and your comfort, you should buy an ergonomic baby carrier in India that meets all of these criteria.
Safety Certification
There are two international standards for baby carriers. The European standard is called EN 13209 and the American standard is called ASTM F2236 for carriers with buckles and padding, and ASTM F2907-15 for sling carriers made completely out of fabric.
These standards evaluate products for their intended use. A safety-certified carrier is safe, hip healthy and designed to minimize or eliminate incidents of fall and injury.
The best baby carriers in India and the only ones you should be using are certified carriers.
Ergonomic “M” Hip
An ergonomic carrier that is safe for your baby’s hips will have a deep seat that stretches from the baby’s one knee to the other.
Apart from that, the carrier will be designed in such a way that the baby’s knees are above the level of their bum. Basically, the bum and legs should form an “M” shape and the baby should have their knees spread out like a frog.
Neck Support for Infants
Infants less than four months old need adequate neck support when held upright. Read the description for the baby carrier to make sure that it can support an infant if you plan to use it for a baby less than 4 months of age.
Fully Adjustable Design
Babies grow, and if your carrier cannot grow with the baby, then it is a bad investment. An ideal carrier should be able to carry a newborn weighing 3 Kg to a preschooler weighing 15 Kg. Go for a carrier that offers an adjustable seat for the baby that you can adjust per the distance between your baby’s knees as they grow.
Also, go for a carrier that has a lot of buckles. The buckles should let you adjust all dimensions of the carrier seat and also all the dimensions to fit it around you. You do not need to adjust all those buckles every time you carry your baby.
Most often, you only have a behind-the-shoulder strap and waist belt to use it. The other buckles are adjusted as your baby grows.
Breathability of Material
We live in a tropical country and most often we have to deal with warm weather over colder weather. A carrier made of polyester, or any synthetic material can make your baby feel stuffy and cranky. You will also feel uncomfortable and sweaty while using it.
The best baby carrier in India is the one that suits its weather. Go for a cotton or linen based baby carrier.
There is another very strong reason to go for a cloth-based carrier. If you have been with a baby for a while, you know that they puke, have spit ups, and chew on everything near their mouth. You are highly unlikely to use a carrier without a diaper, but you never know! A cloth-based carrier that can be washed is therefore most practical.
Soft Structure and Foldable
When you have a newborn baby, you would use the baby carrier inside your house and for your vaccination trips. As the baby grows, you would be taking them out to parks, malls, airports, railway station, and anywhere you can go.
There will be times when you want to take the baby out and put away the carrier. This is why you need a practical baby carrier that can be folded and nicely tucked away in your diaper bag. If your carrier can’t fit in your back, then that carrier is not worth having.
Shoulder and Lumbar Padding
It is a lovely feeling carrying a 3.5 Kg who dozes off within minutes of being held in a baby carrier. But let that baby grow nine months or older, and you have a very curious and wriggly baby who tugs at the shoulder straps and keeps shifting left and right in the carrier. This is when you start feeling the ache.
The best baby carriers in India are the ones that have extra padding for your shoulder and a thick and padded waist strap. Certain baby carriers offer extra padding as an add on for the waist that helps if you are a little larger around the waist.
Explore ECE R44/04 certified Baby Car Seats in India or Best Baby Strollers in India with EN 1888 Safety-Certification
Best Baby Carriers in India
Here is a list of the best baby carriers in India that are hip-healthy and safety-certified. All the baby carriers in this list are ergonomic in design and certified or approved by an international safety standard.
Kol Kol Baby Carrier
If you ask me which is the most practical baby carrier in India, I will say it is Kol Kol baby carrier.
Kol Kol baby carrier is a simple design, minimalist, and elegant baby carrier that complies with the ASTM F2236 standards for baby carriers and is tested for strength, durability, and chemicals by Intertek Testing Services.
You can use it for a baby from 4 months to 3 years, or weighing up to 18 Kg. Kol Kol does not offer extra neck support for a newborn and so it should be used only after the baby has developed neck control.
The shoulder straps and waist band are designed to be thick and wide to make it easy for you to carry your baby. The carrier can be worn to hold the baby in front of you facing inwards or it can be worn on your back to hold the baby in the backpack position.
Kol Kol baby carrier is made of soft cotton material and is suitable for hands-free breastfeeding.
| Pros | Cons |
| Hand Woven Cotton Light-Weight Travel-Friendly Wide Padded Shoulder Straps Breastfeeding-Friendly Machine Washable | Not Suitable for Newborns |
R for Rabbit Hug Me Elite
Hug Me Elite by R for Rabbit is an EN 13209 certified baby carrier suitable for carrying 6 months to 2 years old baby, weighing between 6-18 Kg.
. You can carry your baby in front of you, facing inwards or you can carry your baby on your back. This is a comfortable and budget baby carrier in India.
Hug Me Elite offers neck support, extra padding for the baby’s thighs, hood, and a breastfeeding friendly design. The wide shoulder straps and waist straps make babywearing easy on your back.
| Pros | Cons |
| Made of Premium Cotton Light-Weight Travel-Friendly Breastfeeding-Friendly Machine Washable | Narrow Shoulder Strap |
Chicco EasyFit Baby Carrier Bag
Chicco EasyFit Baby Carrier Bag is a premium-looking designed-in-Italy, made-in-Romania baby carrier suitable for newborn use. This carrier can be used until the baby weighs 9 Kg. Chicco EasyFit Baby Carrier Bag is approved by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as a hip-healthy product, so you can trust this carrier for your little one’s safety.
This carrier offers two positions. You can wear it in the newborn mode, with the baby facing inwards or you can use it in the outward facing front carrying position when your child is ready for it.
This is a lightweight and easy to fold carrier making it super comfortable for travel.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can Carry Newborns Breathable Super-Soft Fabric Very Light-Weight Travel-Friendly | Narrow Shoulder Strap Hand Wash Only Pricy Compared to Other Models Can Be Used Only Until 9 Kg |
Anmol Baby Carrier
India’s first ASTM F2236 certified baby carrier brand, Anmol makes ergonomic carriers for newborns to preschoolers, weighing 3 -20 Kg.
Anmol comes with thick shoulder straps and a wide waist strap. The carrier comes with a detachable hood, integrated neck support for newborns, and a detachable lumbar support padding for added comfort.
The best thing about Anmol baby carrier is that it can be worn in four different ways. You can carry your baby in front of you with the baby facing inwards to you. And you can carry the baby in front of you facing outwards when the baby is over 5 months old.
You can carry the baby on your hip when they are 6 months or older and finally, you can carry them on your back in the backpack position.
| Pros | Cons |
| Can Carry Newborns Largest Weight Range: 3 Kg-20 Kg Hand Woven Cotton Light-Weight Travel-Friendly Wide Padded Shoulder Straps Breastfeeding-Friendly Machine Washable | None |
R for Rabbit Upsy Daisy
If you are looking for a certified hip-seater baby carrier then R for Rabbit Upsy Daisy is your best bet with an EN-13209:2-2005 certification.
This carrier can be used for a baby from 3 months to 2 years or from 5 Kg to 15 Kg. This ergonomically designed baby carrier can be used in front carry position for both inwards and outwards facing, as a hip seater, and also as for piggy back carrying.
| Pros | Cons |
| Breathable Fabric Five Carry Positions Lowest Price Wide Waist Belt Machine Washable | Narrow Shoulder Strap Not Travel-Friendly |
1st Step 5 in 1 Hip Seat Baby Carrier
1st Step 5 in 1 Hip seat Baby Carrier is the most affordable certified baby carrier I could find in the Indian market. This EN 13209 certified hip seat baby carrier comes with a detachable hip seat to provide you five positions to carry your baby.
Being a hip seater, this carrier is suitable from 6 months to when your baby is 15 Kg in weight. This carrier comes with a wide wait belt and a narrow shoulder strap. The padding at the neck and the arms and legs openings gives additional support to your baby.
| Pros | Cons |
| Breathable Fabric Five Carry Positions Lowest Price | Narrow Shoulder Strap Hand Wash Only Not Travel-Friendly |
Why Use a Baby Carrier
We buy baby carriers to go hands free. While that is indeed the case, did you know that studies show that babies cry less when you use a baby carrier as they feel more secure being close to your body. Cognitive and social development, more sleep, ease of breastfeeding, overall health improvement due to increased skin-to-skin contact, and improved posture are some of the other benefits of babywearing.
“Isn’t it then better to just carry the baby in your arms and not waste money on a fancy carrier?” This is what my husband asked me when I said I wanted to buy one. Turns out, you tend to carry your baby for much longer when you use a carrier than when you are holding them in your arms.
When my son was six months old, I carried him for straight 10 hours in a carrier to fly back safely to home on 20 March 2020 (just before the covid lockdown). The carrier also ensured that my baby was not coming in contact with any infected surface as his face was facing inwards and also because I did not have to touch him unnecessarily.
What Happens When You Don’t Use the Right Baby Carrier
A bad baby carrier can give you back pain and make it uncomfortable to carry your baby for even a couple of hours. It will also make the baby cranky as they are positioned clumsily in it without proper support.
Apart from this, a bad baby carrier can give your baby hip dysplasia due to wrong posture. A bad baby carrier will leave your baby’s feet dangling down, while a good baby carrier will have a seating base that reaches from knee-to-knee so that the hip is properly supported.
Wrapping Up: Best Baby Carriers in India
If you are still thinking which carrier you should get, let me make it simple for you. The best baby carriers in India to carry a newborn baby are Chicco or Anmol.
However, the best baby carrier for a baby that is 5 months or older is Kol Kol Compact Baby Carrier.
The best best baby carriers with hip seat in India are R for Rabbit Upsy Daisy and 1st Step 5 in 1 Hip Seat Baby Carrier
Traveling With a Baby Essentials
Disclaimer: This article is written by referring reliable sources on babywearing by a nonprofessional. The information on this page should not be considered as medical recommendations.
Affiliate Disclosure: I am Ashley, a mom travel blogger. I write about and recommend baby products and gear on Plan Ashley Go based on my personal experience or through the information I have gathered through careful research. This blog may contain affiliate links, which means, at no added cost to you, the marketing affiliate pays me a small commission for every purchased through the links on this page. This helps me keep the blog up and running. Read my disclaimer for more information.
Useful and informative for newborn mothers