Baby Gear Guide

Among all baby carriers, seven reviews agree the original Baby Bjorn is the best. Babies can face in or out, and the carrier allows parents to simply unsnap the front section to remove sleeping babies. The straps adjust easily and take pressure off of the back. The Baby Bjorn can hold newborns if they are at least 21-inches long and eight pounds, with a maximum weight of 22 pounds. Although another version of the Baby Bjorn, the Baby Bjorn Active (*est. $120), adds more lumbar support for longer trips, the Kelty Kangaroo has more features and is as comfortable. The primary drawback here is the high price for a carrier that can’t be used once your baby reaches 22 pounds, which could be less than a year. The results presented here were synthesized from seventeen separate reviews on the front baby carrier. According to Consumer Search, a resource that ties together the reviews of other publications, the most honest and fair reviews of baby carriers are written by parenting experts, pediatricians, child development experts and, of course parents. Also included were reviews from Consumer Reports, Epinions.com, and Amazon.com.When it comes to traditional soft baby carriers, reviews say parents are really better off spending the money on the Baby Bjorn (*est. $80). Even though they look a lot alike, reviews say the Baby Bjorn is vastly more comfortable and convenient than the Evenflo Snugli Classic (*est. $20). The basic model, Snugli Classic, doesn’t get the best ratings for comfort on Epinions.com, but many parents prefer it for the low price. The Snugli Comfort Vent (*est. $30) has a zippered vent to keep the baby cool, and it gets decent reviews on both Epinions and Amazon.com. The Snugli By My Side (*est. $50) gets better reviews because it adapts to three different positions and has dual side-entry buckles, though some reviewers found them difficult to use. A common complaint from parents about all front carriers is the lack of back support. I found the Baby Bjorn Original selling for $49 and the Baby Bjorn Active selling for $89 on http://www.bestbabythingsonline.com. A substantial savings on both top rated carriers.