Whether we choose a sling, a wrap, or a more structured model, baby carriers are essential tools. We need them when we welcome a new baby into our families. Humans have used baby carriers for centuries. They help keep babies safe and close as parents move around in the world.
Carriers help us create a deep bond and connect with our babies, all while freeing up our hands. We use baby carriers to accomplish tasks and give our babies the contact they need to feel calm and secure. Unfortunately, many companies make baby carriers from unsustainable fabrics like polyester. Several also contain hazardous chemicals like flame retardants or toxic water and stain repellents.
Thankfully, more and more brands now offer healthier, more sustainable options. As a result, we can safely bring our little ones with us wherever we go. In this article, we have selected 7 sustainable brands selling high-quality, ergonomic baby carriers, wraps, and ring slings. Let’s make babywearing healthy and sustainable together!
Image: Hope&Plum
Disclosure: Some of the links below are affiliated; we may earn a small commission if you click through and make a purchase. We only feature brands that align with our values and contribute to a better world. Thank you for supporting these brands – and us!
What makes a baby carrier sustainable?
A sustainable baby carrier uses eco-friendly materials and non-toxic, low-impact dyes (or remains undyed). It should also be free of hazardous substances or chemical treatments. The best way to ensure the carrier is 100% healthy and safe to use is to look for models certified Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX.
Of course, a sustainable baby carrier is also compliant with the CPSIA and ASTM safety standards. But it should also last and offer very high quality, because we do not want it to rip when we are carrying our little one! Finally, a company should make it while providing employees with a safe working environment, fair wages, and humane treatment.
Which non-toxic materials should you choose for your baby carrier?
The best sustainable fabrics for baby carriers ring slings, and wraps are:
- GOTS-certified organic cotton
- hemp
- linen
- TENCEL lyocell
Our top picks for non-toxic, sustainable baby carriers:
1. Wildbird
Materials: Linen, TENCEL Modal, Polyester/Nylon for Straps
Price: $68-228
Wildbird is a sustainable baby carrier brand selling beautiful ring slings and more structured carriers. The company crafts its ring slings from 100% European linen or a blend of TENCEL modal and linen, using low-impact dyes. Recommended for babies from 8 to 35 lb, the slings are great for quickly getting toddlers in and out and allow for multiple carrying positions. They are also very versatile because you can fold them compactly into diaper bags. You can also use them as nursing covers or sunshades.
Wildbird also has a structured buckle carrier you can use to carry your baby in the front or on your back.A Fair Trade factory produces it using natural linen as well. The carrier features padded cross-back straps, a folding hood, and a waist belt for comfort. Plus, it comes in two sizes and provides full lumbar support.
Wildbird only uses long-staple linen fibers, resulting in stronger yarns and extremely smooth and supple weaves. Europe’s oldest linen factory (founded in 1778) supplies the linen for these products, which are extremely durable and absorbent. The brand is CPSIA and ASTM-compliant, and its slings and carriers have been acknowledged as “hip-healthy” by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.
2. Hope&Plum
DISCOUNT: use code SUSTAINABLYCHIC10 for 10% off your purchase
Materials: Hemp, Organic Cotton
Price: $80-285
Hope&Plum handcrafts all of their carriers in Minnesota, so if you are looking to support an American-made brand, this is great option! We also love that they are size-inclusive and create carriers for all different body types.
Pictured is one of their most sought-after baby carriers, the Lark. Meticulously designed to adapt alongside your growing child, The Lark provides versatile carrying options that allow for both front and back carrying positions. This flexibility makes it suitable from the earliest months to toddlerhood, ensuring that you can keep your little one close, whether they are a tiny infant in need of soothing or an active toddler ready for adventure. Available in two distinct sizes, The Lark offers a snug and customizable fit for parents of various body types, maximizing comfort during extended wear.
3. Happy Baby
Materials: Linen, Modal, Organic Cotton, Hemp, Cotton, TENCEL Lyocell
Price: $55-189
Happy Baby is a small, family-owned company selling machine-washable baby carriers and wraps. Stay-at-home moms in the United States make all its products. The company custom weaves its soft, structured carriers from linen or a cotton-linen blend. They use non-toxic dyes in an array of lovely solid colors. You can use them for babies ranging from newborn to 45 lbs, and one of the models offers a forward-facing option.
Happy Baby’s carriers have a minimal design, are fully adjustable, and can grow with your child. They also feature practical details such as comfortable wide shoulder straps, a purse holder on each shoulder, and an oversized hidden pocket. The brand also has a Japanese-inspired waistless onbuhimo carrier, which is designed to support a high back carry position, as well as toddler carriers made from TENCEL lyocell, linen, cotton corduroy, or a hemp-cotton blend.
You can also buy baby wraps made from organic cotton and modal, and different ring slings and wraps from the brand Apple Blossom Wovens. Plus, Happy Baby donates a portion of the proceeds from every onbuhimo carrier sold to several Japanese charities, and a percentage of all other product sales to other nonprofits.
4. Stokke
Materials: Cotton, Linen
Price: $179-219
Stokke is a Norwegian company creating high-quality strollers, high chairs, and other nursery essentials that are designed to grow with your child. It offers two models of baby carriers for infants and toddlers, available in an array of timeless, beautiful patterns and neutral colors. Both of them are adjustable as your baby grows, are very easy to use, and provide ergonomic support and comfort.
Their front and back carrying options will give you a lot of flexibility, and with the Limas Carrier, you can also carry your baby on your hips! The Limas Carrier Flex even allows you to turn it into an onbuhimo, a traditional Japanese carrier, by simply removing the waist belt.
Stokke makes its baby carriers from 100% cotton, except for one of its designs, which is crafted from a blend of linen and cotton. The fabrics are breathable and made to last for years, and they are certified OEKO-TEX Standard 100, meaning they are free of harmful and toxic substances.
5. Tula
Materials: Hemp, Linen, Cotton
Price: $89-219
Tula sells functional, ergonomic, and stylish baby carriers that are made to withstand the wear and tear of our lives with kids. There are six different models to choose from, all of which are available in a huge selection of colors and expressive prints.
You can pick bright or muted colors, fun and fancy geometric patterns, multicolored designs, or the most adorable prints featuring cute animals, flowers, and many more! Tula has different models intended for use for newborns and toddlers, but it also has different styles made for bigger babies and even extra-large carriers for preschoolers (up to 70 pounds). You can also buy one of its beautiful handwoven ring slings: they are ultra-soft and adjustable to fit babies from 8 to 35 lb.
Tula even sells ultra-compact, travel-friendly carriers that fold into their attached storage waistband when not in use. Perfect for parents who are constantly on the go! The brand makes its baby carriers using cotton, linen, or hemp so they are all very breathable (they do have a few made of synthetics which we would not recommend in this guide). They can also be adjusted to comfortably fit a wide range of body types.
6. Baby K’Tan
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $70
Baby K’Tan is a babywearing brand that created a ready-to-wear wrap allowing us to wear our babies in multiple positions without complicated buckling, adjusting, or wrapping. The carriers have a patented double-loop design that includes two loops connected by a third smaller one.They function as a sling, wrap, and baby carrier all at the same time, but without the complicated steps. We simply need to slip the carrier on like a shirt in three simple steps, and we are good to go!
Baby K’Tan’s carriers can be worn five different ways, and we can even breastfeed our babies using them. They are recommended for use with babies from 8 to 35 lb and are available in sizes XXS to XL. The brand designs its carriers in many solid colors, as well as several beautiful prints. They are machine washable and are made from organic cotton, cotton, or a blend of synthetic fabrics. We’ve made sure to link up the *organic cotton carrier for the most sustainable option!
Baby K’Tan carriers are recognized as a hip-healthy product by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute, and the ergonomic positions they offer promote healthy infant development. The brand won numerous awards for its baby carriers, and it devotes a percentage of the proceeds from all sales to the American Heart Association and the National Down Syndrome Society!
7. Boba
Materials: Organic Cotton
Price: $70-160
Boba has been creating practical baby carriers using thoughtfully selected materials for the past 15 years. It has a great selection of wraps we can use for newborns and babies up to 18 months, as well as more structured carriers for toddlers up to 36 months. The brand has been closely working with experts to design products that are good for both parents’ and babies’ bodies.
Each of its carriers promotes healthy hip and spine development for our little ones, and Boba has even been certified hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. The company’s products enable a front carry position facing the wearer, but its more structured carriers also have a back carry option, which makes them very practical. Plus, they are all machine washable and breastfeeding-friendly.
Boba’s wraps are also very adaptable and flexible, and the structured carriers have double-adjustable shoulder straps and an alterable waistband that allows for a perfect fit for both plus-size and petite wearers. Their baby carriers and wraps are made from cotton, nylon, bamboo or more eco-friendly fabrics like organic cotton. We’ve made sure to link the organic carriers to this post for the most sustainable option they offer.
