If you’re trying to find the best baby carrier for petite moms, it can be quite a struggle. So many manufacturers state their baby carrier is ‘inclusive’ for all body types but once you start wearing them, you notice the problems. Companies try to make their products fit a wide variety of bodies but often people at the smallest, or largest ends of the spectrum get left out.
I’ve personally tried all of the baby carriers on this list with my own kids to see how they compare against each other so you can find the best option as a petite mom. At the end of the day, every body is different, so I’ve tried to give you the most information possible as well as photo examples. You can also check out the full, separate review of any carrier on this list. Remember to try on your carrier before buying one (or keep the tags on until you get it home) because every body is different. You’ll want to make sure your carrier is a good fit for your own body, which is more important than anyone else’s advice.
Table of Contents
- Best Baby Carrier For Petite Moms
- Petite Carrier Comparison Table
- Other Petite Carrier Options
- Tips for Babywearing as a Petite Mom
- Petite Babywearing FAQ’s and Questions
- Final Thoughts & Top Pick
Best Baby Carriers For Petite Moms
Tula Explore
The Tula Explore is one of the best baby carriers for petite moms for many reasons. It’s the best balance between price, quality, and ergonomics for short and/or slim parents. It has some great features and is very adjustable. I’ve been able to use mine with a tiny baby and now into the toddler years, it’s still comfortable and functional.
Explore Pros:
- Midrange price
- Oeko-Tex Certified fabrics free from harmful substances
- No built-in lumbar support – can get a tight fit on a small waist
- Multiple carry positions
- No newborn insert needed
- Included sunhood
Explore Cons:
- Can’t cross straps
- Lumbar support is purchased separately
If you have a narrow waist, the waistband of the Tula Explore is guaranteed to give you a nice tight fit, which isn’t the case with some carriers that have a large wide lumbar support band. The infant head support adjusts to different settings and is nicely padded so it works well for tiny newborns and gives good support to older toddlers who still need head support when they fall asleep in the carrier.
The Tula Explore is one of my absolute favorite carriers to use. I went with a mesh version, the Tula Explore Coast, which is made of soft cotton and a soft mesh body panel. Other brands have disappointing scratchy mesh, which is not the case with Tula. The Tula Explore may be the perfect choice for many petite moms.
You can read my full review of the Tula Explore here.
BabyBjorn Harmony
Although the price for a brand new BabyBjorn Harmony is high, the comfort is unmatched (in my opinion). As someone with bony hips, baby wearing for a long walk can become painful if the waistband of the carrier is too hard. The BabyBjorn Harmony is so well padded and high quality, it’s a dream. The entire carrier is covered in soft-to-touch mesh fabric, which keeps me and my baby cool when we’re out in warm weather.
Harmony Pros:
- Built in lumbar support that still fits a narrow waist
- Plush soft shoulder straps and waistband for parent comfort
- Oeko-Tex Certified fabrics free from harmful substances
- Soft mesh carrier with a ton of airflow
- No newborn insert needed
Harmony Cons:
- High price
- No sunhood included
The BabyBjorn Harmony comes with built-in lumbar support, but it’s small enough that I’m still able to get a tight fit at the waist as a petite mom. The infant head support system easily snaps into place to adjust for newborns all the way up to toddlerhood.
This baby carrier also adjusts at the front of your body. No reaching behind your back to do-up straps like most other carriers. This makes the carrier an excellent choice for anyone with mobility issues or tight shoulders.
I absolutely love this carrier and still use it all the time. As my toddler gets heavier, I appreciate the extra padding on the waist belt more and more. You can read my full review of the BabyBjorn Harmony here.
Ergobaby Aerloom
The Ergobaby Aerloom is around the same price as the BabyBjorn Harmony and has many of the same functions. One of the biggest benefits that makes this baby carrier stand out for a petite parent is how streamlined it is. It is a light carrier that won’t overwhelm your frame if you are short and it has a small, built in lumbar support pad that still allows for a tight fit around the waist or hips.
Aerloom Pros:
- Streamlined look and sleek carrier that won’t overwhelm the small frame of a petite parent
- Folds up small for easy travel and storage
- Built in lumbar support that still fits a narrow waist
- No newborn insert needed
Aerloom Cons:
- High price
- Infant neck support system is less adjustable than Tula Explore or BabyBjorn Harmony
The Ergobaby Aerloom has shoulder straps that are less padded than the Tula Explore or BabyBjorn Harmony so a petite wearer may find the carrier less bulky. The straps are contoured to help spread weight evenly across your back and shoulders.
The streamlined look of the Aerloom also means that the infant head support system is less adjustable. There are no snaps that fold the head support up or down so it’s slightly more challenging to get a custom fit.
The Ergobaby Aerloom has a mesh panel for good airflow that reminds me of the Tula Explore Coast I have. The fabric is also partially made from recycled polyester, making it one of the most eco-friendly baby carriers on the market.
You can read my full review of the Ergobaby Aerloom here.
Ergobaby Embrace
The Ergobaby Embrace might be one of the best newborn carriers for petite moms. The price is much less expensive than any other on this list, which makes it a budget friendly carrier of great value. The catch is, this carrier won’t be useful much longer than your baby’s first birthday, so keep that in mind before you get too excited about the cost.
Newborn babies can be tricky to fit safely into baby carriers that are too large for them; this will not be a problem with the specially designed Embrace. It is a good choice for the early months of baby wearing.
Embrace Pros:
- Built with newborns in mind
- Folds up small for easy storage and travel
- Inexpensive
- no newborn infant insert needed
Embrace Cons:
- Fewer carry position options than Tula Explore and BabyBjorn Harmony
- No lumbar support
Wearing a newborn can be tricky because the waist belt has to sit high up on your body (think closer to your bra line) instead of near your hips like you’d wear it for older toddlers. This can put a lot of pressure on your mid-back. The Embrace is designed with wide, thin shoulder straps that cross in an ‘x’ behind your body to spread your baby’s weight more evenly across your torso. The wide, adjustable straps are particularly helpful for weight distribution on smaller frames.
The Embrace is similar to the Aerloom because it is not bulky and can be easily stored for travel and storage. It has no lumbar support, which makes it easy for a petite user to get a tight fit on their waist or hips. This is a good option for someone who will do the majority of their babywearing within baby’s first year. The carrier is also inexpensive enough that you could possibly buy a second carrier later if you find yourself wanting to use one after your baby becomes too heavy for this one at around 25 pounds.
You can read my full review of the Ergobaby Embrace here.
Best Petite Baby Carrier Comparison
Sometimes it’s easier to see things laid out as a direct comparison. Here is how some of my favorite petite-user friendly baby carriers stack up against each other.
Other Baby Carrier Options For Petite Moms
Although these baby carriers are not my personal top pick, there are some great qualities about each of them. Depending on your personal size and shape, you may also enjoy these baby carriers as a petite mom.
BabyBjorn One Air
Similar to BabyBjorn Harmony but the One Air is an older version that has less airflow than the Harmony and I don’t like the head support structure of the One Air as much as I like the Harmony. You can read a direct comparison of the BabyBjorn Harmony vs One Air here.
The One Air is still a good option for a petite mom and has a lower price than the newer Harmony, which is why I’ve added it to this list. It has many of the same functions that the Harmony has and the mesh it’s made of is super soft.
You can read my full review of the BabyBjorn One Air here.
Tula Free To Grow
The Tula Free To Grow is a sleek carrier that fits a narrow waist easily and won’t overwhelm the frame of a short parent. It doesn’t have all the bells and whistles or carrying options that the Tula Explore has but it’s still a great carrier that I would happily recommend.
The Tula Free To Grow is less expensive than the Tula Explore. If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly option, or you’re not sure how much you’ll use your carrier this can be a great option. The Explore has more padded/adjustable infant head support and allows you to carry your infant in a front face-out position but if you won’t miss those two features then the Free To Grow might do the trick for you.
You can read more about my thoughts on the Tula Free To Grow here.
Ring Sling
Many petite parents love using a ring sling-style carrier. A ring sling is a woven piece of fabric that is sewn into two rings to create a sling worn over one shoulder of the parent’s body.
The reason this type of carrier is not on my personal top recommended list is that I find it puts uneven pressure on my shoulders and isn’t good for long baby-wearing sessions. If you’re not wearing this carrier the right way, it’s also possible for a ring sling to leave red marks on your baby’s legs from uneven pressure. This doesn’t happen in my soft-structured baby carriers because they all have infant leg padding around the openings for their legs.
You may find more success with it than I have but it’s not my favorite so I can’t personally recommend it.
Wrap Style Carrier
A wrap-style carrier that is made from one continuous band of fabric is another good option for some petite parents. This type of carrier can fit just about any body type if you get the right size of wrap. A baby wrap will often come in different sizes for taller people and short moms.
A wrap can be great for the newborn phase but I personally found that past the newborn stage when my baby was heavier and moving around more, that I preferred a soft structured baby carrier like the Tula Explore and BabyBjorn Harmony. Soft structured baby carriers (sometimes called buckle carriers) offer more ergonomic support and won’t shift as your baby moves. A wrap carrier is a simple design but can have quite a learning curve when you’re first getting used to putting it on and taking it off. Some parents like myself prefer a soft-structured carrier for ease of use.
The wrap style baby carrier didn’t make the top of my petite carrier list because I personally saw limited use of it and would rather recommend a soft structured carrier that is usable into toddlerhood.
Ergobaby Omni Breeze
I love the Ergobaby Omni Breeze; it’s a newer, more updated version of the incredibly popular Ergobaby Omni 360 cool air mesh carrier. If you’re a petite mom who is short but does not have a narrow waist this carrier is a good option.
My problem with both the Omni Breeze and Omni 360 that I’ve tried is that the lumbar support is so large it is not possible to get a tight fit on your waist or hips if they are smaller than about 25 inches (63 cm) which is not ideal for some petite parents.
The Omni Breeze is a fully mesh carrier, which I like, but the mesh is not quite as soft as the mesh on a Tula Explore Coast or the BabyBjorn mesh carriers.
The Breeze is very adjustable and has a great infant head support system, padded shoulder straps, and lots of pockets. You can also use this carrier to hip carry your child and the straps are crossable, which is helpful for some petite users.
You can read my full review of the Omni Breeze here.
Tips for Babywearing as a Petite Mom
- If your carrier has the option, you should try crossing your straps behind your back to form an ‘X’ to see if you like the fit more.
- Some types of carriers (like ring slings and wraps) come in more than one length. Buy the shorter length so there is less loose fabric to tie or dangle.
- Borrow a carrier from a friend or test one out in-store to see how it fits your body.
- If you’re looking for petite clothing options to use while baby-wearing, check out this Short Story Box Review to learn more about their experience with the petite clothing subscription box.
Petite Babywearing FAQ’s & Questions
Is the Tula Explore Carrier good for petite moms?
Yes, The Tula Explore is highly adjustable which helps it fit petite moms well. The Tula Explore is a good carrier for petite moms because it’s possible to get a tight fit on the waistband. There is no bulky lumbar support like you find with other brands.
Is the BabyBjorn Harmony Carrier good for petite moms?
Yes, the BabyBjorn Harmony is a good carrier for petite moms. The waistband has built in lumbar support that is wide enough to offer support, but small enough that you can still get a tight fit on your hips and/or waist. If you are a petite mom with bony hips, you’ll really enjoy the well-padded waistband that distributes pressure evenly. As a thin person, this has been the most comfortable baby carrier I’ve used (and I’ve tried a lot of them).
Is the Ergobaby Aerloom Carrier good for petite moms?
Yes, The Ergobaby Aerloom is a good option for petite moms. The Aerloom is a very light, streamlined carrier which won’t overwhelm the frame of a petite parent like other bulky carriers might. The built-in lumbar support is small enough that it is still possible to get a tight fit on a petite person’s waist or hips. The Aerloom is a great option for short parents.
Is the Ergobaby Embrace Carrier good for petite moms?
Yes, the Ergobaby Embrace is a good newborn carrier for petite moms. It is a streamlined carrier that doesn’t have many bells and whistles so it won’t overwhelm the frame of a petite parent like other bulky carriers might. There is no lumbar support, so it’s possible to get a tight fit around the hips and waist.
Is the Ergobaby Omni Breeze Carrier good for petite moms?
The Ergobaby Omni Breeze may be a good option for short parents who have a waist larger than 25 inches. A very slim parent may have a hard time getting this carrier to tighten around their waist or hips because the lumbar support is quite large and wide.
Final Thoughts – What is the best baby carrier for petite moms?
My personal top pick for the best baby carrier for a petite mom is the Tula Explore, BabyBjorn Harmony, or Ergobaby Aerloom.
If you have a very narrow waist and find that as a petite person, your bony hips are uncomfortable after long baby wearing sessions, I’ve found the BabyBjorn Harmony is the most comfortable option.
The Tula Explore is a close second choice for me personally. In particular, I like the mesh verison called the Tula Explore Coast. It’s less expensive than a BabyBjorn and also comes with a sunhood/privacy hood and has a pocket, which is handy.
My third pick is the Ergobaby Aerloom, which is a lightweight streamlined carrier that is great for petite users.
Pingback: How To Easily Pick a Great Baby Carrier for Your Toddler - Nourish Your Glow