You should get a Tula. Or maybe not.

Four popular buckle carriers (Beco Gemini, Ergobaby original, Kinderpack, and Tula) that all fit VERY differently.

Photo and text by Heather Williams and Rebecca Ticknor from BWI of Greater Houston

"What buckle carrier do you recommend? My friend told me I should get a Tula. She loves hers!"

This question has been asked many times! When someone finds a carrier they love, they cannot wait to tell everyone about how awesome it is. Comfortable babywearing is life-changing for a family! So, if your friend has found that her Tula has made such an amazing impact on her life, it makes sense that she would recommend it to you as the BEST carrier. 

However - no matter much your friend loves her carrier, and no matter how wonderful it might be for her, it may not be the right carrier for you! Every carrier fits differently, and every body (and baby) is different. Would you buy a new cut of jeans without making sure they fit just the way you wanted? Probably not. You try them on, check yourself from every angle, sit down, bend over, and make sure they are the perfect fit.



Buckle, or soft-structured carriers are very much like jeans. They might fit your hips, but the shoulder straps might rub under your arm. The panel might be the right height, but the seat might not be deep enough for your (or your baby's) preference. The construction of a buckle carrier means it is adjustable only to a point. There are some things that just cannot be changed, and those are the things that may impact your comfort. 

Ingredients of a Buckle Carrier
There are a few different types of features that contribute to the fit and function of a buckle carrier, and why you may (or may not) like it. 

• Waistbelt - The waist might be curved or straighter, and the waistbelt padding can range from dense and structured to quite floppy with less structure. These can affect how the waistbelt feels on your hips and the type of support you can expect. 
• Shoulder straps - Some straps are fixed in one position. Others have a buckle that gives you the option to cross them or to wear them like fixed straps. Some straps have thick and dense padding, and others have light padding, Some are very wide, others more narrow. Some can adjust in two directions, some can only adjust in one direction. These differences may impact ease of use as well as comfort for you. 
• Strap angle - The angle at which the straps leave the top of the carrier, as well as where they attach back under your arms at the side varies from carrier to carrier. Your torso length and shoulder width will affect your comfort with these variables. 
• Panel - The panel that supports the baby's torso varies in height, width, and may be contoured to allow for a deep seat. The variations may impact your comfort and baby's as well. 
• Webbing - The webbing (the part of the strap that pulls through the buckle) can vary from narrow to very wide. You might prefer one over the other. 
• Options for positioning - On some buckle carriers, the base of the panel narrows for small babies. This might allow you to use it long before other carriers, and still ensure your baby is safely supported. Other buckle carriers require an insert (sold separately) if you want to use the carrier with a newborn or smaller infant. Some carriers can allow your baby to face forward if and when they are ready (usually around 4 months, if at all). If it is your (or your baby's) preference to face forward, this will impact your carrier choice. 
• Functional bells and whistles - mesh inserts (to keep baby and wearer cooler), pockets/pouches (for holding small items like keys, pacifiers, a diaper), sleep hoods or headrests (for supporting sleepy heads and providing sun protection), lumbar support panels, and "Perfect fit adjustable straps" (to tighten the tops of shoulder straps and bring baby in closer) are options that may make a huge difference to some people, but might not matter to others. 
• Other factors - Other than fit, several other factors may affect whether a particular carrier is the right one for you. Price and availability for carriers ranges greatly, and this may influence your choice. We'll discuss the economics of babywearing another time. And lastly, appearance might also be a factor for you. Certain brands have attractive prints on the panels, or trendy colors, and others are known for a simpler look. 

Go to the Fitting Room!
When you have a stack of jeans to try, you take them to the fitting room, try them on, and compare. Similarly, the best way to figure out what works for you is to try on a variety of carriers. Most people can tell fairly quickly (as long as the carrier is being used correctly) whether or not a carrier feels good and fits well. Little tweaks in position of carrier and straps do make a big difference, so it helps to have a person knowledgeable about carriers help you. The quickest way to do this is to attend a babywearing group meeting, or to schedule a consultation with a babywearing educator. At a group meeting or a private consultation, you may have access to a wide variety of carriers to try on, and can get assistance with the tweaks and tips that may help you find the right carrier for your body. 

Just like jeans, when you have found the carrier that fits, you KNOW. And you can buy with confidence, knowing it is the right choice for you and your body!

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Used under the Creative Commons license through Flickr. Photography by Jeff M for Short