If you are the kind of parent who plans to take your baby along anywhere you go, you know that you will need a good quality baby carrier that is comfortable and fits you just right. The problem is, many baby carriers are designed for average size people, and you are well-built, and taller than average.
You need a plus-size baby carrier!
The baby carriers you have seen around and maybe even tried on, don’t seem to be able to fit the bill. They look flimsy and small. What you need is a carrier that will fit you and be comfortable for your baby.
Plus size baby carriers, or plus size “friendly” baby carriers, are made highly adjustable so they can easily be worn by people of different sizes.
We also know that with so many options available, selecting the best baby carrier for you can be confusing and feel like a daunting task.
This is where we come in. We have researched and evaluated a wide range of baby carriers and put together a list of the three absolute best plus size baby carriers for the big and tall parent.
Here are our top picks for the best baby carriers for plus size dads and moms:
- Ergobaby OMNI 360 – a sturdy, well-designed carrier that offers exceptional lower back support with a padded waist belt. It carries a child of up to 45 pounds.
- Baby BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One – an ergonomic carrier for newborns up to 36 months. It’s made of a unique mesh fabric that is extremely breathable, but also soft for your baby’s skin.
- Baby K’tan wrap – a snug fit just like your favorite T-shirt. The unique double loop design and one-way stretch makes for a very secure and comfortable carrier for you and your baby.
- Light-weight, superior quality materials
- Sturdy design
- Adjustable for all body types
- Comfortable and ergonomic
- Adjustable for all body shapes
- Proper support for your baby’s hips and legs
- Simple design
- Easy to use, no rings, buckles or excess fabric
- Comfortable – made from 100% cotton
Ergobaby OMNI 360
HIGHLIGHTS of the Ergobaby OMNI 360
- Extremely customizable fit
- Long-lasting – fits from week 1 to toddler
- Great lumbar support for you back
This award-winning baby carrier is ideal for bigger parents. It is designed with different body sizes in mind. The waist measurement goes from 26” all the way to 50” so it will fit you and your partner or other caregivers. The shoulder straps are also adjustable and go up to 47” in length.
This is the carrier you want to get if you are planning long outings or if for some reason you need back support. The well-padded waist belt offers superior lower back support and comfort. This support is further enhanced by the well-padded shoulder straps, which offer extra support and comfort.
The Ergobaby Omni 360 is made to fit the average person as well as a plus sized parent. It is highly adjustable which makes this plus sized baby carrier perfect for families where one parent may be much taller or bigger than the other.
Another outstanding quality of this plus-size baby carrier is the lightweight mesh material that it’s made of. You will be grateful you bought this carrier because on long walking trips this breathable mesh material will keep you and your child cool. If you live in a hot climate, this is the carrier to go for.
Fortunately, the Ergobaby Omni 360 is a very well-made and sturdy product, so it won’t fall to pieces during the four years you carry your child with you.
With this carrier, you can carry your child in any position, including inward, forward, back and hip, facing your baby in or out.
You will be happy to know that the Ergobaby OMNI 360 has been accredited as hip-healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute. The adjustable seat supports your baby to naturally sit in an ergonomic “M” no matter in what position you carry him. That’s a great plus.
Join the many happy parents who rave about this baby carrier.
Why we like it
- Light-weight, superior quality materials
- Sturdy design
- Adjustable for all body types
- Ergonomic design – utmost comfort for you and your child
- Simple and easy to use· Great lumbar support
Our verdict
The Ergobaby OMNI 360 is a great product that you and your child will enjoy for many years. It is comfortable and easy to wear, so you can carry your child in it for hours. No matter what your body type, it will fit you. On top of that, your baby will be comfortable facing in or out, on your back or your front.
What’s also great about it, is you can use it at the airport so you don’t have to lug a stroller around. It has a storage pouch that is a useful size and for those outings in the sun it has a hood that blocks the sun and covers your child when he sleeps.
BabyBjörn New Baby Carrier One
HIGHLIGHTS of the BABYBJÖRN Baby Carrier One
- Adaptable design for the wearer and baby
- Very comfortable and ergonomic
- Airy, lightweight and made with premium materials
This is a soft and ergonomic baby carrier that you can use from day one. Parents use it when cleaning up around the house, out at the mall or walking to the park.
The carrier is not as bulky as some other products which gives it a sleek look, popular with urbanites.
It’s easy to put on by yourself and is comfortable to wear. You can safely carry your child from birth to 3 years old.
The carrier lets you wear your baby in either a front or back position. If you suffer from lower back pain, this carrier will improve your life with padded shoulder straps and a padded waist belt that distribute your baby’s weight evenly.
If you need a sturdy, comfortable carrier that will last you from birth to toddler phase, this is the carrier for you.
Why we like it
- Comfortable and ergonomic
- Adjustable for all body shapes
- Sleek and lightweight
- Proper support for your baby’s hips and legs
- Multiple carrying positions, front, back, facing in and facing out
Our verdict
This is a soft and cool carrier that keeps your little one close and safe to you. The carrier adjusts to accommodate any adult size so it can be used by multiple people. The ergonomic support it offers means you can wear your child for many hours without getting backache.
If you’re looking for a sturdy and comfortable plus size baby carrier that will be kind to your back, this is the carrier for you.
Baby K’tan Print Baby Wrap Carrier
HIGHLIGHTS of the Baby K’tan wrap
- Multiple sizes, based on T-shirt size (XXS to XXL)
- Breathable fabric
- Breathable fabric
This baby carrier uses a unique double-loop design that is as easy as putting on a T-shirt. Although it’s a wrap, no wrapping is actually involved, no buckles and ties either. You simply slip it you’re your head and put one arm through each loop.
This carrier has proven to be popular with dads. You order the wrap according to your T-shirt size. The wrap is super easy to put on – the instructions are totally idiot-proof. They come with pictures and easy steps to follow.
It’s made of lovely, soft material that is breathable and comfortable for sweaty people. And because it’s not a structured carrier, it folds up into a small ball that you can just stuff in a bag to take with you on your way out.
The Baby K’tan easily supports your baby’s weight to leave your hands free for other tasks. With the Baby K’tan you can carry your baby in multiple positions to suit you and your child. The carrier is strong enough to bear a child of 35 pounds and it can be used from the day you bring your newborn home.
Why we like it
- Simple design
- Easy to use, no rings, buckles or excess fabric
- Comfortable – made from 100% cotton
- Multiple carry positions
- Comfortable fit
Our verdict
The Baby K’Tan plus size baby wrap carrier is one of the simplest to put on and wear and it provides a really snug feeling. The fabric is very comfortable for you are the wearer but especially for the soft skin of a baby.
This practical baby carrier can be used in different carry positions that are all comfortable and safe. And the even weight distribution will save your back! The carrier grows naturally to fit you and your child until he weighs 35 lbs or is roughly 3 years old.
The baby K’tan wrap folds up in a small bundle so it’s easy to take with you and fold up when you’re finished with it.
Best baby carriers for plus size dads (and moms)- Buyer’s guide
Introduction
If you are a plus-sized person you know how difficult it can be to find clothes that fit and fit comfortably. Many plus-sized parents and caregivers have also struggled to find a baby carrier that fits them comfortably. The seemingly endless search can make you feel highly frustrated and leave you discouraged.
But you don’t have to feel that way. There are many plus size baby carrier options open to those of us who are on the bigger side.
What should you look out for when shopping for a baby carrier?
Think of it as a piece of clothing: it must fit and feel comfortable on you. Anyone can find a carrier that not fits comfortably and looks good as well.
What makes baby carriers for the plus-sized tricky, is the fact that not all plus-sized people are the same – we come in different shapes and sizes, depending on where we carry our weight.
What to look out for when buying a baby carrier for a plus-sized parents
If you’re a big & tall parent or just big around the waist, pay attention to the following measurements to make sure the baby carrier will fit you:
Take your waist size. This is the most basic measurement we use when talking about body size. The waist, or lack thereof, usually says it all. You can measure your waist size and then compare it to the sizes displayed on the product website or on Amazon. If the waist size is not displayed, look for another product that does support different sizes or is adjustable.
Consider the shoulder strap length. The size of a baby carrier is also adjusted by lengthening the shoulder straps. This information is not always readily available, but what you need to know is that a shoulder strap that is 47” or longer, will usually do the trick.
Different kinds of plus size baby carriers for plus size parents
There are four kinds of baby carriers available for plus-sized parents and caregivers: wraps, slings, Mei Tais and soft-structured carriers.
Wraps
A wrap is simply a long stretch of material that you wrap around yourself and your baby. Most wraps are long enough to fit around a plus-sized adult and a baby. A wrap is a great choice if you are on the bigger side. There is nothing to fit, other than the length of the material.
You get cotton and linen wraps as well as wraps made from cotton knits and other stretchy materials. The woven wraps tend to be stronger and last longer, but the stretchy ones will be easier to use for plus-sized bodies and they make really snug nests for little ones.
Wraps are between 2 and 6 meters long. Measure your waistline and you will have an idea of the size wrap you need. Most products these days display the size on the product itself or on the label attached to the product.
When you choose a wrap, look at the size and quality of the fabric. Some stretchy materials start looking worn after many washes. And of course, look for a color and style that suits you! Fortunately, there is more than enough to choose from.
Slings
Slings are similar to wraps. They are also a long piece of fabric but come with two rings at the one end. You form the sling by passing the other end of the fabric through the two rings.
Slings are typically sold as one-size-fits-all items. In general, they are 72 – 78 inches long. This one size actually does fit many different sizes – if the person is bigger, there is simply less fabric to pull through the rings. In reality, an ordinary sling of average length will fit people up to size 16. If you are a bigger size, you’ll need a wrap that is at least 80 inches long.
It all depends on your body shape and where you carry your weight.
When choosing a sling, look out for a company that clearly states the length of their slings.
The best plus size baby sling we found is the Nalakai Luxury Ring Sling Baby Carrier it comes in a very, very long material that can wrap around any body shape. It’s also super comfortable to be worn at all times of the day and anywhere you go. Give it a try!
Mei Tais
Mai Tais are a simple product that is easy to adjust to different sizes and therefore ideal for different body sizes. The same Mei tai can even be used by different people because it’s so adjustable.
The Mei Tai has a square panel in the center that forms the seat for the baby. At each corner, a padded strap is attached: two shoulder straps and two waist straps. You can find MeiTtais with straps as long as 80 inches. That is long enough for most bigger people
Needless to say, the straps can be any length, so even if you buy one that later doesn’t fit, you can simply lengthen the straps.
Soft-structured carriers
Soft-structured carriers are tricky for most people to fit no matter what their size. Also called buckle carriers, these baby carriers are constructed out of sturdy material. They have a seat for the baby with shoulder and waist straps attached. These usually fasten with buckles.
Simply lengthening the shoulder straps and waistband is not a solution as the padding also moves and might land up in a place where you don’t need them to be.
What you need is a SCC with perfect fit adjusters (PFAs) for extra adjustability. So, when buying a SCC, look out for a product with PFAs that give you the option to move the buckles to where they fit your body perfectly.
Conclusion
If you are a parent who is taller or bigger than average, don’t think for a moment that it excludes you from using a baby carrier to carry your child and have him with you when you do chores at home or go out on an errand.
There are some great products out there and if you follow our guidelines and recommendations, you are sure to find one that suits you 100%. Happy shopping!
Paul is a passionate dad who founded Upside Dad to share his parenting journey with other new parents. He graduated from Concordia University and worked as a test engineer for over a decade. Paul loves dad jokes and craft beer.
Learn more about Paul and Upside Dad here.