hope&plum’s Guide to the Best Newborn Carriers of 2026

The Sprout is our number 1 pick for a reason. We put a lot of thought into bringing you a buckle carrier that truly is designed for newborns. Here are some important newborn features:

• shorter panel
• minimal padding
• machine washable
• easy to pack on the go

The short panel will allow almost any baby who is at least 7 pounds to fit comfortably and safely. We only put lightweight padding in the waistband so there’s nothing but our soft and beautiful organic fabric between you and your baby, allowing for a close, snuggly fit. Our crossback shoulder straps allow for easy, intuitive, and independent use. Plus, our shoulder straps can spread out across your back to evenly distribute your little one’s weight so you’re comfortable for long snuggle sessions. We designed the Sprout with our machine washable fabrics because we understand that life with a newborn can be messy. Finally, we know that newborns need to come in and out of the carrier a lot, so we made the Sprout super compact to easily pack and go. If it can fold down to fit in your palm, it can probably fit in your diaper bag! Read more about how we designed the Sprout for newborns or check out a Sprout question and answer session.

Ring slings were the first carrier hope&plum made, and they’ll always have a special place in our hearts. They’re a great option for newborns, but they take our second spot because they really shine with older babies and even toddlers as well. If you’re looking for the best newborn carrier that will last into the toddler years, the ring sling will be your best pick. You can read more in our post about newborn ring sling tips and tricks or in our complete guide from newborn to toddler and see where ring slings fall on those recommendations. 

Here are two big reasons why ring slings are great for newborns:

• can be worn from birth for most babies
• can be worn legs in or out

Ring slings are great because they can be worn from birth, and they can be used for a legs-in carry. While legs out is safe from birth and most babies are comfortable in that position, there are some babies who love that newborn scrunch and hate having their legs out. If this sounds like your baby, the ring sling could be a good option for you! They are snuggly and supportive in a front carry, whether you have baby’s legs in or out. Then, they grow with your baby, allowing a hip carry when they have more head and neck control. Babies love this position when they’re ready for it because they can look out at the world when they’re curious, but snuggle into you when they’re tired or overwhelmed. With a weight limit of 35 pounds and strong, non-stretchy fabric, most caregivers are comfortable wearing their ring slings with their older babies and even toddlers. Read more about why we love our ring slings in our other blog post.

The baby wrap takes our third spot and is a great newborn carrier option. Here are some reasons why:

• can be worn from birth for most babies
• customizable snuggly fit each time
• poppable for all those newborn ins and outs
• can be worn legs in or out 
• great option for tandeming a newborn and older baby/toddler

You can wear most newborns right from birth. Because you wrap it around your body, you get a customizable fit each time that will feel like a warm hug for you and baby. After you master tightly tying the wrap, it can be a quick, poppable carrier you can wear all day, seamlessly taking baby in and out. Like the ring sling, you can tuck baby’s legs into the horizontal pass of the wrap, which can be nice in colder weather or if baby likes a more snuggly carrier. Although it has a greater weight limit than the Sprout (35 lbs for the wrap, 24 for the Sprout), it can feel less supportive for babies around 20 pounds or so, unless you get a really snug fit. It is our favorite option for tandem babywearing a newborn and older baby or toddler, so if you’re expecting baby #2, it might be your best choice. Read more about why we love our baby wraps in our other blog post.

Last but certainly not least on our best newborn carrier list is the meh dai. Like the other three carriers on our list, the meh dai can work with most babies right from birth, with a few modifications. Roll the waistband to shorten the panel and cinch in the bottom so it fits baby from knee to knee. That’s it! Like the ring sling, our meh dai is supportive well past the newborn stage. In fact, it has the highest weight limit of the newborn carriers. At a maximum of 45 pounds, the generous meh dai weight limit means you can wear your toddler for sure. It also offers the most positions out of any of the newborn carriers. It truly grows with you from a front carry for a newborn, to a hip carry for an older infant, all the way to a back carry for babies who can sit unassisted.