Best forParents looking for carrier that's ergonomically designed and adjustable for kids and parents
Top BenefitsErgonomic leg position, padded shoulder straps for wearer's comfort
ConsiderationsHas a lot of straps and clips, high-market price
Bottom lineThe Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back is a comfortable carrier that's designed with safe fabrics and for hip-healthy wearing
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Features
Review
There are days when pushing a stroller from A to B isn’t the easiest option, which is why baby carriers are an essential part of life with little people. Padded shoulder straps, equally distributed weight and three carrying positions (that allow the carrier to grow with babies from 7.5 pounds to 33 pounds), mean the Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back is a great option that, not surprisingly, our testers found super comfy and secure.
There are a lot of straps and buckles on this particular carrier, but that’s because it offers you the option of carrying your infant front-inward facing, front-outward facing and back carrying (with your child looking over your shoulder). In each position, all those adjustable straps ensure your babe is safe and secure. For front-facing inward (recommended for infants one- to nine-months-old and over 7.5 pounds), you can easily adjust the straps at the legs and sides with a gentle tug. Meanwhile, the padded headrest with breathable sides provides support for babies who haven’t yet developed neck strength.
The carrier's integrated infant support means your baby sits nice and high, which is important for maintaining airflow. Outward facing allows a bit more freedom of movement, but with the headrest folded down and out of the way, you get extra support at the baby’s shoulders. Back carrying offers an inner adjustable seat support to position kids high enough (based on age, with one recommended for nine to 18 months and the lower for 18 to 36 months). It also comes with adjustable side straps and locking carabiner-style safety clasps at armpit height, as well as over-the-shoulder straps to keep your toddler from popping out of the top of the carrier.
In all three positions, the seating pouch has been designed with optimal hip placement in mind, earning the carrier the acknowledgment of the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as a hip-healthy option. Our editors found the adjustable upper leg support and bum placement to be good, but a lack of foot supports means you might end up being kicked by little feet.
Even the best-tempered baby will make it very clear if they're uncomfortable, which is why many parents think their babes don’t like being worn. Our parent testers had no such issues with the Stokke MyCarrier—one parent noted that the Stokke was the first carrier her daughter actually enjoyed. Our editors gave the Stokke full marks for baby comfort, thanks to the cotton Oeko Tex-certified fabric, ample padding and adjustable head and leg supports. Our parent testers also appreciated this combination, and unanimously agreed that their children had a combination of good support and ease of movement.
[tpa_quote quote_style="pullquote”]Our daughter really enjoyed being in this carrier. Both my husband and I felt that it was comfortable.” —Karen, mom of one
Carrying your infant strapped to your body is a great, hands-free way to get around and there’s something really lovely about being able to keep your little one snuggled close when you’re out and about. Long walks are totally doable with the Stokke MyCarrier, which earned top marks for parent comfort from both our editors and parent testers. The wide X-shaped back support, plushly padded shoulder straps and supportive waist strap distribute the weight of the baby evenly, and the multiple points of adjustment mean that both men and women can find a comfortable fit. Our testers were unanimous in reporting no upper or lower back pain after using the carrier—though one mom said both she and her husband experienced a bit of tension between the shoulder blades, which subsided around 15 minutes after taking the carrier off. The fact that all of the straps do up on the front or side means no awkward twisting or straining to reach behind you (a lifesaver if you’ve got back trouble).
Did we mention the Stokke MyCarrier has several straps and buckles? While they all serve an important purpose and help make the carrier safe, supportive and comfortable, figuring out what they all do and how to adjust them can be a bit intimidating (a few of our parents said that once you know what you’re doing, the adjustments are easy and intuitive). At more than 100 pages, the instruction manual is a little daunting at first, until you realize it’s that big because each step gets its own page with plenty of images in both close-up and full-body view. Most of our parent testers found the instructions clear enough that they didn’t need to refer to the manual after their first time using the carrier.
The Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back comes with three components: the shoulder strap/back support, the front-carry pouch and the back-carry pouch. Switching from front to back carry means swapping the pouches, which is a somewhat involved process (you’ll have to keep track of a few parts that are only used for one mode or the other). This also means it might not be the most convenient for toting around a toddler who likes to switch positions mid-outing. However, our parent testers agreed that getting their babes in and out of the carrier facing in or out in the front-carry position was easy, and loved that all of the adjustments were within reach. Editors were impressed with the waistband pocket that allows users to roll up and tuck away the excess straps after adjusting.
Using the back-carry position might be a bit scary at first—you secure your child in the carrier, then basically swing them over your shoulder as though you're putting on a backpack—but by the time kids are old enough to ride this way (at least nine months), they’ll probably find it fun.
Spit, as they say, happens. Optional accessories for the Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back include bibs that attach to the folded-down headrest when carrying front-forward facing, but you'll inevitably have to wash the carrier from time to time. Other than the metal bars that provide extra support in the back-carry position (and must be removed before washing), the whole carrier can be thrown into the washing machine on a cold-water gentle cycle using mild detergent, then air-dried. All that padding means it might take a while to dry thoroughly, and the cotton fabric, though of durable quality, might fade over time with repeated washing and sun exposure. Spot cleaning with mild soap and water is also recommended.
The Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back is on the higher end of the price range of baby carriers. However, parent testers agreed that the comfort it provided, quality of materials and features all add to its value. Some testers said it’s well worth the money, especially if you’re an avid baby-wearer, and the majority said they’d purchase it if they were buying a carrier.
The majority of our parent testers felt that the Stokke MyCarrier Front and Back was a high-quality product that offers durable fabrics and great comfort for everyone involved—they also agreed that it was superior to other carriers they’ve tried in the past. Our editors would have liked to have seen a higher weight limit to maximize the length of time the carrier can be used, though most of our parents thought the three carrying options added to the value. Overall, our testers thought it would hold up well to prolonged use and the consensus was that if this is a carrier you'll use regularly, it's worth the price. None of our parent testers would hesitate to recommend this carrier to other parents, and the majority deemed it worthy of the Today’s Parent Approved seal.
Tech Specs
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