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Best Baby Carriers for Grandma to Use

When my kids were little, I heavily relied on my mother to help take care of them. She was especially helpful when my oldest was a baby, sometimes watching her for full days while I was at work.

Since my mom was with her so often, I wanted her to have the right baby gear to make the day go smoothly (or as smoothly as days can go with a yelling/crying/pooping baby). With so many parents relying on grandparents to help with their little ones these days, it's important to get them the equipment they need to best take care of your baby while also making it as easy as possible on them.

Baby carriers have become a household staple, and it's important to make sure grandparents have the one that’s best for them. With so many options on the market, we’ve outlined the top baby carriers for grandma — or grandpa — based on style, use, comfort and ease.

The Different Types of Baby Carriers

There are so many options when it comes to baby carriers.

They usually fall into one of the following categories:

hip carrier
ring sling
soft structured carrier that buckles
mei tais
wrap
hiking backpack

Depending on which carrier you're using, there are five main ways you can carry your baby:

Hip Carry
Front Carry Face In Upright
Front Carry Face In Lying Down
Front Carry Face Out
Back Carry

Some carriers utilize all five positions, while other carriers only accommodate one or two.

Different carriers are better suited for different ages. A ring sling, for example, would be best for calming a newborn. Soft structured carriers, on the other hand, often can't be used until babies can hold up their heads on their own.

Now that you have an idea of the array of carriers that are available, it's time to decide which would be best for grandma to use with your little one.

How to Determine Which Type of Carrier to Get

To pick the carrier that’ll work best for grandma while she's on baby watch, you'll want to consider:

where she'll be using the carrier
the age of your baby and if grandma will continue watching your baby as he grows
ease of use

Where and why will grandma be using the baby carrier?

Here are some possible places and reasons:

at home to multitask while babywearing
to calm a crying baby or help them sleep
to hip carry an older baby or toddler who wants to be held
out on errands
day trips to the zoo, aquarium, etc.

It's likely that grandma will need the carrier at different times. If that's the case, you'll want to look for a carrier that works both at home and on the go.

Will granny be watching your baby in the first six weeks, or not until he or she is a little older?

Some carriers work better with newborns than they do with toddlers. That’s why it’s important to consider age when you’re choosing the carrier that’s right for you, or grandma. I loved using my sling with my youngest until she was about 8 weeks or so. But after that, she wanted to sit up and look at her surroundings, so it was no longer the best choice. It's smart to get a carrier that works well for a young baby and all the way through toddlerhood, since it's likely that grandma will be watching your little one for years to come.

How easy is the carrier to use?

Your friend's baby may look absolutely darling in a mei tai style carrier with all its perfect knots and cute pattern. But chances are if you asked your friend how easy it was to get their baby strapped in, they'd tell you it takes a lot of practice.

If you don't give grandma a carrier that's easy to use, she won't want to use it. Remember that she likely isn't using this day in and day out, and probably just wants something simple to make caring for your baby easier on her.

Our Top 4 Baby Carriers for Grandma

Taking the above considerations into account, we’ve found the top four baby carriers for grandma!

Top Recommendation Tushbaby Hip Carrier

Those who don’t have a baby carrier typically carry kids on their hips. As parents, we put our kids on our hips countless times per day, and it’s...exhausting. When grandma is in charge, she'll be doing the same. Think about how exhausting it must be for her.

The fact is, little ones love to be held and snuggled up to you. They like to see the world up high like you do. But carrying a baby on your hip can lead to back and shoulder problems as discussed here and here.

Which is why we recommend the Tushbaby hip carrier as our top baby carrier for grandma.

Taking care of a baby is a tough job, but Tushbaby makes one part a lot easier: carrying your baby! This is because it's essentially a wide-belted fanny pack that has a baby seat built right into it. It Velcros and fastens around the caregiver’s waist and when a baby sits on the seat, the Tushbaby does the heavy lifting, quite literally. It completely takes the load off of the person carrying the baby. In this case — grandma! It support the back

It's by far the most comfortable and easy-to-use baby carrier available! Plus it can be used in 4 different ways.

Best for: All babies and toddlers who love to be held.
Where and why to use: The great thing about Tushbaby is that it allows you to hold your baby with ease anywhere you are. If your baby wants to be held while multi-tasking at home, great! It also works well for day trips where your baby will likely want to go up a lot, but down a lot, too.
Ease of Use: Seriously, so simple. With practically zero learning curve, it's perfect to give to Grandma to use. The other great thing is that it’s one size fits all. That means grandma can use the same Tushbaby that you do! (Though let’s be honest, she’ll probably want her own.)
Safety and Comfort: Tushbaby's design takes away the strain from the back and shoulders that normally comes with holding a baby. And because it puts baby’s legs in the safe “M” position, it’s safe to use for your little one too.

2. Ring Sling

A ring sling can be a nice supplement to a carrier like Tushbaby. The thing about slings is that they probably won't get used much if you want to sleep train your baby. Slings can also be used for a baby to sit upright, though it's not our top recommendation for this use.

Best for: New babies
Where and why to use: Slings are great to use at home when you won't be walking around for long periods of time. Little babies love to hang out in them to be close to someone who cares for them.
Ease of use: Ring slings are simplistic in design and are pretty easy to use. It can sometimes be difficult to get perfectly positioned where it's not pulling on your neck, so it does take a little practice.
Safety and Comfort: When tightened securely, ring slings are usually very comfortable. There should not be any pulling on the neck. As baby grows, the lack of weight distribution that occurs when using a sling will make the baby's weight more difficult to carry.

3. Baby Bjorn Original Baby Carrier

With the first one made in 1973, the Baby Bjorn was one of the earliest made baby carriers. They continue to improve their baby carriers to fit the lifestyles of today’s caregivers. The Baby Bjorn Original Baby Carrier is a no-frills soft structured carrier. It can be used to face baby in or out. It gives a secure fit so grandma will be able to have both hands free.

Best for: Non-walking babies who don’t constantly want to be put down.
Where and why to use: A soft structured carrier can be used at home or out and about, but since baby is well-secured once they’re in, you wouldn’t want to use it in shorter bursts of time.
Ease of use: Soft structured carriers need to be fitted properly over your shoulders. The most important part of using something like the Baby Bjorn is becoming comfortable with putting your baby in it. Unlike other similar carriers, however, many reviewers say that the Baby Bjorn in particular is much easier to use.
Safety and Comfort: Because it evenly distributes baby’s weight and puts baby’s legs into the safe “M” position, it’s very safe to use with your little one. As for adults, you’ll want to make sure that it’s tightened properly so there’s no pulling on the shoulders.

4. Baby K'Tan Baby Carrier

Baby K’Tan is essentially a wrap carrier, but without all the wrapping. It easily slips over the head and there are no extra clasps, rings, or buckles to deal with. It’s a great way to cozy up with your little one.

Best for: Younger babies.
Where and why to use: Like a sling, a wrap-style carrier is great to use with newborns and younger babies who sleep a lot. When babies just want to be close to you, these work great. Young babies usually sleep well in these, too, and give you use of both hands.
Ease of use: Unlike other wraps, the K'Tan "wrap free" wrap is much easier to use. It still takes some getting used to in order to slip baby in correctly, but there aren't a lot of extra loops and ties to figure out.
Safety and Comfort: The Baby K'Tan can be worn different ways meaning Grandma can find the most comfortable position that works best for her and baby.

Other baby gear for Grandma to consider

Grandparents can play such a supportive role in caring for their grandchildren, which is why having the right set of supplies can make this welcomed quality time with grandbabies even more seamless. Here are some options for Grandma to consider having handy.

1. Sleeping gear for your grandbabies

Whether you’re watching a grandbaby for the day or overnight, having the right sleeping gear can help ensure your grandchild gets the best rest they can while not in their own home. Sleeping gear can include:

Extra clothes and comfortable pajamas: An extra set of clothes is always helpful to have on hand when taking a baby anywhere outside the home. If you plan to have your grandchild for the day or longer, be sure to pack some comfortable pajamas. For Grandmas that have their grandbabies over more often, you can even stockpile some extras at your house. This will help make naps and sleeping time much more comfortable.

A comfortable place to sleep: There are many options when it comes to portable sleeping options for babies and toddlers. This includes a bassinet, portable sleeper, or even a full-size crib for Grandma’s house. Choosing the right sleeping gear can depend on functionality, price, and even how often you plan for the grandbaby to be with you.

2. Bouncers for Grandma’s house

Bouncers are a great option to have for those moments when you need to put your grandchild down to get some rest yourself or maybe even get some things around the house done. Bouncers are especially helpful for those Grandmas taking full-day shifts watching their grandbaby.

3. Baby swings for Grandma’s house

While they’re more of a nice-to-have, having a baby swing can certainly come in handy for those moments when your grandchild is fussy. Being away from their parents can come with some adjusting, which is one of the many reasons a baby may get fussy. A swing, or even a bouncer with swing capabilities, can be a great tool to help calm a fussy baby.

4. Diapering gear for your grandbabies

Grandmas can surely count on the need to change some diapers while looking over their grandchildren. There are plenty of options when it comes to diapering gear for Grandma. If you are on the go, the Tushbaby Portable Diaper Changing Pad is the perfect lightweight option to have on hand and can be stored in your Tushbaby Carrier or pocket. Changing pads are the perfect option for Grandma as they allow you to change those diapers wherever is best for you, whether you’re at home or on the go.

Most importantly, don’t forget the diapers! Keeping an extra stash of diapers at your home or even in your car can help ensure that you’re a prepared Grandma. For tossing diapers, Grandma may want to consider a miniature diaper pail to have at home. This will control the odors and eliminate the need for Grandma to frequently take diapers or trash outside.

5. Bottle feeding gear for Grandma

Bottles and Cleaning Supplies: For day trips, packing enough bottles in the diaper bag may suffice. For the Grandmas that will have their grandbabies at their house often, having a set of bottles and a bottle cleaner will help reduce the hassle of packing up the diaper bag every day.

Feeding Support: Feeding babies can cause a lot of strain on our backs, arms, shoulders, and necks. For Grandma to keep herself safe and comfortable, it will be important to have the right feeding support. Good news: the Tushbaby Carrier can double as a nursing pillow or feeding support! Strapping the waistband high and tight will provide Grandma with some much-needed support to reduce strain and give her grandbaby a comfortable place to lay.

6. Bathing gear for your grandbabies

Bathing gear may be necessary to keep with Grandma to keep a clean and happy grandbaby. Consider purchasing a bath or sink infant tub to make bathing a safe and happy experience at Grandma’s.

7. Car seats and strollers for grandparents

Purchasing an additional car seat or stroller depends on what is reasonable for your family. If you aren’t planning on sharing the car seat you already have, we encourage keeping safety a number one priority. This will mean ensuring Grandma’s car seat is the appropriate size for all developmental phases. For Grandma, choosing a car seat may take some extra consideration regarding which car seat or stroller is most functional and easy to move around. Finding a car seat that can be adjusted as their grandbaby grows will make life a little easier for Grandma!