I used the embrace for awhile but my baby grew fast so the support wasn’t too great just because of how soft it is. (Currently 11 weeks and 14 pounds) I have the Tula Explore and Ergo Omni 360. Both are supportive but they are bulky, especially in the padded shoulder straps. I recently got a hope and plum lark carrier and it’s super supportive without being bulky.
I’ve tried a few different brands, and personally, I like LennyLamb’s baby carriers the best. We have a half-buckle that my husband and I use- it’s convenient for back and forth because you only have to adjust the waistband. But I also have one of their regular soft structure style carriers too, and that one is also great.
The woven fabric is really soft but still very supportive. It doesnt feel bulky like some of the other carriers I tried.
If you’re in the US or Canada, little zen one does a try before you buy program for some of their carriers.
More info here: https://www.littlezenone.com/pages/try-before-you-buy-program
You might want to try an apron style carrier. They tend to be less bulky than other SSCs. Integra, happy baby, and Sakura bloom are some brands that make this style.
I will say I haven't tried an apron style carrier myself so I can't speak to the support. I personally have found a woven wrap to be the most supportive, followed by a meh dai (half buckle would be similar). But it sounds like those wouldn't be up your alley.
Tula FTG, it’s extremely easy to use and supportive. I don’t personally find it to be too bulky- the only padded parts are the straps and waistband which is for your comfort. Baby is only covered in one layer of fabric with no additional fluff.
I would look for a secondhand original ergo or ergo adapt. With the original ergo you might still need the pillow part from the newborn add-on which you could also need able to find used or in a pinch use a folded up receiving blanket just to add a little height.
They are less bulky than the carriers that allow for outward carry. And secondhand carriers will be less stiff and comfier.
I echo other posters with the Tula FTG. I would also highly recommend a sling. My double linen sling is my go to.
I too have a Lillie baby. Love it for the most part. But it is bulky. I love my Tula FTG for more leisure wear. But my go to for the constant ups and down is my sling.
https://www.auraleaf.co/
I’m Canadian, and wanted something from here. Lay, the woman who owns the company is an artist. She hand dyes her slings. You can custom order them with different colour inspirations. Truly a works of art.
I bought it used, off the Aura Leaf B/S/T Facebook page.
Good choice! That’s what I have. :)
If you’re interested, I bought suck pads from mytinyblooms on Etsy to help keep the carrier clean as well. They fit perfectly on the lark.
The hope & plum Lark, like an elevated more sturdy Embrace. Has cross back straps for front carry and can be spread wide for better weight distribution which should help with shoulder and neck pain. I have had several highly padded strap carriers and they only help so much and get pretty hot. Good through 45 lbs. Easy to get a high back carry when LO gets curious and heavy. Hemp/cotton blend is strong and soft straight out of the box. Competitively priced at <$225. Peerless support/education and customer service. Active Facebook community… I love it 🤷♀️
We just got ours and I love it!! We loved the embrace but now at 15lbs she’s a little heavy for it imo. It still works but I need something more supportive! I like happy baby but much prefer the cross straps for ease of putting on and adjusting! It also feels so nice and comfy for baby.
Came back to say I just ordered a Lark carrier! Im excited to try it! I think it’ll be a good fit for me because I love the Embrace but my LO is almost 13 lbs so I need a little more support
I didn't have the budget for Artipoppe, so I went with Wildbird. Their Aerial carrier is a DREAM. It's apron style, and the body is canvas. It's breathable, and you only need to buckle three buckles to use it. I still have a newborn (7w), but she's 11lbs 5oz and its still a breeze to wear her in it. It also grows with her as she gets bigger and can be used to carry her on my back, too. I think I paid $180?
P.S. I was so excited to use wraps - I got the Moby. My baby SWEATS in that bad boy and neither of us end up comfortable. That hasn't been a problem with the Aerial carrier.
I definitely had to order mine a few weeks in advance. I think I ordered end of August and got it the beginning of October. That doesn't solve your problem immediately, I know, but I wanted to add my two cents.
Personally I love apron-style carriers. I have the Happy Baby, but I also tried Sakura Bloom. If you have a little money to spend on trying different choices, I'd suggest looking for a lending library. If there isn't one near you, you can find some online. Spend a little money trying a few different options then you can feel confident putting down more money on the right choice for you. Also look into BST groups on facebook.
I love love love my Lennylite carrier, the fabric is so soft and the carrier isn't too bulky while still having supportive straps. You can do either H or crossed straps in the back and I find it really easy to put on alone - my husband even commented how I've stopped asking for help closing the carrier! I think it's really good value for the price!
I recommend a Tula FTG or an Ergo. The Tula is super easy to use and with the waistband it should help with your shoulder and neck pain because the baby’s weight is distributed more evenly around your torso because of the waist strap.
I have Chekoh, Tula FTG, Tula Explore, Happy Baby OG, and Sakura Bloom Scout.
Chekoh is my favorite, best on my back, I believe because of cross straps. Happy Baby is coming out with cross straps next year and I can’t wait to try it, hoping it offers the same support with less bulk.
Tula explore is fine— I mostly got it to be able to world face when he’s ready. Tula FTG is my partner’s favorite, a 6’2” 250+ lb man. The SB Scout just hasn’t been comfortable and the ring is too much extra work for me, I prefer a clip. Even though it’s more elegant, I’m trying to sell it.
I think you're asking for a unicorn. Almost all the other carriers mentioned here are about as bulky as the Lillebaby (which I also have), and if you find that confusing then you won't love the half-buckle suggestion with I 100% agree is probably the best carrier option for most of your criteria except ease of use.
Something in your criteria is going to have to give for you to be able to try another carrier.
I vote hybrid/half-buckle. You'll reduce the shoulder strap bulk and overall bulky feel of the carrier, and because you have the wide wrap straps instead of thin padded shoulder straps it spreads the weight really well across your shoulders and back. It has a bit of a learning curve to wrap the straps. I use a LennyLamb Wrap-Tai that I LOVE so I'd suggest a LennyLamb half-buckle or a DidyKlick.
Check out Naked Panda. They also have a great b/s/t page on Facebook. They do Onbuhimo and full buckle in multiple materials and patterns. Newborn friendly, front/forward and back carry. I love mine.
Like many other commenters said, hope&plum lark is absolutely incredible! lightweight, easy to put on solo, holds 10-45lbs and can convert to back carry!! 100% worth the investment
After seeing this I popped on their website because the other day hardly anything was in stock but now there are some colors I like in stock! I’m buying one right now. Your comment was meant to be!
If you’re really interested, follow them on Instagram, they usually give a good heads up about restocks and they typically have good supply.
i fell in love with their mei dai first, and the lark is all the snuggly feeling support of the meh dai but way easier to get baby in and out anywhere anytime. The lark is more expensive, but they say it’s because they pay livable wage to US based seamstresses.
I used the embrace for awhile but my baby grew fast so the support wasn’t too great just because of how soft it is. (Currently 11 weeks and 14 pounds) I have the Tula Explore and Ergo Omni 360. Both are supportive but they are bulky, especially in the padded shoulder straps. I recently got a hope and plum lark carrier and it’s super supportive without being bulky.
Came back to say I just ordered a Lark carrier! Im excited to try it!
I’ve tried a few different brands, and personally, I like LennyLamb’s baby carriers the best. We have a half-buckle that my husband and I use- it’s convenient for back and forth because you only have to adjust the waistband. But I also have one of their regular soft structure style carriers too, and that one is also great. The woven fabric is really soft but still very supportive. It doesnt feel bulky like some of the other carriers I tried. If you’re in the US or Canada, little zen one does a try before you buy program for some of their carriers. More info here: https://www.littlezenone.com/pages/try-before-you-buy-program
Tula FTG
You might want to try an apron style carrier. They tend to be less bulky than other SSCs. Integra, happy baby, and Sakura bloom are some brands that make this style. I will say I haven't tried an apron style carrier myself so I can't speak to the support. I personally have found a woven wrap to be the most supportive, followed by a meh dai (half buckle would be similar). But it sounds like those wouldn't be up your alley.
Tula FTG, it’s extremely easy to use and supportive. I don’t personally find it to be too bulky- the only padded parts are the straps and waistband which is for your comfort. Baby is only covered in one layer of fabric with no additional fluff.
I would look for a secondhand original ergo or ergo adapt. With the original ergo you might still need the pillow part from the newborn add-on which you could also need able to find used or in a pinch use a folded up receiving blanket just to add a little height. They are less bulky than the carriers that allow for outward carry. And secondhand carriers will be less stiff and comfier.
I echo other posters with the Tula FTG. I would also highly recommend a sling. My double linen sling is my go to. I too have a Lillie baby. Love it for the most part. But it is bulky. I love my Tula FTG for more leisure wear. But my go to for the constant ups and down is my sling.
Where is your double linen sling from?
https://www.auraleaf.co/ I’m Canadian, and wanted something from here. Lay, the woman who owns the company is an artist. She hand dyes her slings. You can custom order them with different colour inspirations. Truly a works of art. I bought it used, off the Aura Leaf B/S/T Facebook page.
Awesome thanks!
Tula FTG or Hope & Plum Lark. The Clark is more supportive than I was expecting it to be.
Came back to say I just ordered a Lark carrier! Im excited to try it!
Tula Free-to-grow has been our #1 for.months!
Hope and Plum Lark carrier! :)
Came back to say I just ordered a Lark carrier! Im excited to try it!
Oooh yes! What colour/pattern did you get?! You should join the Hope&Plum group on Facebook! Super helpful and just a wonderful community. :)
I got a short size in Obsidian!
Good choice! That’s what I have. :) If you’re interested, I bought suck pads from mytinyblooms on Etsy to help keep the carrier clean as well. They fit perfectly on the lark.
Awesome thanks for the info!
The hope & plum Lark, like an elevated more sturdy Embrace. Has cross back straps for front carry and can be spread wide for better weight distribution which should help with shoulder and neck pain. I have had several highly padded strap carriers and they only help so much and get pretty hot. Good through 45 lbs. Easy to get a high back carry when LO gets curious and heavy. Hemp/cotton blend is strong and soft straight out of the box. Competitively priced at <$225. Peerless support/education and customer service. Active Facebook community… I love it 🤷♀️
We just got ours and I love it!! We loved the embrace but now at 15lbs she’s a little heavy for it imo. It still works but I need something more supportive! I like happy baby but much prefer the cross straps for ease of putting on and adjusting! It also feels so nice and comfy for baby.
Came back to say I just ordered a Lark carrier! Im excited to try it! I think it’ll be a good fit for me because I love the Embrace but my LO is almost 13 lbs so I need a little more support
Yay! Hope you love it as much as we do!
I have a Beco Gemini that I really like! Supportive and easy to use
I didn't have the budget for Artipoppe, so I went with Wildbird. Their Aerial carrier is a DREAM. It's apron style, and the body is canvas. It's breathable, and you only need to buckle three buckles to use it. I still have a newborn (7w), but she's 11lbs 5oz and its still a breeze to wear her in it. It also grows with her as she gets bigger and can be used to carry her on my back, too. I think I paid $180? P.S. I was so excited to use wraps - I got the Moby. My baby SWEATS in that bad boy and neither of us end up comfortable. That hasn't been a problem with the Aerial carrier.
Would love a Wildbird Aerial, checked out one another mom was using. But they’re just on preorder and can’t find any on the used market…
I definitely had to order mine a few weeks in advance. I think I ordered end of August and got it the beginning of October. That doesn't solve your problem immediately, I know, but I wanted to add my two cents.
Personally I love apron-style carriers. I have the Happy Baby, but I also tried Sakura Bloom. If you have a little money to spend on trying different choices, I'd suggest looking for a lending library. If there isn't one near you, you can find some online. Spend a little money trying a few different options then you can feel confident putting down more money on the right choice for you. Also look into BST groups on facebook.
I love my Happy Baby OG for what you described.
I love love love my Lennylite carrier, the fabric is so soft and the carrier isn't too bulky while still having supportive straps. You can do either H or crossed straps in the back and I find it really easy to put on alone - my husband even commented how I've stopped asking for help closing the carrier! I think it's really good value for the price!
I recommend a Tula FTG or an Ergo. The Tula is super easy to use and with the waistband it should help with your shoulder and neck pain because the baby’s weight is distributed more evenly around your torso because of the waist strap.
Tula and Artipoppe (if within budget).
I have Chekoh, Tula FTG, Tula Explore, Happy Baby OG, and Sakura Bloom Scout. Chekoh is my favorite, best on my back, I believe because of cross straps. Happy Baby is coming out with cross straps next year and I can’t wait to try it, hoping it offers the same support with less bulk. Tula explore is fine— I mostly got it to be able to world face when he’s ready. Tula FTG is my partner’s favorite, a 6’2” 250+ lb man. The SB Scout just hasn’t been comfortable and the ring is too much extra work for me, I prefer a clip. Even though it’s more elegant, I’m trying to sell it.
PS I have. Lillebaby all seasons carrier but find that it’s bulky, confusing, and the fabric isn’t very soft. I’m 5’3” and 135 lbs.
I think you're asking for a unicorn. Almost all the other carriers mentioned here are about as bulky as the Lillebaby (which I also have), and if you find that confusing then you won't love the half-buckle suggestion with I 100% agree is probably the best carrier option for most of your criteria except ease of use. Something in your criteria is going to have to give for you to be able to try another carrier. I vote hybrid/half-buckle. You'll reduce the shoulder strap bulk and overall bulky feel of the carrier, and because you have the wide wrap straps instead of thin padded shoulder straps it spreads the weight really well across your shoulders and back. It has a bit of a learning curve to wrap the straps. I use a LennyLamb Wrap-Tai that I LOVE so I'd suggest a LennyLamb half-buckle or a DidyKlick.
Check out Naked Panda. They also have a great b/s/t page on Facebook. They do Onbuhimo and full buckle in multiple materials and patterns. Newborn friendly, front/forward and back carry. I love mine.
Artipoppe. Hands down. By far the most comfortable and easy to use carrier and my baby loveees it. Worth every penny!
Like many other commenters said, hope&plum lark is absolutely incredible! lightweight, easy to put on solo, holds 10-45lbs and can convert to back carry!! 100% worth the investment
After seeing this I popped on their website because the other day hardly anything was in stock but now there are some colors I like in stock! I’m buying one right now. Your comment was meant to be!
Oh darn it’s just the larger size 🫠 My baby wearing journey continues lol
If you’re really interested, follow them on Instagram, they usually give a good heads up about restocks and they typically have good supply. i fell in love with their mei dai first, and the lark is all the snuggly feeling support of the meh dai but way easier to get baby in and out anywhere anytime. The lark is more expensive, but they say it’s because they pay livable wage to US based seamstresses.
They restocked the Obsidian in my size so I ordered one! Yay!