Infant carriers are comfortable devices worn by the parent to keep your hands free while your baby is suggled onto you. Parents have been wearing them for centuries in Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Either wrapping the child around the front of the parent's torso or onto their back, the baby is held safely secured while the parent is left able to do everyday chores without worrying about a newborn crying in another room. In North America over the past decade there are a myriad of baby slings on the market, many of them tailored to the age of the baby or to the parent's lifestyle. If you're not certain which type is best for you, below is a list of several designs highlighting what they are best designed to do.

Mei Tai carriers are based on a traditional Asian infant carrier that is very simple in its design. It consists of one panel of fabric to hold the weight of the baby, with waist and shoulder straps to tie around yourself and wrap under your baby's bottom. Since the straps can be wound and tied in different ways, they allow you to wear your baby on your front, hip or back and in a total five different carrying positions. The leading Mei Tai carriers are the Babyhawk, Kozy Carrier and EllaRoo Mei Hip.

Front baby carriers offer parents the simplicity of pre-formed straps instead of having to figure out specific tying or wrapping techniques. Instead of the baby lying down in a piece of fabric, they sit vertically in sitting position in a pre-formed pouch. They best suit infants who are strong enough to hold their head up to see the world as you do, since there is no head support included in this infant carrier. The leading front carrier brands include Snugli, Kelty Kangaroo and the Swedish designed Baby Bjorn.

Baby sling ring and pouch wraps come as a large piece of cloth tied over the shoulder to snug a baby close to your body. The sling ring design has an over the shoulder strap that is wrapped through adjustable yet sturdy rings, while the pouch wrap has a single strap sewn directly into the pouch and is not adjustable. Baby wraps are the best for newborns, as they are positioned and strapped down lying in a cradled position similar to the womb. This is also an easy position for baby to be in for the nursing Mom, as it will asily allow Mom to nurse on demand without taking the sling off her body. The great thing about wraps are their versatility, as you can tie it in a variety of positions for different ages. The leading baby wrap carrier brands are the Maya Wrap, Hotslings, Moby Wrap and the Ellaroo.

Baby Backpacks are becoming popular infant carriers for the outdoor family. For babies at 6 months of age or who can support their own head, this carrier is ideal for long excursions outdoors, day hikes or camping trips. The infant sits in a seat and looks over the parent's shoulders, seeing everything you see in its own versatile backpack. Baby backpacks are more expensive than any other carriers but you are paying for the sturdy support, rugged frame and the padded straps. There are several features included in most models such as a completely removable child cockpit, a fanny pouch, sun and rain visors, and a kickstand to easily load baby into the backpack. The leading backpack brands are Kelty and Sherpani, the Kelty model comes from a convertible stroller attachment.