There's no single right answer, and that's good news: it means there are several carriers that could work well for you. The right one depends on your baby's age and size, your body, how often you'll carry and what you'll be doing while you carry.

The best option is in-person support, like at our free Babywearing Social Club meets, your local babywearing group or a session with a babywearing educator. Otherwise, start with our shop by age collections, join our Facebook group and ask for advice, or send us an email and we can troubleshoot together.

Our Try Before You Buy program is great if you'd like to try a carrier in real life before you commit.

• Buckle carriers (the type you probably see most often) have a padded waistband and shoulder straps that buckle in. They're quick to put on and familiar to most parents.
• Half buckle carriers are a middle ground between a wrap and a buckle carrier, with a buckle waistband and long wrap shoulder straps. A meh dai is similar, with a tie waistband and wrap straps that you tie. You get a really custom fit, but some people don't like the long straps touching the floor.
• Woven wraps are long pieces of woven fabric you tie around you and your baby. They take a little practice, but they mould to both bodies and work from newborn through to preschool.
• Ring slings are a length of fabric threaded through two rings and worn over one shoulder. They're quick for ups and downs, short carries and hip carries.
• Stretchy wraps are long stretchy pieces of fabric you tie around you and your baby. They're lovely for keeping baby close in the newborn phase, but the stretch starts to feel less supportive as baby gets bigger.
• Hybrid carriers don't fit neatly into one category, like the Neko Tiny, which is made from stretchy material but designed like a buckle carrier.

Some carriers are designed to adjust from newborn through toddlerhood, and many families get years out of one carrier. Others fit a particular age range really well. Each product page lists the weight and age range, plus who the carrier suits and who might prefer something else.

If you're looking for one carrier to grow with your baby, see our Newborn to Toddler collection.

Yes. Many carriers fit from birth, either straight out of the box or with the panel adjusted to its smallest setting. Look for the minimum weight on the product page and check it will suit your baby.

If your baby was born early, has low muscle tone or has a medical condition, talk with your health professional before you start.

Yes. Every body can carry, and we stock carriers with a wide range of waistband and strap adjustments. Woven wraps and ring slings fit almost any body because you adjust them every time you wear them.

If you're unsure, send us an email with your clothing size and a bit about your body shape and we'll find options that fit.

Usually, yes. Buckle carriers with plenty of adjustment, wraps and ring slings are all easy to share between carers of different sizes. If you're sharing with a partner or grandparent with a very different build, mention it when you ask us for a recommendation.

Yes. We stock the LennyTwin and woven wraps that work for tandem carrying. Twin carrying takes some setting up, so we'd recommend coming along to a meet to learn alongside someone experienced.

Many of our carriers support back carries once your baby is sitting independently and you feel confident with front carries. It's possible to back carry younger babies in some carriers, like woven wraps and meh dais, but we recommend seeking guidance first.

When you're learning back carries, it helps to learn with support, either at a meet or in a consult, and to practise over a soft surface the first few times.

Some are better than others. Look for lighter fabrics (we normally recommend 200gsm and under) or thinner woven wraps and ring slings. Dress yourself and your baby in fewer layers when you carry, because your carrier counts as a layer.

We're happy to suggest options that suit hot weather.

Follow the TICKS guidelines every time:

• Tight: baby is held snugly against you, with no slack fabric.
• In view at all times: you can see baby's face and their whole head is outside the carrier.
• Close enough to kiss: baby's head is close enough to your chin that you can easily kiss the top of it.
• Keep chin off chest: there is at least two fingers' width of space under baby's chin.
• Supported back: baby's back is supported in its natural position, with their tummy and chest against you. Their legs are in an M position, with bum down and knees up.

If baby's airway is ever in doubt, stop and readjust.

Aim for knees higher than bum, with the fabric supporting baby from knee to knee. We call this the M shape, but you don't need to remember that. Every carrier we stock supports this position when it's fitted correctly.

Some carriers allow a forward-facing position for older babies with good head control, for short periods when they're alert. Babies should never sleep facing forward. It can also add significantly more load for the wearer, as baby's weight moves away from you instead of towards you.

We currently don't stock any forward-facing carriers. We prefer to teach hip and back carrying, and letting baby have their arms out of the top of the carrier once they have good head and neck control.

Babies often fall asleep in carriers, and this is safe unless they are facing forward. Your baby will lose muscle tone when they're sleeping, so you might need to retighten the carrier. If your child had their arms out, bring their arms back in to give them maximum support.

The main question is: is it comfortable? Does it hurt your back or anywhere else on your body? Can you tighten it enough? If you're unsure, reach out and we'll help.

Many parents carry comfortably after a caesarean or with pelvic floor or back concerns, often with a different carrier or carry position. Check with your health professional first, then talk with us about carriers that avoid pressure on your scar or keep weight off sore spots.

You might prefer something without a firm waistband at first, like a wrap or ring sling.

You choose a carrier, we send it to you, and you try it at home for two weeks with your own baby, in your own routine. At the end of the trial, you can buy it or send it back.

It's Australia's only carrier trial service, and it exists because a carrier that looks right online doesn't always feel right on your body.

The trial fee is $40, plus a $100 security deposit and the relevant shipping cost (usually $10).

If you buy the carrier, the $140 (trial fee and deposit) is deducted from the cost of the carrier. If you return it in good, complete condition, the security deposit is refunded and you pay return shipping.

Let us know and we'll send you an invoice. You pay the balance and keep it. The trial fee and security deposit are deducted from the purchase price.

That's useful information, and it means you're closer to knowing what will work for you. Send it back (return postage is at your cost) and tell us what didn't feel right. We'll use that to suggest something that fits better.

Your security deposit will be returned if the carrier meets our return guidelines.

Yes, they are brand new.

You can cancel before your trial period begins, as long as the carrier hasn't been shipped. If we need to cancel a trial before it starts, we'll refund everything you've paid.

Full details are in our Try Before You Buy terms and conditions.

Meets are free, relaxed social events where parents and carers can try carriers, ask questions and get help with fit. Some people come with a specific question; others come for the company and to play with new things. The whole family is welcome.

We currently run meets in Sydney, the Central Coast, the Illawarra, the Shoalhaven, Melbourne and Brisbane. Dates and venues are on our Babywearing Social Club page.

No. Bring yourself and your baby. If you have a carrier, bring it along and we'll help you get it fitting well.

There's nothing to buy at meets; they're about getting help and socialising. If you try something you love, you can buy it from our website afterwards.

Yes. Meets are free, but we ask you to register so we can manage numbers and make sure the host has plenty of time to support everyone.

We highly recommend joining our supportive Facebook group, where you'll find a community of babywearers ready to help.

If you'd prefer to chat one to one, you can request a fit check by email at shop@clothandcarry.com.au or on WhatsApp (+61 404 963 271). You can also contact us through our Facebook and Instagram pages.

For a fit check, include your child's age and weight, plus a front, side and back photo. You can blur your baby's face if you prefer.

No. Because of high processing costs, we made a choice as a business not to offer Afterpay. We do have PayPal Pay in 4, which works in much the same way.

If your order hasn't shipped yet, email us as soon as you can and we'll cancel it and refund you, less any payment transaction fees.

Once an order has shipped it can't be cancelled, but you may be able to return it (see returns below).

Occasionally we need to cancel an order, for example if an item sold out at the same moment you checked out, or if our system flagged it as possible fraud. If we cancel your order, we refund you in full.

There are two types of preorders.

1. LennyLamb limited edition preorders: these are fabrics LennyLamb hasn't woven yet and that will never appear in their shop. They're only open for a short time (usually ten days), and once orders are in, LennyLamb weaves exactly the right amount of fabric for those orders.
2. General preorders: if there's a product we can order in for you but don't currently have in stock, we call this a preorder. Think of it as a special order: we're ordering it in especially for you.

Preorder products are not eligible for change of mind returns.

Yes. Gift vouchers are available from our main menu and are valid for three years.

Within Australia, shipping is $10 for standard post and $15 for express post.

We aim to dispatch orders within 24 to 48 hours from Sydney, NSW. Once dispatched, delivery times vary depending on whether you live in a metro or regional area.

Cloth and Carry is a small business, so dispatch can take a little longer around public holidays and big releases.

We ship with Australia Post. You'll get an email with your tracking number as soon as your order is on its way.

Until mid-November 2026, you can collect from us in Mount Kuring-Gai. After that date we'll no longer have an option for collecting orders in person, and all orders will be shipped.

Yes. We currently ship to New Zealand, Japan, Sri Lanka, Singapore, South Korea, Malaysia and the United States.

Shipping is calculated at checkout. Add your items to your cart, head to checkout and enter your postal address, and the shipping price will show up.

For the United States, tariffs are prepaid and included in the price. Any additional duties or charges are paid by the recipient.

For all other countries, the recipient is responsible for any customs or duties costs.

Email us with your order number and we'll chase it up with the carrier. If it arrived damaged, send a photo of the item and packaging and we'll sort out next steps with you.

Yes. You can return an item for a refund, exchange or store credit within 21 days of receiving your order. It needs to be unused and unworn, with labels intact and in its original packaging.

If you're unsure whether a carrier will suit you and want to wear it before deciding, our Try Before You Buy program is designed for exactly that.

We can't accept items that have been washed or used (unless faulty). Gift vouchers, digital downloads, preorders, sale items, out-of-season items and services (like consults) can't be returned for change of mind.

For change of mind returns and exchanges, you cover return shipping, and the original shipping cost isn't refunded. Please send returns with tracking, and add insurance for items worth $100 or more, as we can't take responsibility for parcels lost on the way back to us.

For United States orders, prepaid duties paid by Cloth and Carry will be deducted from your refund.

Get in touch and we'll make it right. Under the Australian Consumer Law, you're entitled to a repair, replacement or refund for a faulty item, and we'll cover reasonable return postage.

Before you send anything, email us at shop@clothandcarry.com.au with your order number and the item you'd like to return. We'll send you the return address and next steps.

Once your return arrives, we'll inspect it and email you to let you know whether it's approved. Approved refunds are processed within five business days to your original payment method, less any payment provider fees. Some providers take up to 10 business days to pass the credit on.

US orders can be returned on the same terms, with one difference for change of mind returns: any import duties we paid on your order aren't refundable and will be deducted from your refund.

Always follow the care label and the manufacturer's instructions, as they vary between brands and fabrics.

As a general guide, buckle carriers can usually be machine washed on a gentle cycle with the buckles fastened, and woven wraps and ring slings are best washed gently and dried in the shade. Avoid fabric softener, bleach and optical brighteners, and always use a low spin (under 600rpm).

We recommend always washing a woven wrap or ring sling when it first arrives. They arrive unwashed, and washing helps soften them up significantly.

Some new woven wraps may still feel a bit stiff, but they soften with use and washing. Wearing it, braiding it or sitting on it while you watch TV all help. Ask us for tips specific to your wrap.

Before each use, check for worn stitching, frayed straps, damaged buckles or thin patches in the fabric. If anything looks wrong, stop using the carrier and get in touch so we can take a look.