6 Things to Know About the New BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Hold

Getting a baby carrier adjusted just right can feel like a small victory. So when another caregiver wants a turn, the last thing you want to do is start all over again.

That’s one of the ideas behind the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Hold. The settings for you and your baby are separate, so another caregiver can get comfortable without undoing the positioning you already figured out for baby.

The Hold slips on like a jacket, fits caregivers from XS–XXL and can be used from birth through about 18 months, or seven to 30 pounds. There are three carry positions, plus some handy extras, including a shade that’s tucked away until you need it.

Want to see how it all works? Watch our video review above, where we walk through getting the right fit for you and your baby and take a closer look at the details that caught our attention. Or read on for the six things we think are worth knowing.

1. It goes on like a jacket

Putting on a baby carrier often involves a minute of “wait, where does this strap go?” The Hold’s setup is refreshingly straightforward. BabyBjörn calls it the SnapWrap design, but the basic idea is simple: You put it on like a jacket.

Slip your arms in, wrap the front around your body and fasten it into place. See how it works at 0:39. From there, you can tighten or loosen the waist straps and move the padded back panel until everything feels right.

Here’s the especially handy part: Once you’ve got everything where you like it, it stays put when you take the Hold off. Tomorrow-you doesn’t have to figure it all out again.

2. Baby’s fit adjusts as they grow

The settings that make the Hold fit your body are separate from the ones used to position your baby. That may sound like a small detail, but it becomes pretty useful if you’re sharing the carrier.

What works for your body probably won’t be exactly right for the next caregiver. They can easily make their own adjustments without undoing baby’s positioning, and the Hold fits adults from XS–XXL.

Baby gets their own fine-tuning, too. The head support, sides and seat can be adjusted as they grow. For babies weighing seven to 10 pounds, leg straps reduce the size of the openings to help keep them secure. Watch how to get the proper fit for baby at 1:23.

As they get bigger, you can widen the seat beneath their thighs to support their legs and reposition the head support and sides. BabyBjörn recommends a natural seated position with the lower legs able to move freely.

And if you want another set of eyes on the fit, BabyBjörn offers free virtual consultations with its babywearing experts.

3. Baby can face in or out

The Hold has three carry positions (newborn, facing in, and facing out) and which one you use depends on where your baby is developmentally.

Newborn

Newborns start out facing in, and there’s a special feature for babies under ten pounds. You can adjust the fit of the carrier so the leg loops attach to make the leg openings smaller. Once baby is over ten pounds, the leg loops no longer need to be attached. 

Facing in & facing out

BabyBjörn says to keep your baby facing you until they can hold their head upright on their own, usually around five months. Once they hit that milestone, facing out becomes an option. See how to make the switch at 1:37.

This is also around the age when staring peacefully at your chest may lose some of its appeal.

Getting the positioning right matters, too. Baby should sit high enough that you can easily kiss the top of their head, with their face visible and airway clear. The Hold was developed in collaboration with medical experts and tested with real families. It’s also acknowledged as hip healthy by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute.

4. The support matters once you’ve been wearing it a while

Any carrier can feel perfectly comfortable when you first put it on. Forty-five minutes later is when you really have opinions.

The Hold’s padded shoulder straps, supportive waist belt and adjustable back panel help distribute weight across your hips and back instead of leaving your shoulders to handle it all.

And then there’s the heat. Babywearing means a lot of close contact, and all that shared body heat can add up. The Hold comes in two fabrics designed for comfort: mesh and brushed woven. The mesh is airy to encourage ventilation and airflow, and the brushed woven has a moisture wicking mesh on the interior, too. Take a closer look at the mesh fabric at 2:31.

5. The shade is hiding in the carrier

One especially handy detail is the integrated shade tucked into one of the shoulder straps. It stays out of the way until you need a little extra coverage, which means no separate accessory to remember on your way out the door. That’s a definite win.

How you attach the shade depends on baby’s age. For babies up to about five months, it fastens in a smaller triangular shape. From about five to 12 months, it expands to a wider configuration. Watch how it works at 2:38.

There are a few important safety details here. The shade is only for facing-in carries. Baby’s nose and mouth should always remain visible, and you’ll want to make sure they’re not getting too warm. BabyBjörn also says not to drape blankets, jackets or other items over it.

6. It gets the everyday details right

Some of the Hold’s nicest touches are pretty simple, and they make sense once you picture actually using the carrier.

There’s a built-in waist pocket that keeps your phone within reach instead of somewhere near the bottom of the diaper bag. See where it’s tucked at 2:49.

Then there are the custom buckles. They click securely into place when you’re putting the carrier on but open quietly when it’s time to take it off. Quiet buckles may not sound particularly exciting until there’s a sleeping baby involved.

And because this is baby gear, staying spotless probably isn’t in the cards. The entire Hold is machine washable. BabyBjörn recommends washing it separately in warm water with a gentle, eco-friendly bleach-free detergent and using a washing bag to protect it. Skip the dryer and let it air dry instead.

So, is the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Hold right for you?

At $179.99, the Hold is especially worth considering if more than one caregiver plans to babywear. Being able to change the adult fit without starting over with baby makes sharing the carrier a whole lot simpler.

It may also be a good match if you’re new to babywearing and want something that feels approachable from the start. The jacket-like design simplifies that first step while still giving you plenty of control over how the Hold fits your body and supports your growing baby.

What we like most is how much thought went into the practical parts of babywearing. You can share it without redoing baby’s positioning, stash the shade when you don’t need it and toss the whole thing in the wash when baby inevitably gets something on it. Altogether, it makes the Hold feel like a carrier designed for how babywearing actually fits into your day.

This article is sponsored by BabyBjörn. Babylist’s free site, apps and emails are made possible by our sponsors. We limit our sponsored content to relevant partners that offer products and services we believe in and use ourselves.