This front carrier works very simply. The parent puts the shoulder straps around their arms and the carrier secures in the back, with the straps reaching under the parent’s arms and around their neck. Baby meanwhile, sits happily in the front, either inward or outward facing. The inner seat, arms, and leg holes are all cushioned so that baby will also ride in comfort however, the same cannot be said for the parent. While the strapping system is secure enough to hold baby firmly in place, it’s going to cause a great strain for parents. The lower strap that reaches up under the arm is going to place a lot of strain on the parent’s back while the portion of strap around their neck is going to cause this to quickly become a high-pressure area as well.

The carrier also has absolutely no storage – unless you count the inner seat as a cargo holder. But it has no pockets or zippered compartments where you can stash keys, change, or anything else that you will need for even the shortest jaunt so you’ll have to carry another bag or just bring the bare essentials and be happy carrying them in your pocket.

While this carrier is a good model for those parents who only need a carrier for very short trips, and for parents who won’t need much on those trips, this carrier is probably one to be passed on. Even though it’s machine-washable and comes with a dribble bib, so do other models of carriers that won’t hurt your back and that have at least a few storage solutions, even if that is in the form of one small pocket on the front – you’ll still be getting more than you will be with the Tippitoes baby carrier, which also comes only in basic black.