Tula Ba Coast Explore Mesh Baby Carrier, Adjustable Newborn to Toddler Carrier, Ergonomic and Multiple Positions for 7 – 45 pounds (Urbanista)

Let me tell ya I was scared being THICK in the middle this carrier wouldn’t fit correctly like others I’ve tried...and would affect how my premie 5 week old 7lb baby on oxygen would NOT fit since I’m 250lbs 5’2... BUT it fits perfectly with room on these adjusters ;)! Most importantly baby boy fits perfectly and safely!! SUPER lightweight and unlike the other carriers this one can be forward facing( when baby has good head n neck control) and comes it a mesh hood for keeping weather off little bean! Of course this item is $$$$ but with all the adjustments options ( snap button or pull adjusters) this will be able to use during the duration from infancy to big toddler from 7-40lbs so years of use!! Buy it parent you won’t regret!! PS Watch some YouTube videos of Tula Explore to see for yourself!!

First off, I do love this carrier. Baby is very comfortable in it. The shoulder straps are fantastic and the overall fit is good except for the missing lumbar support! I had terrible lower back pain after using it. I never get that kind of back pain with the Ergobaby 360, which I also own. I wore my baby facing in, all snug and close to me to reduce pressure on lower back but the rather narrow belt felt incredibly uncomfortable on my lower back. I am 5'9", slender and have a small waist and wide hips - maybe it just doesn't work well for that body type? Compared to the Ergobaby 360, I prefer that the Baby Tula Explore is a lot less bulky and so much softer but sadly I just can't wear it for long periods of time because of the missing lumbar support. Considering how expensive this carrier is, I wish Baby Tula included the lumbar support (you can buy it separately on their website for $19) like their competition Ergobaby and Lillebaby does. So even though I love so much about this carrier I returned it. I refuse to pay an extra $19 (+shipping of course) for something that should already be included in the first place for an already very pricey item.

After trying many carriers, I think I'm settling on the Tula Explore. I love the simplicity of the carrier, the part baby is actually in. There's no bulky parts to adjust and baby feels pretty flush against my body, like she does in a baby wrap. We both like that. She seems pretty comfortable once settled into it. The weight, so far (she's about 12 lbs), is distributed mostly on my hips. This is great because my back was killing me with other carriers. The weight distribution is the main reason I'm choosing this one over others. The fabric is also softer then the Lillebaby Airflow, though not as soft as I would like. I really like the cushion around baby's legs too, which seemed to be either missing or too bulky in other carriers.Now here's why it's not perfect, even though I think it's the one I'll keep... The shoulder straps are thick, but not too thick, however the adjustable connection doesn't go as high up as I need. At the highest point, I can barely reach it (I'm 5'4" and never thought I had short arms). I have to slide it all the way down and connect in my middle back where I can reach it. This is fine but leaves the shoulder straps on the edges of my shoulders, not close to my neck. The only reason I'm okay with this is because none of the weight seems to be on my shoulders. We'll see how this works as she gets heavier and the carrier is more worn in. Another negative is the infant head support pillow. You have to tuck it in and tuck the flaps into little pockets inside ther carrier. The problem is that there isn't anything to snap the flaps in place. I just decided to untuck the pillow and use it in the short position snapped to the outside. However, if you truly have a tiny infant, like the 7lbs they say this carrier fits, this could be a problem. Lastly, I wish the hood was attached and tucked into a pocket like a lot of other carriers. I'm fairly certain I'm going to lose one day.All in all, I'd say this carrier is almost perfect. Even the things I would change are either specific to me, narrow shoulders and apparently short arms, or things I can work around.

Pros:High quality soft shoulder/side straps, soft waist belt, breathable mesh that's comfortable for baby and you, airholes in detachable sun hood. Adjustable leg width for newborn-3mt, 3mt-9mt, 9mt-4y. High quality material all around that's soft. Pocket storage that fits pocket wallet, phone, and keys. Easy to strap in baby.Why I like it over my Ergo 360:My Ergo I wanted to like it but the mesh is so rough no matter which model you buy (360/omni 360/omni breeze) both baby and I had rashes/bruises. For me it was near my armpits and for baby it was on his inner thighs even if he wore pants but it's meant to be breathable so it defeats the purpose. I had to wear thick t shirts which again takes away from it being breathable. The sun hood is suppose to be lightweight but when the sun hits the hood, baby gets so hot. Where baby sits is so uncomfortable because the inner waist belt is hard and doesn't bend. Strapping baby I had to be extra careful since the material all around is slightly rough. No pockets. Sure I could buy the expensive models but they still have the same material.Cons:Need to buy lumbar support for $19. Only available on their website. Waist belt adjustment pulls towards back instead of stomach. Sun hood doesn't have a zipper storage.These are all things I can live with as the overall carrier works for sweaty baby and me plus it's so soft. You could probably buy an infantino carrier but for me, I need cushion, want to ealk around with him for more than 30m, whether om a hike, beach, store. Great buy if you have a big baby; my baby is 20lb 27 in for 5 months so this needs to be comfortable for me since he's growing so fast. I'll buy the lumbar support, I'll tuck the sun hood into the pillow cushion, and I'll adjust the waist belt in reverse for different outfits. My friend loves her Tula and she's had hers for 3 years, 2 babies!

I don’t normally write reviews but finding a good baby carrier has been such a hassle, I felt I should help other moms out! This is it! This is the 5th carrier I’ve tried and it’s my favorite by far. It’s the easiest and fastest to put on and get her in than any of the others I tried. It feels way more supportive than the others. Other carriers I felt like her head was too far out or it was smashing her head against me even though she was the correct size and age for it. This one doesn’t do either one. It’s the perfect mix of support for her head/neck but also freedom to move her head as she wishes. Definitely recommend!!