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You are here: Home / Babywearing / Lillebaby vs. Tula: Which Carrier is Better?

Lillebaby vs. Tula: Which Carrier is Better?

Published May 28, 2020. Last updated October 16, 2020 by Liz. This post may contain affiliate links.

Today I’m going to do a head-to-head comparison between two of the most popular baby carriers – the LILLEbaby Complete vs. the Tula Free-to- Grow – to help you decide which is the better overall baby carrier.

baby in LILLEbaby carrier and baby in Tula baby carrier

The LILLEbaby Complete and the Tula Free-to-Grow are both highly rated baby carriers that work well for newborns right up through toddlers.

Personally I’m kind of a baby carrier junkie. It’s the one type of baby item that I’ve spent a long-time researching. I own lots of carriers, more than my husband thinks is normal (he has a fair point, the other day a bunch of them tumbled out of my closet on top of me in a heap, which did seem a little excessive).

In my defense I buy some of them secondhand. Plus I want to review them thoroughly for this blog. That’s my job! I’m kind of a professional baby carrier owner, the more I think about it.

  • Baby in Lillebaby Carrier

Before I go into the details, I’ll cut to the chase: the LILLEbaby Complete is my go-to carrier right now. I use it with my 15-month-old daughter, and it has been fantastic. Although I like both carriers, in the LILLEbaby vs. Tula match-up my money is on the LILLEbaby.

Please note that A Mothership Down is reader-supported, meaning that, at no cost to you, I may earn a commission if you buy after clicking an affiliate link. I’m also a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for us to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites.

That being said, there are pros and cons to each of these soft structured carriers (as there are to all of the 7 types of baby carriers, which range from soft structured carriers to slings to wraps).

Note: If you’re entirely new to baby wearing, this Baby Wearing for Beginner’s Guide can help answer any questions you may have about choosing and using various types of carriers.

First lets take a look at the LILLEbaby Complete.

LILLEbaby Complete

baby in LILLEbaby back carry position

The LILLEbaby Complete is comfortable and cute, and it can be used from birth through toddlerhood. If you’re looking for a practical carrier that’s not hard to use and that you’ll get a lot of mileage out of, I would highly recommend this carrier! I didn’t discover it until my third baby, and I wish I had known about it sooner.

So, what does this particular model have to offer?

The LILLEbaby Complete has 6 carrying positions:

  • Inward facing (front carry)
  • Outward facing (front carry)
  • Wide seat front carry (inward facing)
  • Back carry
  • Hip carry
  • Fetal position (for tiny babies)

You won’t necessarily use all of the positions, but it’s nice to have a carrier that gives you options.

Ok, so in my opinion there’s really a lot to love about this carrier.

PROS

  • The LILLEbaby is VERY easy to adjust and put on solo. This is a big deal! It can be very hard to reach around to clip the neck buckle on a lot of carriers (Trust me, some are much harder than others. The LILLEbaby is way easier for me to buckle at the neck than the Ergo, for example).
  • It has a built-in storage pouch large enough to hold a phone, wallet, and set of keys. Probably a diaper and wipes. Maybe a sub (ok probably not a sub). To me the storage is essential, and this pocket size is really good.
  • The International Hip Dysplasia Institute acknowledged the LILLEbaby as a “hip-healthy product”.
  • If you live in a warm climate, or really anywhere that has summer (so, yeah anywhere) – this carrier breathes well, which can make a big difference. *If you want to get the most versatile LILLEbaby in terms of adjusting for various temperatures, you’ll probably want to go with the LILLEbaby Complete All Seasons carrier.
  • Straps can be worn crossed or parallel.
  • Comes with a hood, which is good for sun protection and nursing.
  • You can use the LILLEbaby starting at about 7 pounds without an infant insert. This is really helpful if you only want to invest in one carrier for the long-term, and you aren’t inclined to purchase a separate infant insert.
Baby in Lillebaby Carrier

CONS

  • The material doesn’t feel as durable as on some of my other carriers. I bought my LILLEbaby a few months ago, so I asked a friend who has used hers for several years about this. She said that hers has held up well even after heavy long-term use, and she has tossed it into the washing machine with no issue. So I feel good about that! But I did want to mention the fabric in case you think you’ll be very hard on your carrier.
  • The rear lumbar support is a separate attachment that threads onto the waist belt, and I don’t love the way it looks. However, it does provide my back support, and I’m getting kind of old, so…
  • The waistband is a bit wide, which may bother some people.

You can go the manufacturer’s website for pricing and material options.

Tula Free-to-Grow

Mom and baby in a Tula Free to Grow carrier, using the back-carry position
My baby in the back carry position using the Tula. (Note: I have no clue why my skin looks airbrushed here. In real life I don’t have this same glow, so if you bump into me on the street and feel disappointed in my regular human skin, please accept my apologies in advance).

The Tula Free-to-Grow has 2 carrying positions:

  • Front carry (facing parent)
  • Back carry

This is a durable and nicely designed carrier made of 100% cotton. I find it very easy to use, and love the fact that it’s not bulky or cumbersome at all. The body of the carrier has a streamlined feel to it that makes it especially nice to use with young babies. Actually, I included the Tula on my list of Best Baby Carriers for Newborns for just that reason.

Let’s look at some pros and cons.

PROS

  • Very durable, high quality fabric. Not only does the fabric feel durable, but it is also soft to the touch.
  • Comes with a hood, which is great to protect a napping baby from the sun, or if you’re trying to nurse in the carrier.
  • Acknowledged by the International Hip Dysplasia Institute as a hip-healthy product.
  • Adorable patterns to choose from! There are so many cute Tula carriers available, and I’m not gonna lie, this is a big selling point! I had trouble choosing my favorite. If you’re looking for a stylish and well-made carrier, the Tula is a compelling choice.
  • Works for newborns without the use of an infant insert! This is a big advantage if you only want to invest in one carrier for use from infancy through toddlerhood.
  • Waist belt is a nice size (not too wide). I’m 5’2″, so for me a giant waist band is a little much. For a taller person this probably wouldn’t matter all that much either way. Although I can’t say for sure seeing as I myself have never been any taller than I am today.

CONS

  • The pocket is on the small side, and secures shut with velcro rather than a zipper. I would really prefer a slightly larger pocket and a zipper, since I’m often carrying things I can’t afford to drop, like my credit card, keys, and cell phone.
  • Only offers two carrying positions, which may feel limited to some people. I don’t personally use the forward-facing out position or the side carry very much anyway, so to me this isn’t a big deal. But if you want either of those options, you won’t find them with the Tula Free-to-Grow.
Mother wearing a baby in the Tula carrier

Here’s a quick side-by-side comparison chart, in case you find charts handy!

LILLEBaby Complete

Tula Free to Grow

Carrying Positions

6

2

Weight Range

7-45 lbs.

7-45 lbs.

Infant Insert 

None needed

None needed

Pocket

2 pockets, one large zipped + a pouch

1 small velcro pocket

Sun Hood

Detachable hood

Detachable hood

Crossable Shoulder Straps

Yes

No

Machine Washable

Yes

Yes

Certified Hip Healthy

Yes

Yes

Lumbar Support

Yes

No

Fabric

Various options

100% Cotton

LILLEbaby vs. Tula: The Verdict

In a head to head battle of the LILLEbaby Complete vs. Tula Free-to-Grow, my vote goes to the LILLEbaby Complete.

I really enjoy both carriers, and I could make a case for either.

If you want the selection of cute patterns that Tula offers, I say go for it! It’s a great carrier and I love mine. I also think this carrier is ideal for newborns; it’s not bulky, easy to use, and cozy.

But in the end, the LILLEbaby offers more carrying options, is super comfy, and has a significantly better pocket, which to me really is a big deal. I can wear my LILLEbaby for extended periods of time without experiencing any back pain, and my 15-month-old seems very content and comfortable the entire time.

I really love how easy the LILLEbaby is to put on without assistance. The design makes it very simple for me to put it on solo, and I am not flexible AT ALL so that is saying something. If you’re into yoga you can probably work all these carriers without an issue. Ha!

The LILLEbaby is my new go-to carrier for, well, most everything. I can use it to carry my baby for well over an hour without an issue, and it’s equally comfortable in both the front and back carry positions. This one’s a winner!

Lillebaby


Here are some other baby carrier head-to-head comparisons you might be interested in:

  • LILLEbaby vs. Ergo 360
  • Ergo 360 vs. Omni

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Filed Under: Babywearing, Parenting

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Trackbacks

  1. Baby Wearing for Beginners: A Complete Guide - A Mothership Down says:
    May 28, 2020 at 1:01 pm

    […] written some articles comparing a few of my favorite carriers head-to-head. You can check out LILLEbaby vs. Tula, Ergo 360 vs. Omni, and LILLEbaby vs. Ergo 360 for a detailed look at these popular […]

    Reply
  2. LILLEbaby vs. Ergo 360: Which Carrier Is Better? - A Mothership Down says:
    May 29, 2020 at 12:52 pm

    […] LILLEbaby vs. Tula […]

    Reply

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Welcome to the Mothership!

Hi! I'm Liz, mom to 3 young kids. Like all of you, I have tons of free time on my hands to ponder the complexities of motherhood. Ok I have almost no time, these kids are taking me down. I write this blog to find camaraderie with the rest of you in the trenches. Welcome! Read More…

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