A buckle carrier (also known as Soft Structured Carriers and or SSC) are the perfect baby carrier for someone who wants the quick function and security of a carrier that fastens with buckles, but may find mainstream front packs uncomfortable or the large frame hiking packs too cumbersome. As an added bonus, they are often offered in fun and stylish prints!

Generally, Soft Structured Carriers have one buckle at the waist, and another buckle between the shoulder blades (or across the chest, in a back carry). Usually, the waist and shoulder straps are padded for added comfort.

Soft Structured Carriers shine as back carriers. They are often the first carrier a babywearer uses to do solo back carries, because there is no adjusting of fabric or tying of ties while your little one squirms on your back in the middle of the parking lot. That said, Soft Structured Carriers can also be used for front carries, though sometimes fastening the buckle between the shoulder blades is difficult to do alone. And some SSC’s can technically be used for hip carries, but it is almost never comfortable or easy to manage.

Soft Structured Carriers are often a perfect choice for the reluctant babywearer, or someone who doesn’t like the look of a lot of flowing fabric. They’re great for outdoorsy types who don’t want long straps that may touch the dirt, and they’re perfect for someone who may have outgrown a mainstream front pack but wants to continue with something similar.

Soft Structured Carriers have a very small learning curve. If you can buckle your seatbelt, you can probably manage a SSC. The only thing you might need to practice is getting your baby on your back by yourself.

If you like the general design of Soft Structured Carriers but you’re looking for more print options and you’re open to a tie or two, you might consider a MEI TAI (which was, after all, the original inspiration for SSC’s).