Both baby carriers and wraps are baby accessories designed to help you carry your baby on your body and give you hands-free mobility. The difference between a carrier and a wrap is in the philosophy behind the design, although they both are meant to keep your baby close, safe, and comfortable. For the most part, baby carriers are more structured and padded, making use of buckles and straps you can adjust and tighten as needed for your baby to sit in the carrier either on your front or your back.
Wraps are generally one long piece of fabric, meant to mimic a more natural position of the baby’s body, acting sort of like a hammock. The loose ends are secured by wrapping around your torso and tying or tucking. There’s a lot of configurations for baby wraps that allow you to hold the baby in back or front, but also on your hip, straight up, or they can lie down and sleep next to your chest.