Shoulder Straps of an Ergonomic Carrier – Which Type Is Right for Me?

At Zumbucca, we offer four different types of shoulder straps so you can choose the one that truly fits your needs.

They can be combined with a carrier of any size. Let’s take a closer look together:

1. CLASSIC STRAIGHT SHOULDER STRAPS

Straight shoulder straps are the most commonly used type.They fit the vast majority of parents and are practical and easy to use.They adjust with a side-release buckle under the arm, which can be tightened in both directions – ideal even for wearers with limited range of motion.This type is also the most comfortable option for back carrying.

When front carrying, you can cross the straps on your back by re-clipping the buckles.

The chest / shoulder-blade buckle is fully adjustable up and down to allow optimal positioning for any body type. It’s sewn efficiently and can be tightened well even for slim backs. You can choose between a classic buckle or a popular magnetic buckle.

For easy breastfeeding, we use special “nursing buckles” – loosening them, along with the underarm buckles, allows the baby to drop slightly lower for more convenient nursing.

Two Ways to Put the Carrier On:

Option 1:– Loosen all buckles (underarm buckles remain closed, chest buckle open)– Buckle the waist belt– Place baby in the carrier– Put on the shoulder straps– Close and tighten the chest buckle– Tighten the underarm buckles

Option 2:– Loosen all buckles (underarm buckles open, chest buckle closed)– Buckle the waist belt– Place baby in the carrier– Pull the shoulder straps on over your head (like a t-shirt, with chest buckle in place)– Close and tighten the underarm buckles

2. CROSSED SHOULDER STRAPS

For parents who prefer crossed shoulder straps, we offer a carefully designed and well-padded solution.The padding is long enough to comfortably fit larger body types (who may feel discomfort from the webbing digging into their sides with straight straps), but can also be adjusted shorter for petite wearers.

Crossed straps are often the first choice for:✔️ parents with limited range of motion,✔️ very slim parents for whom straight straps may feel too wide or slip off the shoulders.They are adjusted simply by tightening the underarm buckle – no complicated steps.

If you need to back carry, or if you ever need to convert the straps to a straight style, the set includes a slip-on chest buckle, which allows you to instantly convert the carrier into a straight-strap version.

Breastfeeding is just as easy as with classic straps – simply loosen both underarm buckles to lower your baby, and shift the waist belt slightly to the side for more comfort.

How to Put On the Carrier with Crossed Straps:

1. Buckle the waist belt

2. Buckle one underarm strap across your back (leave it as loose as possible)

3. Place your baby into the carrier

4. Buckle the second underarm strap and tighten both straps evenly

There are several ways to put the carrier on with crossed straps – but always make sure both buckles are secured before letting go of your baby.

3. WRAP-TIE SHOULDER STRAPS

If you love the comfort of a wrap but feel intimidated by complex tying or adjusting, you’ll love our half-buckle or full-tie carriers.They combine either a buckle or tie waist belt with wrap-style shoulder straps.

The shoulders are made of long wrap fabric straps that cross over your back and are tied under your baby’s bottom at the front. If the straps are long enough, you can tie them at the back as well.This is a wonderfully simple and intuitive solution for anyone who doesn’t like buckles or isn’t yet confident with a full woven wrap.

This style is most commonly used for newborn carriers, but it's also great for bigger babies or in families where both parents carry regularly and don’t want to keep adjusting buckles – especially when the parents have very different body types.

It’s also a very comfortable option for both XS and XL body sizes.

Breastfeeding in a wrap-tie carrier:

Simply loosen the knot and lower the baby, just like you would in a wrap.Shift the waist belt slightly to the side where the baby is nursing.

Back carrying:

If you don’t like having the fabric crossed over your chest, you can wear the straps straight and use a Tibetan finish (just like with a woven wrap) to prevent them from slipping off your shoulders.Alternatively, we can also make a fabric chest belt – just like the one used with crossed buckle straps.

4. PADDED WRAP-TIE SHOULDER STRAPS

The difference between padded and unpadded wrap straps is that with this version, the long fabric tails begin only after the padded section – which rests over your shoulders and upper back.The padding helps distribute the weight more effectively, especially when carrying heavier children.

This is mostly a matter of personal preference.Some caregivers prefer the soft feel of gathered fabric on their shoulders, while others like the structured comfort of padding, similar to what you’d find on a classic buckle carrier.