REASONS TO BUY
Quality
Hip/spine positioning
Easy
REASONS TO AVOID
Bulky
Flexible waistband
Tricky back carry
Boba 4G Review
Simple, easy, but waistband is lacking support
Credit: BabyGearLab Staff
By Adrian Hogel ⋅ June 21, 2015
Contributions From: Juliet Spurrier, MD
RELATED: The Best Baby Carriers of 2025
Our Verdict
We had an overall pleasant experience with the Boba 4G which landed right in the middle of our baby carrier rankings. It's available in multiple colors and cute patterns, as well as organic options, and the high quality of construction makes us confident it will last a long time. For us, it was comfy and easy to use, but there are several reasons why the Boba didn't surpass the competition.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Boba 4G is a well-constructed, simple carrier with two baby-wearing positions. It accommodates babies from newborn through 45 pounds and now comes with an infant insert that adapts the carry-pouch to fit a newborn, then transitions to an “M” shape for babies 11-15 pounds.
Baby's Safety
The 4G offers a secure hold for baby in the front carry facing in position, that is nice and close. Baby's legs are held in the “frog” position providing proper ergonomic support for their developing hips and spine. The back support for baby is more than adequate which is helpful when putting an older baby or toddler into a back carry position as it offers a nice deep seat and holds them nice and close.
The Boba 4G has a wide, deep seat that holds baby's legs in an ergonomically correct position.
Credit: Adrian Hogel
Baby's Comfort
This carrier is a sturdy product that supports babies and toddlers well. It offers a nice, deep seat for them. The material is soft and comfortable, so comfortable that our newborn tester reported that her baby fell asleep each time she used it. There are, however, some minor issues with the head support panel. It feels a little flimsy compared to other carriers we tested, and often folds over on itself. This makes it a bit tricky to get the panel flipped up in the back carry position, which caused some discomfort for the baby. Also, there is no extra padding on the leg holes like some of the other higher-scoring competitors we tested.
Compared to other carriers, the head/upper back support on the Boba 4G seemed a little flimsy, especially for older babies.
Credit: Adrian Hogel
Parent's Comfort
The Boba is generally a comfy carrier that supports and distributes weight to the wearer's hips, alleviating strain on the shoulders. However, the padding in the waistband is softer, shorter, and more flexible than other carriers, and we noticed this when carrying heavier babies.
Compared to the Tula Ergonomic Baby and the Beco Baby Gemini, the padded waistband on the Boba 4G is shorter and flimsier.
Credit: Adrian Hogel
Ease of Use
The Boba 4G has an intuitive design that is simple to put on and take off. All straps are dual-adjustable (meaning you can pull from either side of the buckle) for ease of use and an extensive fit range, and can also be loosened easily for breastfeeding.
Difficult to reach “chest” strap on the Boba 4G when using in a front carry.
Credit: Kelly Beson
Another nice feature is the built-in straps on the shoulders for holding your purse or diaper bag. However, with only two carry positions, the 4G lost points for its lack of versatility. Also, the chest clip can be inconvenient to reach and adjust when positioned on your back. It does have a sleeping hood and storage pocket, which we really appreciate, but the hood is stiff and hard to store away compared to some of the others we used. Finally, the 4G itself is a bit bulkier and more cumbersome when it comes to storage compared to higher-scoring carriers.
Ease of Cleaning
One of the first things we noticed about this carrier when we pulled it out of the box was that it is a lint magnet! Also, the washing instructions say to spot clean and machine wash only when necessary.
Conclusion
This high quality, well-made carrier that will transition from newborn to toddler with ease. Compared to other soft structured carriers in our tests, the Boba landed in the middle, losing points in the Parent's Comfort and Ease of Cleaning categories.
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