REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable to wear
Machine wash and dry
Cozy
REASONS TO AVOID
Price
Harder to adjust on-the-go
Tula Free-to-Grow Review
Comfortable carrier for parents and baby, but it's harder to use and expensive
The Tula Free-to-Grow is a soft structured carrier that offers longevity and a high degree of adjustability.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Price: $179 List
By Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team ⋅ Feb 19, 2018
RELATED: The Best Baby Carriers
Our Verdict
The Tula Free-to-Grow is a soft structured carrier that is highly adjustable, accommodating children from 7-45 lbs without the need for an infant insert or additional purchase. It's somewhat harder to use due to the adjustments and extra features. However, if you are patient, your reward is a cozy carrier for outings with your little one and one of the most comfortable options in our best baby carrier review for parents to wear. The Free-to-Grow has super soft fabric and is machine washable. This carrier may not be a good choice for families on a budget as the list price is high, but it could be your one-and-done option for the life of your baby's baby-wearing years.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Tula Free-to-Grow | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Lifetime Carrier for Infants to Toddlers |  Best Overall Baby Carrier |  Easy to Use Wrap | Best Traditional Carrier | Great Wrap on a Budget |
| Price | $179 List $179.00 at Amazon | $90 List $69.99 at Amazon | $60 List $59.95 at Amazon | $200 List $199.99 at Amazon | $45 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | Comfy to wear and cozy for baby but it's spendy and harder to adjust | Comfy sling to wear and sit in with an easy to use design | Budget-friendly wrap style that is easy to use and comfy enough | Comfortable and easy to attach with a cozy place for baby | Economical and comfortable but you need to hold baby when you put it on |
| Rating Categories | Tula Free-to-Grow | Nalakai Ring Sling | Baby K'tan Original | BabyBjorn One | Boba Wrap |
| Child Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Parent Comfort (35%) | |||||
| Ease of Use (30%) | |||||
| Ease Of Cleaning (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Tula Free-to-Grow | Nalakai Ring Sling | Baby K'tan Original | BabyBjorn One | Boba Wrap |
| Min/Max Weight | 7 - 45 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 35 lbs | 8 - 33 lbs | 7 - 35 lbs |
| Carry Positions | Facing In (7 - 45 lbs) Back Carry (Head/Neck/Torso Control - 45 lbs) |
Facing In (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Carry (8 - 35 lbs *BGL recommends Head/Neck/Torso Control) |
Kangaroo Position (8 - 35 lbs) Hug Position (8 - 35 lbs) Adventure Position (8 - 35 lbs) Explore Position (8 - 35 lbs) Hip Position (8 - 35 lbs) |
Facing In (0 - 36 mo./33 lbs) Facing Out (5 - 15 mo./26 lbs) Back Carry (12 - 36 mo./33 lbs) |
Facing In (Newborn - 35 lbs) |
| Weight | 1.25 lbs | 0.9 lbs | Sm: 0.89 Lg: 1.04 lbs |
2.26 lbs | 1.41 lbs |
| Packable Size | Medium | Small | Small | Large | Small (5.5 yards in length) |
| Fabric | 100% Cotton | 58% Bamboo 42% Linen |
100% Cotton | Cotton, Polyester, PU Foam | 95% Cotton 5% Spandex |
| Hood | Yes | No | No | No | No |
| Storage Options | Velcro pouch on waist belt | Pocket on the tail | Pouch on the belt. | None | Storage Pouch |
| Other Features & Notable | Adjustable Seat Width, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class 1 | None | Azo Dye-free | Adjustable Seat Width, Oeko-Tex Standard 100, Class 1 |
None |
| Included Accessories | None | None | None | None | Storage Sack |
| Care Instructions | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash cold, hang dry | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low | Machine wash warm, hang dry | Machine wash cold, tumble dry low |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Married couple, Ula and Mike, started the Tula company when they couldn't find just the right carrier or sling for wearing their babies. Inspired by women they saw working the fields wearing their little ones in colorful wraps, the couple decided to create a carrier of their own. Eventually, they realized there was a demand for the kind of carriers they were making, so they started selling them full-time.
Performance Comparison
Our little testers seemed content and happy when sitting in the Free-to-Grow.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Baby's Comfort
Only a couple of other carriers are more comfortable for babies than the Free-to-Grow.
This carrier's fabric is supremely soft, and our tiny testers seemed content and often fell asleep. The Free-to-Grow has an adjustable seat, sides, and head support for a customized fit every time. Little ones feel secure but have enough freedom of movement to avoid feeling trapped.
Parent's Comfort
The Free-to-Grow is one of the most comfortable options we tested.
Wearers liked the padded shoulder straps and the thicker waistband that helped support the baby's weight better than those carriers without a waistband. The Free-to-Grow has more adjustments for a better fit, allowing each user to find the right support for long-term comfort.
The large buckle on the Free-to-Grow may take some practice to work well, but it isn't difficult to operate.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Use
The Free-to-Grow is harder to use than some other carriers.
The carrier is relatively intuitive, but the straps and buckles can be difficult to reach, depending on your flexibility. Putting the Free-to-Grow on and putting the baby inside is surprisingly harder than we thought it would be.
The Free-to-Grow has a waistband pocket (above left) that closes with Velcro and can hold some smartphones or your keys. It also comes standard with a hood (above right) that offers support and can help protect your baby from the elements.
The Free-to-Grow is easy to clean on the go and in your washer and dryer.
Credit: Abriah Wofford
Ease of Cleaning
This carrier is machine washable and can be thrown in the dryer on low, making it one of the easiest options to keep clean.
The ability to dry this carrier instead of hanging it means less downtime between uses. It's also easy to keep clean on the go should your little one spit up or have an accident, as the fabric dries relatively rapidly.
Should You Buy the Tula Free-to-Grow?
If finding a top-ranked baby carrier for the long haul is your goal, and you're willing to give up some ease of use, the Tula Free-to-Grow may fit your needs. It can accommodate children from newborn to toddlerhood and is soft and comfortable for the wearer and child. Plus, it's easier to clean than some contenders, which we appreciate when messes occur (and they will).
What Other Baby Carriers Should You Consider?
A sling-style carrier, like the Nalakai Ring Sling, could be an appealing contender. It's more affordable and easier to use, which are two aspects the Free-to-Grow can't beat. Plus, the sling-style design offers fit customization, which may be a perk if you plan to share the baby carrier with another wearer. Once your family is ready to move on from a baby carrier, consider one of the best baby backpack carriers from our review, especially for longer excursions.
Manufacturer Video
Front Carry
Back Carry
—
Juliet Spurrier, MD and BabyGearLab Review Team
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