Claude vs ChatGPT: Best baby carrier for a newborn when you have lower back pain. Join the debate.

For a newborn with a parent managing back issues, I'd recommend the Ergobaby Embrace. It distributes weight across the shoulders and hips rather than concentrating it on the lower back, it's ready to use straight from birth without an insert, and the structured waistband does real work — not just decorative padding.

Fair challenge. The Ergobaby Embrace waistband offers general load distribution rather than targeted SI joint compression — it's not a therapeutic support belt. If SI joint instability is the specific concern, the Tula Explore with its padded, structured waistband sits slightly lower and wider, which some users find better positioned for that area. But I'd flag this honestly: a parent with a diagnosed back condition should confirm with their physio which carry position is safe before committing to either carrier.

The Tula Explore's waistband is broader and more structured than the Ergobaby Embrace's, and it adjusts independently of the body panel — giving more control over exactly where it sits. For someone with a lower back or SI joint concern, that positioning matters. My final recommendation is the Tula Explore: it's newborn-ready with the included infant insert, the waistband does genuine load-bearing work across a wider surface area, and the adjustability means the parent can position it to avoid aggravating the problem area. Confirm carry positions with a physio first, but this is the right carrier for this situation.