Carry It Forward

A pilot program from Carrier Connection

Got a carrier sitting in a drawer that your little one has outgrown? Put it to work for another family — and borrow from ours in return.

Carry It Forward is our pilot donation-for-rental program. Tuck a gently used carrier into your return package and your donation covers your rental fee. You just pay shipping.

This pilot is open for reservations with a rental start date in May 2025. Rentals that began prior to the program launch are not eligible. Rental start dates are determined by requested reservation start date, not date on which the reservation is created.

Just Want to Donate?

You do not need to rent a carrier to donate one. If you have a carrier you would like to pass on but are not looking to borrow from the library right now, we would still love to have it.

Email us at support@babywearing.us and we will send you our shipping address. Donors are responsible for shipping costs. The same donation acceptance standards above apply.

We do not issue formal donation acknowledgements for carriers not associated with a rental, but we will do our best to let you know your carrier arrived safely.

How It Works

Browse our library and place a reservation as you normally would.
Add a note to your reservation that you would like to participate in Carry It Forward, and confirm that you understand the rental fee will be charged to the card on file if a qualifying donation is not received. (See the exact language to use below.)
Receive and enjoy your rental. Your 14-day rental period begins when your package is delivered.
When you ship your rental back, tuck your donated carrier inside the return package. No separate shipment needed.
We inspect your donation at check-in. If it passes, your rental fee is waived. That is it.

The note to include in your reservation:

"I would like to participate in Carry It Forward. I understand that if a qualifying donated carrier is not received in my return package, the standard rental fee for my borrowed carrier will be charged to the card on file."

What Your Donation Covers

Your donated carrier covers the rental fee for one 14-day rental during the pilot. Shipping is still charged separately, the same as any library reservation.

You are welcome to donate more than one carrier — but the rental fee waiver applies once per member for the duration of the pilot.

Where Your Carrier Goes

Every accepted donation goes back to work. At Carrier Connection's discretion, donated carriers may be:

Given to families in need through programs that provide carriers and support to those who cannot afford them
Added to our community lending collection so more families can access a wider range of carriers
Used to seed new babywearing libraries — your carrier could become the foundation of someone else's lending program
Placed with trained babywearing educators and consultants for use in classes, fittings, and community education
Sold to fund the mission — proceeds support new libraries, access to safety-tested carriers, and babywearing education

Donated carriers become the property of Carrier Connection upon receipt and acceptance.

What We Can Accept

Carrier types we welcome

Buckle carriers (full buckle and half buckle)
Ring slings
Woven wraps
Onbuhimos
Meh Dais and Podaegis
Stretchy wraps (Excellent condition only — see condition standards below)

Ring slings and buckle carriers in good condition are some of our most-requested types and make wonderful donations.

Brands we accept

The following brands are accepted, though this list is not exhaustive. Not sure about your carrier? Send us a message before you ship.

Ergobaby, Tula, LÍLLÉbaby, Beco, Boba, Lenny Lamb, Didymos, Girasol, Oscha, Natibaby, Sakura Bloom, Kinderpack, Mabē, Wildbird, Artipoppe, Hope & Plum, Stokke, Integra, Kyte Baby, Solly Baby

Carrier Connection reserves the right to decline any donation at its discretion, including brands not listed above or carrier types already well-represented in the collection.

What we cannot accept

Unbranded or no-name carriers
Carriers missing original hardware, or with swapped, converted, or third-party replacement parts
Recalled models (you can check the current CPSC recall list at cpsc.gov)
Carriers manufactured before approximately 2012
Narrow base carriers that do not support knee-to-knee positioning
Framed hiking or backpack carriers
Carriers that have been bleached, structurally altered, or washed with non-approved products

Carrier Condition Standards

Excellent — No visible wear, fading, pilling, or staining. All hardware, stitching, and webbing fully intact. Looks and functions like new. Accepted for all carrier types including stretchy wraps.

Good — Minor cosmetic wear such as light fading or slight pilling. No structural concerns. All hardware functional. Accepted for buckle carriers, ring slings, woven wraps, and onbuhimos.

Fair — Visible wear, multiple areas of pilling or fading, or minor staining. Hardware fully intact. Accepted case by case at Carrier Connection's discretion.

Poor — Significant wear, staining, fraying, or compromised stitching or hardware. Not accepted.

Stretchy wraps must be in Excellent condition only due to the shorter usable lifespan of knit fabric.

Not sure where your carrier lands? Send us a photo at support@babywearing.us before you ship and we will let you know.

Eligibility

An active Carrier Connection membership (Standard, Premium, or Patron) is required to participate. Browse membership options here.
One rental fee waiver per member per pilot. You may donate as many carriers as you would like.
The waiver applies to the rental fee only. Shipping is charged separately as normal.
Carry It Forward is a pilot program. Availability may vary.

If Your Donation Does Not Qualify

If no donated carrier is received in your return package, or if your donation does not pass our inspection, the standard rental fee for your borrowed carrier will be charged to the card on file at the time of check-in. You will be notified by email with the reason.

If a donation is borderline, we may take up to three business days to make a determination before closing out your reservation.

We are not able to return donations that do not meet our standards, though we may do so at our discretion if you cover return shipping costs.

Shipping and Return Labels

Your return label will be generated to accommodate the added weight of a donated carrier. Carrier Connection reserves the right to charge additional postage if the return package is significantly heavier than the prepaid label allows. This will always be assessed on a case-by-case basis — if you are sending multiple carriers we appreciate it more than you know.

Please use the original packaging and prepaid return label included with your rental, as outlined in our Shipping Information page.

Standard Rental Terms Apply

Carry It Forward reservations are subject to all standard Carrier Connection rental terms, including rental period, late fees, replacement fees, and care requirements. Your participation in this program does not modify or replace any terms in the Carrier Connection Membership and Rental Agreement. By participating, you agree to those terms in addition to the Carry It Forward program terms described on this page.

Not sure if your carrier qualifies? Want to confirm before you ship? We are happy to help.

Email us at support@babywearing.us with any questions!

Carry It Forward is a pilot program. Carrier Connection reserves the right to modify, pause, or discontinue the program at any time.