Happy Baby has become the carrier of choice for parents who find Ergobaby and Tula too bulky. The Original strips away the excess while keeping what matters.
MINIMALIST DESIGN PHILOSOPHY: The Happy Baby Original looks and feels less like "baby equipment" and more like something you'd actually want to wear. Thinner straps, cleaner lines, less padding bulk. For some parents, this is a feature, not a bug.
COMFORT TESTED: In 2025 testing by The Bump and other outlets, Happy Baby Original ranked top for comfort and versatility. The thinner design actually distributes weight well for most body types.
LIGHTER WEIGHT: At roughly half the bulk of an Ergobaby Omni, the Happy Baby is easier to toss in a diaper bag or stroller basket. Doesn't dominate your storage when not in use.
SOCIAL MEDIA PRESENCE: Happy Baby has cultivated a strong Instagram/TikTok following among "aesthetic" parenting accounts. If you're seeing minimalist nurseries and neutral palettes on your feed, you're seeing Happy Baby's market.
LEARNING CURVE: Some parents find the less-padded straps less intuitive than heavily-padded alternatives. The adjustments are there but less obvious than Ergobaby's.
VERDICT: Happy Baby Original is for parents who find mainstream carriers too bulky. If minimalism resonates with you and you don't need maximum padding, this is excellent.