The Nordic Carrier - Well played, baby-snuggling Vikings.

There's a hot new baby carrier that just might exceed all your baby carrying dreams. Except for the one where you're carrying a baby while riding a magical unicorn with Ashton Kutcher.

It's called the Nordic Carrier, made by our friends at Lillebaby. And it's got the same multi-tasking, simply elegant design that we've come to expect from the mighty Vikings, inventors of Ikea and Swedish meatballs.

 

First of all, the sturdy Nordic Carrier is made to work in six different carrying positions, including front, back, and hip. Your baby can face inward or outward, and the seat can be adjusted to accommodate tiny baby bottoms or wider toddlers up to 42 pounds. It also comes with an adjustable headrest, a wide and comfortable waist belt to take the weight off your shoulders, well-padded shoulder straps, and a handy pocket that's perfect for a small cellphone or keys.

On the downside, it's only available in black, so if you're into batiks or houndstooth, you're out of luck. Also, since the carrier headrest snaps into place, older babies might find the snapping noise-- and your terrified panic at hearing it--hilarious. I have unfortunately had to put mine aside for that reason; even though the carrier is still safe and the unsnapping simply means that the headrest is disengaged, it did make me crazy. And the body isn't extra long, so it's probably not the best choice if you're buying only for a tall toddler or older child.

Still, I found it quite comfortable, and my son actually cried the first time I took him out of it, wailing, "MORE CARRIER!"

The Nordic Carrier would be a superb gift for a new mom who might be unfamiliar with babywearing, as it looks like the iconic and non-threatening Bjorn or Snuggli, but offers a lot more versatility. It's also great for travel, especially at the airport, since it snaps on and off and contains no metal. At $80, it's a good deal, too.

If Ikea made a baby carrier, it would look like this, and it would come with a free plate of meatballs.~Delilah

Find the Nordic Carrier at lillebaby. And you can find a store here.

Note: Cool Mom Picks does not recommend babywearing while riding magical beasts, not even if Ashton Kutcher is involved.

Find More: Gear Essentials, Slings and Carriers, Travel essentials