A Baby Sling Store with a Personal Touch

Hi! I'm Kristen, the owner of Along for the Ride. I started researching and buying baby carriers before my daughter was even born. I knew I wanted to carry her in a sling, and I wanted it to be the best sling available. Little did I know how many great choices there would be!

Wearing my baby was one of the best parenting tools that I found. Babywearing has gotten us through nursing sprees, colic, growth spurts, teething, travel, shopping, sleep troubles, and general fussiness with more ease than I could have imagined. My  daughter is in preschool and my second child, a son, is now a toddler, but I still find that babywearing helps us on a daily basis. I have truly come to believe that a quality baby carrier is as essential for new babies as diapers are!

I am based in Charlottesville, Virginia, but I work with parents and caregivers all over the world to find the perfect carrier for their baby.

Finding the best baby carrier

I am an avid researcher, and I have tried dozens of different types of slings, pouches, wraps, and structured (frontpack or backpack) carriers. Wearing my daughter for hours every day, I came to realize which carriers represented the best in quality of construction, comfort, and functionality. I started this business as a way to be able to stay at home with my daughter, and also to share my knowledge of baby carriers with others. It is a sad fact that the carriers most commonly available in major retail chains are not necessarily the best. They often don't allow baby to be carried in a comfortable position (for parent or baby), they aren't easy to nurse in, and they can often only be used for a period of a few months. Many parents start out with these carriers, and end up giving up on wearing their baby entirely, because they just don't work for them. I hope to be able to open parents' eyes to the wide world of baby carriers, and I guarantee that there is a perfect carrier for every parent and baby.

A Real Business Run by Real People

Working with Mom-owned Businesses

In recent years, there has been a babywearing renaissance. Hundreds of new brands and styles of carriers have come on to the market. The vast majority of these businesses have been started by moms like me, who felt that they shouldn't have to choose between rewarding work and nurturing their family. These "kitchen table entrepreneurs" are changing the world of work. I'm proud to partner with and support the mom-owned businesses that market, distribute, and manufacture all of the carriers on my site.

Just ask Us

Satisfaction Guaranteed

I want to be sure that you are perfectly happy with your new baby carrier. All of our carriers are backed by a 30 day money-back guarantee (90 days on Ergo products!). If you are still expecting your baby, or are purchasing for someone who has not yet had their baby, just let me know. I'll be glad to extend your exchange period until after the baby arrives.

Enjoy shopping at Along for the Ride and HAPPY BABYWEARING!