carrier

Not all babies love being in a carrier, but this was a lifesaver for us and we used it daily for the first year, and still periodically after that (like when strapping in our 20-month old for Uber rides in Mexico City). A huge benefit of a carrier is that the baby is upright without any pressure that could contribute to a flat head. We used the Ergo Original, though a lot of people prefer the Ergo 360 because it gives you the option to turn the baby out when they are older and want to look at things other than your face. Baby Bjorn is obviously a leader in this category too and lots of people love it -- I never tried it because my sister loved Ergo so we just went with that. One note on Ergo: some people hate the infant insert, which is this burrito-making thing you use when the baby is too little to have their legs hang out on the side. We had no issue with it, but just a thing to consider. There are also slings and wraps (they tend to require more skill / origami to use, so I never had much success with them), and this Consumer Reports Baby Carrier Buying Guide provides a good overview of all the options.

Lastly, a pro tip on packing and toting an Ergo carrier: when not in use, the Ergo is like a giant bundle of loose straps that will make your diaper bag feel like a disorganized nightmare. It doesn't come with a carrying case, but I found that it fits perfectly and snugly into the small Muji Gusset Case, which is made of a thin but durable material.