Babywearing: A Review of Carriers, Wraps and Slings

If you read my post yesterday about my excitement to test out the Britax Baby Carrier, you will have gotten a taste for my love of babywearing. So today I wanted to fill ya’ll in on my exploration through the land of baby carriers and babywearing. As ambassador to a phenomenal company, a Britax Baby Carrier is on route to my house {can you see me jumping up and down?}… I will be sure to include my complete review once I receive it! In the meantime, here is a snapshot of other carriers I hold near and dear to my heart.

Best Babywearing Wraps

Some Moms dream of passing down their wedding gowns; others, jewelry. Me? I can’t wait to give Alina my collection of baby carriers and wraps. If you just busted out in a chuckle, you wouldn’t be alone. Daddy D did the same thing, and said, “Why on earth would she want those things?”.

And for anyone named Mom, Mami or Di {my Step Mom}, I don’t believe I can ruin my kid by holding them too often or for too long. Alina is not yet two and a half, she is amazingly smart, sleeps in a big girl bed, is practically potty trained, and I wore her every chance I got. She is spoiled and babied and over-protected. She is happy and adjusted. She is the perfect little girl in her parents’ eyes, and apart of me knows this is because of babywearing. {And I’m totally just kidding about my Moms giving me a hard time… they think I’m a great parent.}HELLO! Because they are the best things known to mommy kind… of course she will want them! I have an arsenal of baby carriers; one for every kind of occasion a new mommy would find herself in.

Babywearing Wraps

The first offender and the most popular brand out there which was so eloquently described by a friend and fellow blogger is the carrier that “starts with a B and rhymes with born”. Holy smokes, that thing was amazingly uncomfortable! Even carrying an infant for prolonged periods of time proved to be an impossible task. After conducting some research, I found that it actually wasn’t so great for the baby either since they are essentially suspended by their groin/crotch. No bueno! Look for carriers that give baby adequate space for their bums to “sit” in the carrier, versus dangle. I have loved my exploration in babywearing. I have used and/or owned so many baby carriers, from wraps to structured carriers. It definitely turned into somewhat of an obsession when Alina was a baby. I would buy one, try it out and if it didn’t suit my needs, I’d sell or return it. These things don’t always come cheap, so I needed to be sure each one kept in my arsenal suited a need.

Here is a brief synopsis of my personal exploration in babywearing: I would encourage my readers to definitely do research on the subject before settling into one, or two, carriers. My favorite series about babywearing can be found as this four-part series on Multicultural Familia where everything from the benefits, types, and history of babywearing are examined. Also, as a PSA, please take proper precautionary measures when babywearing. Read the instructions and follow the safety instructions to the letter! One thing I learned in my research, and that I keep a constant eye on, is that an infant’s airway remains open by ensuring their chin is not smashed down against their chest.

I recently used my sling at my brother’s high school graduation. As we sat in stadium seating, there was no way to bring a stroller. The sling kept my sleeping baby close to my body, tucked away from the noise, yet my hands were free to clap and take pictures. Having less fabric meant I could still wear a pretty dress without being smothered in the carrier. Sebastian slept for the entire two-hour event, which I know he would not have done had I not used a carrier.

Slings: Rests on one shoulder, strapping across your body and has no adjustment capabilities. They come in sizes. I used my sling when the babies are small for quick outings/walks. I feel more comfortable having a clear vision of their face and airway while being carried across my chest. The carrier does leave you hands-free but limits your mobility with the shoulder it rests on. One pro to the sling is its packability. They are usually a light load, making it easy to keep in a diaper bag for quick use anywhere you are. There isn’t a ton of fabric to work with, making it easy to get on in a snap. I found slings to be one of the less expensive options in babywearing, and would recommend keeping one in your arsenal, but not solely. Since it is a one-shoulder operation, the sling can get uncomfortable after an extended length of time.

Ring Slings: similar to a sling in that they are a one-shoulder carry, but can be adjusted using rings. I’ve tried a ring sling once, and it worked great. I liked the ability to adjust the sling to your babies changing body and weight. The con, and reason why I ultimately did not keep it, was that if I was going to deal with an excess of fabric, I was going to stick with my wrap carrier…

Let’s start with the most obvious con: this sucker takes some practice to learn how to use. All that fabric can be overwhelming. But, I promise, once you have the technique down, it is very easy to use. Also, once your babe is of significant weight {like a toddler}, the wrap fabric will stretch. You will have to adjust more often because of that. The pros? It is so very comfortable; the large strips wrapping around your shoulders, back, hips make for a well-supported carry. Also, since it is completely adjustable to your body shape, it becomes a custom fit according to your baby and the carry. I can keep my baby as tight against my body as he and I feel necessary. There have been times that this carrier has been invaluable in soothing a fussy baby. I tuck his little head into the shoulder strap, and my movements soothe him into dreamland in a heartbeat… which he is also able to hear. Momma and baby are uber connected with this wrap.

Babywearing Wraps: essentially a looong strip of fabric that you wrap around your body in which the baby can be carried in multiple carries. This idea has been around for centuries, so it is not some amazing new idea. It keeps baby very close and secure, leaving you completely hands/arms free. My wrap is a Moby, and I love it. I’ve seen DIY tutorials online, and think that’s a great option for you crafty types {which I am not}.

One tip of advice: even having a ton of practice, when planning to use this wrap carrier, I put it on at home. I still get flustered having to work with this amount of fabric in public, and would rather be prepared to get the baby into the carrier without struggling to wrap myself.I use my wrap carrier quite often these days with Sebastian. A few particular situations in which I grab my Moby, over my structured carrier, is when I have to sit down. I sit on the ground with Alina at storytime, so I always wear my Moby. Sebas is content and peaceful in his Moby while Big Sister and Mommy get to enjoy fun songs and books…. and believe it or not, I can fit my toddler in my lap with my infant in the carrier while sitting cross-legged on the floor. Mommy success!

I would not think of traveling anywhere without my Ergo. In Summer of 2010, we enjoyed Virginia Beach with friends, did a ton of sightseeing in Washington DC and all with our happy baby tucked into her Ergo. The security the baby feels, in addition to being hands-free, made for such an enjoyable experience. As the baby grows, walking or hiking is easy with a structured carrier because the weight sits on your hips, rather than your shoulders or back. I especially loved the little sun shield that covers baby’s face when they sleep, or if your kids are like mine, need a little less stimulation.

Structured carriers: basically a carrier with padded shoulder straps and a stiff, structured waist belt that secures the child in a seated position with optimal comfort for the wearer. This particular carrier is an Ergo and is one I use a whole heck of a lot, especially once the baby gets older and bigger. The Ergo can be used as a front and back carry, as well as a hip carry. It cannot be used forward-facing, though. It is very comfortable, as you feel the weight of your kiddo being distributed onto our hips. Since you can actually use this carrier with a kid up to like 50 pounds, it should be obvious that prolonged wear (regardless of carrying position) is going to start hurting at some point with an older toddler. It is easy to put on/take off, so I basically keep it near me at all times for quick access.

By the time Alina was two years old, I basically never used a carrier… but for the amount of usage these things got in those two years made them invaluable to me and my survival as a new parent. And most especially now, as a parent to an infant and a toddler, my carriers have served my sanity well.I would say that I used my Ergo quite often, even after Alina turned a year old, with minimal use not starting till she was nearing two years old. It is definitely my “on the go” carrier. However, because of its stiff waist belt, I do find it uncomfortable to sit for prolonged periods of time. Structured carriers are geared towards babies/toddlers that can sit up/hold their heads up very well. They do sell newborn inserts, like the one Sebastian is tucked into in the picture below, so this carrier can serve as your all-in-one carrier if need be. The newborn insert basically secures the infant in a snug wrap within the structured carrier. Ha, kind of funny if you think of it. I’m pretty sure there are DIY tutorials for newborn inserts on the web.

Not for a lack of trying, we just do not subscribe to crying it out in this household. My babies are just not that chill and would cry for much longer than Daddy D and I feel comfortable allowing them to cry. Therefore, great gear has been a necessity for our parenting survival.

They may or may not be necessary for your parenting styles… but I encourage you to check out babywearing. The experience has been so rewarding. I will SURELY miss carrying my babies, chest to chest, and will treasure the experience of babywearing for all of my life. And I know, that once my days of wearing my own babies are over, I will look forward to when I can wear Alina’s sweet angels {assuming we ever allow her to date or leave the house!}.

Do you babywear? Have you heard or use the same carriers that I do, or do you use something I haven’t heard of? Tell me! Or not… goodness gracious, I don’t need to be tempted by more of these things!