Before Little Mister was born, I knew I wanted to “wear” him in a carrier. I figured I’d do a combination of babywearing and pushing him in the stroller, depending on the situation, so I wanted to make sure I found a carrier that was good as well as a stroller that would last a long time.
The stroller was a success. We ended up purchasing an Uppababy Vista that has lasted through both Little Mister and Little Miss and adapted so that I can push it as a double stroller. My favorite part? It has a HUGE, easy-to-reach basket for storing things. Many times when we go grocery shopping, I won’t even grab a shopping cart – the basket can hold at least 4 2-liter Diet Coke bottles and additional groceries.
But what about the carrier? There are a million carriers on the market – and that’s just the soft-structured carriers! I’m sure you’ve heard of the common brands like Ergobaby, Boba, K’Tan, Moby, and Baby B’jorn, but what about ring slings, woven wraps, and others like the Onbuhimos and Meh Dais? It can quickly become a rabbit hole of addiction if you aren’t careful.
I started out, after hours and hours of research, with the much recommended Ergobaby 360. With all of the rave reviews about it, I figured I couldn’t go wrong! My best friend loved her Ergobaby! And then I tried to wear a couple week old Little Mister, in the infant insert in the Ergo 360 and it was absolute chaos. We couldn’t get comfortable, I felt like it was bulky and uncomfortable on my front, he screamed the entire time, and the velcro was so loud, I knew there was no way he would stay asleep if I tried to take him off.
But not one to give up, I purchased an Ergobaby Original. I was so excited because it had a beautiful star pattern on it. Little Mister is my little star baby so I thought it was kismet. Unfortunately, it also went terribly. We could not get comfortable. I was about to give up when I happened upon a local store that was a saving grace for many parts of my motherhood experience.
The Nappy Shoppe was a babywearing, cloth diapering, natural parenting store. When I walked in, a shop of moms seemed to lovingly descend upon me, wanting to help me anyway they could. I explained to them my troubles with the Ergos and they brought me to their babywearing room, filled with all types of carriers and brands. Come to find, carriers can all fit differently and feel different. Some are better for different body shapes and some babies just don’t like how some carriers are. It’s no fault of the carrier, the mom, or the baby, but sometimes it takes some trying on to find the right carrier for you and baby. What works for one person may not work for another.
Needless to say, I ended up working at the Nappy Shoppe for many months, living there to the point where Little Mister thought it was just another home, and the women there became like another family for me. I hope you are able to find a babywearing resource in your area like I could find in mine. If you can’t (or if you’re still just researching), here is a brief guide to help you navigate the babywearing rabbit hole.
Soft-structured carriers (SSCs), also referred to as buckle carriers, are by far the most commonly known carriers. From Ergobaby to Tula, Lillebaby to Boba, the brands are extensive. These carriers will feature a fabric panel that goes up the length of the baby, a thickly padded belt with buckles to secure it around the parent’s waist, and two padded straps for over the shoulders.
Most commonly, soft-structured carriers will have baby facing towards the parent, either on the front of the parent or, as the child gets older, on the parent’s back. Some have the ability to adapt to have the child facing outwards or what is becoming known as world-facing.
There are three common sizes for soft-structured carriers. There are standard sized carriers that can be worn with a baby at least 15 pounds or 7 pounds with an infant insert. There are toddler carriers for, well, toddlers. And then there are some SSCs on the market that can be worn with babies from birth.
Ergobaby and Tula carriers are very similar and currently owned by the same parent company. Tula carriers are known for their colorful and fun patterns. Many have become collectibles. My husband and I have 3 ourselves. If you are looking to get the male in your life into babywearing, Tula can be an easy way to get them enthusiastic in choosing a pattern that they love.
Tula also has one of the carriers where baby can be worn from birth. The Tula Free-to-Grow is adjustable so that it tightens in for when baby is 7 lbs, and then expands as they grow. There is no infant insert needed for this carrier.
Do you have back problems? There are some carriers, such as the Beco Gemini, that has straps that can cross in the back. This can create added stability and support for the wearer while still being safe and comfortable for baby. You might also check out the Lillebaby carriers. These carriers have a lumbar support that can slide on and off the waist belt for added back support.
Other features of SSCs may include airflow mesh panels, high chair adaptations, and a variety of inserts for newborns. There is even the Mission Critical brand that makes carriers geared towards men!
Check out some of my favorite soft-structured carriers:
Stretchy baby wraps are long pieces of fabric, typically made of jersey, that you wrap around your torso in a variety of ways to secure baby to you. They are fantastic for newborns as they can really support all parts of a floppy newborn baby. Though many say they can be used for babies up to 15 pounds, I don’t recommend it. The general rule of thumb for ANY babywearing is that the child should be close enough to kiss. With stretchy wraps, once baby starts to grow, the stretch will not hold as securely and they may start to sag. Being aware of this is the first step towards ensuring baby’s safety.
The most common stretchy wrap carriers are Moby Wrap, Baby K’Tan, and Boba Wrap. Moby Wraps and Boba Wraps are similar in that they are both long pieces of fabric that you tie around you. Baby K’Tan has changed this slightly in that they created a two-piece product that simplifies that tying process.
Check out some of my favorite stretchy wraps:
Once your baby has graduated from the stretchy wrap, if you enjoyed the different ways of typing the wrap, being able to adjust it just perfectly for your baby, check out woven wraps. Woven wraps can be worn with baby from birth. They are a stronger material than the stretchy wraps, so they will last longer as far as baby’s weight is concerned. You can also use them to wear baby on your back. There are so many different ways to tie woven wraps that it can be adjusted to your comfort level.
Woven wraps come in different sizes based on the length of the material. The most popular length is a Size 6, although you can do a shorter length for quick ups and downs or a longer length for multi-layered wrapping. The fabrics are beautiful and colorful with more popular brands being Natibaby, Lenny Lamb, Girasol, and Didymos, however the brands are endless for this type of carrier.
There are some companies that will use these woven wraps to transform them into soft-structured carriers or ring slings. If you are looking for the softness of the woven wrap, but the structure of the SSC, check out companies such as Tula or other carriers such as the Onbu or Meh Dai for similar feels without the complexity of the wrapping.
When I went into the Nappy Shoppe for a new carrier after the Ergobaby debacle, I thought I would try a stretchy wrap. One of the employees advised I try a ring sling. I was skeptical. It looked so complicated and not secure. It seemed as though my Little Mister would just slide right out the bottom. This couldn’t have been further from the truth. Ring Slings are actually some of my favorite carriers now and my go-to for quick ups. Little Miss lives in a ring sling when we go to the park, and I always have at least one in my car.
A ring sling is a length of fabric woven between two rings. The fabric can be tightened or loosened based on the size of the baby and comfort of mom. I have even loosened the fabric slightly to allow my babies to nurse while I’m wearing them! Baby sits in the fabric in a way similar to a hammock. The fabric stretches from knee to knee and up their back while they sit in a sort of froggy position against your torso or hip (for older babies).
The key to the ring sling is to never do two things. NEVER lay baby down in the ring sling. Always ensure that they are NOT chin to chest, their airway is clear, and that they are close enough to kiss. Also, NEVER bend over while wearing baby in a ring sling (or any carrier really). There is a fall risk if you bend over at the waist.
There is a bit of a learning curve to the ring sling, but it is so worth it, like any of the carriers, once you have it mastered.
There are many companies that sell ring slings, many creating them from the fabrics they use as their woven wraps so they are extra soft. My favorites include Sakura Bloom, Wildbird, and Aloha and Light.
Some companies, such as Aloha and Light and Sakura Bloom also make ring slings with fabrics that are water-friendly. These are perfect for if you live near water, go swimming or wading in the pool often, or just want one to bring on vacation.
Check out some of my favorite ring slings:
These four types of carriers are only the beginning. There are also Onbuhimos which have the backpack style straps and panel of the SSC but no waistband. There are Meh Dais which have the backpack style straps and panel of the SSC, but has a wrap-like waist. Then the Meh Tai carriers that have the panel, but long fabric straps that you can wrap over your shoulders then around your waist.
There are so many different options for carriers and ones that will fit for a variety of stages and needs for you and baby. Take to Facebook and find a local babywearing community to learn more.
Just be warned, babywearing can become addictive. Not including the two Ergobaby carriers that were not a good fit for Little Mister and I or the two ring slings I’ve owned but sold over the years, my family currently owns 3 SSCs, 5 ring slings, and an Onbuhimo. You might say I caught the carrying bug.