So You Want to be a Baby-Wearer?

I happen to be a big fan of babywearing, but this is one a recent thing since with my first, Ellie, I never really got into it since I didn’t know much about it. But, when Eve came along and didn’t like being up down, or put in the stroller, or a bouncer, or anything else, I decided it was time to get educated…QUICK. So, I am putting that knowledge to good use and passing the info on to you.

Why Babywearing? Babies like to be held, well most do anyway, and in order to get stuff down around the house or in order to play with your other kids, there needs to be a way to hold your baby while making it pretty “hands-free”. In comes babywearing; you can get stuff done, still have your hands, bond with you baby, and comfort him or her at the same time. A win win situation if there ever was one. I have found that there are THREE main categories of products that are great for babywearers, and here they are:

POUCH: This is a single piece of material that has been stitched together to form an over the shoulder holder with a pocket where you put the baby; you wear it like you would a messenger bag, over one shoulder. I have found that the pouch is great for small babies, say newborn through 3 months (newborn carry) and it is also great for babies who can sit up on their own and have good head control (hip carry). What to look for: good material with a little give, tight stitching.

• Pros
o Easy to use and very easy to store; doesn’t take up much space in a diaper bag.
o Affordable and there are a great many choices out there.

• Cons
o Have to get the size right since it is not adjustable.
o Not great for wearing more than 30-60 minutes at a time.
o Some pouches have too much padding

RING SLING: This is a single piece of material that has rings sewn in, which allows
the wearer to adjust to his/her comfort. Again, this is worn over the shoulder and the material spreads out to distribute weight throughout the shoulder and back. I have found the ring sling to be great for all ages, I have even been know to carry my two year old, Ellie, when she gets tired or is feeling a little neglected since Eve gets to ride all the time. There are multiple ways of carrying your child with the ring sling. What to look for: re-enforced stitching around the rings, fabric fits snugly but not tightly through the rings, easy to adjust, a little padding in the shoulder area (bonus).

• Pros
o Easy to use and very easy to adjust; fits most body types and can be custom made to specific requirements.
o You can find a good quality ring sling for very affordable prices.
o Variety of styles, colors, and sizes.
o Distribute weight well

• Cons
o Bigger than a pouch; not as easy to stuff into a diaper bag
o Shoulder can still get sore or tired after more than an hour or two of wear.

CARRIERS: This category includes everything that doesn’t fall into the pouch or ring sling category, things like the Baby Bjorn and Ergo Carrier. Carriers generally provide a little bit more structure and support around the back, hips and shoulder area and many come with accessories and other add-ons to make like cushy for your little one. I love some carriers and I really dislike some; it basically depends on how they are made and how well they fit and carry weight. Some carriers fit a certain body shape better than others. What to look for: some padding around the shoulder area, easily adjustable straps, a strap wrapping around your back and hips.

• Pros
o Generally very comfortable with a lot of padding and support.
o Good for long time wear.

• Cons
o Must find a carrier that fits YOU.
o The good carriers are generally in the $100 range, maybe a little more.
o Some carriers have been shown to not be great for baby’s back and hips, make sure you do your research!

You may have noticed that I have left out WRAPS. This is because I haven’t had the greatest of luck with wraps, although I know a great many people swear by them. You can find some great information about baby wearing online and I am always more than willing to answer any questions that you may have!!!

Some I like:
• Ergo Baby Carrier
• Hotslings
• Little Monkey Pouches
• Maya Warp Ring Sling