BABY WEARING 101

Bethany Hammond

WHAT IS BABY WEARING?

"Babywearing" simply means holding or carrying a

baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier.

Holding babies is natural and universal; baby

carriers make it easier and more

comfortable, allowing parents and caregivers to

hold or carry their children while attending to the

daily tasks of living. (babywearinginternational.org)

BENEFITS OF BABYWEARING

Medical professionals agree that infants thrive through touch; “wearing”

your baby is another way to meet this need. But the benefits of babywearing

don’t end there … babywearing offers many other advantages, some of

which include:

• Happy Babies.

• Healthy Babies.

• Confident Parents.

• Loving Caregivers.

•Comfort and Convenience.

(http://babywearinginternational.org/articles.php?article=1)

BAD CARRIERS

Crotch danglers (can

lead to hip

displaysia, bad for backs

of parent and baby) –

Baby Bjorn, Snugli Bag slings

(suffocation risk) –

Infantino recalled

WOVEN WRAPS

Woven wraps

(Didymos, Girasol, BBslen)

• Very versatile (many ways to

wear, newborn-toddler)

• Comfortable for heavier toddlers and

long outings

• Can be expensive

• Learning curve

STRETCHY WRAPS

Moby wrap

• Inexpensive

• Learning curve

• Good for newborn until

around 20 pounds

Baby K’Tan

• Takes some of the effort

out of wrapping, but not

as many carries to do

RING SLINGS

Easy to put on

Limited carries (generally hip

only)

Often made of woven material

Especially nice for toddlers

who want up and down

POUCH SLINGS

Very compact and easy to

put on

Not as supportive/good

for shoulders/back

Best for around 4-18

months

SOFT STRUCTURED CARRIERS

Ergo, Boba, Beco

• Fast and easy

• Front, back, and hip

carries

• Excellent for toddlers

up to around 35 pounds

MEI TAIS

Much like a soft

structured carrier, but

instead of buckles, it has

straps to tie

FRAME BACKPACKS

Easy to put on

For 6 months+

Best for hiking

Very bulky

RESOURCES

Thebabywearer.com – general information and used slings

Diaperswappers.com – used slings

Babywearinginternational.org – great information

Becomingmamas.com – good tutorials on wrap carries

Novanatural.com – sells BBslen wraps (one of the cheapest wovens)