Babies LOVE to be carried, and I don't know how I would survive without being able to wear Kayla and still have a hand or two free to check my email or lift some food to my mouth. I bought about 8 of them & returned 3. I know that sounds like overkill, but if some of my girlfriends (and one good male friend of mine) can have 87 pairs of shoes, I feel justified in having 5 different baby carriers. Each has advantages in different stages & situations.
Nearly all manufacturers will tell you that theirs is "the only carrier you'll ever need," but that's just marketing bullshit.
To save you a few trips to the store or post office making returns, here are some things you should do/consider before buying any carrier:
- Form vs. Function: I've been finding that the beauty of a carrier is inversely proportional to it's usefulness. Also, the importance of the beauty of a carrier is inversely proportional to the age of your baby. I wanted something really stylish when I first came home from the hospital, but after two days of fussing with rings and adjustment straps I realized that what I really needed was something that I could get Treefrog in & out of QUICKLY, and that unless I'm going someplace formal, I really don't care what it looks like.
- How developed is your baby? Does she hold her head up on her own? Does she let her legs stretch out or does she still curl up into a little ball when you hold her? Consider what parts of baby need how much support in order for her to be comfortable.
- How much does baby weigh, and how strong are your arms & back? Different carriers distribute baby's weight differently. What's comfortable for you at 6lbs. may kill at 15.
- Season/Climate: You can always add a blanket or cover in cold weather. But warm weather + non-breathable fabric = hot, cranky baby!
- If possible, attend a babywearing class. Many baby stores and birth centers offer classes in babywearing and have a few different kinds of carriers you can try on while you're there. If that's not possible, find friends who already have carriers you can try on, or just look on the manufacturer's websites or on You Tube for how-to videos of the carrier you're interested in. Sometimes seeing what's involved in getting your kid secured & comfortable will give you some idea whether it's a good fit for you.
- Don't worry so much about brand. Focus on choosing a design that fits your needs first, and then check out the various brands that make that type of carrier. Once you narrow down the type of carrier you want, the main difference between brands is the fabrics & colors they come in.
- Don't underestimate the the importance of versatility! Baby is growing and changing before your eyes, and what works one day may not work the next.
Thankfully, with Attachment Parenting and babywearing gaining in popularity, more and more baby carriers are becoming available, increasingly the likelihood that you'll find one you'll love and not need to get a bigger house for all your carriers like I probably will some day.
Here are some of the terms you'll hear used to describe the various styles of baby carrier & my two cents on each of them. Some are just re-branded classics, but some are actually new designs that don't really fit into the traditional categories of sling/wrap/backpack:
Sling - This is a generic term used to describe pretty much any carrier that goes over your shoulder & can be used for a cradle hold.
Wrap - Another generic term. I hear a lot of moms use "sling" and "wrap" interchangeably to talk about baby carriers in general. For example, a Maya Wrap is actually a sling.
Ring Sling - This is a specific type of sling which has rings that you can use to adjust the fit. Some of you may have had belts that closed this way in the 80's. The Maya Wrap is the most popular brand, but there's also The Original Sears BabySling, ZoloWear, and TaylorMade, to name a few.
Advantages: 1. Many ring slings come in light, breathable fabrics. 2. They are extremely versatile. 3. They're relatively easy to breastfeed in. 4. The tail of the wrap can be used as a blanket for extra coverage in the event of modesty or wind. 5. Major hippie cred.
Disadvantages: 1. It takes a while to get the hang of getting baby in and out of a sling wrap, and you have to spend time adjusting it for comfort each and every time you put it on. 2. Newborns tend to get a bit lost in them because there's a lot of fabric to contend with. 3. Major hippie cred.
So far my girl will only stay in hers while she's sleeping because she can't move around in it much, but I think that'll change when she's big enough to sit with her head, legs and arms hanging out of it.
Stretch Wrap - These aren't adjustable per se, but they are made of elastic and make for a snug, comfortable fit for most infants.
The Baby Nest was perfect for me during the first couple of weeks, but now it's too confining and my active little Treefrog screams when I try to put her in it. Keep in mind that she only liked being swaddled for the first week of her life, and I'm not sure how typical that is. I'm guessing many babies would do well with a stretch wrap for much longer than mine did. I'd recommend a stretch wrap as a baby shower gift since it's great for carrying newborns. The Moby Wrap is the one I see most often.
Pouch - Basically a plain, non-stretchy, non-adjustable piece of fabric that has a curved shape to it to hold baby.
Advantages: Very easy to put on & take off because you don't have to do any adjusting.
Disadvantages: You have to make sure you get the right size, or it'll either be too tight & uncomfortable for baby, or too loose and you won't feel like she's being properly supported. Also, you or baby will eventually grow out of it.
The most popular brands of pouch-type slings (around where I live anyway) are Munchkin Jelly Bean and the Peanut Shell. Also try Slinglings or Kangaroo Korner.
Upright or Backpack Carrier - These are carriers that look something like backpacks and hold baby in an upright or seated position. Note that I'm not referring to framed carriers here-- I'm talking soft carriers with shoulder straps & in some cases, hip support.
One of the most popular upright carriers is the Baby Bjorn. Bjorn makes a few different styles now, including one that's made of lighter, more breathable material. Infantino makes an almost identical carrier. Both are easy (in my opinion) to get baby in and out of, and baby likes the fact that she can see everything you see and move her limbs around while being carried. These and similar types can be used on the front or the back, with baby facing you or facing out when used in the front position. I should mention, though, that there's been some controversy over this type of carrier because of the potential for spinal compression. Also, baby is basically being held by the crotch, which may not be great for boys especially.
Some good alternatives are the Ergo Baby Carrier and the Ellaroo Mei Tai. They both form more of a seat for your baby, eliminating the spinal compression/crotch crunch problems. The also distribute baby's weight more evenly and are usually more comfortable. The Ergo in particular gets rave reviews and can also be used in a hip position. It ain't pretty, but it's EXTREMELY functional.
Framed Backpack Carrier - Framed carriers are those huge things you'll see crunchy dads using to tote their little ones around on hikes. They're not really for everyday babywearing, but I'm including them here for the sake of completeness. If you like to go hiking and want to bring baby along, you can check out the Kelty or Chicco frame carriers.
Mei Tai - A Mei Tai is an Asian wrap that's similar to a backpack carrier but not quite as plug-and-play. They're definitely prettier than a Bjorn or an Ergo, but they require more skill to put on. You can mix & match straps & fabrics at meitaibaby.com, or pick a canned one at Ellaroo.
Hip Carrier - As the name implies, it's a carrier that supports baby while she sits on your hip. I personally haven't tried one of these yet, and am probably not going to since many upright carriers can be adjusted to be worn on the hip anyway. The one I was considering was the Ellaroo Mei Hip.
Cargo thingy dingy - I don't know if there's even a separate name for this one yet, but one of my favorite style of carrier right now is this adjustable sling-looking thingy with mesh sides and elastic rails. Unlike all of the carriers mentioned above, you put baby into the carrier first, and then put the carrier on you. It's very roomy so baby can move around, and has velcro straps that hold baby in place so she doesn't slide down as you're walking.
The one that I own is the Infantino SlingRider, but the Munchkin Jellybean Cargo Sling is pretty much the exact same thing with more pockets. Boppy makes one with a second strap to help distribute weight across both shoulders, but I found that this tends to ride up and put pressure on your neck so I returned it.
IMPORTANT: If you buy the Infantino SlingRider, make sure it's the newer version with the secure adjustment clip. The old version was recalled for being a fall hazard. In fact a few of these carriers have multiple iterations; most are just design improvements for convenience but you should always make sure you're buying the latest one in case safety improvements are made.
Well, there you have it. If you're in the market for a baby carrier, kudos for your decision to keep baby with you, and I hope this helps you navigate the marketplace a bit. When you find the right carrier for you and your baby, you'll both love the convenience and the closeness it facilitates. Now if you'll excuse me, I'm off to relearn how to cook pasta.
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