As mothers are realizing the importance and benefit of wearing their babies, many different types and styles of baby carriers are becoming available. With so many choices it may seem overwhelming to choose the right carrier for you and your baby. Here are some observations about the latest carriers and how they might work for you.



The basic types of baby carriers:

• Baby Wrap -a baby wrap has no clasps or rings. It is a simple piece of long cloth wrapped around your body and your baby. Wrap baby carriers offer many different positions for holding your baby at various ages.

• Baby Sling -a baby sling uses rings to form an adjustable pouch that goes over your shoulder to hold your baby.

• Mei-Tai Baby Carrier -a mei-tai baby carrier has four straps coming off the body of the carrier, which can be tied in ways to wear your baby on your front, back or hip.

• Soft Structured Baby Carrier -these carriers are more like a back pack and are generally designed for older babies and toddlers to be worn on your body’s front, back or hip.

As your baby grows, it may become necessary to use more than one type of baby carrier. The sling is great for newborns that like to be held close in the cradle position. It is easy to get on and off. However, the sling is supported by only one shoulder, which isn’t ergonomically ideal. The mother can switch shoulders, but that can feel a little awkward due to right or left-handedness. The sling can also be used when carrying a toddler or older baby on your hip. But, as your baby grows, the one shoulder carry position tends to overuse and strain muscles.

The wrap carriers can solve this problem. The wrap is comfortable for the wearer in that it crosses in the back and offers symmetric support to the body. It offers one size fits all just by its nature. Nursing your baby in the wrap is simple and discrete. Once tied on you can leave the wrap on your body and take your baby out and put her back in if necessary. The options for positions are limitless in that mothers come up with their own ideas for the best position for themselves and their babies. As my baby grew I also felt the baby wrap was more secure and offered more ergonomic options for carrying an almost toddler. Your baby is in a womb-like environment with the wrap and will sleep for extended periods.

Once your baby can go to the back position (generally around 9 months) the mei-tai baby carrier becomes a great option. The front and back carries are both simple and comfortable for mother and child. With your baby on your back it becomes easier for you to do things in the front…cooking, laundry, vacuuming, bending over to garden, whatever you need to do. With the mei-tai front carry, the straps cross are in the back, which gives support and comfort for the wearer. The back position has the straps coming around the shoulders (like a back-pack), which can pull and be uncomfortable after longer periods of wearing. There are Mei-Tais that have padded shoulder straps that offer a little more support. A Mei-tai provides holds for infants, but they don’t seem to hold the head in positions as well as a baby wrap or a soft structured carrier with a hood. Your older baby will still enjoy the front position (facing you) for nursing, sleeping and snuggling and the wrap seems to give the best support and comfort for mom and baby in the front carry.

Finally, as your baby grows into a toddler there is still the need for carrying. The soft-structured baby carriers offer more waist support and many adjustments to help support your toddler in a way that is most ergonomically correct for you. The extra clasp that links the shoulder straps together is extremely important to use for taking pressure off the shoulders. These carriers offer infant inserts for carrying young babies, but seem to be best suited for older babies and toddlers. With lots of padding in the shoulders and hip belt this type of carrier can be worn for extended periods of time. Many of them also have pockets in a few places for carrying extras such as money, keys, water bottles, etc.

I am not saying you have to have four carriers to enjoy carrying your baby and do it successfully. Much depends on the length of time you will wear your child. The most important thing about baby wearing is to do it! If your are unfamiliar with baby carriers it all can seem a bit overwhelming as far as usage and different positions. Practice and perseverance is necessary for all carriers. Lugging a car seat on your arm or pushing an unruly stroller doesn’t get easier…but lovingly carrying your baby in a carrier does.




*Note: There are carries that show wearing positions with your baby upright and forward facing (legs hanging down). This position does not offer the maximum support for your baby’s spine. A baby’s spine should have a c-shaped (convex) curve which naturally occurs when they are facing you with feet in a frog-like position. The forward facing upright position forces all the weight of the baby on the hips and crotch area. You can put your baby facing forward in a Buddha like position (with their legs pulled up in front of them) in the sling or wrap, but the center of gravity will be off, making the person whom is carrying the baby try to compensate for the awkward load, subsequently placing additional stress on the carrier's back.

by Rebecca Staron (©2008 Sleepy Wrap, Inc.)