Thinking about baby wearing?
Babywearing is a practice that has been around since the beginning of time and practiced across all cultures in unique ways. Babywearing has become more and more common in recent years, with more parents choosing to take advantage of all the benefits babywearing has to offer both themselves and their baby! Let’s take a quick look at some of the amazing benefits of babwearing.
keeps baby close to your body, which helps regulate their body temperature, heart rate, and breathing
increases breast/chest feeding success, by helping parents notice feeding cues earlier and keeping the breasts accessible
promotes bonding, security, increases the “love hormone” oxytocin
allows the parent to have their hands free for tending to other children or completing tasks
helps strengthen parent’s core and back muscles
provides a barrier to the public, keeps strangers’ hands away from your baby
can be used to nurse effectively in public by providing some privacy
parent’s physical movements lull baby into calmness and they often nap well while carried, reduces crying
But if babywearing is new to you, it can feel intimidating to try to figure out which style of carrier is best for you, how to wear safely, and find one that fits your financial budget (since carriers come in a very wide range of prices).
Some of the styles you may be familiar with might include: a ring sling, a structured baby carrier, a stretchy wrap, a woven wrap, or even a meh dai. Each of these options has its own advantages and disadvantages.
For example, stretchy wraps, like the Moby or Solly Baby, are great for newborns, because they are super cozy and the stretchiness of the fabric is very forgiving for even the newest wearers. They roll up compactly and can be shoved quickly into a bag. But the downside is that they often have a lot of fabric that can feel overwhelming at first and they certainly take some practice, as do all carriers. They also don’t offer the support needed to carry older babies.
Woven wraps are not stretchy and are often used by babywearers who have gained enough skill to be able to wrap safely and effectively without the forgiving stretchiness of the stretchy wraps. While they can be wrapped as simply as a stretchy wrap, they can also be tied in multiple variations, some of which use special “tie offs” as decoration for fun or to demontrate skill. Woven wraps can be custom made, making some very special and unique (and expensive!). Wovens are often viewed as “advanced” babywearing, because they require additional skills and lots of practice to get right. Because they are not stretchy, they work excellent as back carries, making them a great option for those who want to continue babywearing older babies and toddlers, or for those who need the front of their bodies accessible to perform chores and other work. The traditional Rebozo is a woven wrap that initiated in the heart of Mexico. African wraps like the Kanga and Capulana come in many different styles, some woven and some simple cloths, and are worn and tied in a variety of beautiful ways.
Ring slings are simple to use and very handy, because they usually don’t require a lot of adjustment between uses, roll up compactly, and can be easy to breast/chest feed in. But the weight distribution is not as even as other styles and they don’t hold the baby as securely as other styles either. There are even waterproof ring slings that are excellent for showering or playing in the creek with all the kiddos!
Soft-structured carriers like the Ergo or Tula, use buckles to fasten around your body, so there are no awkward strands of fabric to figure out. They are also designed to distribute weight efficiently across the parent’s body, making them a great choice for long wearing time or even hiking. But structured carriers are bulky and sometimes feel hotter, so they may not be a great fit for the scorching days of summer and aren’t as easily crammed into a diaper bag or purse. They can also be used equally as well as front carries and back carries.
The meh dai style carriers (also known as a bei dai, and sometimes mei tai) are flexible-structured carriers that use straps that tie rather than buckles. Meh dais originated in Asia and have been much of the inspiration of the western carriers we have today in the United States. They offer some of the same benefits of a fixed-shape carrier (like the Ergo), but the straps make it possible to customize to the wearer’s body, something that is often useful and more comfortable for bigger bodies (whereas buckle carries often require additional “extenders” to be worn by larger bodies). People often praise the meh dais as having the best qualities among all the different carry styles, due to the ease of use, comfort, security, portability, and affordability.
Of course, as with any parenting practice, it’s important to do your research and make sure that you’re following the proper safety guidelines. As a quick tool, follow the TICKS guidelines:
Tight
In view at all times
Close enough to kiss
Keep chin off the chest
Supported Back
Still unsure which style is right for you? Interested in trying a few and getting helpful tips and troubleshooting for a safe and comfortable fit? Silver Falls Family Support has a lending library of many different carriers, including stretchy wraps, ring slings, woven wraps, meh dai’s, structured carriers, and more. We love sharing the joy of babywearing with clients and would be happy to talk more about your options. So reach out and let’s get you into a carrier that feels just right for you!