Wraps, Carriers and Slings, Oh My!

When trying to find the best hands-free way to carry your baby, it’s easy to be overwhelmed by seemingly endless possibilities! bebo mia is here to help you out with that.

Baby-wearing is a great way to connect with your baby, and for him/her to feel safe and comfortable. Newborns love to hear your heartbeat, and feel your body heat. It’s an easy way to get in some skin to skin time, and also leaves your hands free for doing almost anything! Going on walks while wearing your baby is also very nice, as it allows you to be closer, and you don’t have to push around a big stroller!

Our personal favourite is the Chimparoo. And no, not just because of the cute name! It’s 100% Canadian made, and comes in stretch organic cotton or woven organic cotton for extra stability. With no buckles or straps (that could break or dig in to you), there are many ways to wear it, whatever you find easiest, most comfortable, and/or your baby enjoys the best. Most of the positions cover your whole back and shoulders, offering more support – therefore more comfort – than other carriers with just two shoulder straps. It also is one of the very few carriers that has a front facing option. What more could you ask for?

The Ergo sells their original carrier for $115 on their website. They also have other options to choose from, such as performance, sport, and organic. It can be worn wherever is most comfortable/suitable to your and the baby’s needs; the front, back or hip. One of our clients recommended it saying, “The baby seemed very comfortable and at ease in the carrier, and the movement seemed to soothe her.” http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/

Mei Tai carriers are the traditional Asian carrier design. It is a rectangular or square piece of material, with ties on each corner. It can be worn on your front or back, and be used from newborn to toddler. Since Mei Tai is not a brand name, but instead a certain style, there isn’t a link here.

Pouch slings and ring slings are similar to each other, in that the carrying position is the same (they are both over one shoulder, and the other side is around the opposite side across your chest, ribs, and back), but the difference is that a pouch sling is a stretchy piece of material in a tube-like shape, and a ring sling isn’t connected at the ends, but instead has a ring that the material gets tied around to lock it in place. They are great for breastfeeding in public, as the baby doesn’t need to change position, and it offers you coverage if that’s what you’d prefer.

One of the more popular carriers on the market is the Baby Bjorn. It is 100% cotton, and machine washable. As they baby gets older, you can fold down the head support, and carry him/her facing forward. Although it is easy to use, people have been known to complain of shoulder and back pain. Even when used with the back support, it is common to still experience discomfort. It’s important to note that this option may not be the most comfortable for the baby, as it can put pressure on his/her hips, potentially resulting in hip displacement. ‘Babies R Us’ sells it for $149.99.

Bag slings get their name because they look like bags! However, they are not recommended, because they have been known to cause suffocation in infants. The sling naturally pushes the infants head toward their chest, and it is easy for their face to get pushed up against the material, and also the top edges touch together and close overtop of the baby, cutting off fresh air supply.

If you have your sling and you are not sure how to use it, or you would like to sample other ones before investing in one, we offer a class called ‘Kangaroos Have it Right’. For only $95 you learn about attachment parenting, how to use your sling, and the class teaches new parents all about other wraps, slings and carriers. The class also includes other useful information, such as co-sleeping.

If you do choose to carry your baby hands-free, please remember to practice beforehand (even more beneficial when somebody helps you) and read the instructions very carefully. Babies who cry in carriers usually do so because they can feel whoever is carrying them is nervous about doing so because they don’t trust the carrier. But still, it never hurts to make sure there isn’t a squished foot somewhere, just in case!