November 3rd, 2009 by Neptunebaby

On Halloween night, as I was taking my kids trick-or-treating, I stopped by my neighbors house who recently had a baby boy. They were fascinated by the Babyhawk Mei Tai carrier I was wearing Elizabeth in and started asking questions. The mom said she has a Baby Bjorn that someone gave her and was anxious to try it out when he gets a little bigger. I immediately started to explain the world of babywearing to her – which probably made her think I was nuts because I can go on and on about the subject. Then it dawned on me – people need to know the do’s and don’t of babywearing! So if you are a babywearing beginner or just curious about it or even if you’re proudly wearing your baby in a Baby Bjorn because you don’t have the correct knowledge this is the post for you to read.

First rule of babywearing – do not wear your baby in a Baby Bjorn! The first reason: A baby should never face away from the person wearing them. They have no way to turn away from being overstimulated. Babies need to be able to make eye contact with their parent (or caregiver) to see if something is OK or if they should be frightened. The second reason: A baby should be positioned in a carrier with their knees ABOVE their butt to promote healthy hip development. The Baby Bjorn (and similar carriers) are what seasoned babywearers call “crotch danglers.” The baby just hangs there by their crotch which is horrible for hip development and also cuts the circulation in their legs.

Here is a list of acceptable carriers for you to try – in order of ease of use.

1. Hotsling or Pouch-style carrier: This is a simple carrier that you can begin using when your baby is a newborn. It comes with an instructional dvd, but honestly it is so simple that you won’t need it after the first time you watch it. You just slip it on and put your baby in and off you go. You can use the cradle carry as picture in the first image for new babies and then you can use it for a hip carry when your baby has good head control as shown in the second image. Hotslings and Pouch-style carriers are very easy and discreet to nurse in also. You can find them here.

2. Ring Sling is another carrier I recommend. There is a slight learning curve to these carriers, but after a few tries you will be in love. They are easy to grab and take with you and are just as versatile as a Hotsling. They also have a decorative “tail” which you can use as an added nursing cover. I have two Ring Slings and I love them. They can be used from newborn up to 30 pounds. There are many places you can find a Ring Sling, but I recommend buying from Sleeping Baby Productions. That is where I purchased my first ring sling from because I wasn’t sure if I would like it. Jan, the owner of the site, is super nice, has reasonable prices, and sends full instructions with the sling. She is also easy to contact by email if you have any questions.

3. Mei Tai/Asian-Style carrier. These are great for babies of all ages and they even make a larger toddler version. You can purchase them as is, you can customize them and you can have a wrap converted to a Mei Tai. I have one of each. If you are purchasing a MT for a new baby you will want one with a headrest. Older babies you can opt for a hood instead. They aren’t as easy to nurse in as the first two carriers, but it can be done. You can carry the baby on your front or your back with a MT. Here are a few other recommended brands: Kozy, Freehand, Catbird Baby, Ball Baby Overall, and Baby So Smart.

My first MT was a Babyhawk which you can find here. You can customize the strap color and the patterns and make it reversible or not. You can add a toy ring and a pocket for a nominal fee. There are many MT carrier brands though so don’t feel like Babyhawk is the only one. You can get a custom carrier from my friend at Wrapstar Baby Carriers as well. I am planning on getting on her list very shortly. She has the option of letting you pick a fabric or she will convert a woven wrap into a Mai Tei – which then is called a Wraptai. Slightly confusing in the beginning, I know.. so let’s stick to basics.

Babyhawk front carry:

Babyhawk back carry:

Here is a woven wrap that has been converted into a MT (by Wrapstar Baby Carriers):

4. SSC’s or Soft Structured Carriers: These are carriers that are very user friendly. They are easy to put on because of the use of buckles. Recommended brands: Beco, Ergo, AngelPack and Pikkalo are a few. I don’t have one yet, but would really like a Beco!

Here is a Beco with Carnival print:

Here is an Ergo baby carrier – men are usually fond of this carrier because they are easy to use and a little more on the “manly” side:

Here is a picture of an Ergo without being worn. You can see it’s more back pack style than the other carriers – which may be why men seem more comfortable with it. lol

5. Wrap: My favorite carrier and most versatile carrier out there is a wrap. Wraps take practice. Don’t expect to watch a video and be a wrapping expert. It took me many attempts just to get the basic front wrap cross carry down. Be patient and practice – you’ll be happy you did!

There are two types of wraps – stretchy and woven. It’s fine to use a stretchy wrap (such as a Moby wrap – something many are familiar with) in the beginning when your baby is small, but as your baby gets bigger you will want to switch to a woven wrap. A stretchy wrap only has so much support and it becomes dangerous to carry your baby in a stretchy wrap past a certain point. And NEVER, no matter what the instructions say, carry your baby in a back carry with a stretchy wrap. The Moby wrap has instructions on how to carry on your back, but it is just not safe. I don’t like Moby wraps anyway just because they sag easily and constantly need to be adjusted. Stretchy wraps I would suggest are Sleepy Wrap, Wrapsody Bali Stretch and Lovey Duds.

Here is a Gypsy Mama Bali Breeze and can be found here:

A woven wrap is very sturdy and can be used from birth up to about 40 pounds. There are several that I recommend: Didymos, Girasol, Storchenwiege, Neobulle and Hoppediz are just a few. As I stated they are extremely versatile. There are probably dozens of different carries you can do with a woven wrap. The best place for instructional videos on about 45 different carries is Squishy’s You Tube channel: start watching. She is what I would call the “wrapping queen.” I’ve learned a great deal from her and value her friendship.

This is a Neobulle and the colorway is Manon Grise (one of my fav’s!). As you can see, a woven can be used similarly to a ring sling:

Here is a Didymos woven wrap (showing a back carry for older babies with good head/neck control)

And here is a good front carry (front wrap cross carry) for a new baby with no head/neck control:

Now, here is an important bit of information. You don’t have to buy new! and if you don’t like what you’ve purchased you can resell it! I know many people will say, “What the heck are you talking about?” but believe me.. true babywearers take excellent care of their carriers and you can find wonderful deals and sell your carriers on The Babywearer and on Diaper Swappers.

I hope you find this information useful. If you have any questions, comments or concerns please leave me a comment and I will get back to you!