Babywearing is a centuries-old practice of carrying your baby in a wrap or structured carrier. It has been increasing in popularity in Western cultures, but it's a time-tested practice with many benefits.
Knowing which type of carrier to get can be intimidating if you're new to it all. Here's a short breakdown of popular baby carriers:
Soft Structured Carriers
These are made of soft fabric but with a sewn-in structured seat for your baby. They are popular among beginners because you simply buckle a waistband and shoulder straps together, which makes it a convenient, easy-to-learn option.
Wraps
Stretchy wraps: These are ideal for newborns. Stretchy wraps are long pieces of fabric that wrap around your body and shoulders, snuggly containing baby within. Some come "pre-wrapped," while others are a long piece of fabric you learn to secure yourself.
Shop: Moby, K'Tan, Solly Baby, Boba
Woven wraps: Woven wraps are incredibly versatile, offering prolonged usage from infancy through toddlerhood. Unlike stretchy wraps, woven wraps utilize non-stretchy, dense woven fabric to bundle your baby against your body securely. They do require a level of expertise, but everyone starts somewhere!
Ring Sling
A ring sling is a piece of fabric gathered on one shoulder and attached with two metal rings. The fabric is looped across your body and threaded through the rings below one shoulder. This design allows the baby to be placed in a "pouch" between your body.
Shop: Tula, Sakura Bloom, Wildbird
Mei Tais
Also known as a Meh Dai or Bei Dai, this carrier features a square or rectangular piece of fabric with four straps - two for the waist and two for the shoulders. You secure the straps around your waist and tie the shoulder straps over your shoulders, creating a comfortable and supportive pouch for your baby.
Shop: Lenny Lamb, Didymos, Infantino
Onbuhimo
This carrier does not have a waistband but relies on shoulder straps for support. The carrier is a rectangular panel with shoulder straps attached at the top corners. To use an Onbuhimo, place the panel on your back and secure it by threading the shoulder straps through rings or loops at the bottom of the panel. This carrier is used with older babies and toddlers who can sit independently, and it's designed for wearing baby on your back.
Shop: Lenny Lamb, Mama Roo, Sakura Bloom