Types of slings or carriers

Please be aware that many of the statements here are broad generalizations.  This is just meant to be an overview of types of carriers available. 

v      Wraps

     Wraps are long rectangular pieces of material. Wraps are secured simply by wrapping and tying.  Wraps can be made with no sewing.  Wraps are available in different lengths from about 2 yards up to 6 yards and are usually around 30 inches wide and can be made of stretchy, woven or gauze material.  The length and type of material of the wrap will influence the type of carry you can use it for.  Shorter wraps are ideal for a hip carry while more material is required to do a Wrap Cross Carry, for example.  Wraps tend to have more of a learning curve than other slings but can be very comfortable and very versatile and after some practice are no harder to use than other types of carriers. Contact me if you’re interested in learning carry your baby using a wrap.

v      Ring slings

    Ring slings are also long rectangular pieces of material (usually between 2 and 2 ½  yards long and about 30 inches wide).   Ring slings are secured by threading the material through two rings, usually worn at the shoulder. Ring slings can be unpadded, lightly padded or heavily padded.  The tail (or material threaded through and “left over”) of a ring sling can be sewed closed or left open and can be left very long and used as a modesty cover for nursing or cut short.  Ring slings can be used for front, back or hip carries and can be used with newborns to toddlers.

v      Pouch

     A pouch, in its most basic form, is a tube of fabric with a curved seam sewn in the middle providing a "pouch" for baby to sit in. Most pouches are custom fit for the wearer, while some styles are adjustable with rows of snaps or a zipper.  Pouches are most commonly made of fleece or cotton and some are reversible. Pouches tend to be less adjustable than ring slings or wraps but also tend to have less of a learning curve.  Pouches are exceptional for hip carries and newborn cradle carries and are very convenient because they use the least material of all carriers, therefore they fold up smallest and can easily be kept in a car glovebox or diaper bag.

v      Asian Baby Carriers (ABC)

  In its most common form of this style of carrier is the Mei Tai which has a rectangular or square shaped body and four straps (two shoulder and two waist) one coming from each corner. This type of carrier has been used for centuries in many Asian cultures. Today it is available in the traditional, unstructured style and with some modern variations, such as padded shoulder and waist straps, buckles and clips.  They can be customized by adjusting the size and shape of the body as well as the length and/or width or padding of the straps. Some have baby head supports. Asian baby carriers are sometimes referred to as Podegis and Onbuhimos (among other names) depending on the strap configuration.  ABC’s are generally the preferred carrier for back carries, however ABCs can also be used as a front carrier and wraps can be used for back carries.

v      Structured soft carriers

  There are also many commercially available carriers that have more form and are less traditional, such as the Baby Bjorn and Snugli.  While these carriers are readily available they tend to be much less versatile than more traditional carriers. Some of these carriers can also place the baby’s spine in a compromising position.  If the carrier positions the infant upright, with the legs hanging down and the bodyweight supported at the base of the baby's spine (i.e. at the crotch), it puts undue stress on the spine which may adversely affect the development of the spinal curves.