Once he was birthed into the world, I could not put my baby boy down. Snuggling him was (and still is) the best thing on earth.  But after a while, he became heavy in my arms; he hit 18 lbs before 4 months!  And thus, why God created “babywearing” (my husband hates the word, haha).  There are so many different types of baby carriers out there and I am no expert, but I will attempt to write about each and especially comment on the ones I personally own.  First off, I do not have a Baby Bjorn.  Not only are these uncomfortable for mom (or dad!), they are also not healthy for baby.  In a Bjorn, the baby is dangling from his/her crotch rather than sitting comfortably (would you want to be dangling from your crotch?!), but it is also not good for their delicate and growing spine.  Good baby carriers put the baby’s needs first, in that, their whole posterior and upper thighs are supported in the seated position.  This is comfortable for the adult because baby’s weight is equally distributed between the shoulders, back, and hips.

Stretchy Wraps

The first baby carrier I decided to purchase is the Moby Wrap (at the reasonable cost of $39+).  This is simply a long piece of stretchy fabric that can be wrapped around the body.  There is a learning curve here, but I practiced while I was pregnant so that I could put it on in less than 30 seconds.  When my son was first born, I kept the Moby wrapped and just took him in and out and around the house and also in an out of the car seat for running errands!  Babies love to keep their legs up in the “froggie style” at the beginning because it is warm and close your body — so very womb-like.  However, with this fabric, because it is stretchy, there are two downsides.  One, it is a bit hot during those summer months.  But I wore it and a tank top and was good to go.  I had two colors, so I was always making sure to match my outfit.  Two, since the fabric stretches, when your baby reaches 15 lbs+, the stretchiness makes it less and less comfortable.  You have to keep tightening it as you go about your day.

Woven Wraps

The above downsides to a stretchy wrap is why, someday, (for my next baby?!) I want to purchase a woven wrap.  There are many awesome brands out there.  Didymos, Dolcino, Storchenwiege.  This wrap, though expensive (they run $120+), will stand the test of time.  (One of my close friends swears by her woven wrap.) It will not give way as your baby grows and is usable and comfortable up to 40 lbs.  There are more ways to tie a woven wrap and they are cooler because they are made of breathable fabric.  So, if you must choose between a stretchy or woven, I would choose woven, but if you are a newbie and don’t want to fork over that much cash, the stretchy wraps are wonderful for the first few months.

Side note:  It is possible to save a bundle and make your own stretchy or woven wraps; after all, these things are just one big, long piece of fabric, right?  Wear Your Baby is a great site.  But I must say, I tried to make a woven one, and found my Moby to be much more comfortable.  But if you are crafty, give it a whirl!

Structured Carriers

While pregnant, I decided on the stretchy wrap and a soft, structured carrier.  These baby carriers are similar to the Baby Bjorn, however, they are much better for baby.  At first, I didn’t want a carrier with a bunch of straps and buckles, but that is because my prior experience (as a babysitter) with the confusing Bjorn was so awful.  I tried out some great brands at an awesome local baby store and was very impressed with the Ergo, Beco, and Boba.  I decided on the Ergo.  I am not, and will not, ever be disappointed.  It is easy to snap your baby on your front or back and even husbands will wear this one because of its “manliness factor.”  I began using my Ergo when my son was right around 15 lbs.  I certainly could have used it earlier (the Ergo company recommends and highly encourages that you purchase the infant insert for babies under 12 lbs.  Here is a tutorial on how to use it with the infant insert.)  This carrier, once I began using it, has been my go-to babywearing device.  I buckle it on (takes all of five seconds) before we go out for errands and snap my son in when we visit the grocery store, grab a bite to eat, etc.  It is also very convenient, because, once you get the hang out it, putting baby on your back is so awesome for when you want to make dinner, vacuum, or do anything else that requires the baby to be off the floor, out of your arms, and not on your front.  When putting him on my back, I used to only do it over a couch or a bed — I have never once dropped him, but that felt safer when he was smaller.  Now that he is bigger, I feel comfortable without that extra “mind padding,” and sometimes will do it outside of my car, etc.  He loves being close, and when he was younger, he would often fall asleep.

Ring Slings

My third baby carrier was a gift from a friend and I cannot believe how much I love it!  I didn’t think I would like a ring sling, because it appears as if all the weight is on your one shoulder.  Alas, this is not true at all!  (I am very picky about this since I have had back problems in the past.)  But, I took my friend’s word for it and she was right!  This sling is awesome!  It has replaced my Ergo as my new favorite.  I like it because my son, now that he is one, likes to look out and see what is going on — if he is chest to chest with me, that is difficult to do.  Also, it is not as hot in the summer months, since there is not so much fabric pulling him so close.  I have no experience with carrying an infant in a ring sling, but I’m sure that is great too.  (The infant hold is much different than the one shown.)  I have a Maya ring sling, which is made of woven cotton.  You could also go real high-end and purchase a silk (or linen) one (they are claimed to be better) by Sakura Bloom.

One word of caution about slings: not all slings are equal.  The kind I’m talking about are, again, a long piece of fabric which is sewed into a pair of metal rings for adjustability.  You should always watch your baby’s head while wearing a sling, ensuring that his chin is up and they are breathing properly.  Here is important information about proper use of slings.  Sadly, the Infantino “slings” were recalled due to their poor design.  This product looks more like a shoulder bag than a sling and is not a good example of baby wearing!  As long as your baby’s head is up and you are careful when bending down, slings are very versatile and usable.

Mei Tais

There is another baby carrier that I don’t yet have.  The mei tai.  These are so beautiful.  Very similar to the Ergo, but don’t have buckles or bells and whistles, just long pieces of cloth.  My favorite brand is the BabyHawk.  You can choose from a huge assortment of colors and fabrics.  I hope to purchase one of these (some brave mamas make them) someday.

Every time we run errands or grocery shop, my son is close to me.  We talk to one another about what we are doing and he enjoys being close to me and seeing things from where I am.  It makes me cherish the moments, even the tedious “forgot the butter, turn the car around” moments, because I get to kiss his head at every turn in the store.  So many different ways to more-easily and hands-free carry your baby . . . . so little time.

Which baby carrier is your favorite?  Did you find that, like me, different carriers worked for different periods in your baby’s life?

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