Baby-Wearing: Ring Slings, Carriers & Wraps Oh My!

Baby-Wearing: Ring Slings, Carriers & Wraps Oh My!

How in the world do you know what to buy…

I love baby gear.  ALL baby gear – so baby-wearing contraptions are no exception!  When I had my 1st – I knew I would be a baby-wearer.  I loved the idea of keeping them close – while still having my hands free to complete tasks.  This trend continued with my second.  So to that end, I have invested in numerous solutions both with Miles & Miro.

When I started down this path I was not sure what was best, what I would prefer, where to buy them…etc.  There were a lot of online resources that I consulted – but no one who lived in my area and did the things I did.

So from one Dayton mommy to another – here is the breakdown on baby-wearing preferences from your neighbor:

Ring Slings

Pros:

• Quick to throw on
• You can get it on & baby in/out it by yourself
• Once you master it – you can put it on while walking into a store
• Can be used with newborns – all the way up until generally 30 lbs. (depending on your sling maker and the material)
• Variety of carrying positions: Cradle, Snuggle, Kangaroo, Hip & Piggyback
• You can breastfeed in it
• People all around the world have been carrying babies like this for centuries
• Generally two different fabric options – linen or silk – and more color options than you can count
• Silk versions fold small and can be tucked into a diaper bag

Cons:

• Takes a few times wearing it around the house before I felt comfortable venturing out – comfortable = baby secure to my liking.
• Linen ones – especially double linen like mine can be slightly bulky to carry in a diaper bag or purse.

Where do I wear mine?

• Around the house – while doing light housework (not bending over a lot) or while cooking
• To the grocery store
• Shopping

Tips:

• As a general rule – if you don’t feel like baby is secure – tighten the top and/or bottom rail
• Watch videos on YouTube – several of them – from different people.

Brands I Love:

• Sakura Bloom (my blue sling pictured above is from there – double linen)
  • If you want to fall in love with baby wearing – check out their Instagram Feed
• Etsy has a lot of great sling makers – My green one is from a vendor that is no longer selling, but it is an example of a silk sling!

Wraps

Pros:

• Super Comfy for both baby & momma – I think this is the most comfortable option
• You can get it on & baby in/out of it by yourself
• Can be used with newborns – all the way up until generally 20 lbs. (depending on your sling maker and the material) – most wraps are designed for the 1^st year of life
• People all around the world have been carrying babies like this for centuries
• It will fold easily into your purse or diaper bag and not take up a lot of room

Cons:

• Hilarious attempts at figuring it out – which could be a ‘pro’ for those watching. It took both me & my husband reading the directions (once I understood it – it is a breeze – I’m sure you’re smarter than me!)
• Takes a second to put on – I prefer to put mine on at home before I get into the car. The cloth is so long before you tie it – I’d prefer to have it drag on my floor than in a parking lot or store.
• You cannot typically use it past 1-year b/c of the max weight (or less than a year – like in my case becasuse of BIG babies)!

Where do I wear mine?

• Around the house – while doing light housework (not bending over a lot) or while cooking
• To the grocery store
• Shopping

Tips

• Maybe I still had baby brain – or maybe I am just bad at following directions – but I could not figure this out the 1^st time without my husband – find a friend, have them help.
• Wrap it tight on you before you put baby in – it cannot be too tight (extra benefit it helped hide my post-baby belly!)

Brands I Love:

• Solly Baby Wrap is the only one I’ve used…and I adore it.

Carriers

Baby Bjorn

Pros:

• Quick to throw on and one of the only carriers I have tried that doesn’t require a second person to put it on (or extreme flexibility).
• You can get it on & baby in/out of it by yourself – this is specifically why I like the Baby Bjorn better than most other carriers.
• Can be used generally from 8-35lbs. (depending on the model you buy)
• You can wear them facing you or facing out
• Most technical of the options – I think the baby feels most secure in it out of any other options.

Cons:

• Most technical of the options – so not as outfit flattering 🙂
• Forward facing can be bad on the baby’s hips (we only use ours chest to chest – or will turn around but only for a few minutes)
• Once you get to the 20ish lbs. mark I did not feel the hip support was as good as the Ergo baby

Ergo Baby

Pros:

• Can be used generally 7-45lbs. (depending on the model you buy)
• You can wear them on your front, back or hip
• Baby feels very secure and comfortable…padded shoulder straps are nice
• Felt like it had better hip support when my daughter got to be 23ish lbs.

Cons:

• I cannot – as hard as I try – get this thing on myself. In my opinion you’d have to be a contortionist to snap the strap that goes across your back (readers if anyone has some tips – please tell me what I am doing wrong – I’d love to use my Ergo Baby more)!!
• Feels the bulkiest – I have not found a great way to fold it so it can be tucked in a bag

Tips for Carriers

• There are a ton of designs out there – explore.
• I recommend one of these options in addition to a ring-sling or wrap. There are just times when my brain is not working and I cannot get the ring-sling or wrap to feel right – and carriers do the work for you.

Where do I wear mine (Bjorn or Ergo)?

• Hiking in the park
• Through the airport
• Around the house – while doing housework or while cooking
• To the grocery store
• Shopping

[highlight]So moms, what are you favorite baby-carrying contraptions?  Please comment below and share the brand & the pros/cons of that brand![/highlight]