Guest Blogger Linda Magid on Essential Baby Gear – Best Baby Carriers

Welcome back!

Here is a beautiful article on an essential piece of baby gear – slings- by twitter friend, Linda Magid.  Linda is a writer, wife and mother living in Plano, Texas.  Once you’ve read her guide to baby slings, hop on over to her blog that asks readers for advice on personal issues at http://iamnoexpert.wordpress.com/.  

“Slings used to be considered something only mothers who wore Birkenstocks used. Over the years, however, the sling and its counter part, the baby carrier, have become mainstream as mothers of all kinds discover their practical use.  While they continue to be a mainstay of the Attachment Parenting crowd, you don’t have to ascribe that kind of parenting philosophy to experience how easy, comfortable and comforting a sling can be. 

During Lillian’s first two years, I had four different kinds of baby carriers (the term I’ll use to cover all styles of the device).  My first, a wrap sling, I won in a raffle.  I received a Baby Bjorn as a gift.  A friend loaned me her ring sling simply because she didn’t need it any more.  Finally, I purchased a baby carrier that could hold Lillian when she got too big for the others.  I am going to share with you the role all of these different styles of carriers played in raising Lillian, plus links to help you shop for one.

(While I am giving you a lot of links, I am not necessarily recommending them all.  The baby carrier market place offers hundreds to choose from.  I only picked a few to give you an idea of styles and brands. I also tried to keep them handmade when I could, since supporting moms selling hand-crafted items is a priority. At the end of the article, I have a few links to sites that offer a large list of carriers for more information.)

 Bali Baby Streth Baby Wrap  

The Wrap:

As an infant, I found this wrap sling to be invaluable.  I used it whenever I needed my hands free or my arms needed a break from carrying my ever-growing baby.  Things like dishes or doing laundry were simply easier with Lillian wrapped close to my body.  Since putting her down resulted in screaming, I was thrilled to have an alternative.  I also liked when she fell asleep in the sling because then I would just sit down on a chair and rest more comfortably than if I was holding her in my arms.

The wrap sling was great for going out shopping because I could leave behind a clumsy car seat and annoying stroller.  If she needed to nap while I shopped, she was naturally swayed with by my movement and held close while I reached for groceries.

To get Lillian in the sling, I always stood over the bed in case I slipped (I never did). When out of the house, I wrapped her while in the back seat.  My sling had a lot of lycra in it, which could be a good or bad thing, depending what you like.  I felt it gave a little too much stretch, considering how big Lillian was.  She grew out of it by about 6 months.

 Links for wrap slings:

http://www.mobywrap.com/

http://www.3peaproductions.com/

www.peppermint.com/didymos.html

http://www.attachedtobaby.com/Baby-Wraps-C3.aspx

 Back Pack Style:

The Baby Bjorn is arguably the most conventional and most popular of the baby carriers.  With the pouch that unlatches for easy child removal and adjustable shoulder straps, it is a decent alternative.  I didn’t love it because I felt that Lillian’s head didn’t get the support she needed and I didn’t like how she seemed to hang in it, like someone hanging in a parachute harness.  I felt that being in a pre-birth position would feel better to her as an infant.  Of course, she was too young to ask!

My husband liked it a lot, which made sense.  It looks like a backpack, is navy blue and keeps her close to him.  We packed the Baby Bjorn whenever the three of us went out together. (Companies make alternatives to the Baby Bjorn, which I discuss below.)

 http://www.babybjorn.com/en/American/products/Mobility/ 

 

TaylorMade French Twill Baby Sling  

Ring Sling/Pouch

The ring sling and the pouch sling are not exactly alike but they are close in style.  Basically, you drape the wrap over your shoulder and place the baby in it like it is a hammock.  With the ring sling, you can adjust the length and with a pouch you can’t.  The pouch, though, is pretty short so the baby is placed at about the chest.

I admit that I didn’t love my particular brand of ring pouch.  I never felt like I could get it tight enough to hold Lillian close and I worried about the sides not being taught to keep her in it.  However, my sling was older and very well used, and the latest versions are updated.

Still, that sling was the only way I could get Lillian to fall asleep on an airplane between 6 months to 1.5 years.  I’d stand in the aisle (when we could do that) and rock her back and forth, patting her back.  Once she fell asleep, I’d sit down and hold her on my lap.  We traveled every 3 months and it was an invaluable tool.

I never had the chance to try the pouch and eventually Lillian got too big for any kind of sling – my back just couldn’t do it any more.  I recommend checking it out, though.

 http://www.sleepingbaby.net/

http://www.wrappedinlove.net/

http://bellala-baby.com/slings.aspx

http://www.newnativeinc.com/

  

The Ergo Baby Carrier  

The Ergo Baby Carrier (above) was the only sling I purchased myself.  I loved it.  It is similar to the Baby Bjorn but it is a lot softer and easier to pack (in luggage, a diaper bag, etc.).  It also has pockets in strategic locations and even a little zippered pouch if you need extra space.  Jonathan wore Lillian on his back and I wore her on my front with this one.  It was best for when she was mobile but not yet able to walk – too heavy for the other slings, too heavy for my arms for long periods of time.

I also liked the padding for the waist support, and that Lillian’s weight rested more on my hips and less on my back and shoulders.  It comes with a hood to cup your baby’s head for support during a nap.

Other companies have come out with new versions of this style.  And, since I used it, Ergo designed an infant insert to place into the baby carrier, making it like a sling but with the product’s excellent support.

 http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/

http://www.activemomcarriers.com/

http://angelpack.com/category/all.php

http://www.happyslings.com/

 

 

Cranberry Marbles Mei Tei Eden Baby Carrier

Mei Tei

This last sling type I never used, and it seems to be a combination of the backpack and the sling.  Based on the Japanese baby-wearing device, it is popular and many companies carry a version.  It is also more versatile than the Back Pack style – you can tie the straps in at least three variations.  (Eden Baby Carrier Company offers detailed instructions on how to use the Mei Tei.)

 http://www.all-natural-mommies.com

http://www.edenbabycarrier.com/

http://www.wrapnwear.com/

The following websites are a resource for finding more sling companies than I have listed here.

 Sling resources:

http://www.theslingstation.com/index.html

http://www.peppermint.com/

http://babycarriers.org/

http://www.attachedtobaby.com/

 

Have fun finding the best sling(s) for you and your baby.  Ask to borrow our friends’ slings and see how you and your baby like it.  While putting the baby in it can take getting used to, having that little bundle close is something you will never outgrow.”

 Remember to see this post on Mommy-Muse.com Favorites: Mamma’s Milk Slings!

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Tagged as: baby carriers, baby gear, Baby Slings, Linda Magid