Babywearing Beginnings

So, what is babywearing?
It sounds almost like a crazy London fashion designer's next collection but is, in fact, an ancient worldwide art/skill/practice. It involves carrying your infant in a sling or special carrier for large portions of the day. Babywearing is a term coined because the sling/carrier becomes so much a part of your essential wardrobe, as indeed does babywearing itself become so much a part of your parenting philosophy.

I'd personally like to suggest that babywearing can and should be for all. Even if it is just for transportation purposes, the simple fact is that it is a lot easier to board a bus with your hands free and baby in a carrier than it is to attempt the same whilst wielding a buggy! Plus, with the wide range of carriers on offer, there is a carrier available to suit every lifestyle and budget.

Basically speaking, there are six types of carrier readily available in the UK, however, not all of these are easy to locate on the average high street, so internet shopping is required for the time being.

1. The structured carrier/backpack style carrier
Examples: The Baby Bjorn type carriers
Retailers: Widely available on the high street and online

Pros: A great introduction into the world and benefits of babywearing, allowing parents to see if it really is for them. Promotes close parent-baby contact.
Cons: I personally would not recommend this style of baby carrier, especially for little boys, as the infant is suspended by their groin which could cause discomfort and even developmental problems over time.

2. The soft structured carrier
Examples: Patapum Baby Carrier, Connecta Baby Carrier, Close Baby Carrier, Yamo Baby Carrier
Retailers: John Lewis & Mothercare stock some, also online.

Pros: Buckles are easily adjustable and an excellent safety feature, especially for beginners. These carriers are very Dad-friendly as they don't look 'too girly'. They support the babies' body correctly, unlike the harder backpack style carriers and promote body-to-body contact.
Cons: Can be fiddly and not so easy to 'pop the baby out of' as other styles of carrier, not the best for breastfeeding.

3. The Mei Tai or Asian Style Carrier
Examples: Kozy Carrier, Ellaroo Mei Tai, BabyHawk Mei Tai
Retailers: Mainly available online.

Pros: These carriers distribute the weight evenly and can be used for front or back carries. They are easy to put on and take off quickly and are available in a wide range of beautiful colours and fabrics.
Cons: These have to be undone to 'pop the baby out' and can be a 'bit girly' for Dads!

4. The Wrap
Examples: Stretchy: Moby, Calin Bleu, Wrapsody, Kari-Me. Woven: Ellaroo, BB-Sein, Girasol.
Retailers: Mainly available online.

Pros: These carriers are basically a long piece of special fabric which requires wrapping around the body in order to distribute the weight evenly and can be used for front or back carries. They are very versatile, great for breastfeeding and are available in a wide range of beautiful colours and fabrics. The baby is easily 'popped out', especially with the stretchy wraps, without needing to undo anything. The stretchy wraps are more forgiving for beginners.
Cons: These require time and patience to learn and practice the basic wrapping techniques. Not so good for nervous parents who are not confident in their ability to tie the wrap correctly.

5. The Ring Sling
Examples: Ellaroo, Rockin' Baby, BB-Sling, Storchenwiege, Didymos, Sakura Bloom.
Retailers: Mainly available online, some stocked by independent baby retailers.

Pros: These carriers take the weight across one shoulder and can be used for front carries. They are easy to put on and take off quickly with an adjustable ring pulley-type system to get the best fit for parent and baby. They are available in a wide range of beautiful colours and fabrics, are very quick to pop baby in and out of once adjusted and are one of the best for discreet breastfeeding.
Cons: The adjustment system can take some getting used to, and they are not good for long periods of babywearing due to the strain on one shoulder (this can be minimized by swapping sides).

6. The Pouch
Examples: Hotslings, Rockin' Baby, Eesti, Lifft.
Retailers: Mainly available online.

Pros: These carriers take the weight across one shoulder and can be used for front carries only. They are easy to put on and take off quickly with NO buckles/straps/wrapping required and are available in a wide range of beautiful colours and fabrics. Think of the pouch as a 'baby bag'! They are easy access and very quick to pop baby in and out of.
Cons: These are obviously non-adjustable, so will work differently for differently sized babies and parents. These do not offer much coverage for breastfeeding.

*****

I hope that this has given an overview (albeit basic) of the kinds of carrier available in today's market. For more information I highly recommend the following sites...

Everything you'll ever need to know about babywearing:
Wear Your Baby.com
The Baby Wearer

Online UK resource and list of local meet-up groups:
Sling Meet

UK online Retailers:
Big Mama Slings
Sasa Slings
Tree Hugger Mums