All About Baby Carriers!

Babywearing is not only a wonderful bonding experience for parent and child, but also a practical method that lets mom (or dad) keep two hands free while caring for baby. If you're curious about babywearing, but not sure where or how to begin, the choice of different baby carrier styles can be intimidating at best. First, we'll look at some of the general benefits of wearing your baby and then delve into the different available styles of carriers.

Benefits of Baby Carriers

The term attachment parenting was first coined by Dr. William Sears, a prominent pediatrician. According to Sears, a strong bond with parents during a child's developmental stages, like one created by babywearing, will lead to secure, healthy, and empathic emotional relationships in adulthood. And though wearing your baby is common practice in hundreds of cultures, the method has only recently been introduced in most of the Western world.

The claimed benefits of wearing your baby in a carrier include a sense of calm for infants, greater social interaction for children as they feel closer to the people around them, private and convenient breastfeeding and, of course, that deeper bond cited by Dr. Sears.

Types of Baby Carriers

There are five major types of baby carriers - these are the pouch/sling, ring sling, mei tai, wrap, and front pack or back packing styles.

Pouch/Baby Sling Style:

The pouch or sling keeps the baby positioned on your body and is very simple to use. It's also a favorite amongst mothers who like the ease and privacy it provides for public breastfeeding. The sling style of wearing your baby is quite versatile and suitable for newborns (many carriers are not appropriate for babies under a few months old), but can also be adjusted into a hip carrier for older children. While the sling method has its benefits, one major drawback is that all the weight is focused on one shoulder and this can become difficult or uncomfortable as your child grows. Also, sizing is important, so most sling or pouch style carriers can't be shared amongst adults of different sizes.

Ring Sling:

The ring sling baby carrier has all the benefits of the baby pouch or sling style, but it's adjustable – meaning both mom and dad can wear it once they learn how to use it.

Mei Tai:

Next is the mei tai, also known as an Asian Baby Carrier (or ABC). The mei tai is basically a rectangle of fabric with four straps, two for the shoulders and two for around the waist. The straps are criss crossed and tied for security. When using a mei tai carrier, the weight is distributed more evenly and it can easily switch from a front carrier to backpack carrier style. While they're not recommended for newborns, a mei tai is versatile enough to last up into toddlerhood.

Baby Wrap:

The wrap style allows for a nice two-shoulder method that helps distribute the weight, but it can be very intimidating for beginner wrappers. Essentially, the wrap baby carrier is a large piece of fabric and the babywearer must learn the different wrapping styles. So, while it has a huge range of styles (hip carrier, back pack, front carrier), these need to be learned. However, there are some beginner tying styles that can easily be learned by anybody.

Back Pack (or Front Pack) Baby Carrier:

Perhaps one of the most successful styles in North America, the back pack method of wearing your baby has been popularized by well-known brands like Baby Bjorn and the Ergo Baby Carrier. Most child carrier packs are structured, meaning you are limited to the number of ways you can wear them, but they're designed for comfort and stability. While you can purchase deluxe-style hiking baby carriers, there are also a number of smaller versions that are more suitable for everyday use. Not only comfortable, they also have that “modern” look, as they are based on regular hiking backpack designs. Dad's especially love these!

Whatever method or style you choose, know that though babywearing can sometimes require a bit of learning and practice, the bonding benefits are more than worth it. Enjoy this time and stay close.

About The Author - Chris is a new dad and editor of Babyinasling.com, where you can find a newborn baby carrier right for you and your infant. Discover a variety of baby back carriers, product reviews and tips on how to wear your child.  Great Baby Products provides information about and sells a variety of baby merchandise including baby crib mobiles and baby comforters. We have published this article as a service to our visitors.

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