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Wrap
I find the wrap to me the most comfortable of carriers, in part because of it’s versatility: if any part of the wrap becomes uncomfortable, I can easily adjust it for comfort, and if any particular wrap style is just not comfortable for me, there are plenty of other wrap styles that are. I can choose to distribute more or less of my baby’s weight to my shoulders, or to my waist, as my body prefers. Additionally, the width of the wrap tends to be very comfortable over shoulders and around waists and little legs–much more so than the skinny straps of some modern carriers! And no buckles or rings, or metal or plastic, just soft fabric everywhere. Wraps come in a variety of beautiful fabrics, and in fact, any appropriate piece of fabric can be used in a pinch–it doesn’t have to have been sold as a “wrap.” Scarves, sarongs, and blankets have all been used. I like the traditional look of these carriers. And I don’t mind the amazed stares of onlookers when I wrap my baby to me in public, either! Different ways of
tying the wrap can be found on our menu to the left. or view our babywrap videos. ABC (asian baby carriers)
The mei tai is much less versatile than the wrap, but with one great front carry, one great back carry, and one great hip carry, it will meet most needs! Some people find a mei tai equally comfortable to the wrap, and mei tais are made with lots of different features so that you can pick the ones important to you: padded waist straps, padded shoulder straps, padded body, longer straps, shorter straps, head rests, etc. See a description of how to use a mei tai. Other varieties of ABC include: The Onbuhimo which is very similar to the mei tai, but instead of two waist straps, the Onbuhimo has a ring at either lower corner of the body. You use the shoulder straps to secure baby over your shoulders, then loop through the ring on either side and tie around your middle. The podaegi, a korean carrier that is essentially a blanket that wraps around both mother and child, with two shoulder straps that wrap around the mother’s shoulders, and the child’s body. This one tends to be too warm for climes such as ours (in Florida), though narrow body podaegis are now being sold in the US with the same style, but a blanket that does not wrap around the mother, instead just covering the child’s back similar to the mei tai.
The Hmong, similar to the podaegi, but with a smaller body,is a symbolic and traditional carrier from the Hmong culture which is famous for beautiful art and sewing passed on from generation to generation.
Ring Sling
To learn how to use a short piece of fabric or wrap for one-shoulder carries similar to the ring sling, and how to use a slide knot for adjustability, visit these links:
Pouch
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A wraparound carrier,
or wrap, is the simplest baby carrier. It is just
a long piece of fabric that is used to tie the baby to you. This very
simplicity also makes it the most versatile of carriers. There are
literally hundreds of ways to wrap your baby, though all you need to do
is to learn one for months (or years!) of happy baby carrying!
The ring sling is a one-shoulder carrier
that emulates a one-shoulder
carry in a wrap.
The pouch is similar to the ring sling in that
it mimics a wrap one
shoulder style carry, but instead of rings the pouch is popular for
having no adjustability.
Instead you buy a pouch that fits exactly, and then it is ready to put
on and put baby in at any moment without any tying or adjusting. There
are now also adjustable pouches that have snaps or zippers to change
the size of the pouch.