What Size Woven Wrap Do I Need?

 

So, What Size Woven Wrap DO You Need?

I’m going to say something controversial here.

Ready?

You don’t have to worry too much about wrap size.

Why not?

Let me explain.

When I had my first baby, I found out the ring sling and Snugli I had weren’t that easy for me.

So I started reading about different kinds of carriers.

I found out that a woven wrap (not stretchy wrap) was the most comfortable, and the most versatile and adjustable.

So I ordered my first wrap, a size 6 EllaRoo wrap.

A size 6 woven wrap allowed me to do Front Wrap Cross Carry and Back Wrap Cross Carry, which were the most popular carries at the time (way back in 2004).

I was 5’3 and around 120 lbs.

At about 6 ft and 175 lbs, my husband could use it for the same carries.

Unlike clothing sizes, there is a wide variation in who can use one wrap size.

Even though my first choice, a size 6 wrap, worked fine, I soon learned that other sizes worked for me, too.

I didn’t really need a size 6 wrap.

A size 5 wrap was plenty long enough for me to do the same two carries . . .

. . . and all the other full length carries.

Let me take a moment here to post a graphic that will help you make an educated guess as to what size woven wrap will be your base size – the woven wrap size that will allow you to comfortably do a Front Wrap Cross Carry tied behind your back.

Comfortably means you’re not tying on the tippy tails. You have a few inches hanging down from the knot.

I say an educated guess, because no list of sizes is ever going to give the full picture.

The amazing diversity in our shapes and sizes means this is not an exact science.

Which is why it’s a lucky thing that you don’t have to worry too much about what size woven wrap!

Find What Size Woven Wrap is Your Base Size

Anyway, back to my story.

My stats (height, weight, shirt size) showed that a size 5 wrap was perfect for me.

But I eventually learned that I could often do those full length carries with a size 4 wrap.

So what was going on?

One reason is that as you become more experienced, you often need less fabric.

Another is that I am NOT busty.

Broad shoulders or a larger bra size can greatly affect how long a wrap you need.

Babies are wrapped on your chest or (usually) high on your back.

Not around your belly.

That means your chest size is more important to what size woven wrap you need than your waist or belly measurement.

Over the years, I enjoyed having a variety of sizes. That way I could pick which I felt like using each day.

Knowing what I know now, I can say that just one wrap would have been fine for all my babywearing years.

I would be happy with just one size 3, 4, 5, or 6 woven wrap.

YOU CAN SEE A TON OF THE CARRIES I DO WITH THESE WRAP SIZES HERE.

The extra length of a size 7 would not be as convenient for me to use every day in every situation.

The short length of a size 2 would limit the number of carries I could do more than I would want.

So that’s why I say that you don’t have to worry TOO MUCH about what size woven wrap!

So What Size Woven Wrap Do You Need?

That depends on your base size and what carries you want to do.

So take your best guess at your base size using the chart above and don’t worry too much about it.

Then look at some different carries to see which interest you most.

There are 3 kinds of carriers: