Okay, so I am brand spanking new to Baby Wearing. There is a lot to learn, but it is an exciting world. When I started shopping for my first carrier, I really had no idea what I was looking for, which resulted in me buying a carrier, then being dissatisfied, and then returning the thing - if I could. So, hopefully, this will just give you an overview of what is out there and what to look for. I'll go into specifics about baby-wearing later.
Your local BWI will have a lending library of different carriers, so you can avoid mistakes like the ones I made. However, there are a few things you want to ask yourself that will help guide you, BEFORE you buy a carrier which. The list below is verbatim from BabyWearing International. (If you're not in my region you should absolutely go to their website to see if there is a chapter near you.)
How long do you plan to babywear?
Will you use it primarily during the first few months or do you prefer a carrier that will last through the first year or even longer?
Who will use the carrier?
Will it be exclusively used by one caregiver or do you want something that can be easily exchanged between caregivers with minimal adjustment? Some carriers are size specific and cannot be shared between caregivers of different sizes whereas others can fit a wide range of individuals.
Do you want to purchase only one carrier for your entire babywearing time?
Are you open to more than one carrier for different situations, ages, and stages?
What is your budget?
Most good quality, ergonomic carriers cost between $30 and $175 so there are options at every price point. Used carriers can be a budget-friendly option too.
BWI recommends purchasing a carrier from a manufacturer that complies with all United States safety standards and labeling requirements for your own safety and protection.
Now, some of these questions may be difficult to answer if this is your first child and you are figuring out exactly how this whole parent-child relationship is going to look in your family. I am figuring out parenting and baby wearing at the same time, which is proving to be an interesting challenge. Things I thought I would use just sit in the closet making homes for spiders, and other things I initially thought were silly I am desperately trying to find deals on because I used up all of my budget elsewhere.
So, below I have a list of the five styles of carriers and specific companies that I know of that make them. I have linked to each company's website, sometimes to the specific carrier, as well as tried to provide you with an approximate cost of the carriers (this list is a work in progress).
Soft-Structured Carriers (SSC) -I'm going to take a gamble and say that these are probably the most well-known kind of carrier. They are also known as full-buckle carriers because they have buckles for the waist strap and the chest/back strap. The weight limit for these carriers really varies from one manufacturer to the next, along with the way in which you can carry your baby. It should also be said that just because you are able to safely carry your baby in a specific way does not necessarily mean you will be comfortable doing so. It can largely depend on your build or your baby's build as to whether a carrier will be comfortable for you (And that generally applies to all carrier styles.)
Narrow Base Carrier- these are also derogatorily called "crotch-danglers" but that is not an appropriate title; studies have shown that as long as your child is not predisposed to hip problems a NBC will not damage your child's hips
-Baby Bjorn
Ergonomic Carrier - by far the more common and popular of the two, and the seat is designed to hold your child in the M or frog-leg position
- Action Baby Carriers
- Angel Pack
- Babies in Space
- Beco Gemini ($130)
- Beco Soleil ($140)
- Boba Air ($65)
- Boba 4G Carrier ($125)
- Cat Bird Baby
- Chimparoo
- Connecta
- ErgoBaby: Original, Performance, Organic, & 360 ($115+)
Note: If you are buying an Ergo second-hand or from a retailer that is not well known, CHECK AUTHENTICITY! Due to their widespread popularity, there are numerous counterfeit Ergos (aka Fergos) on the market that are unsafe for babywearing. The only way to know for sure is to double-check with ErgoBaby to verify authenticity. I mention this here, because it's most common with Ergos, but really you should always be mindful of this.
- Lillebaby
- Tula ($150-$200) -comes in standard and toddler size
- Infantino Unison Newborn Carrier ($30)
- JumpSac
- Kinder Pack
- Lenny Lamb
- Madame Goo Goo - Poland
- Naked Panda Designs
- Olives & Applesauce
- Pognae
Ring Slings (RS) - a ring sling is just a short piece of fabric with two rings sewn on one end that are used to adjust the sling to fit the baby/child that you are carrying. The average weight limit for these slings is 35lbs. Requires sturdy fabric, durable rings, and good stitching. These carriers can be used for front and hip carries; no back carries. (It should also be noted that some of the woven wrap companies listed a little farther down also produce ring sling versions of their wraps, denoted with a {RS}.)
- Bibetts on Etsy
- Chimparoo
- Going Uppy -USA
- Lil Peeper's Keepers on Etsy
- Maya Wrap
- Sleeping Baby Productions
- Sakura Bloom
Wraps
Stretchy Wraps - a stretchy wrap is made out of stretchy fabric; it stretches both vertically and horizontally; they are really best for newborns only; The official weight limit of stretchy wraps is around 25lbs - which technically they can hold that weight, but seasoned baby wearers will tell you that stretchy wraps really just sag too much and dig in making you uncomfortable after 15lbs (appx 3-4 months of age). Due to their stretchy nature, stretchy wraps are suitable for front carries ONLY.
-Baby K'Tan ($35-60)
-Boba Wrap
-Chimparoo
-ErgoBaby Wrap
-Lovely Duds
-Moby Wrap ($45-$60)
-Solly Baby Wrap
Woven Wraps -pure bliss right here! (if you ask me). Woven wraps are long pieces of cloth that have been hand or machine woven in various designs and they only stretch in one direction, and they do not stretch much. They are the most versatile of baby carriers because 1) they mold to fit any wearer and any baby and 2) they have the largest weight tolerance, (can carry an adult). However, there is a learning curve - some say it is pretty steep, others catch on very easily, but you have to be patient enough to learn proper wrapping technique and safety. They are super durable and unbelievably gorgeous. They can be used for front, hip, and back carries.
-Ankalia - Australia
-Artipoppe - Netherlands
-Baby Doo USA Wraps
-BBSlen - USA
-Bijou Wear - {RS}
-Cari Slings
-Cassiope Woven - USA (Tampa Bay, FL)
-Charairo - Canada
-Chimparoo
-Colimacon & Cie - France
-Danu - Ireland
-Daiesu - Malaysia {RS}
-Didymos -Germany (starting at $75) - RS too
-Diva Milano - Italy
-Dolcino - USA (Houston, TX)
-Eagle Ray Wovens
-Ellaroo - Italy
-Ellevill - Norway (starting at $
-Erizo - Canada
-Ethos - USA
-ETLA Threadworks
-Fidella -Germany (starting from $90)
-Firespiral - England
-Girasol
-Heartiness - Russia
-Hipbaby Woven
-Hoppediz - Germany
-Inda Jani - Mexico
-JumpSac Baby
-Keppeke
-Kindred - USA
-KoKaDi - Germany
-Kokoro - Netherlands
-KokoSkaa {RS}
-Lalu Wovens
-Larkspur Handwoven Textiles - USA
-Lemon Looms
-Lenny Lamb (starting at $38) - Poland {RS}
-Lewlewbelle: Art on Cloth
-Little Frog - Poland - {RS}
-Mokosh - Russia
-Mountain Girl Handwovens
- Natibaby (starting at $72) - Poland {RS}
-Neobulle - France
-New Tribe Textiles
-Nunamoochie - USA
-Ohana Handwovens
-Oscha - Scotland
-Ovolo
-Pavo - USA
-Paz Industrius
-Pellicano
-Poe Wovens - USA {RS}
-Pollora
-Rainbow Frog Textiles {RS}
-Rhockett Weaving - USA (Des Moines, Iowa)
-Rock Lake Weaving
-Saamipya
-Serendipity Hand Woven
-Silver Lining Slings
-Storchenwiege
-Sweet Emmeline Wraps {RS}
-Szibbo Handwoven
-Tekhni
-Tiny House Textiles
-Tiny Tiger Baby Wovens
-Toto Wraps
-Tula Wovens
-UppyMama
-Vanamo - Finland
-Vantanai
-Wonder Wovens
-Wrapsody - Canada
-Yaro Slings
Mei Tais (MTs) pronounced "may-tie" - This kind of carrier is Asian in origin. It consists of a square piece of cloth as the body panel and then long strips of fabric attached at each end. Two pieces of fabric (the shorter ones) tie around your waist, and then the other two (usually longer) go over your shoulders and then tie around your body to secure baby. These carriers can be used for front, hip, and back carries.
-BabyHawk
-BaBySaBye
-BB-TAI
-Cat Bird Baby
-Chimparoo Mei Tai
-Didytai
-Infantino Mei Tai
-Llevame Cerca - Argentina
-Mei Tai Baby
-Obimama - USA (Roanoke, VA)
-Pathi - Poland
-Topa Top Slings
Pouch Sling - a pouch sling is a sized carrier, proper sizing is essential for the safety and comfort of the baby and the wearer; it is a sturdy piece of fabric that is sewn in a loop and then folded together to make a pouch
-Seven Slings ($40; but you can usually get a free one + shipping, just Google for the code)
-The Peanut Sling ($30)
-Mama's Milk Baby Sling Carrier (starting at $50)
So, just knowing about all the different carriers that are available and that there is a huge market beyond what you find at Wal-Mart or Target would have saved me a bunch of heart-ache as well as money (in the region of $200). Buy anyways, live and learn. Also, it wasn't a complete bust that we bought our Ergo, because my husband likes to use that, whereas I always grab for my woven. (I think there is just something beautiful and artistic about wrapping, but more on that another time.)
When I was initially looking at carriers, I was looking at my cheapest options - mainly because we just had no more in the budget. However, buying a carrier is an investment, just like your car seat or stroller. If you buy a good quality carrier, you can be confident it will not break and injure your child and it can be used again if you have more children. You can also get something you actually want as opposed to something that is strictly serviceable. Despite what it may initially seem, there are plenty of good options all within $100-150 - yes, even wovens - and as I said, those are the types of carriers that you can be confident will last. Additionally, Depending on what style or brand of carrier you decide to purchase and its condition, you can sell them when you are finished and recoup some, all, or more than what you initially invested. (E.g. ErgoBaby usually sells for about 50% of retail price whereas KinderPacks or woven wraps sell at retail price or above.)
So, take the plunge and fall in love with babywearing. I adore wearing my little girl. It makes getting around easier, but it also is a special bonding moment for the two of us - magical moments that can never be replaced and will be gone in an instant. So wear them and cherish them.