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Baby carriers were a total lifesaver for me when my son was small– and even now, actually! I still use my toddler carrier regularly. Investing in a baby carrier helped me feel my mom jean magic. This is everything I learned about baby wearing to date.
Table of Contents
What are the benefits of baby wearing?
Baby wearing has so many benefits. They are known to decrease the amount of time babies cry and increase bonding with caregivers. Plus, they free up your hands! Wear your baby in the grocery store, around the house, in busy theme parks, or in a crowded airport. Baby won’t sleep? Strap them on and go for a walk. Works like a charm. When my son was a newborn, I threw myself into the baby carrying life, and I haven’t looked back. Just yesterday, I was happily toddlerwearing my almost-three-year-old in my Beco carrier while I walked our dog.
Why should I invest in a high-quality baby carrier or wrap?
There are many different kinds that can be used from birth through preschool years. There are many brands of baby carriers on the market, at a variety of price points. I highly recommend investing in a high-quality brand. Companies such as Ergo and Tula make carriers with infant physical development in mind and don’t contribute to issues such as hip dysplasia, like some baby carriers and baby harnesses do. They are comfortable to wear and easy to use.
How can I become a baby wearing expert?
There are many different types of carriers– and depending on your needs, you can find the perfect one for you. I chose to use a combination of soft structured carriers and woven wraps. The key here is not to be intimidated– there are a lot of options, but just do the one that feels right for you. If you want a one-step buckle carrier? Sweet. If you’d like to learn how to transform a 12 foot piece of fabric into a snuggly hug? Awesome. If a ring sling feels right to you? Go for it. You can do it!
What kind of baby carriers are there?
Soft structured baby carriers are known for being the easiest to use– just buckle and go.
Find my comprehensive post on SCCs here!
Woven wraps are long pieces of cloth that you can wrap in an infinite number of ways. Since they’re so adjustable and each wrap is customizable, they’re known for being the most comfortable carrier.
Find my comprehensive post on woven baby wraps here!
Ring slings are medium length pieces of fabric with two rings attached that you use for adjusting. Many baby wearing folks find these easy to use and perfect for on the go.
Check out my comprehensive post on ring slings here.
Mom Hack
Baby wearing accessories can help level up your baby wearing!
Baby wearing accessories
This Michael Kohrs wristlet allowed me to ditch my diaper bag (which, let’s face is, is now doubling as my purse) altogether when running errands so I could be truly hands free. It has a hook that connects to the zipper so you can loop it through the strap of the baby carriers (I also would loop it through the shoulder strap of my woven wrap). It has a few slots for credit cards on the side.
If you’re looking for one that’s a bit smaller, Michael Kohrs also has this medium one, which is a tad smaller.
These are exactly what they sound like– covers for the straps of your soft structured carrier for when your baby inevitably starts putting every single thing in sight in their mouth. You can take these off and throw them directly in the wash so you don’t need to wash the entire carrier as often. These are universal, so I used them on both my Tula and Ergo carriers. They don’t fit snugly, but they do fit, and I was happy not to have two separate straps to manage. And, the shoulder ones have elastic loops that you can connect toys or teething beads to.
You know what the great thing about babies is? They are like little bundles of hope. Like the future in a basket.
Other baby carrier FAQs
Are they really hands free?
Yes! Once your baby is wrapped up, you’ll be able to use BOTH your hands while holding your baby. Sweet deal, right?
These helped me be able to navigate easier outside of the house, too. I didn’t have to manage the baby and a bulky stroller, and worry about things like stairs or small isles or crowds.
Are baby carriers hard to care for?
Not particularly. You need to read all manufacturer’s instructions before cleaning, but all of mine were machine washable in the cold cycle and then hang to dry. I was always grateful to have more than one– that way, when one was drying, I had another one I could use.
Can I wear my toddler or preschooler?
You sure can. I do, and it makes my life way easier. I love toddlerwearing so much, I wrote this comprehensive post about it.
In short, I purchased a Beco carrier when my son was around 30 pounds and became uncomfortable in our standard carriers. Tula also has beautiful toddler carriers, and they’re a brand I trust.
You can also use woven wraps to carry children through preschool years. You need to learn which wraps work best for older children, and will need a longer wrap, but people definitely do it and love it!
Overall, baby carrying has been one of my favorite Mom Hacks. They really helped me find my Mom Jean Magic.
When my son was four months old and we traveled for a wedding, I brought not one, not two, but three of the carriers that I had (ring sling, SSC, and woven wrap). Were they all strictly necessary? Well, they gave me confidence and calmness. I was able to use each one as I wanted to, and we had an amazing time. They were all, for that reason, necessary. They gave me my mom jean magic.
You are magic, mama.
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