How to Find Which Child Carrier is the Right Choice
Several pediatric studies have found that wearing your baby offers important benefits to your baby’s mental, emotional, and physical development. Parents can realize the best possible developmental benefits for their children using any type of baby carrier. Selecting a baby carrier can be a daunting task for many parents. Like everything else for your family, the type of carrier that you choose will be unique to your body and needs.
The traditional sling or pouch sling is one type of baby carrier. The pouch sling drapes over one shoulder and the baby is secured in the fabric carrier. A popular brand of sling is HotSlings. As slings can be used from birth, expecting parents often choose these to start wearing their baby. On the other side, slings are designed for a particular body type and are not adjustable, so mom and dad can’t share and if there are any significant changes to your body you may find yourself needing to purchase a new sling. Frequently, parents discover that bearing all baby’s weight on one shoulder can be painful after long periods.
A variation of the traditional sling is a ring sling. If you expect to lose a lot of weight post partum, the easily adjustable ring sling is an excellent option for you. Plus sized moms find this style very well-liked.
An alternative to traditional or ring-style slings are baby wrap carriers, or wraps. Of all the carrier options available, the wrap is both the most versatile and challenging type of carrier to master. A popular brand of wraps is the Ellaroo. As the name suggests, your baby is held to you by a rectangular piece of cloth which is wrapped around you in such a way as to support him. The wrap carrier can be tied in many ways which makes the wrap the most versatile carrier to use but also can be the most daunting to parents.
An emerging carrier on the market which originated in China is the mei tai. A mei tai carrier is a rectangular piece of cloth with parallel straps emerging from each corner. Baby is secured to your front or back or even side via the rectangular cloth and held in place by ‘tie-ing” the straps around you and baby’s back or bottom. Suitable for newborn through toddler-age children, mei tai carriers are very versatile and, with its adjustable-length, strap-style design, the mei tai is easily shared and is well-suited for larger parents.
Lastly, there are the more commonly used baby carriers of today. These are almost like backpacks that you strap to your front or back and your baby sits in it like a seat. Some popular brands are Graco, Eddie Bauer, and Baby Bjorn. This carrier type is often a preference of parents who spend a lot of time on hikes or long walks with their child. This carrier keeps your baby securely held in place while providing parents as much mobility as possible.
Regardless of the type of baby carrier you choose you and your baby will benefit from the advantages of baby wearing. When you wear your baby it is easier to care for your other children. Traveling and going out become less cumbersome when you do not have to cart around large strollers. Wearing your baby is a wonderful way to cultivate a strong and healthy relationship with your baby while tending to the mundane tasks of your day.
About the Author
Maria Cummings is a mom that has devoted herself to helping kids and families in the community. As Manager of Bustling Baby, Maria enjoys sharing her experience of natural parenting with new parents and supports parents in finding the best natural baby products, such as Fuzzi Bunz cloth diapers.
1 Hugabub Baby Wrap Carrier- Tying Technique
|
|
simplehuman Wall Mount Grocery Bag Holder, Brushed Stainless Steel $8.30 A wall mounted grocery bag holder comes complete with mounting hardware. This stainless steel unit features easy tuck opening and wide dispensing area…. |
|
|
Fiskars 9424 Garden Bucket Caddy $13.76 Our Garden Bucket Caddy makes it easy to carry all of your essentials when youâre out in the garden. It fits snugly on a five-gallon bucket, freeing up the internal space for dirt, yard waste or supplies. Deep, large pockets provide ample space for tools, gloves, beverages and even a cell phone. Sturdy canvas construction is light, durable and easy to clean…. |
|
|
Travel Jewelry Portable Roll Case Pvc Black Microfiber – Household Essentials #6904 $8.99 This Travel Jewelry Portable Roll Case Pvc Black Microfiber – Household Essentials #6904 is a full length lined pouch that has six zippered pockets that are double padded (has a really nice feel) for extra protection of all your jewelry. The pockets are clear so you can see what is in each of them. The ring holder simply unhooks at one end with a very sturdy Velcro connection. Hook and loop straps… |
|
|
Softride 26260 Velcro Soft Wrap – Pack of 4 $5.00 Softride Soft Wraps are versatile and are a great accessory for your Softride Bike Rack.FeaturesRed velcro12″ longSecure bike frame and tires togetherVersatile usesSold individuallyGenuine softride accessoryWarrantyLimited lifetime workmanship and materials… |
|
|
U.S. Patrol JB5076 Fire Resistant Document Bag $7.10 This U.S. Patrol fire-resistant document bag protects your valuable documents from fire. Material: Fire resistant bag… |
|
|
I Dream of Mai Tais Labor & Delivery Gown Yes, that tiny person growing in your tummy is totally worth giving up the drink but every once in a while you might have a craving and dream of the day you are allowed to imbibe again. This super cute and super functional labor and delivery gown is the perfect way to express yourself without guilt (much). This labor gown is designed to be disposable thus environmentally friendly. The 100% cotto… |
Write a Comment