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.

hotsling baby carrier

Adjustable Sling Carrier with Storage Pouch $55.99 Going out is easier for busy moms since it only take a minute to get baby settled in a sling and you are ready to go. The 100% cotton material and flexibility will give comfort to you and your baby. The sling can be used in many different ways to suit your baby’s preference, may it be craddle, kangaroo, belly, hip or back position. The deep pocket design with back pillows keeps baby snug and secu…

Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling MEDIUM $55.95 This sling is getting rave reviews for comfort and ease of use! The redesigned shoulder has a light pad. The rails are still unppaded for easy adjusting. Fans say it is the perfect first sling for new babywearers. Wear newborns through toddlers in a variety of positions Made of beautiful hand-loomed, breathable fabrics Built in pocket for keys, diaper, cell phone etc. Unpadded, open tail that a…

Hotslings Everyday Baby Sling Carrier – Solid Stretch – Black – 3 $19.99 Goth? Urban? Neutral? You decide. Always stylish, always a wardrobe mainstay, this cotton sateen is anything but basic. Perfect for you or your baby daddy. Original Hotslings leg padding built in. 97% cotton, 3% spandex for a little give. Hotslings pouches are an innovative design that combine fashion with function. Just because you are a mom (or dad) now doesn’t mean you will be stuck with bears,…

Hotslings Child Pouch Style Baby Carrier, Full Bloom $20.00 …

Chocolate Baby Oreo Favors $2.45 Ooh, Baby! Belgian-chocolate-covered Oreos with hand-crafted Royal Icing Baby Decorations are a sweet and savory way to celebrate the new baby boy or girl. Each cookie is wrapped in a cellophane bag and tied with a matching ribbon.

Baby Days Memory Album $63.45 Bring back all the joy of baby’s first year with this beautifully bound album that holds 20 baby scrapbook pages in page protectors. “”Baby Days”" album can be personalized.

All-Star Baby Personalized Baby’s First Baseball $10.99 A fun way to record the statistics of your “”Rookie of the Year”" – a baby’s first baseball. This authentic, standard-sized baseball is decorated in baby blue with yellow stars. And there are blanks for your baby’s name, MVP’s (Most Valuable Parent’s names), hometown, and the date it was given. Comes in a small clear acrylic gift box that doubles as a fine display box. Features and facts: Authentic baseball that can be personalized with baby’s information Presented in clear, acrylic display box Standard-sized baseball

Baby Blue Personalized Baby Brag Album $20.5 This baby brag book is a perfect baby shower gift. It holds thirty-six 4″” x 6″” photos and is m ade from the finest hand-made papers in Thailand with a suede/velvet spine. Bring an intimate touch to the album by slipping an insert with the baby’s name into the “”brag”" metal tab. Makes a great gift at the baby shower for the new and seasoned mom!

Baby’s First Jeans $38 Baby’s first jeans look just like Mommy’s and Daddy’s. Made of comfortable cotton knit denim, these hip unisex jeans are perfect for babies. Presented in a cute keepsake box that can be personalized with baby’s name, picture and all important details about baby’s first pair of jeans. Features and fact:Cotton knit denim blue jeans are made to look like the real thing and still give baby a comfortable fitSize 3-6 monthsPresented in keepsake gift box that can be personalized with baby’s name, picture and other details

Baby Blue Luxe Baby Days Memory Album $63.5 Relive the moments with this darling Baby Days memory album. Album is handmade of luxury paper and suede with 20 uniquely designed baby scrapbook pages to remember baby’s first year. Album is 14″” x 13″”, post bound and scrapbook pages come in page protectors (pages are acid and lignin free). There are approximately 40 page protectors (80 pages back to back) with screw extenders.

Wiggles Puppy Baby Coat $29.99 Too adorable for words! This puppy baby coat from Bearington Baby is a wonderfully soft hooded jacket complete with puppy face and floppy ears! This darling puppycoat features unbelievably soft fabric and is lined in beautiful satin with a button front. So soft and snuggly, this baby coat features the high quality you expect from Bearington Baby. Features and facts:Pink hooded coat features puppy face with brown eye patch, floppy ears, satin lining and polka dot bow accentsMeasures 14″” x 13 1/2″”Recommended for size 6-12 monthsCoordinates with matching Wiggles Puppy Baby Booties

Baby On Board Expandable Pen $3.9 Sitting snug as a hug in a color-rich car seat is the “”write”" baby shower favor to drive everyone wild! This bundled-up baby heading down life’s highway is actually an expandable pen! The multi-colored, polka-dotted “”baby blanket”" is the base for the pen, and baby’s almost-bald head becomes the top of the colorful-yellow, light-green, pink and blue-telescoping pen. Cleverly contained in clear, gift-box packaging, this “”noteworthy”" baby rides comfortably in a cute, cardboard car seat covered with polka dots that match baby’s blanket. The pen is approximately 3″” high and 5 ½”" high when expanded. The gift box measures 3″” high, 2 ¼”" deep and 1 ¾”" wide.

Baby Shower Mint Packs $2 Let the world know you “”minted”" a new member of your family with these personalized mint packs! Designs include a toy duck, a baby basket and stork. Mint pack features baby’s name on the front and two sealed, wintergreen mints inside. Please allow 2 weeks for delivery.

Silly Sophie Baby Socks $27 Full of color and personality, these wonderful socks in a variety of colors and styles stay on baby’s feet. Features and facts:Assorted set of six pairs of baby socks that feature colorful floral prints and coordinating “”shoes”" with a satin bow accentMade of 100% organic cottonFits babies up to 12 months

Wiggles Puppy Baby Booties $9.99 Cover your baby girl’s little tootsies with these warm and fuzzy Wiggles the Puppy booties. Each bootie features Wiggles adorable face and is made from the softest baby pink plush. Features and facts:Pink baby booties with puppy face, floppy ears and elastic bandFits 6 – 12 monthsCoordinates with matching Wiggles Puppy Coat

Rocking Horse (Baby) $109.99 Wood playtime pony with gifts for baby Our exclusive Rocking Horse is a winner. Beautifully finished and exquisitely wrapped, this is one gift that will be appreciated a long time. Comes stuffed with essentials that baby needs now while the Rocking Horse will be the perfect toy as baby grows. Gift includes: rocking horse kniitted shawl blanket terry velour burp cloth terry washcloth booties cuddly teddybearAll rush orders must be entered by 9:00 AM EST.

Baby Hugs Bunny Snuggler $14.99 Every baby’s best friend! The “”Baby Hugs”" Bunny Snuggler features an adorable, white, plush bunny with pink-satin-lined paws and floppy ears at the top of a velvety-soft, satin-trimmed blankie embroidered with delicate daisies and “”Hush-a-bye Baby”" at the bottom.The Bunny Snuggler is machine-washable, 100% polyester and approximately 15″” long.

Soft and Friendly Hooded Baby Blanket $35.99 So why are these baby blankets so popular? For one thing, they are made from ultra soft, ultra plush “”milky”" fabric. This remarkable fabric is both comfortable and warm, two things that are essential in a good baby blanket. In addition, each of these baby blankets has a generously sized hood to protect and cover baby’s head. Last, but certainly not least, have you ever seen a cuter baby blanket? Imagine how adorable the new baby will look in one these. Features and facts:Milky soft baby blanket folded to resemble a playful puppyLovingly made in the USABaby Blanket size is 30″” x 36″”Choose blue, pink or yellowGift wrapped

Baby Blue Luxe Baby Keepsake Box $33.5 Use this dainty Luxe Keepsake Box to store all your baby’s treasures. Each box measures 12″” x 10″” x 3″” and has plenty storage room. The sides are lined with suede/velvet and the box is made of a special paper from Thailand. For $5 you can personalize the cut out on the lid with the baby’s name and birth date or you can use this space for pictures. We recommend you use 15 letters or less in the name; the font appears too small if we use more.

Pink Baby Brag Personalized Album $20.5 Preserve baby memories with the pink baby brag book photo album. Each album holds 36 4� x 6� photos and comes with a secure hook and loop clasp.

Baby’s First Hanukkah Personalized Bodysuit $19.99 Celebrate baby’s first Hanukkah with this adorable bodysuit that features a lit menorah, the words “”First Hanukkah”" and baby’s name. The white, 100% cotton bodysuit is available in long-sleeve size 3-6 months.

Lavender Personalized Baby Brag Album $20.5 Preserve baby memories with the lavender baby brag book photo album. Each album holds 36 4� x 6� photos and comes with a secure hook and loop clasp.

Kiwi Personalized Baby Brag Album $20.5 Preserve baby memories with the kiwi green baby brag book photo album. Each album holds 36 4� x 6� photos and comes with secure hook and loop clasp.

Personalized Sheep Baby Blanket $59 AS SEEN IN REDBOOK MAGAZINE. Baby won’t need to count sheep to fall asleep under this delightful blanket. A sheep leaps through a pale green meadow making this a great unisex baby gift. Features and facts:Pale green baby blanket features a lively lamb leaping over a fence in the meadow and is personalized with your child’s first name in whiteMade of 100% non-pill polar fleeceSize is 29″” x 43″”Can be placed in washing machine and dryerPersonalization includes child’s first name (max. 8 letters) at no additional charge