The Diaper-Free Baby_ The Natural Toilet Training Alternative - Christine Gross-Loh [18]
—KAREN AND PRAVEEN, PARENTS TO FELIX, 17 MONTHS
WHAT KIND OF CARRIER IS BEST FOR ME?
I was a real baby-wearing addict when my first son, Benjamin, was born, and I experimented with pretty much every type of baby carrier out there. My favorites were a simple padded ring sling for its ease of use, a soft backpack carrier because it felt so comfortable to wear the baby on my back, and, when he was a bit older, a hip carrier or pouch just to provide a little extra support when he was hoisted onto my hip. Sometimes I used a long wrap that I wound around my body in certain ways to form a pouch for the baby on my front or back. I also used a Korean blanket back carrier called a “podeagi” because I had plenty of relatives around to teach me how to use it. In the end, I was so into babywearing, but so frustrated by the lack of good options out there, that I ended up buying reams and reams of fabric to try to design my own versions of baby carriers and slings—some successful, others less so!
The good news is that in the few years since then, the variety of baby carriers available has multiplied unbelievably as babywearing has become more popular. No need to make your own (unless you are so inclined). I can virtually guarantee that you are going to find something that suits your needs. Let me give you an overview of some of the basic types out there and how to use them.
Ring Slings
You’ve probably seen a ring sling; they’ve become popular in recent years. A ring sling is made of a long piece of fabric, which might or might not be padded. (This is a matter of personal preference. Generally, padded slings can be more comfortable but are also bulky, whereas unpadded slings are more adjustable but may not be as comfortable for some people. I really like having both types on hand.) One end of the sling is sewn to two rings, and the other, loose, end of the sling is threaded through the rings to make a large loop. The whole thing is put across your body over one shoulder, and you wear baby in the pocket formed by the sling itself. The beauty of this carrier is that it allows your baby to position himself in a variety of ways. He can be sitting up, lying down, facing in or out—whatever suits you and your baby best. It’s also really quick and easy to use—you can just pop baby in and out of the sling with minimal effort. Because it’s worn over only one shoulder, you can adjust the sling by pulling the material through the rings to provide a close fit for your baby and your body. Some slings are made in the ring-sling prototype but are actually more like pouches because they use snaps or are sewn shut instead of using adjustable rings. They are available in a variety of fabrics, from plain old cotton to hemp, linen, mesh, fleece, and even gorgeous fabrics such as silk shantung.
A mother holding her baby in a ring sling. Babywearing helps EC’ers get in tune with their babies’ elimination patterns.
Wrap Slings
Wrap slings are among the simplest carriers available. The sling consists of a long piece of fabric wound about your body in a variety of different ways. The fabric length is long so that it can be wound around the body several times. New parents might find this process daunting, but practice makes perfect. The versatility of these slings is priceless. You can wear baby on your front, back, or side, and baby is securely worn against your body. The wrap usually goes over both shoulders so that you get the benefit of multiple support points over the shoulders as well as on the hips. Babywearing feels much easier when you do it this way. Wrap slings have been used all over the world, in many different cultures. They are made of different materials; some people like the firm fabric of a Mexican rebozo, whereas others prefer wrap slings