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Vegan Babies and Toddlers
Wearing Your Baby: The Basics
by Kristina Deppe
You're a new parent and you want to snuggle, cuddle, and hold your baby as much as possible. But what happens when you just NEED both of your hands to get something done? Do you have to put your baby down? Not necessarily. Many parents are opting to "wear their babies" by using slings, wraps, and other carriers to keep their babies close while still being able to get things done. How do you "wear your baby" and how do you figure out what carrier is right for you? Don't let the vast amount of styles intimidate you-- once you have the basics down you'll be a babywearing pro in no time.
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The Pouch
A pouch is basically a tube of fabric that has a curved seat sewn into it. This curve allows for a deep pouch for the baby to lay or sit in offering a great amount of security. Because it is not adjustable it is an almost fool-proof sling for the wearer; simply put on like a sash, open the pouch and slip your baby inside.
The biggest concern for the pouch is getting the correct fit. Many parents get their slings too big and end up with a baby bumping against the tops of their thighs. Not only is this a bumpy ride for the baby, it's uncomfortable for the parents. Make sure to properly fit your pouch; the bottom of the seat should fall somewhere around your belly button. Many pouch makers have great sizing charts and will help answer specific sizing questions. Some pouches are also adjustable with buttons, snaps, zippers and aplix, providing a more customized fit. Pouches are ideal for newborns through toddlers; however, once you get to the toddler stage you may find a more backcarry-friendly sling more comfortable.
Ring Slings
These are basically a long piece of fabric with 2 rings attached that you thread the fabric through to create a seat for your child. The part of the sling near the rings is called the shoulder while the other end is referred to as the tail. The edges/sides of the sling are called the rails. Ring slings are very versatile; they adjust a great deal to provide a range of sizes in one carrier for multiple wearers and stages of the infant.
First you have to know a few things about the rings. The rings come in steel, brass, aluminum and nylon. The brass rings are rings you can pick up at most craft stores and are not recommended for use in infant slings; they may bend or break causing serious injury to the infant. Steel rings are a readily available and strong alternative, check to make sure the welds are closed and no sharp edges are present. More widely accepted rings are nylon and aluminum; both are very lightweight and tested for strength. These come in a variety of colors and sizes, making them a popular choice for slings.
Shoulder styles offer more variation to the ring sling as well. Basic styles include hot dog (inward folded shoulder), fanned (pleated for wide easy spread), gathered (gathered around rings and sewn in place), accordion (folded on top of itself accordion-style), and many combined styles as well. When picking a shoulder style think about the spread across your back. If the sling cups your shoulder well and spreads easily across your back it will provide you much longer enjoyment. An open tail also doubles as a nursing cover and sun shield.
Ring slings can be bought with or without padding, this is wearer's choice. Many babywearers find the padding restrictive and bulky while others find it comforting. As a seasoned ring sling wearer my vote goes for unpadded, I don't need any more padding and find it a bit warm and limiting. Ring slings can be worn as cradle carries, hip carries or back carries, and offer a lot of security when the rails are tightened with the tail. They are suitable for almost any age group up through even the biggest toddlers.
Wraps
Wraps are a long piece of fabric used to wrap and tie a child to the wearer. Choosing a wrap is a bit more difficult that choosing a pouch or ring sling, and has a slightly bigger learning curve. Don't let this sound daunting though-- wraps are one of the most comfortable carriers available.
Wraps come in a variety of fabrics and lengths, ranging from short wraps (referred to as rebozos) to longer wraps up to 6 yards long. The fabrics range from stretchy to woven and some in between. Each has their bonuses and drawbacks. Stretchy wraps can be pre-tied and then stretched to insert your infant, but they can be too stretchy for toddlers and back carries. Woven wraps can not be pre-tied, so the wearer must hold the baby while wrapping and tying the wrap. They are able to be tied very tightly and securely, making them ideal for heavier toddlers and useable on the back.
The length of wrap depends on the carrying method preferred and the build of the wearer. More wrapping and tying equals more length needed-- a simple hip carry can be done in a short wrap, while a back or front carry requires a longer wrap. The larger the wearer the more length will be needed to wrap around both child and wearer. Wraps are suitable for all babywearing ages, and tying methods can be improvised to fit the wearer's needs.
These three styles are the beginner's basics-- the slings many choose to try first. The pouch, ring sling and wrap are not the only slings available; other sling styles include mei tais, podaegi and onbuhimos. Once you discover a love for babywearing you may want to venture into these other styles for even more options and versatility. For more information on babywearing, visit TheBabyWearer.com, MamaToto.org and NineInNineOut.org. Each offer a vast amount of resources, contacts and relevant articles to help you find the carrier that is right for you.
Kristina Deppe is the owner of Baby Space slings and has been designing slings for almost 3 years while actively testing sling styles with her youngest daughter Mackenzie. In addition Kristine also has two other children, Joscelyne and Andrew.
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