5,467 ReviewsBabywearing Sling Style Guide
by Beth Beaney, Executive Babywearing Consultant & Co-Founder, LTBN
A quick guide for you summarising the different types of baby carriers and slings, to help you choose the right one for you, your baby and your family.
1. Buckle Carriers
Supportive, really easy to use and available in a gorgeous selection of colours and designs, buckle carriers are fully adjustable to achieve a custom and comfortable fit.
They last from newborn to toddler, and are one of the most popular types of baby carrier.
These days most buckle carries are adjustable for your baby too - this means that the panel adjusts in the width and height, so that the carrier itself can grow as your baby grows.
2. Stretchy Wraps
Perfect for your newborn, a stretchy wrap offers a gentle transition from womb to world. They facilitate skin-to-skin, are completely soft, and thus very respectful of your newborn’s physiology. Stretchy wraps are a long piece of soft fabric which is wrapped around you before welcoming baby in.
The main advantage is that you can tie it in the morning and keep it on all day - you can also have it tied before you go out. Perfect for those precious first weeks and months.
3. Ring Slings
Ring Slings are a wonderful for newborns and toddlers alike. For your newborn the single-layer carry is light, with little fuss, supporting them tucked up high and close.
For older babies and toddlers at the 'up and down' stage, it's a quick and simple option, allowing you to meet your baby’s needs, then folding it up small and neat in your bag. A single shoulder option, baby can be carried on the front, offset or on the hip.
4. Woven Wraps
Woven wraps are the most versatile carrying option - depending on the length of the wrap, they can be used for many different carrying positions. One woven wrap can be used to carry your newborn all the way to through to preschool; on your front, hip, and back.
There are many different designs available from stripes, to jacquards, to self-colours.
5. Meh Dais
A lovely, less structured style - a super option for newborns and bigger babies too. They have all the softness and moldability of a wrap, but with some structure - a main panel with two pairs of straps. One pair ties around the waist, securing with a knot, and the other pair sits on the shoulders and crosses on the wearers back, tying either at the front, side or back. Super-adjustable for the wearer too.
6. Half Buckle Carriers
Halfway between a full buckle carrier and a meh dai. The Half Buckle offers the ease of a clip buckle at the waist, with the adjustability of long shoulder straps for a truly snug fit, without the reaching for back or side clips. Front, hip and back carrying, most are suitable from newborn and will last well into toddlerhood. The shoulder straps sit on the shoulders and cross on the wearers back, tying either at the front, side or back.
I hope you found this article helpful. Please get in touch or email me - beth@lovetobenatural.co.uk - if you'd like any further info on the different types of slings available, or babywearing in general.
Beth Beaney is the Founder of and Executive Babywearing Consultant at LTBN. She's been a qualified babywearing consultant for 12 years, and has helped thousands of families from all over the world and of all needs carry their babies safely and comfortably. Find her on Twitter @lovetobenatural_LTBN