Infant Carriers

Infant Carriers: Unfortunately for parents, most babies want to be held, all the time.  To help make this task a little easier, all parents should consider investing in some sort of sling, wrap or baby carrier to help take the strain of carrying a baby off their hands, arms and backs and to free their hands for other activities while simultaneously carrying the baby.

Infant Carriers 

Baby Slings

A baby sling is best used for young babies as they only allow the baby to be held in a horizontal position.  Slings usually have one strap that goes around the shoulder and back, like a one strap, side carry school bag.  The main pouch of a sling falls across the carrier’s chest and stomach and the baby is then inserted into this pouch.  This creates a sort of cradle for the baby close to the heart of the carrier and leaves both hands free to work, write, clean up, etc….

Baby Wraps

Baby wraps are very popular for new babies.  Wraps usually consist of one long strand of fabric which can then be tied around the body in different ways to create many different positions for carrying.  Most wraps come with DVD instruction to teach you how to use your wrap.  After practicing a few times you should master the technique and then you will find wraps extremely simple to use.  Babies like wraps because they are held close to the carrier’s chest and also because of their versatility: you can create a forward facing carrier, a chest facing carrier, a hip sling, or a regular sling.

Baby Carriers

Baby Carriers are like backpacks for babies that are usually carried on the front of the body. Carriers come with shoulder and waist straps to secure the carrier to the person who will carry the baby and, in well constructed carriers, these straps should help to take some of the weight of the baby off the shoulders and back of the person carrying the baby.  The positions in which a baby can be carried in a carrier vary, but most allow the baby to face the chest of the person doing the carrying or to face the world and some carriers also can be positioned as a hip carrier.  Backpack carriers allow older babies and children to be carried on the back of the person doing the carrying.

Note: Although you should of course follow the specific recommendations of the carrier/sling/wrap of the company of purchase, most carrying devices are not designed for babies younger than four months to face forward.  Babies younger than this age should either be positioned in a cradle or sling position or sitting upright but facing the person doing the carrying.  Only once the baby can support his/her head alone, and for long periods of time, can the baby be placed in a forward facing carrier or wrap position.