Have you seen the latest new-parent fashion accessory? Moms and dads are wearing their babies. Babies may be tied to a parent’s front or back, slung on the side or dangled from a pack. One thing all these baby carriers have in common is two free hands and no bulky stroller. Interested? Start with an understanding of proper spine support—for both you and your baby.
Protect your own back by using carriers that distribute weight evenly across your shoulders and back, says Gilbert chiropractor Dawn Berta, D.C. Your hips are stronger than your back, so carriers with shoulder straps should include a belt to displace some of the baby’s weight away from your shoulders. Protect the baby’s spine by avoiding carriers that leave legs dangling straight down.
“The carrier is meant to replace your hands, so look for one that supports your baby like you would,” she says. “If you were holding your baby it wouldn’t be by the crotch. Baby’s weight should be supported…in a sitting position.” Berta also recommends inward-facing carriers for young babies, which allows them to turn away from noise and stimulation.
How do you know which babywearing option is right for you?
Ring slings (pictured)
Good for beginners, the ring sling is a favorite of many veteran babywearers because of its ease of use, adjustability and convenience.
“I can just grab the sling, slip my baby inside, quickly adjust it and get going on whatever I need to do,” says Lani Axman, a Laveen mother of three who wonders how any mom survives without a carrier. “I love that my sling gives us both snuggle time, even when my arms and hands need to get things done. Plus you can’t beat being the recipient of so many smiles at the grocery store!”
A good sling worn properly distributes weight evenly across the shoulder, important to moms like Axman who suffer from back pain. If your baby resists (some parents report that their baby “doesn’t like the sling”), try placing your child upright, facing your chest. Some babies aren’t comfortable in a laying-down or sideways position that may limit their line of sight, aggravate reflux or create a sensation of being too confined. Bonus: The sling tail makes a great cover for discrete nursing.
Ring slings run $40 to $60 and are available at baby boutiques, breastfeeding support stores and online.
Pouch slings
Pouch slings are stylish, hip and available at your closest Target. Pouch slings are created from one continuous loop of fabric that you fold in half, creating a “pocket” for your baby.
With their recent popularity, the pouch-style carrier is many new-moms’ first introduction to babywearing. Worn much like a ring sling, the pouch is somewhat less adjustable but is compact and convenient on the go. Prices range from $30-$50.
Wraps
Wraps are flexible, comfortable for long periods of wear and preferred by many veteran babywearers. Using a long piece of fabric, you can wrap your baby on your back, front or side. Because you are doing the tying, it is completely adjustable.
“It distributes weight evenly across your back so there are no pressure points anywhere,” says Shannon Pickersgill, a Scottsdale babywearing mom and producer of the Tummy 2 Tummy instructional babywearing DVD. “They are the most comfortable of all baby carriers by far, but they also take the longest to get into and have a longer learning curve.”
Dads are usually more comfortable wearing their baby in a wrap than a ring sling probably because of the simplicity of the design. Wraps are mostly available online but some local breastfeeding-support stores carry them. Price range is $60-$100.
Soft-structured carriers
Would you rather deal with straps and buckles than lengths of fabric? A soft structure carrier might be best for you if you’re going to be wearing your baby for long stretches of time.
These are not the baby backpacks your mom and dad might have used. The newer carriers put baby in a natural sitting position, with the spine positioned correctly to avoid compression of the spine and hips. The carriers also properly balance baby’s weight on the parent’s hips and shoulders.
The Ergo carrier is a popular example and has received rave reviews in the local babywearing community. Parents of special-needs babies, in particular, report success with this carrier. Soft-structured carriers run from $60-$140.
Finding a baby carrier
The following local stores stock baby carriers. Try before you buy or join an online babywearing group such as AZBabywearers to find support from other parents.
Baby, Mother and More
1235 S Gilbert Rd, #8, Mesa
480-890-1870 • milksmile.com
Moonbeams
10636 N 71st Way #1, Scottsdale
480-998-7878 • moonbeamsshop.com
Zoolikins
7118 E. 5th Avenue, Scottsdale
480-551-4910 • zoolikins.com
Watch our video on wearing a sling.
