babywearing

Looking for the best wrap carriers for your baby? We’ve got you covered. From the budget parent to the minimalist and more, in this guide we’ve rounded up the best wrap carriers in 2018 for all types of parents according to Gugu Guru’s gear expert and Chief Baby Planner Julie McCaffrey.

Best Wrap Carriers Gugu Pick for Best All Around: Solly Baby 

The Solly Baby Wrap is made in the USA from Austrian beechwood trees. This silky soft, lightweight, luxurious wrap is cool to touch and will get softer with each wash. The Solly Baby Wrap works for babies from birth up to 25 lbs.

Best Wrap Carriers Minimalist Pick: MOBY Wrap Evolution

The MOBY Wrap Evolution is made of a breathable, lightweight blend of viscose and cotton ensuring you  can enjoy this in all climates. This wrap will work with newborns up to 30 pounds and allows for three different carry positions as your child grows.

Best Wrap Carriers Budget Pick: Boba

The Boba wrap is made with 95% French terry and a touch of spandex that provides flexibility and real support. This wrap offers two carry positions and will comfortably support your baby from birth up to 35 pounds.

Best Wrap Carriers Parents of Multiples Pick: Baby K’tan 

For parents who want the benefits of a wrap carrier without all the wrapping the Baby K’tan is a great option. The Baby K’tan is a sized product that easily slips on like a t-shirt and allows for five different wearing positions with newborns up to 35 pounds.

Best Wrap Carriers Eco-friendly Pick: Happy! Baby

The Happy Baby Wrap is lightweight and breathable making it ideal if you live in a warm climate. This organic wrap is made with a combo of 70% organic bamboo and 30% organic cotton ensuring that material is safe and supportive. This luxuriously soft wrap is made in the USA and works with your baby up to 25 pounds.

On the market for a baby carrier? You’ll want to read this post brought to us by Priscilla Parra, Certified Babywearing Educator and Community Manager at our friends Baby Tula.

Whether you’re welcoming your first baby or your tenth, deciding what baby carrier you will be getting may be a tough choice with all of the options that are available to you. There is not one perfect choice for everyone and it’s important to find a carrier that fits you and your lifestyle needs. Here are my top eight questions to ask yourself when purchasing a carrier:

1. What type of carrier are you looking for?

There are basically three popular carrier types: a wrap, a ring sling, and a soft structured carrier. Within those three types of carriers there are different features and brands that make them distinct or more catered towards your specific wants or needs. Simply defined: a wrap is a long piece of fabric designed to be be tied around your body to carry an infant; a ring sling is a smaller piece of fabric with two rings on one side that secure the fabric to create a sling for you to carry your baby; a soft structured carrier has a center panel and straps that create a backpack style of carrier for baby, they can have a structured waistband and many have straps that are secured with buckles. When buying a baby carrier, it can be helpful to focus your search on one type of carrier at a time. The following questions might help you decide what type of carrier you want to focus on.

2. What is your budget?

Price range is an important factor to consider when comparing baby carriers. There are a variety of carriers to fit every budget. You want to be sure that you are not over-extending your budget; however, be sure to consider the quality of the carrier and the amount of time you’ll be using the carrier. For instance, a carrier that can be used from infancy through toddlerhood might be more cost effective than buying a carrier for each stage of your child’s growth.

3. What are the weight limits?

It may be tempting to purchase from the baby carrier brand that is having a sale, but make sure you’re purchasing a carrier that will fit you and your baby. Be sure to look at the weight ranges supported by the carrier and if you need any newborn accessories to use the carrier safely. Different types of carriers will have weight recommendations for use, and sometimes different ones for different carrying positions.

4. Is it easy to adjust?

Will you have multiple people wearing the carrier? You’ll want to make sure that 1) the carrier will fit each user, and 2) it is easy to adjust for each of the users. If you’re purchasing a soft-structured carrier, take a look at the length of the shoulder straps and the hip belt. The webbing should be long enough to fit all wearers. If you are in the market for a ring sling or wrap, make sure the length of fabric will still fit comfortably for each wearer. In addition to fit capabilities, you’ll want to find a carrier that can conveniently and easily adjust between different wearers. Be sure you know the steps necessary to adjust the carrier and if it will be suitable for your day-to-day needs. At Baby Tula, we make a variety of carriers that are fully adjustable and fit all body types while making it easy to adjust to fit your baby at different stages while they grow.

5. Are you planning to breastfeed in your carrier?

Breastfeeding while babywearing can serve multiple purposes! It not only allows you to breastfeed on the go, but it also allows you to be hands free. If you are hoping to breastfeed, make sure the carrier you choose has the flexibility and ability to adjust for breastfeeding your little one. Some carriers come with a convenient hood that provides some additional privacy while breastfeeding if you would prefer. A longer ring sling ‘tail’ can also provide you with some extra coverage.

6. What activities will you be using it for?

Do you have an active lifestyle? Other kids to chase after? Are you planning to use the carrier while traveling? These are all questions you’ll want to consider because there are several different carrier types that will better serve your needs. For example, there are carriers with a breathable mesh panel to keep you and baby cool during hot months or while out hiking. Ring Slings are one of the fastest to adjust, once you have had some practice, and they are compact carriers making quick trips to the store much easier!

7. How do you want to carry your baby?

Different types of carriers will offer different ways to carry your baby. While looking for a carrier that fits your needs, abilities, and desires, the carrying positions that particular carrier offers could be an important feature to note. Beyond carrying your baby on your front, facing you, do you want your carrier to also allow you to carry your baby on your front, facing out, or on your back, or on your hip?

8. Have you tried other carriers?

Do you have experience with other carriers? Not all carriers fit alike! Just because one carrier didn’t work, don’t count out baby carriers all together. You might think you want a certain type of carrier until you try it on. Was your baby not content in the carrier? Did you feel confident putting it on? You might even find that you have a preference for the feel of the different fabric. For instance, at Baby Tula, we make soft-structured carriers with canvas material; however, there are also Coast mesh carriers and woven wrap conversion carriers. A great way to start your search for a carrier is by finding your local babywearing group or babywearing educator. They can assist you with hands on comparisons and fit.

A baby carrier is bound to be one of your most-used baby gear purchases so it is important to find a product that will work well for your family. We have created a comparison chart that shows the benefits and functionalities of different carrier types to help you narrow down your search! We also have babywearing experts on hand who would be more than happy to help you answer fit or Baby Tula product questions – please do not hesitate to email us at help@babytula.com.

About the Author

Priscilla Parra is the Community and Social Media Manager at Baby Tula and a Volunteer Babywearing Educator with the Portland, Oregon chapter of Babywearing.

 

Why babywear? Why not! This post on all the benefits and perks to hands-free babywearing is brought to us by Linnea Catalan the Executive Director of the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance.

Think of a baby carrier as one of the most versatile tools in your caregiver/parenting toolbox. What kinds of things could you do more easily if you could keep your hands free while attending to your baby? There’s no absolute right or wrong way to practice babywearing- the goal is to find a carrier that makes life just a bit easier for you, your family and your baby.

Here are some of the common ways that caregivers use their carriers:

• Physical activity, hiking, dog-walking, travel. A baby carrier lets you carry on with life slightly off the beaten path with ease.
• Bonding, attachment and feeding. Close contact between you and your baby facilitates bonding, helps promote breastfeeding and can give the non-feeding parent a comforting way to connect with baby and give the feeding parent a break.
• Special needs. Whether it’s the baby or the caregiver with a condition that needs accommodation, a baby carrier can be an extra set of arms to lend support.
• Caring for other children. While we would all like to give our kids undivided attention, with other kids in the house, everyone needs to share a bit. A baby carrier lets you keep baby close while still keeping up with the older ones, whether you’re packing lunches, juggling extracurricular activities or giving baby a place to nap on the go.
• Sleeping and soothing. We don’t know the exact science behind it (though we think it’s the all over ‘hug’ feeling of the carrier plus the caregiver movement), but bouncing, walking and shushing in a baby carrier often soothes even the fussiest baby whether they are ill, teething or fighting much needed sleep.

Babywearing puts your baby in the safest possible place – on your body. That being said, there are a few things to keep in mind for everyone’s safety.

Safety Considerations

• Your baby must be Visible & Kissable® to you at all times. This means that you can see his or her face and s/he is high enough on your chest so that you can easily kiss the top of his or her head.
• Clear and unobstructed airway. Your baby should be chin slightly up and breathing easily. Never cover your baby’s face or let baby slump over into a chin to chest curled position.
• If you nurse your baby in a carrier, always reposition your baby back to snug and upright after feeding.
• The safest position is upright and tight against the caregiver’s chest. The carrier should mimic the way you hold your baby in arms. If you feel like you need to hold onto your baby in the carrier, tighten and adjust the carrier until it feels secure.
• Be mindful of tripping and fall hazards, especially if you can’t see what is under your feet. Bend at the knees, not the waist while your baby is in the carrier.

If you could tend to your baby while still having the freedom to use your hands and go where you want- where would you go? What would you do next? 

Linnea Catalan is the Executive Director of the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance. The BCIA is a non profit trade organization that promotes the baby carrier industry, works on the carrier safety standards that protect consumers, and assists manufacturers, educators and retailers with compliance and best practices. Learn more at www.babycarrierindustryalliance.org

 

Meet the NEW Tula Explore, which just won our Gugu Pick for Best All Around Soft Structured Carrier. See what our Chief Baby Planner, Julie, has to say about this awesome soft structured baby carrier that might just be your baby registry must-have.

Looking for the best baby carrier option for soft structured baby carriers?  We know that each one of our mamas is completely unique, BUT we also know that this new Tula Explore carrier is ideal for a minimalist mama.

Here’s why:

The Tula Explore offers every carry position your baby will need, including front facing out, facing in, and back carry. Each position provides a natural, ergonomic position best for comfortable carrying that promotes healthy hip and spine development for baby.  Another reason that Explore is a minimalist best baby carrier option is  that it adjusts in three width settings to find a perfect fit for babywearing as baby grows from newborn to early toddlerhood. It also will work for both parents; the padded shoulder straps provide optimal neck & shoulder comfort and offers quick adjustments for multiple wearers.

Its design is also supportive and super comfortable for even the newest of babes, which is vital for any babywearing parent – minimalist or not (because if baby isn’t comfy, he or she is sure to let you know.) The padded, adjustable neck support pillow can be used in multiple positions to provide head and neck support for newborns and sleeping babies. It also offers padded leg openings.

One factor that we love about the Tula brand in general is that regardless of your personal aesthetic, you are sure to find a color and/or style that suits you, an important consideration when looking for the best baby carrier to fit your life. The Explore carrier comes in all sorts of cool designs like Everblue, Sleepy Dust, Forever and Bloom. The carrier is responsibly designed and made with care from soft and breathable 100% cotton that’s easy to clean and machine washable.

If you’re still not absolutely sure that the Explore is the best baby carrier for your style and lifestyle, Tula offers a great comparison chart of all the brand’s carriers (like the Gugu favorite Free-to-Grow) so that you can see the different options and compare features.