Baby carriers, and you.

There is a lot available in the world of baby carriers, from the very good to the totally horrible, and a lot in between. It seems like there's a lot of confusion about this topic, so for those who don't want to actually go to a babywearing website and find out the down and dirty on this stuff, I'll break it down super quick.

First of all, let's look at what you should never, ever, in 10,000 years put your child into.

Bag slings. The link says it all. They are death traps. These idiotic contraptions still turn up on Craigslist all the time, so if you see one, please flag it as "prohibited" (because selling recalled goods really is prohibited), and email the seller with the link I just gave you. Whatever you do, don't buy the thing. They are a suffocation hazard.


Now, here's the not dangerous, but definitely ill-advised:

Front pack carriers. Also known as "crotch danglers" (for obvious reasons), and sold under pretty much every brand name you can think of, these things are not dangerous or anything, but they're really not very highly recommended either. Sure they're cheap, and relatively easy to use, and you can find them anywhere, but they are horrible for the baby's hips and back. Think about how a baby sits in one. Does that look very ergonomic to you? It doesn't to me. I actually own one of these things (and the first person at my door with $20 can take it off my hands!) and I can tell you, they're totally uncomfortable for the parent to wear also. They cause a ton of back pain and muscle fatigue after even just a half day of use. All in all, using one of these carriers is far from the worst thing you can do, but you're a smart and informed parent, and you can do better.

Now, you want to see the good stuff? I'll show you the good stuff.

Soft Structured Carriers. These are AMAZING. They not only keep the baby's hips and back in a correctly aligned position (ask a chiropractor if you don't want to take my word for it), but they are so infinitely much more comfortable for the parent than the front pack, and they give you tons more options, AND can be used for toddlers as well as babies. I personally have an Ergo, which I use, yes, even now hugely pregnant, for my 2-year-0ld, when we shop. I back carry him and don't even feel his weight. It's amazing.

There are many brands of soft structured carriers, and here are a few popular ones. Ergo , Beco, Boba, and others.

Wraps. These are great for babies who aren't big enough for soft structured carriers yet. There are a ton of ways to use them, they're extremely versatile, and although there's a bit of a learning curve on how to use them, they are great for the baby, and generally comfortable for the parent.

Pouch Slings. These are cool. I own one. They are really simple to use since there's no adjusting, and putting it on is totally idiot-proof. They're pretty easy to make, too, so anyone who's crafty can come up with one of these for just a few bucks. They're great for newborns all the way through toddlers (Orren likes to be hip carried in ours), and since the baby is held high on the parent's torso (in the case of infants and newborns, of course) it is safe, and does not pose a suffocation hazard when used properly. These are a sized product, unlike most baby carriers, so if you're buying used, make sure it's from someone close to your height and weight since it matters for the fit of the sling. You don't want it too small or too big.

Ring Slings. I may be the only person on the entire planet who dislikes ring slings for my own personal use. Most people love them, though, and they are a great style of carrier in general. They are used exactly the same way as a pouch sling, except that instead of being sized, they adjust by pulling the tail of the sling through two large rings that sit at shoulder level. Many people love ring slings such as the Maya Wrap because the tail can be used as a shade for the baby or a nursing cover if they want.


The most important thing is to do your homework, figure out what carrier is right for your family's needs, and go for it. For us, we chose the Ergo because we wanted something fairly gender-neutral that Thak could use as well since he often wears the babies. We also wanted something that would be usable for babies and toddlers, that didn't cost TOO much but was still good quality, and that was versatile, with as many carry options as possible. We found that the Ergo was our best bet for these attributes, and have been very happy with it from day one. I tried the pouch sling, honestly, because I got it for practically free, and I just ended up liking it. Sometimes you just have to try stuff that seems like a good deal, too.