BabyWearing – My Top Picks!

I am a huge advocate for babywearing! I didn’t do much of it with Reagan and I totally regret it. It does take a lot of patience and watching YouTube videos to get everything right, but it’s totally worth it!

There are tons of studies on the positive effects of babywearing. Babies feel calm, safe, and protected when they’re being worn, their heart rates are slower and it encourages easier breastfeeding and even increased milk production. Plus there’s obvious benefits of being hands free (especially when you also have a toddler or two!) around the house and on outings!

There are tons of different styles of baby wraps, slings and carriers made from numerous materials and sold by several brands, so which one is right for you? It can be overwhelming trying to sort through all of the information and options available, so I’ve lined up my favorite brands and styles all in one place!

Structured Carrier
Lillebaby 6 in 1 Complete Carrier – This is my favorite structured baby carrier! It is incredibly versatile and can be worn 6 different ways to accommodate the newborn through toddler stages. I love this one for traveling because it’s easy to just strap baby in and go, plus it’s truly hands free with full range of motion in both arms. There’s a built in head support for newborns and a shade attachment for when baby falls asleep and it’s sunny. The base can switch between narrow and wide, the straps are very comfortable, and theres a back support which really helps when front carrying. I highly recommend this as a multi purpose, comprehensive carrier!

Wrap Carrier
Tuck and Bundle – I was super opposed to wrapping for the longest time because I tried it once, decided it was too hard, and gave up. Little did I know that different materials and lengths of wraps make such a huge difference when it comes to baby wearing! I’ve tried Moby, K’tan, Happy, Solly, and let me tell you that Tuck and Bundle blows them all out of the water. The material is incredibly soft and stretchy, it’s made in California which means it adheres to the highest regulations concerning fabric dye, and it’s designed to fit babies up to 25 pounds (meaning I could technically still wear Reagan!) Wrapping takes a LOT of practice (and YouTube watching) but once you get the hang of it, you can wrap and be ready to go in seconds. At $65, this is priced well and I guarantee it’s the best wrap available to you.

Ring Sling
Wildbird – I was gifted a ring sling from Wildbird and this thing is tricky! I’ve heard so many moms swear by ring slings that I’m determined to keep trying, but I’ve had a hard time figuring it out. I do like that it’s very easy to assemble, I just slip the sling over my shoulder and side baby in so there’s no wrapping or buckles to deal with. I do think these are especially useful with newborns because they’re so tiny that you can keep them snug and in a kangaroo pouch carry easily. Once I figure this one out, I’ll be sure to update you on my thoughts!

Shirts
Lalabu – This is probably one of the coolest baby wearing accessories I’ve ever seen! Lalabu makes tanks and tees that have a built in kangaroo pouch for wearing your newborn (up to 15 lbs). I cannot tell you how often I used this in the first 2 months of Elliott’s life! When I flew alone with the girls to visit my family, I wore this tank through the airport and even on the plane because all I had to do was slide Elliott in and go. So much easier than any of the carriers, and she slept like a dream! Also incredibly convenient for when I was trying to take Reagan to the potty on the airplane and couldn’t leave Elliott with a stranger. This is a bit pricey to only use for a few weeks/months, but if you plan on traveling with a newborn or if you have toddlers to take care of I say this is 100% worth it!

Some things to note! Baby carriers are not all created equal, and you get what you pay for. I left my Lillebaby at home when I took the girls to Disney World so I bought a $30 Infantino carrier from Wal-Mart and it was so uncomfortable and confusing that I ended up returning it. Be super wary of the fabrics and where wraps are made because the standards in China aren’t as high, and some of the dyes they use in fabrics can cause skin sensitivity in babies.

If I had to pick just one, which would it be? If I had to choose just one carrier, I’d pick the Lillebaby. It’s the most versatile in terms of different types of carries, it’s easy to use, and the back support is amazing. I’ve had it since Reagan was born and I use it pretty much everyday! My only issue with it is that I haven’t been able to use it with newborns. They say you can stick a rolled up blanket under their bum, but I feel like that isn’t enough support. My favorite combo would be the Lillebaby and the Tuck and Bundle, that way you cover every stage form newborn through toddlerhood!

Make sure you always have baby in the correct ergonomic position, this can take some time to get it right but watch lots of videos and practice a ton! There are baby wearing groups and meetups on Facebook where you can try different styles of carriers and have doulas and other professionals teach you how to wear properly. Baby wearing is amazing for mama baby bonding, not to mention practical when you have other kids to chase around! Let me know what carriers you love, and let me know if you have any questions about the ones I posted above!