My first baby was a surprise. Not the kind you have 9 months to prepare for, but mere minutes. The day after my 29th birthday, I got a call from our foster care resource worker that a newborn needed a placement that evening. After some back and forth phone calls, in less than an hour I was driving home the smallest baby I’d ever held. Not entirely sure how things were going to go with working full-time and caring for preemie. The overwhelming advice I got was to get a carrier and wear him. My friend and mentor brought me a Moby wrap right away, and a family member, who owns SweetPea Ringslings, started sewing me a custom sling. Both of those were perfect for the early days and weeks of his life, which was not an easy time for him. Being worn allowed him to benefit from skin-to-skin contact, helped with his acid reflux, facilitated our attachment, and enabled me to keep working while keeping him close.
I have worn a baby or toddler almost every day of the past four years, as we now have kids ages 16, 4, 3, 2, and 7 months. Babywearing has been an absolute necessity as I need my hands free to fix meals, care for the other kids, clean the house, grocery shop, and more. But beyond the necessity, it has been an absolute joy. Each one had a season of being tucked under my chin while I sang in the church choir. I’ve been able to share my perspective as we’ve explored the outdoors, the aquarium, zoo, museums, and playgrounds. It helps me travel light, whether we’re running errands around town or visiting family three states away. Babywearing is also a special point of connection and regulation for our kids. We purchased a toddler carrier so we can continue to wear them through the early childhood years. Our kids often ask to ride in the carrier when they’re feeling overwhelmed, insecure, tired, or lonely. The familiarity and closeness helps them calm their bodies and sometimes they even fall asleep.
If you are thinking about trying babywearing or even toddlerwearing, here are some of my tried and true favorite products.
SweetPea Ring Sling
I mentioned a SweetPea Ring Sling was one of my first carriers. I now have four of them of all different colors and materials: cotton, cotton and linen, athletic mesh for water, and silk. They’re each so different! I found ring slings to be very useful for 0-3 months when babies are in the squishy newborn phase. They’re comfy to wear around the house, are easily washed, and keep baby snuggled up like they were in the womb. Slings are lightweight and easy to keep in your car or diaper bag for quick ups when you’re out and about. I also find myself reaching for them when my babies are bigger and need extra help transitioning to sleep, whether because of teething or a developmental leap.
Lillebaby Complete
Lillebaby Complete is a 6-position soft-structured carrier for babies 7 – 45 pounds that does not need an infant insert. Since I had 3 Spring babies, I was very glad to not need a hot and bulky infant insert! The Complete comes in a variety of fabrics also, and I have found the Airflow to be a good choice for our hot climate. The body of the carrier is a 3-D mesh, which is very breathable. This is my workhorse carrier that gets heavy use for baby’s first year or two. Once the straps are adjusted, it’s a quick process to put on and take off, making it user-friendly and accessible even for beginners. They’re also the carrier of choice for my husband and teenage son, and it’s not too difficult to readjust the straps for different users. I love the lumbar support pad that is included with this carrier. I have worn similar brands that do not have the lumbar support and my back fatigues more quickly. I have worn my Lilles comfortably for hours a day!
Lillebaby CarryOn
The Lillebaby CarryOn is a toddler carrier for kids up to 60 pounds. It’s definitely more of a workout to wear a toddler, but it’s a lot easier than holding them in your arms, or having them ride on your back or shoulders! When I bought our CarryOn I wasn’t sure it would see much use, since kids tend to want to walk on their own as soon as they’re able. But it gets regular attention at our house among our three that fit it currently.
If you’re thinking about buying a carrier, you might find it helpful to try out a few different kinds before purchasing. See about borrowing carriers from friends or a lending library, which you can find locally with the East Alabama Baby Wearers. There’s also a bit of learning curve to get the hang of wraps, slings, even buckle carriers. If you don’t have someone to show you in person, YouTube tutorials and Facebook groups are good resources to help you get comfortable with babywearing, and teach you to do it safely.
