The practicalities of babywearing

Which one to choose?
You could choose from an array of high street baby carriers, in the UK being Babybjorn, Tomy, Hipseats, or the like. However I have found that apart from the exception of Ergo (which John Lewis has started stocking recently), the most comfortable and user-friendly baby carriers/slings are available online or through independent sellers.

You may have a Slingmeet organised near you regularly. These are meetings hosted for free by mothers who are eager to help other less experienced sling wearers to find the perfect sling, and help is also at hand if you need to learn the most comfortable way to wear your baby. If you are keen, you may even wish to create your own Slingmeet. Go to www.slingmeet.co.uk to find the closest meeting in your area.


What weather?
This is entirely dependent on where in the world you live. Living in the cold weather in North America or Europe would require different considerations from if you are living in sub-tropical clime. The type of fabric or material used, and the way the fabric hugs your body, helps you decide what is the best. In cold weather it is not uncommon for babywearing parents to have to consider what coat to wear on top of the baby, or have a separate weatherproof cover for the baby. There are babywearing coats and jackets, or add-on pieces of sling cover, that keeps you warm while you wear your baby around.

In hot weather UV protection may be a consideration, as well as breathability of the fabric. If you wish to wear your baby on a beach holiday, quick dry fabric like Solarveil is recommended. A good way of wearing your baby in sweltering heat is the wrap, which is basically a long swathe of fabric that you can wrap around your body in different ways. To keep cool, all you have to do is choose a wrap that is made of a lightweight (but supportive) fabric, such as Calin Bleu, Ellaroo or Girasol.


What occasion?
You may think, fashion is no longer a priority when you have to consider the practicalities of chasing after a toddler, or how often you may have to wipe off sick from your shoulder. Nevertheless, slings come in all sorts of fabrics, materials and designs to go with your personality, to colour-coordinate with your clothes, or even the rest of your baby gear. The most beautiful fabrics, probably more geared towards the trendy mum rather than dad, are available for you to choose from for a lot of sling brands. Wearing one of these may help perk up your drab wardrobe and you may even be unwilling to part with it even when you are NOT wearing your baby!


How old is your baby?
Younger babies are lighter and poorly fitted baby carriers are easily overlooked, but as they bulk up as the months go by, previously unnoticeable discomfort comes to the fore and you can no longer ignore it when you choose to carry your baby in a sling for anything more than hopping into the local shop. Also younger babies (up to 3-4 months or whenever they are able to support their heads) need greater all-round support, and their floppy bodies could slip out of the sling unless you know what you are doing.

Older babies obviously are more weighty and comfort for both baby and parent is a must. After 20 pounds a baby gradually becomes a chore and a serious health risk to carry on the front, so this is where back carriers come in. My personal favourite are structured carriers (like Ergo, Patapum, Connecta, Rose and Rebellion, Beco).