Which baby carrier to choose? Kindergartens

Before explaining which baby carrier to choose , or rather the one that suits you best, a little history. We will go back to when the Man stood up. The first consequence of this revolution is that our hips have shrunk considerably. The second consequence is that we have become more intelligent. Our cranium has expanded. The problem is at the level of birth: something bigger had to be passed through, in a narrower space. The solution that nature has found is simply to make you give birth to a baby who is not mature.

The first months of your child are very important, because your infant will go through what is called an external pregnancy. That is to say, it will continue to grow outside your belly, a bit like baby kangaroos. Babywearing is one of the tools you will use to help your child get through this period as well as possible.

Hand carrying

The first portage that you do not necessarily think of when reading this article is the portage with arms. This is the most natural way to carry baby by taking him in your arms. Two things are very important when carrying your baby. The first is to maintain your seat well, and the second to maintain your cervical muscles well. Simply pass one hand under your child's buttocks and the second at the level of his spine. In this way, your baby will always be carried safely.

Arm carrying is fun, but you will surely get tired after a while of not having your arms free. This is why for millennia, Man has invented baby carriers.

Today there are 2 main carrying devices, slings and preformed baby carriers.

Make sure the baby carrier is physiological. That is, it matches your child's physiology (height and weight). It is also necessary to pay attention that his back is well rounded, and that his thighs touch his belly.

We must not forget either the comfort of the wearer which is very important, and I recommend that you buy a baby carrier that is easy to use .

Carrying slings

First and foremost, it's important to take babywearing lessons if you want to use a baby wrap . There are a multitude of baby wraps, and therefore a multitude of ways to carry your baby. The carrying course will be a moment of exchange with other young parents and you will be under the benevolent eye of an instructor. If you ever make a mistake, she will be there to correct you. It is better to do it with her, rather than at home. Here is the list of the different types of wraps that you will find in stores.

Woven wrap

The woven wrap is a means of carrying that is suitable from the beginning of the portage until the end without any worries, because it is completely scalable. With a woven scarf, you can wear from birth. Whether it's on your back if you're comfortable, on your stomach, or even carried on your hip, as long as you've taken carrying lessons.

The woven wrap is generally 70cm wide by 2 to 7m long. The woven sling size you choose will depend on the type of knot you want to tie, your body type and your baby's size. You can make single layer knots or double layer knots to adapt according to the temperatures in winter or summer.

There are baby wraps woven from lots of different materials, silk, linen, bamboo, merino, cashmere, hemp or simply cotton. It's up to you to choose if you want more or less breathable, supportive, soft wraps according to your needs and desires. Ditto for the colors and the patterns which will vary according to the brands to satisfy each parent.

Once again, I recommend that you take a carrying workshop with a certified instructor. With experience and practice, you can do your knots in 30 to 40 seconds.

The elastic or stretch sling

Technically stretch wraps can be used from the birth of your child until the end of babywearing. I would put a damper on this statement, because they are more flattening scarves than enveloping. Unlike woven wraps, you can't do a fold-by-fold tightening and suddenly this will have the effect of pressing baby against you. Some babies don't like this, especially babies who have GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease).

As these are elastic slings, after about a year of use the fabric tends to relax which will give a rebound effect when walking while carrying baby. This rebound effect will pull excessively on our shoulders and can become unpleasant.

Note that with stretch wraps, you have to put at least 2 layers on baby's back, otherwise your spine is not sufficiently supported and babywearing loses all its physiological interest. This is why this type of wrap is not recommended in summer, because it is very hot.
With an elastic sling , you can wear on the hip, on the stomach or on the back.

This is a sling at the end of which are two rings that allow you to do your tightening. This is why the Sling is also called ring sling or ring sling.

This knotless sling is asymmetrical, the carrying is done on one carrying shoulder. It is therefore not the only sling that you will use to carry baby during a 4 hour hike. On the other hand, you can use a double sling which allows you to distribute the baby's weight on your 2 shoulders and thus increase comfort during long walks.

The Sling is the closest carrying system to the woven sling. That is to say that it is a physiological baby carrier from the birth of the baby until the end of the portage.

The sling wrap is very practical, as it is installed and removed very quickly, there are no complicated knots to tie and the fabric is generally less than 2 meters, it takes up less space than a woven or elastic wrap.

The sling is also very practical for breastfeeding, just loosen the sling a little and lower baby so that he is in a comfortable position to suckle.
The ring sling is available in different fabrics to adapt to all seasons and in different colors for all tastes.

The sling without a knot is used to carry baby on the hip or on the belly. It can possibly be used to carry baby in the back on an ad hoc basis. You cannot carry an infant on your back, because your back muscles must be strong enough.

The Mei-Tai

There are as many models of meï-taï as there are brands that market it. The meï-taï are baby carriers originating in Asia which are on the border between the preformed baby carrier and the wrap. There are no clips and you have to do two knots. The first at the level of the belt, then you install baby in the "pocket", then you tie the straps.

The meï-taï cannot be used from birth, because it passes between the baby's legs. Some models reduce the space between the legs and claim to be usable from birth. I still recommend waiting until the baby is 3 months old to wear it in a meï-taï. Indeed it does not respect the frog position that the infant should have with the legs together. It is quite practical for breastfeeding and you can carry your child on the stomach, on the back or on the hip.

It's a means of portage evolutionary since you can play on the knotting of the shoulders and there are different sizes. The main differences between the models will be in the straps. They can be padded, deployable to spread over the shoulder like a sling, or both.

The water sling

It is neither more nor less than a sling made with a special fabric. It is suitable for the beach or for the water. Some mums recommend it as a summer sling since the fabric is perforated and very airy. But it is not at all supportive and therefore not physiological. It should mainly be used occasionally for the beach or in a swimming pool. The fabric tends to slip between the rings under baby's weight if it is not damp, and has the advantage of drying quickly.

The baby carrier

The preformed baby carrier

The preformed baby carrier differs from slings by the seat of the baby who is already prepared. It is a means of carrying which cannot be used from birth, but which can be used longer than baby carriers. At June-22 we recommend using the Easy-Baby preformed baby carrier from the moment the baby knows how to grab his feet or sits up. The goal is not to force the spacing of his hips.

It is a very practical physiological baby carrier and very easy to use since it is enough to attach it to the level of the belt, to install baby and to put on the straps. Some preformed can also be worn on the back.

The half buckle

The half-buckle baby carrier is between the maï-taï and the preformed since you have a clip belt like on most preformed, and tied straps like on the meï-taï. It is a way of carrying much less common than the others mentioned in this article. It is also a physiological baby carrier that must be chosen according to the size and weight of your child.

The Onbuhimo

The Onbuhimo is a pre-shaped carrier that looks a lot like a backpack, unlike other carriers where you put the carrier on yourself before you put baby in. In the case of the onbuhimo you install baby in the baby carrier before putting it on your shoulders. This method of carrying is very practical for pregnant women since you have no ties on the front of your body. Like other preformed baby carriers, it is not suitable from birth, and is not scalable. So you have to buy it according to the age and size of your child.

hiking baby carrier

Hiking baby carriers are tools designed for long-term babywearing. This is not a baby carrier that you are going to buy for occasional use, but rather if you are a fan of long walks with your child. It is worn on the back and is recommended when your baby knows how to sit up and has enough muscle in the back to stay comfortable. The hiking baby carrier must be comfortable for the wearer and for your child. You will then find lots of practical tips such as the water-repellent fabric, the parasol, the rainproof hood, the multiple storage spaces, a mirror to watch your child behind, a harness that can be adjusted in all directions...

At June 22 we have decided to offer you practical and aesthetic baby carriers. Nothing superfluous, it's hot, parents and babies love our Easy-Baby physiological slings and baby carriers. Take a tour of our shop and join the mother's gang!

Which baby carrier to choose? June 22 at Kindergartens