I remember those early days of having a newborn and feeling trapped. Trapped in my bed, in a rocking chair, or just holding them. I wondered how I could ever return to doing normal things while tending to this new needy baby. The moment I slid my precious boy into a ring sling for the first time, I felt a hopeful glimmer! I want to share my different baby carriers with you, when I used them, and what I used them for.
Ring Sling Baby Carrier
Ring slings are a type of carrier where the fabric goes through a ring that sits on your shoulder to create a sling for the baby. They’re probably the most compact carriers to bring with you on adventures and for daily use. I think they have the biggest learning curve for figuring out how to comfortably and safely wear your baby. I have used two different ring slings in my baby wearing journey.
Moby Ring Sling
I used this baby carrier in my earliest days postpartum. It was the first sling I ever used for my baby. It was perfect for those sweet newborn snuggles. While it was not a bad option, I found much more supportive carriers rather quickly so this one is no longer in my collection.
Hope&Plum Ring Sling
This post could very quickly turn into a hope&plum fan post. Truly I LOVE their products and company. It’s a women-owned, size-inclusive, and US-based company. Their customer support is unmatched and they offer free baby wearing consultations while you’re learning how to use their baby carriers. They offer helpful tips and make baby wearing extremely accessible. I’m obsessed. I own two of their ring slings and they will be staying in my collection forever.
This carrier is great for baby snuggles and when my little guy was six months and under he would usually fall asleep while I was wearing him. Unfortunately, he prefers other carriers to the ring slings but I’m hoping my future babies will give them a chance.
Wrap Baby Carriers
There are lots of different kinds of wrap carriers. Some carriers come more “put together” for you and others require the parent to learn various ways of wrapping and tying off the fabric. I thought I would use and love wraps more than I do, but it turns out they were not my favorite.
Baby K’Tan Baby Carrier
If you made your registry on Amazon this carrier was constantly suggested to be put on your registry. I have many friends who loves this carrier and used it consistently for months with their babies. I found that it did not feel as supportive as I wanted it to. My husband enjoyed using this carrier for the earlier months of our son’s life.
Soft Structured Baby Carrier
I hope you read to this point because these are my FAVORITE baby carriers. I feel like I can take on anything when I’m wearing a soft structured baby carrier. Cook dinner? No problem. Go on a hike? Sure. All day basketball tournament? Easy. College football game? Let’s go! Truly soft structured baby carriers made life with a little baby (and now toddler) so much easier. They may not travel quite as well as a wrap or ring sling, but they’re still compact enough to fit in large purse or diaper bag.
Lillie Baby
This is probably the most structured and supportive carrier I own. It’s great for long days of baby wearing. It’s a little bulkier than some other soft structured carriers, but that’s because of the wide waist belt it offers to support the wearer. There’s lots of adjustable features on it for you and baby.
Happy Baby Revolution Carrier
This is my all time favorite carrier and the one I reach for the most. My son has happily stayed in this carrier from the time he was 6 months to now at 16 months. We’ve used in on long days walking around D.C., the zoo, or the aquarium. When he’s teething or just needing some snuggles we still strap him in to be able to be hands free while cleaning or cooking dinner.
I hope this gives you some ideas on the options that are available for baby carriers! Don’t be afraid to dive into trying out baby carriers and be the multi-tasking super mom that you are! Also, a ring sling, wrap, and soft-structured baby carrier can get pricey, but it’ll be used a ton and perhaps for more than one baby. Be sure to check on Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist for gently used versions. Or if you are done with a carrier, see if a friend wants to borrow it.
If you are in the trenches of figuring out life with a new baby, check out this article on what to do with your baby in D.C. As you think about ring sling vs wrap vs soft structure, know there is no right or wrong answer, but just what works best for you and baby. Happy baby wearing!
