A simple guide to choosing the best carrier style for you and your babe.
Carrying your brand new baby right from the very beginning is something we completely encourage. We get a lot of queries about the best carrier style for newborns so I thought I’d put together a quick little list to help you choose the right carrier.
Our Ring Sling and Wrap carrier styles are both perfect right from birth for keeping baby upright and in a safe and comfortable carry. Both are very simple and easy to use and will facilitate and enhance all the wonderful benefits that babywearing offers new mum and bubs, but there a few small differences to note.
Head Support
The biggest advantage that our Wrap Carriers offer is the ultimate hands free carry for your newborn baby. The wide shoulder passes mould to your body and provide a great protective and supportive strap to hold your little ones head against your chest, the same way as your hand would instinctively caress baby’s head in a natural hold.
Simply place the back of baby’s head under one strap, ensuring their face is not covered by any fabric and that airways remain clear and unobstructed. This is particularly useful and definitely necessary when your little one is smaller and has limited head control and, of course, when the sleepy dust sets in and your babe is sleeping.
Our Ring Sling designs also offer an added head and neck support with 3 easy steps to transform you carry:
- Take the tail of your sling and twist
- Fold the tail back onto itself so it doubles in thickness
- Roll down the top rail of your sling and tuck the tail into it securely to produce a soft cushion like padding for your baby to rest their head and provide support for the neck.
Seat Position
The most optimal position for both our carry styles is the “M” position, or the “Froggy” position; with baby seated in a deep squat with knees bent higher than their bottom. This ensures baby’s hips are well supported and encourages their spine to form a “C” shaped curve which is comfortable and safe for their carry and their growth and development.
To help achieve this deep-seated carry in our Ring Slings, ensure the bottom rail of the sling is up and under baby’s bottom and reaching from the back of both knees. It is also desirable to have some fabric from the bottom rail up and in-between both baby and your body; forming a nice deep pocket seat which your baby will ‘sit’ into naturally.
Now that my baby is older (15mths…. time for another?!?! maaaaayyybe not), I have him in our sling almost every day. Kindy drop off with his bigger brothers, Woollies runs, and, of course, our daily beach walks. My son can walk, run and keep up with the best of them; but for those times when I need to have him close, or need to venture out with the whole tribe, my sling is my best friend and not-so-secret weapon.
