Baby Slings and Carriers

August 11, 2017

Baby slings are generally used for carrying babies, and the word is often used interchangeably to mean 'baby carriers'. But more distinctively, they are small pieces of fabrics used for baby wearing while baby carrier could be used to refer to a more elaborate baby-wearing gear. They come in different variations: they can be padded or unpadded, and are also available in several designs. Examples of some brands out there include: Boba wrap, Ellaroo woven wrap, Pikkolo baby carrier, Manduca baby carrier and many more. Baby carriers and slings are often seen as being handier than stroller [for carrying babies especially in their early years].

Types of Baby slings & carriers

Ring slings

Ring slings are adjustable pieces of fabrics with two (2) rings [that can be made either from nylon or aluminum] sewn together at one end. Normally, they are used for carrying babies at the hip region. Several shoulder styles are possible with the ring slings.

Woven wraps

Woven wraps are vastly employed for the purpose of baby wearing by many women. They are made from fabrics such as cotton, hemp, silk, linen and so on. The length of a typical wrap could be between 2 - 6 metres.

Soft Structured Carriers

The soft structured carriers are some sort of customary carriers that are tied round the waist and secured with any of the several kinds of fasteners- Velcro fasteners and buckles are commonly used- while the baby is held within a rectangular section.

Mei Tai Carriers

The Mei Tai carriers are quite similar to the soft structured carriers in that they also form a rectangular section [that accommodates the baby]. They are formed from four (4) different straps- a pair over the shoulder and another pair round the waist to make the rectangle. They can be used on the hip, back or front.