Gear

You’ve mastered diapering, got the hang of swaddling, now it’s time to tackle what others make look so easy – the art of “baby wearing.” Most of the carriers listed below can be used with newborns so you have plenty of time to get used to them. Pediatricians and experts alike recommend baby carriers for a variety of reasons: baby is up close and personal with both mom and dad, when worn face-to-face baby can feel your heartbeat and breathing, and most importantly baby-carrying mimics a “womb-like” environment perfectly. That’s right, nice and cozy!

For the parents, baby carrying also means hands-free comfort so you can go about your daily life, even nursing, all while bonding with baby. Baby carriers are also easy and convenient during those times when adding a stroller to the mix would be too cumbersome like climbing stairs, grocery shopping, or walking through crowded streets.

The carriers we mention here should not be confused with slings, another choice when it comes to baby wearing. Slings are made of fabric, have no “hardware” and are typically worn over one shoulder, but we’ll get to them in another article! The carriers here are structurally “built”, have some sort of lumbar support as well as shoulder straps, belts, clips, buttons and/or fasteners - all of which adjust as baby grows and give you and baby the support you both need to feel safe, secure, and comfortable.