Babywearing International of Colorado Springs: ringsling

Showing posts with label ringsling. Show all posts

Friday, February 6, 2015

Carrier 101

Overwhelmed by how many types of carriers there are out there? Never fear! Your VBEs broke it all down at the January meeting. If you weren't able to make it, keep reading for a run-down of the major carrier types. :)

Ring Slings: Ring slings are a great option starting from newborn to toddler. It's a one shoulder carry that can be easily adjusted for a comfy fit for you and your baby. The bigger the baby/toddler, the shorter amount of time this carrier will be comfortable as it distributes weight on only one shoulder instead of two. For many mamas, this is a great carrier for quick trips in and out of the store. It's a great carrier for nursing as you can easily lower your baby to your breast and/or use the excess tail length for discreet nursing coverage. This is also great for front or hip carries. You can use it for quick back carry, but nothing too long term and you should be experienced with your ring sling before you try back wearing with one. Here's a great ring sling troubleshooting tutorial!

Woven Wraps (and Stretchy Wraps): Woven wraps are the most versatile in the carrier world. They come in different sizes/lengths and can wrap any size baby/toddler. Great for front, hip or back carries. There are so many types of ways to use a woven wrap, you will never get bored. There is a bit of a learning curve when you begin learning how to wrap, but once you do you might not go back. Also great for nursing your baby on the go. Check out our past blog post with even more information on woven wraps and safety tips, including why stretchy wraps shouldn't be used for back carries!

Mei Tai: A Mei Tai is a traditional type of Chinese carrier. They can be used with newborns and into toddlerhood. It consists of a square panel of fabric and four straps. Some Mei Tais come with wider wrap straps, allowing for a woven wrap feel. These are said to be the best of both the soft structured carriers and woven wrap worlds, since they have features of both. A Mei Tai is tied on waist first, like you're tying on an apron. Your insert your baby in the body of the fabric and bring the straps around your opposite shoulders to tie off. Another great nursing on-the-go option! Here's a great video to watch for using a Mei Tai with a newborn.

Soft Structured Carrier: These are the mainstream carriers people tend to know the most about. There are many on the market and people have their favorites based on preference. SSC's or buckle carriers can be used for front, hip or back carries depending on which carrier you have. Some buckle carriers are more comfortable than others, so it's important to try a few out before you commit to one. A good waist belt can offer a lot of back support and padded straps make for comfy long term wearing. Can be used most often with newborns through toddlerhood, although you might need to use a few tricks to get a newborn fitting comfortably. Some buckle carriers are easier to nurse in than others due to lack of adjusting action.

Pouch Sling: Pouch slings are easily stowed in a diaper bag or purse. It's super important to have the right size specific to your body so your baby can be high, tight, and close enough to kiss. Not great for long term wearing as it is a one-shoulder carry. Not ideal for newborns or toddlers either, but fine in a pinch. These carriers do best for a baby sitting unassisted.

As always, if you're unsure where to go from here or have ANY questions, feel free to ask a Volunteer Babywearing Educator in our Facebook Group or at our next meeting. We would love to meet with you!

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

July Meeting at East Library

It was so good to see so many new faces at East Library for our July Meeting! Thanks to all who attended.

We talked a lot about hot weather babywearing and steps you can take to make sure you and baby stay cool. Using carriers that only have one layer like Ringslings or Soft Structured Carriers are really helpful. And if you're using your woven wrap, using carries with single layer passes ensure that baby will be cooler.

We also discussed cooling towels that you can buy to place between you and baby to help regulate both your body temperatures while wearing. 'Frog Toggs' is a great brand of cooling towel for not a lot of cost.

Also demonstrated at this meeting was a Torso Carry (also called a Kanga Carry) using a beach towel. If you're at the pool with the kids and you forget your carrier, never fear! You can turn your beach towel into a quick carrier with a few steps. If you've never attempted a back carry, make sure you are comfortable wearing your baby first. Then practice back carrying over a soft surface (like a couch or bed, etc.) and use another person to help spot, if you can. Baby should also be able to sit unassisted while using a back carry.

If you joined Babywearing International at this meeting, welcome and thank you! Your annual dues of $30 help us expand our library, train our Volunteer Babywearing Educators (VBEs) and help us print materials to get the word out for babywearing! If you haven't yet joined, join here today! $30 also allows you to checkout one carrier from our lending library every month for the year that you've paid dues. A great deal if you're in the market for a new carrier but aren't ready to commit before trying one. BWI membership is also a great gift to someone you know that might be expecting!

Here's some great action shots from the meeting: