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!

Where we wore in December

Isabel T. and her little one in a Kinderpack while at Canyonlands National Park in Utah. 

Nicole R. spends time with her boys on a shopping trip. 

Nicole R. wears her son in a soft structured carrier while doing a photo shoot.

Dorinda B. hikes with her family at Garden of the Gods using her Beco Gemini. 

Jennifer P. enjoys the outdoors at Fountain Creek nature center using a Starry Night Lewis Tula.

Katie K. and her daughter feed the giraffes at Cheyenne Mountain Zoo's "Electric Safari."

Marie C. and her son pose festively in front of their Christmas tree. 

January Meetings

Happy New Year everyone! There is lots to look forward to in the month of January! We will start having multiple meetings throughout the month and throughout the area. Pick a meeting that works for your schedule, that's close to you, or come to them all! Hope to see you all at our upcoming meetings!

This Friday, January 3rd, from 10:30-12pm, we will meet at Cloth Diaper Market in Colorado Springs. Come and learn about different carriers from local babywearing guru, Galen Duffy. She will be covering everything from soft structured carriers, to stretchy wraps, woven wraps and ring slings. All who attend will receive 10% off carriers in store when purchased same day. If you're simply looking for help with a carrier you already own, come on down!

On Friday, January 10th, from 10-12pm, come to the East Library. This is a new location for our group meeting, and we will be discussing what's new for our group in 2014. We will also be trying out Robin's Hip Carry. 

On Saturday, January 18th, from 10-12pm, come to Cloth Diaper Market for an open house style meeting. Stop by to ask carrier questions and hang out with group leaders Marcia Stewart and Jillian Droppo. If you normally work during the week and haven't been able to make a previous weekday meeting, this is a great chance to meet other moms in our awesome group. 

December Meeting

By Lauren B.

Thank you to those of you that were able brave the snowy weather for our December meeting. For those of you that opted to stay nice and warm at home with your little ones, no worries! You can try out this month's carry with the video below. "Christina's Ruckless Back Carry," demonstrated by Jillian D. at the meeting, can be used with a size 4, 5, or 6 woven wrap. 

Happy wrapping! Hope to see you all at the next meeting in the new year. Have a wonderful holiday with your families. 



  

Cora K. spots Sarah M. while trying the carry of the month.



Lauren M. looks on as Jillian D. demonstrates a back carry.

Jillian D. wraps her toddler.



Cora K.'s sweet toddler enjoys time on Mommy's back.

Lauren M. wears her baby girl in a Beco Gemini.

Jillian D. assists Sarah M.'s husband, Aaron, with a soft structured carrier.



Ladies at the meeting chat about different carriers they like to use.

Boba 2G, Boba 3G, Boba Air

Boba is a Colorado-based company and the maker of the very popular Boba buckle carriers.  There are three Boba soft structure carriers that are currently on the market:  The Boba 2G, while discontinued, can still be bought at several retailers, including Amazon; the newer model is the Boba 3G, which can be used from newborn through toddlerhood, with no additional insert needed.  Lastly, there is the Boba Air, the "lightweight" carrier the company offers.  

Mindy N. has owned and used all three and here is her experience/review of them:

I started with a 2G from Zulily, when they were liquidating their stock before releasing the 3G. I heard about it from a friend who thought it might be up my alley, even though my third child had just turned 3 years old. We were at Fort Campbell at the time, and we used to visit downtown Nashville a lot; a stroller or wagon is really inconvenient when going into many of the stores there, so I was willing to give a carrier a shot, after not wearing her since she was less than a year old.  We were planning to have another baby in the future, too, so I figured we'd eventually use it even if it was a failure for her. Anyway, I got the carrier and LOVED it for hiking, exploring record stores in Nashville, etc. Since she was pretty old when we bought it, we only ever back carried her. My husband was deployed when I bought the Boba, and started using it once he came home. He liked it, too. When Baby #4 came along, I used the Boba with him straight out of the gate. I wore him frogged, without an insert or adaptive use. He was 8 pounds and 20.5 inches and he fit very comfortably that way. 

I was so happy with the 2G that I wasn't even interested in upgrading to the 3G -- until I bought a second Boba in the Diaper Dude camo print, for my husband to use. I had no intention of wearing a camo-print anything, since I try to keep a low profile as an Army wife, but I really liked the higher back and the purse strap. I decided to buy a solid Boba for myself, in grey. The purse strap wrangler is so helpful, as well as the ability to adjust the chest strap vertically. It's also more adjustable than I remember the 2G being; the webbing straps between the end of the padded shoulder strap and the seat are adjustable at both ends.  I think it makes it easier to tweak the fit while a child is in it, since you can grab either end and make your change. 

Mindy N. wears her baby in her Boba 3G at Cheyenne Cañon.

The main con I've found is that I'm not quite flexible enough to clip the chest strap when I'm wearing him on the front. I manage to get around that by having one of my other kids clip it for me, since I'm rarely without at least one of them. I can deal with it if I go to the store alone with the baby and don't have someone to snap it for me, but it's kind of annoying that I have to hike the straps up every so often. (I have no issues getting an arm behind my back to unsnap it with one hand, though.) The other potential con is that my daughter hates using the foot straps/stirrups. She would probably be better supported if she used them, but she finds them annoying. Still, the seat is pretty big, so she's not dangling when she's in it.

I wasn't sure what to expect from the Boba Air when we set out. As enthusiastic as I am about our 3G, I wondered if the Air was going to be as comfortable. It turned out to be surprisingly so! I am not a frequent flyer, so I wanted to travel as minimally as possible on our trip to North Carolina. The Air was perfect: lightweight and breathable while running through the airport, compact when settling into our seats on the plane. It stuffs into its self-bag easily. It collapses down like a reusable grocery bag, without a lot if hassle to make it fit, and it took up about as much room as my makeup bag in my carry-on. 

I also used the Air at our destination, not just in transit. I walked for over three miles on the beach one day during our trip. Despite its lightweight construction, I didn't find the straps digging into my shoulders. (It might be worth noting that my son is pretty petite. He's only about 20 pounds at 15 months. People with older or larger children might not have the same experience.) The Boba 3G's more padded and rigid structure is still definitely superior to the Air in terms of support and comfort, but the Air stands on its own pretty well. My son also seemed to like it, as he fell asleep about a mile into our walk.

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What were your personal experiences with Boba carriers like?  Comment and let us know!

5/1 Monthly Meeting

This was our first meeting with our newly appointed leaders.  Seeing as how it was snowing (in May, thanks Colorado!), we stayed indoors, where Jillian and Kristen started the meeting off with an "Introduction to Babywearing" mini-class to acquaint people with the different types of carriers and help guide their questions.  We welcomed quite a few members to their first meeting and we hope it was good one for them!  

Kate H. and Patti S. listen as members introduce themselves. Kate
is wearing her son in a Girasol Rainforest Wrap Conversion Half-Buckle
and Patti is wearing her daughter in a BBslen Lychee shorty.

Leader Jillian D. wears her little girl in a Kinderpack while
explaining the different types of carriers, including those in the
lending library.

Babywearers converse with their little ones close to them.

Jillian D. guides Jamie E. as she wraps her child.
Jillian is wearing Didymos Black Hemp Pfau.  

May Meeting's Group Photo

Where We Wore in April

Kate B. PCS-ed away from us earlier this month, but here she is in front of
the White House, with her daughter in her Oscha Starry Night Forget Me Not
wrap conversion mei tai by Blissful Squish.
  

Lizzy D. and her husband Richard took their daughters and their
Ardent Tula to visit Mount Rushmore!  

Erica N. wore her toddler in a Kinderpack in Prague,
where she is a missionary.

Rebekha R. tandem wore her kiddos in an Earthy Bliss Wrapture (made from a
Lenny Lamb woven wrap)and a Didymos Lisca Azzurro at the Grand Canyon!

Cora K. took her daughter to the beach in California in a Kanaluti
KoKaDi Diorite Stars wrap conversion half-buckle.

Avelynn M. found her Didymos Katja handy during their trip to California!