Which type of sling or carrier?

There's a huge array of babywearing options available and choosing one which suits your anatomy, lifestyle, and general preferences, can be daunting. Here's a quick rundown to help you choose a solution that's right for you.

Woven Wraps
Ranging from approximately 2.3m to approximately 6m (sizes 1 to 8), a woven wrap is a length of fabric which is tied around the wearer's body, the baby put in, and then tightened. The most versatile of all baby slings (infinitely adjustable, use on front, back or hip, as a blanket...), woven wraps come in a vast array of colours and designs - if you love fabrics, you'll love woven wraps.

The most popular size of woven wrap is size 6 (4.6m to 4.7m depending on manufacturer) and this allows the majority of wearers to tie the Front Wrap Cross Carry, a tying method which can be used from birth for as long as you feel comfortable wearing your child on your front. It also allows for back carrying using, for example, a simple Rucksack method or carrying your baby on your hip. Although some wraps may seem expensive, one wrap will last from birth through to the end of babywearing at around three years. You then have the option of selling your wrap second hand or enjoying it in a different way, such as a blanket, throw, or hammock. Some parents choose to keep special wraps as heirlooms to be passed down to the next generation.

Soft Structured Carriers
Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs) comprise a panel of fabric in the body, with a padded waist belt and two padded shoulder straps. These carriers fasten with buckle-clips at the waist and on the shoulder straps making them quick to use. SSCs such as the emeibaby and Manduca can be used from birth without an extra insert. SSCs can be used on the front or back (back carry from approximately 5 months) and are an extremely useful addition to any babywearer's collection.