This roundup of the five major types of baby carriers  was written by Baby Cheapskate Facebook page admin Nava. If you’re not a fan of our FB page, you’re missing out on her great tips. If you’re reading this on the main BC page or in your feed, be sure to click “Read More” to see the whole article.

Wrap

I learned to wrap the two year old I babysat for a few years ago. While I learned on a stretchy wrap (the most common type, but not as supportive as kid gets bigger), the non-stretchy wovens (much more expensive, slightly harder to find) give you more mileage in the long run.

I’ve heard many people say they’re scared to use a wrap because of the learning curve. In essence, its pretty simple. I had my friend show it to me 2-3 times and it was easy from there. I then stopped using it for a good few months and picked up right where I left off when I had a different job babysitting a newborn. Wrapping is pretty intuitive and when using a woven wrap the possibilities are endless! The color-range is limitless and the fabrics range from wool, to silk, to sweat-wicking athletic material. Breastfeeding is easy in a wrap.

• Popular brands (stretchy): Moby (shown), Sleepy, Baby K’Tan (semi wrap)
• Popular brands (woven): Girasol, Neobulle, Didymos, Storchenweige, Wrapsody (GypsyMama)
• Popular brands (water): Wrapsody (GypsyMama), Baby K’tan Breathable Breeze, Mother’s Helper Solarveil wrap

Mei Tei

A mei tai (Asian-type) carrier is almost like a wrap, but you have a few less steps in tying it on. The body of the carrier is pre-formed, and you get to adjust the wrapable straps around you for a very personalized and supportive fit (ties around your waist and crosses over your shoulders).

A spin-off is called a buckle-tai (and half-buckle). Instead of wrapping the fabric waist around you, it’s a clickable buckle and pre-formed, usually with a padded waist belt (think hiking backpack) and shoulder straps. With a half-buckle, its exactly like it sounds, only one part is buckleable, the other you wrap/tie. BF is easy in a mei tai too.

Then there’s also the wrap conversions– which seem to be the best of both worlds (and most expensive of them all). You can send your woven wrap in to specialized seamstresses (usually WAHMs that know what they’re doing), who will convert it for you into a mei tai! Strong, supportive and beautiful!

• Popular brands: BabyHawk (shown), Kozy, CatBirdBaby, Ellaroo, Freehand
• Popular brands (Mei tai wrap conversions): Bamberoo, Kimimela
• Popular brands (water): Octi Mei Tai (OMT) Solarveil

[Read more...]

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