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The best baby slings for safer baby wearing
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A baby carrier or sling could be one of the most useful products you buy for your baby.
They’re brilliant for bonding and keeping your baby close, which can help to calm her as well as leaving your hands free to do other things.
Using a baby sling has so many benefits - your child will be soothed and less fractious, and you'll have your hands free to get on with chores or look after another child.
They’re handy for trips out where it’s not convenient to take the pushchair, and can help you manage without a double buggy when your second baby arrives, as you can carry your newborn while your toddler travels in the stroller.
1. Ergobaby Aura Wrap
Suitable from birth to around 2 years, this soft and stretchy wrap has four carrying positions - on your front facing you or the world, on your back and on your hip. It's machine washable and made from a very lightweight fabric, so it's particularly good in summer. It comes with an integral storage pocket so you can pop it in your changing bag or under the pushchair when you're not using it. It's suitable for any size wearer, as you can tie extra fabric around your waist and it's easy to use with good instructions, including online videos.
2. Izmi Essential Wrap
This carrier can be used from birth up to 6 months and can be used on your front or hip and was designed by a British mum who ran a sling library before making this. Made from 95% soft cotton, it can be used by all shapes and sizes of carrier, so you and your partner can both wear it comfortably. The instructions show you how to get started very quickly and how to use it safely. The fabric will last well and it's machine washable.
3. Lifft Stretchy Wrap
Use from birth right up to 2 or even 3 years if you can! Made from 94% cotton and 6% elastane, the fabric has a 2-way stretch, so it's super supportive and holds your baby snugly. Though it might be a bit fiddly to use at first, as it has a lot of fabric, you will soon get used to how to wrap it and the benefit is that it can be used for larger babies and even twins. The instructions are clear, showing you how to wrap the sling around your body first, then place your child in it. It's comfy, the fabric is strong and it can be washed in the machine.
4. We Made Me Flow
One of the less expensive wraps out there, this can be used from birth to 3 years and has just one carrying position, on your front. The stretchy mesh fabric is lighter than many slings, so it's easy to store. It's breathable, too so your baby won't overheat. Take a look at the videos on the website to get the fit right – it soon becomes intuitive.
5. Close Caboo Lite Multi Position Carrier
This lovely carrier has 3 carrying positions, on your front, hip and back. It can be machine washed (and tumble dried too) and is made from 100% cotton. It can be used from birth to 3 years and it's a hybrid sling that offers the closeness of a wrap plus the structure of a ring-sling. It's easier for novices to get used to, as the fabric is already fixed in a crossover at your back and then you simply adjust the sides with rings and a toggle. It's supportive for both baby and parent.
6. Baby K'tan Cotton Breeze Baby Carrier
A hybrid sling, this is great for those put off by wrap-style slings. It's suitable from birth to 3 years and there are 3 positions, on your front parent-facing or world-facing or on your hip. Made from 100% cotton, it can be machine washed. It has double loops of material that wrap your baby close to you without buckles or rings and it slips over your body like a t-shirt. Just pop your baby in one of the loops and secure. It comes in different sizes from XS to XL for a great fit but this does mean you might not be able to share it with your partner if you're different sizes.
7. Ergobaby Embrace Soft Knit
This was specifically designed for the fourth trimester, from 3.2 to 11.3 kg. Made from soft, cosy Oeko-Tex organic fabric, it keeps your baby held close, kept warm by your body and able to hear your heartbeat. The waist belt and stretchy crossover straps help spread the baby's weight across your body and support your baby too. It's easy to use, as there is no wrapping and tying and it can fold up small for storage when you're not using it.
What to spend
The cheapest baby carriers start from around £15 for a basic carrier that’s worn on your front, though be wary of cheap slings - they are often not supportive for either parent or baby and you may end up with backache. Carriers can cost up to around £150 for an all-singing, all-dancing front and back carrier with lots of additional features.
Slings, which are soft fabric carriers that tie or wrap around you and your baby, start from about £50 and go up to £200 or more for luxury woven fabric designs.
Key features
There are several different types of baby slings and carriers.
Carriers are usually structured and attach to your body with straps.
They are worn on your front, usually with your baby facing inwards from birth and outwards from about four months, and sometimes on your back.
Some carriers are worn just with straps over your shoulders, while others also have a waistband – these tend to be more comfortable, as they distribute your baby’s weight more evenly.
Features to look for include padded straps and waistband for comfort, and a padded headrest that can be folded down when your baby gets older.
Check whether the size can be adjusted as your baby grows, and whether the straps can be adjusted depending on who’s wearing the carrier.
Some models have a detachable pouch that your baby rides in; this allows you to put the harness on first and then attach your baby, and also means it’s easier to get him out if he’s sleeping.
Backpack carriers are designed for older babies who can hold their head up, and are usually suitable through to the toddler years.
These generally look like hiking rucksacks and have a frame that stands independently while you put your baby in.
They’re great for getting out and about, especially for trips where pushchairs aren’t suitable, but are big and bulky and can be heavy.
Make sure your back carrier has a good safety harness to keep your baby secure.
Other features to look for include a sun and rain canopy, storage pockets for baby gear, and toy loops so you can attach things for her to play with on the move.
Slings are usually made from a soft, woven fabric like cotton, and can be used to carry your baby in different positions, including, front, back and hip and breastfeeding positions. There are various different kinds.
Wraps are simply long lengths of fabric that are used to tie your baby to your body.
These offer great versatility, as there are many different ways of fastening them; they come in different lengths to fit different sizes, and with practice, you can even carry twins. However, learning to tie them can be tricky.
Ring slings are lengths of fabric that, rather than tying around you, are fastened by feeding the tail of the sling through two metal rings.
These can’t be worn in as many positions as wraps, but are easier to use.
Mei Tais have a panel that your baby sits in, and fabric straps that wrap and tie around your waist and shoulders.
They’re a good halfway house between structured carriers and slings.
All slings come in a huge range of colours, designs and weaves, some of which are highly sought after.
Another option is a soft structured carrier.
These are more like standard baby carriers, but carry babies in a ‘frog leg’ position, with their legs spread wide and their knees higher than their toes, which is thought to be better anatomically.
These have padded shoulder straps and waistband, can be worn on the front or back and are suitable from birth to toddler.
Need to know
When you’re using a baby carrier or sling, you should follow the TICKS guidelines:
Tight
In view at all times
Close enough to kiss
Keep chin off chest
Supported back
This helps to ensure that she’s safe and comfortable.
Bag slings, which are worn messenger-bag style across your body, are unsafe as they’ve been associated with a risk of suffocation.
If your baby has a hip defect such as hip dysplasia, slings and baby carriers may not be suitable, so speak to your GP or health visitor before you use one.
In some areas, there are sling libraries where you can try out and borrow different types of sling.
This is a good idea if you need advice on baby carrying or are not sure what style would suit you best.
There are also lots of videos on You Tube demonstrating different baby carriers.
For more help and advice visit the NCT's guide to babywearing.
Read on:
- 10 of the best baby carriers
- How to buy the best baby carrier for you
- The best alternatives to a double buggy
