Having had children of my own I have experienced a lot of equipment and accessories intended to make caring for babies just a little easier. If I had to do it all over again and was told I could only have one piece of baby equipment, without hesitation, I would choose a baby sling.

There are many brands of baby front carriers with slightly different features. Graco and Baby Bjorn are two of the more popular brands. With these carriers, two padded shoulder straps go over your shoulders and criss-cross behind your back. The straps will adjust to allow the carrier fit most people. The baby is then slid into a supportive pocket with leg holes allowing the baby to nestle against your chest facing you.

As the baby grows and gets bigger, many carriers will adapt and let the baby face outward. The problem with the front carrier was that it appeared awkward and clumsy to me. If the baby fell asleep while in the carrier, it was difficult to gently remove her to lay her down in a crib.

Also, having your baby strapped to your front means it can be difficult to perform some tasks such as cleaning, cooking and caring for your other children. The front carrier can also encourage you to lean forward due to the weight of the child in front of you which is bad for your posture.

After struggling with with my first child I was finally introduced to … cue up the Halleluah chorus … A BABY SLING!!! There are several kinds; my preferred sling style was a long piece of fabric that fed through two metal fastening rings, leaving a “tail” of fabric.

My absolute favourite was the Maya Wrap with a pocket sewn into the tail, which I used to carry a couple extra diapers and wipes, and often my car keys and wallet! As the baby grew, the sling easily adjusted to accommodate her changing comfort meeds. With this style baby sling, I could carry the baby in almost any position front, side, or back, facing forward or facing me. I was also able to breast feed in a discreet, usually hands free manner, covering any unwitting exposure with the tail piece of the sling, which easily went over my shoulder.

As you can see, I am a bit biased toward slings, but the other hands free baby carriers might be absolutely perfect for your needs. Look at all options and try a few out. Whichever you choose, you will be a happier, more productive new parent as you learn to incorporate the joy of nurturing your newborn with the other long list of tasks that you have.

Tags: Chldren

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