A Ring Sling can be a wonderfully fast, easy way of carrying your baby. Once it is threaded you can just slip it over your shoulder and pop baby in. Likewise, when they are ready to come down you simply loosen it slightly, take baby out and slip it back off over your head, leaving it all ready to use next time you need it.
Getting that threading right is one of the keys to success with a Ring Sling and here is how to do it;
-Madeleine
The Ergobaby Embrace is their super soft, jersey, newborn specialised carrier. This is one of those rare buckle carriers on the market that really does work right from day 1 and will grow with baby for the 6-9 months.
These carriers are available buy through our webshop and we have 2 in the library selection available to try at one of our sessions or hire, enabling you to try before you buy.
But how do you do it? Here is my video of how to set this carrier up for a newborn, how to put your baby in and how to check they are safe and comfortable
-Madeleine
Carrying your baby is such a personal thing – people carry for different reasons and different carriers suit different people. Here is Mairi’s story….
Pre-pregnancy I’d never even heard of a baby wrap let alone know there was a
whole industry dedicated to them. Sure, they cropped up on my radar during
pregnancy but in all honesty, I thought they were a bit of a gimmick: an earth mother
hippy kinda thing. Fast forward to life with a 3-day old baby who when wasn’t feeding
or sleeping, just wanted to be held, and baby wraps started to look very appealing.
In Scotland, all expectant mothers are given the Scottish Baby Box which contains a
range of baby items including a one-way stretchy wrap. I tried this wrap, with the
instructions given on how to tie it, when James was a few days old and I wasn’t
feeling it. I remember it feeling bulky, heavy, and loose. After airing my complaints on
Instagram, Laurna from Coorie in with Love got in touch to offer some advice and
arranged to send me the Joy and Joe Bamboo wrap to review. Long story short. I
was hooked, and I’ve been carrying James in some form of carrier ever since.
The two-way stretchy wrap was brilliant for a young baby and it’s a good if you’re
new to it. It’s lightweight and really really comfortable, and only took me a couple
attempts to get a good secure finish. I think because I liked it so much, and my
confidence using it was pretty high from the start, James took to babywearing really
well. No matter how cranky or tried he was, he’d instantly calm when placed in the
wrap which made outings significantly easier; and we got a newfound freedom as a
family because we were no longer restricted with a cumbersome pram. Plus, you get
to hold hands with your partner when your babywearing (and also carry a travel
coffee mug, priorities right?) which ain’t so easy with a pram. When James was in the
wrap I could brush my teeth, make lunch and eat it with both hands, and I also
managed to master the art of going to the toilet with James strapped in (the glamour
of parenting eh?)
As James was getting older, and I knew I wanted to start doing back carries in the
future, I took advice from Sheen Slings and invested in a Mamaruga Zen Sling. The
Zen sling feels like a soft stretchy carrier but has that sturdy reliable feeling with all
the buckles, and it’s adjustable so will grow with your child. I started carrying James
in this when he was 4 weeks old and I’m still using it now he’s 2+ years.
At the same time I also invested in the Boba hoodie, which can be worn over the
child in a front or back carry, and frankly is a necessary purchase when you live in
Scotland. Granted we don’t use this hoodie anymore, James is just too big, but I did
use it a lot in that first year and a half.
Woven wraps, as I’m sure most parents who’ve never used one will agree, are
intimidating: all that fabric and a complicated tying process. It doesn’t help that you
never see a parent in a fluster using a woven wrap, they always look so confident
and competent. When James was around 1 and a half, I was mad keen to try a
woven wrap but I don’t have a local sling library nor do I know anyone who has one.
Sheen Slings kindly agreed to post me one but this did mean I was
on my own trying to master it. If you can get a demonstration or a one-to-one consult
for a woven wrap then do. That said, I did manage with (a lot of) YouTube tutorials.
By the time I was sending it back I was ordering my own.
I’ve been using my Firespiral Size 5 for over a year now but unlike my other carriers,
I still wouldn’t say I’m confident using it. After a lot of trial and error I find a ruck carry
most comfortable for us but this type of carry isn’t proving ideal for a toddler who is
constantly wanting up and down when we go on walks. So again, on the advice of
Sheen Slings I’ve ordered a couple sling rings so I can start doing hip carries which work better for contrary kids. What I like about the woven wrap, is that I can see us
using it for a couple more years and if we do have a second child, I know I can also
use it from newborn too, so it is a smart purchase in the long term.
I’m happy with my mini sling collection, but in retrospect I do wish I had a local sling
library to try out different carriers before I bought my own. Particularly the Zen sling.
It was only when visiting Madeleine for a long weekend and getting the opportunity to play with her sling library (honestly, I was a kid in a sweetie shop), that I found I really
liked the Caboo DX Go as an alternative: I found it a lot comfier to wear, particularly
when James was sleeping, and it was easier to use because it didn’t feature buckles.
It also folded up smaller in the changing bag. I’m still debating whether or not to buy
one.
I guess the benefit of a sling library is that you not only get to try a variety of different
carriers, but you can try them with different sized dolls to understand how the carrier
will feel as your child grows. After all, what feels brilliant to wear when your child is 6
months old may not feel so good when they’re 2 years old. So whether you have a
sling library just down the road, or you follow them on Instagram (or like me your pal
has their own company and you can pick their brain incessantly about all things
babywearing) then get in touch with them for advice, and invest in the right carrier for
you.
-Mairi of http://theweegiekitchen.com/
What I love about the Melliapis Simple Sling is the material it is made from. Its a 100% cotton, super soft, lightweight muslin material. Which results in a wonderfully soft, very light weight compact sling that is perfect against newborn skin.
But what is really magic about this material is that it is deceptively strong. Made by weaving 2 layers of material together to give a subtle waffley texture, this material is a lot stronger than you’d think from first glance. So while it is soft and light enough for the tiniest newborn, it is also more than capable of carrying older babies and even toddlers as well.
This is definitely one of my top choices for summer, as the material is so thin it really won’t make you or baby hot. And not just summer, but wearing around the home or and out and about too. Even in the winter this is a great option for travelling or generally for anyone who wants an option that packs down small enough to fit into the change bag and can be put on quickly when needed.
For me this is the unique selling point of this sling – just how lightweight it is. The real beauty of ring slings is how quick they are to put on and how well they work as a “just in case” sling. So it’s always irked me that so many ring slings on the market are made of quite heavy, hot material! I’ve spent the last 5 years trying various ones that market themselves as “lightweight” – from other thin cotton ones that made from 2 seperate layers and are difficult to use as the 2 layers get into a mess while you try to tighten the sling, to linen ones that are often diggy and rough feeling, to silk ones that again feel difficult to tighten and many more besides – and invariably I have been left disappointed. However, the Melliapis Ring Sling is totally different to these. The double weave means the layers move together and not separately. And the material is super soft and really malleable. All of which means this ring sling tightens with the greatest of ease. It is soft, light, cool AND easy to use! Finally the holy grail of my ring sling search!!
You can see just how easy it is to use in my video review here;
Another thing I love about this Sling is that it comes with Eco-friendly packaging. Not a plastic sleeve or plasticated cardboard box in sight! And the Eco packaging is matched by a truly budget friendly price! At just £40-£42 this is easily one of the cheapest slings I sell, and in terms of how long you can use it – right from newborn (even preemie) all the way through to toddler hood it definitely offers really good value for money. While really powerful for hip carries, this sling like all ring slings can be used for front and back carries too and can be awesome for breastfeeding on the go, quick pops out and sleepy transfers!
Shoulder wise, the Melliapis Simple ring Sling features a simple gathered shoulder. This means that the rings are sewn in by simply “gathering” the fabric width into the rings. This allows the fabric to fan out the maximum amount over the shoulder immediately after the rings. Why is this important? Well there are various methods for sewing rings into a piece of fabric – involving gathering, pleating or combinations of the two. And each different method yields a different shoulder style, and in turn different shoulder styles suit different shaped shoulders and personal preferences. The pro of a gathered shoulder is that it can really be spread out to cup the shoulder to the max, while the con is some people really don’t like the fabric spreading out that much. Particularly with thicker wraps this can feel untidy or even bulky. But again this is where this fabric comes into its own, it is so thin it doesn’t feel obtrusive spread out and if you prefer a neater shoulder the fabric is thin enough you can easily fold it upwards on your shoulder to get a neater feel.
The one thing to be aware of with this sling is that from end to end it is only 1.87m long. This is a little on the short side for a ring sling (most are 2m or 2.2m in length). The advantage of the shorter length is less fabric left dangling and less fabric to roll up so packs down smaller etc. The downside is if you are plus sized this the fabric might be on the short side – leaving you with only a relatively short tail to tighten with. This sling does fit well upto at least a size 20 or 22, but I haven’t tried it over this. So if you are a larger size or would like a longer length sling for another reason I’d definitely try this sling before you buy and check it is long enough for you.
All in all the Melliapis Simple Ring Sling is a very versatile, very lightweight sling with a tiny price tag. It’s a great option for newborns and anyone looking for a quick, easy, packs down small option for any age baby or even toddler. Thin enough to keep you cool in summer, but snuggly enough you’ll happily wear it all year round. Cost is £40-£42 and these can be purchased from Sheen Slings directly at sling library meets, consults, workshops, doorstep collection or post directly to you (just get in touch to arrange!).
-Madeleine
Many carriers are sold as fitting from newborn all the way through to toddlerhood. However, some of the adjustments required to truly get this amount of flexibility out of a carrier aren’t always obvious or well explained in manuals.
In this video I demonstrate how to “shorten” the back panel on a carrier by simply sitting baby deeper into the carrier. This is one of the easiest adjustments to make and one that often makes a huge difference to how well a carrier fits a smaller baby.
I demonstrate using the Ergo Omni 360 because a) this is a very popular carrier, but also because b) it has a very long back panel so does often need shortening using this method!! But the same method will work with essentially any buckle carrier.
-Madeleine
Stretchy wraps are amazing. They are super soft, snuggly and one of the best options for a newborn. They are amazingly versatile. They fit all body shapes and sizes because you tie them to yourself and when you find the right carry will work for all newborns because you can adapt them to fit however baby most likes to be held.
But there is a catch… most manuals only show one way to use them. And consequently most parents only really feel confident using these really versatile carriers one way. And sometimes that one way doesn’t work well for them, or baby or both. Or more normally is fine sometimes but on some days baby won’t tolerate it.
In this article I will explore several different ways a Stretchy wrap can be used. The videos demonstrate how the carry is done, while the descriptions of each carry discuss the pros and cons of each carry. What that carry is best for and what its worst for. It’s by no means meant to be an exhaustive list but rather a starting point to inspire you to explore further. To empower you with a great grounding in what can be achieved so you can get much more out of your carrier, whether that’s finding some carries that suits your and baby better or simply adding in a couple to your repertoire that offer you more functionality and/or longevity from your sling.
#1 Pocket Wrap Cross Carry (AKA the normal one, Hug hold).
Pocket Wrap Cross Carry is the most commonly taught method for stretchy wraps. It gives a lovely snuggly carry that is perfect for the 4th trimester period and is one of the easiest ties for a beginner because you tie it off first before putting baby in. Once tied you can then can simply pop baby in and out as needed (without need to re-tie in between each time you take baby in and out).
This tie will works well for many babies right from day 1 and continues to be amazing until they start to go through the developmental leap at around 3-4 months. Not all babies will be developmentally ready to sit astride the cross (particularly those born early, lower birth weight or ones that are just very curled up), and there are positions below that work better in this case for the first few weeks until baby is ready for this position. After 3-4 months, you might still enjoy this position for nap times, but often during more awake periods baby might fuss for more freedom and a better less enclosed view. This position can also become less supportive for the parents back around this time. Again there are alternative positions below that can often be a better option for older babies.
Finally, because Pocket Wrap Cross Carry is pre-tied this is a tie that works much better with a 2 way stretchy wrap than a one way stretchy wrap. This is because there is a much greater window between too tight and too loose on a 2 way wrap than a 1 way (more on the differences here). If you have a 1 way stretchy wrap you might struggle to get this tie perfect reliably, and again there are other options below that work better for 1 way stretchy wraps.
#2 Front Double Hammock Variation
The Front Double Hammock Variation is tied exactly the same way as Pocket Wrap Cross Carry (#1), but baby is placed inside the sling differently. Rather than sitting astride the cross baby sits on the cross with no fabric dividing between the legs. Instead the fabric rests just in the back of the knee pit, similar to how you would sit in a hammock.
This makes this carry ideal for babies who are not yet opening out their knees and spreading their legs around their parents when they are held simply in arms. Babies vary a lot in terms of when they are ready to do this. Some are born already fairly opened out, while others remain much more curled up for a few weeks. This is particularly true of babies born prematurely or babies born at a lower birth weight. By sitting on the cross rather than astride it, their natural position is respected and maintained, allowing them to open up naturally once they are ready to do so.
This can also be important for babies who have hypermobility (such as commonly see in Downs Syndrome) or another medical reason to avoid material between their legs that might over spread them.
Another advantage of this position is that is is easier to breastfeed in because without material between baby’s legs it is easier to adjust baby’s position to bring them to the breast. However, without the material between the legs this is a position that can feel less secure with a more wiggly older baby.
Finally it is worth noting that, again because this carry is pre-tied this is a tie that is easier to do with a two-way stretchy wrap where you have a wider window between too tight and too loose compared to stretchy wraps with only one-way stretch.
#3 Front Wrap Cross Carry
In contrast to the two carries above, the wrap is not pre-tied for Front wrap cross carry. Instead baby goes in at a much earlier stage and then the wrap is tightened and tied around baby. This means that you don’t have to guess or measure how much space to leave for baby as you simply fit the wrap to baby and yourself exactly. This means this tie is a great option for one-way stretchy wraps or for anyone who is having difficulty getting the tightness correct using the pre-tied Pocket Wrap Cross Carry method. In fact this tie works better for one-way stretchy wraps than two-way ones because in general one-way stretchies are less stretchy than 2 ways and thus require less tightening using this method!
The downside of this method is simply that you tie it from scratch each time, so lose the convenience of simply popping baby in and out. Although you do quickly become very speedy at tying!
Front Wrap Cross Carry is also the same method that is most commonly used for woven wraps so if you are thinking about trying a woven and not sure if you could do it or not you can give this a go with your stretchy wrap and see how you find it!
#4 Adjustable Pocket Wrap Cross Carry
In this variation of the standard carry, the wrap is pre-tied but it is pre-tied using an adjustable knot at the shoulder. The knot is placed at the shoulder to make it easy to get to and using a slip knot means the wrap can very easily be tightened and loosened, without untying or taking the wrap on and off.
This makes this tie particularly great for;
This carry does work just as well with a two-way stretchy wrap too, it can be a great option to have in your tool box, well worth giving a go!
#5 Seated Sideways (Pocket wrap cross carry variation).
In this position the wrap is tied exactly as for pocket wrap cross carry (#1), but this time baby is loaded in completely differently. Instead of going “tummy to tummy” with the adult, baby sits upright, side on to the parent.
The advantage of this is the baby has no pressure on their tummy, so this is an excellent position for babies with reflux or any baby who is have a painful digestion day or currently struggling with a poo. Or for any baby who has had to undergo chest or abdominal surgery. It’s also fabulous for communication as baby can stare up at your and you can see each others faces much more easily than in the standard tummy to tummy position. Some babies simply prefer being held this way. Or enjoy it as a change.
When I work with new parents I always watch how parents hold babies in arms and often parents hold baby naturally like this and so are really excited to find that is a position that the sling can replicate.
The one thing to be aware of when using this position is the important to having baby sat upright in the sling. As long as baby is upright their head will nicely stack onto their spine and should be easy to support by either tucking their head or using a muslin roll in the 3rd layer. If baby is not upright there is a danger baby can slump into the pocket and there is a danger the fabric could cover them or place pressure on the head resulting in a chin on chest position that can restrict airflow. So when using this position it is key to ensure the sling is tight enough and baby is upright so that you know they are safe and comfortable.
#6 Simple Hip Carry (pocket wrap cross carry variation)
Hip carries can be great for babies who have reached “nosy baby” phase. This typically starts in earnest around 3 to 4 months (although sometimes a little earlier or later) and around this time you will notice baby starting to fuss and craning for a better view when awake in the stretchy wrap on your front. A hip carry gives them that better view while still giving them a snuggly carry they can relax and fall asleep in if they wish.
There are other ways you can use your stretchy on your hip but this method is the simplest because you start by tying it exactly as you would for carrying baby on your front using the pocket wrap cross carry method. There is just one change – once you have tied you work out which hip you’d like to carry baby on and then drop the strap on that side off your shoulder and bring it under your arm. The tightness of the wrap will then need to be adjusted and then your ready to simply load your baby into the wrap on your side!
Because this method is pre-tied again this is a method that works best for a two-way stretchy wrap. It is important to ensure it is snug before you start because as this is a one shouldered carry you will find it will put more strain on your back if it is loose.
#7 Robin’s Hip Carry
Robin’s Hip carry is a carry I often teach with a woven wrap, but it does work just as well with a stretchy wrap. For this carry you start by creating a pouch that you then tighten around baby and then reinforce with additional cross passes.
Because this carry is tightened around baby, this is a carry that works just as well for one-way and two way stretchy wraps. It’s also great for bigger babies, as you can allow enough space to get them in easily and still get it tight enough to support their growing weight.
It’s a fabulous option for nosy babies, and can be a more comfortable option than the simple hip carry because of the double layer on the shoulder and how the straps spread out around parent. It is a few more steps, but can be worth it for that extra comfort.
#8 Double Hammock Back Carry
Of all the carries shown here, this is the one that I would say is quite advanced and needs good deal of practise and confidence. Again this is a carry that is commonly used with woven wraps, and is one that many babywearing consultants choose not to teach with a stretchy wrap because it is that bit harder (compared to a woven) to really get as tight as you need to.
However, it is possible. Not with all stretchy wraps, but ones that are wider and stronger like the one shown in the video (a JPMBB Original) it is possible with practise and understanding. While often when it comes to back carries there are other easier options (like buckle carriers or a woven wrap) it is something that some parents do want to have in their repertoire and it is a fun snuggly bouncy carry for an older baby. If you would like to learn how to do this, I would highly recommend face to face support with a consultant as there are many methods for getting baby onto your back and getting the passes into place behind you and having input can really help flatten the learning curve and help you gain confidence with tightening.
This is definitely a carry where tightness is really important – you can see this at the end of the video when I ask my daughter if she can break out. Funnily enough in our practise 5 minutes before she couldn’t get her arms out at all, but when I filmed it was a tiny bit looser and you can see how much further she can get!
#9 Pregnancy Support
Did you know you can actually use your stretchy wrap before baby arrives? Wrapping your bump, back and hips with a stretchy wrap can provide some short term support to your growing body. It is worth noting that this is something I’d advise for short time periods in the later months of pregnancy only, as its important for your body and muscles to strengthen up as your bump grows. But in those final months, on longer days, this can provide some very welcome short term relief to your back and hips!
Any stretchy wrap 1 way or 2 way will work equally well as a pregnancy support and that time spent wrapping your bump will translate into muscle memory and confidence using your wrap when it comes to actually wrapping baby.
#10 Carrying Twins (Pocket Wrap Cross Carry variation)
A stretchy wrap can also be used to carry newborn twins! The simplest way to do this is tie the wrap just like in carry #1 – Pocket Wrap Cross Carry but instead of loading one baby into both sides of the cross, you load one baby each into either side of the cross.
This carry works really well right from newborn, and can be a lovely way to carry newborn twins as it gives them the comfort of each other (just as they had in the womb) and the comfort of being on their parents chest! When they grow out of it varies a lot between twin pairs, depending on size and how early they arrived etc, but typically somewhere around 8 weeks (give or take!) they will start to feel like they fit less comfortably. You can use this carry for as long as you still feel comfortable – even if that is a lot longer than 8 weeks! While there are dedicated Twin carriers available, none work as well for these first few weeks as a Stretchy Wrap. It can be a really lovely option to start with, and then decide if you want to invest in a twin sling or other options later once babies start to grow out of this, and once you know more about how you will want to carry them (whether singly or together).
In terms of which stretchy wrap are best for this carry – generally wraps that have a bit more width can be helpful when wearing twins in this way. As are wraps that are fairly supportive and not too stretchy. Again two way wraps can be easier as it is a pre-tied method but many stretchy wraps are very stretchy and that can be less helpful! In particular the JPMBB Original wrap, Izmi Baby and even Kari Me wrap are among my top picks for twins as they are all two-way wraps but have have less stretch than many other 2 way wraps and are wide and strong! A good quality strong one-way stretchy wrap like the Moby can also be a good bet, because while they are harder to get the pre-tie right, the additional support and strength can make up for this when it comes to wrapping 2!
#11 Kangaroo Carry
The Kangaroo carry is another option where there is no material between babies legs. You start by creating a pouch on your front, slip baby in and then tighten the wrap around them creating a snug pocket which is then reinforced with 2 further layers of wrap across babies back. For older, stronger and more wiggly babies you can then pass fabric between the legs and tie under bum, but for smaller babies you don’t need to bring any material between their legs at all.
This means this is a great option for premature babies, low birth weight babies or babies who are simply not opening out their legs yet. Likewise babies with hypermobility (such a Downs Syndrome) or other medical reason to avoid pressure on their legs. It’s also the option that of all the carries shown here give the biggest surface area between parent and baby and so can be great for skin to skin cuddles. Again great winner for premature babies! But also any baby that’s feeling a bit under the weather and needs the extra comfort and temperature regulation.
Because this carry is tied around baby it works really well with 1 way stretchy wraps, it works well with 2 way wraps too but can feel a bit easier with a 1 way.
Finally, while I have shown the tummy to tummy position here, this same carry can also be used with the Seated Sideways position.
A final note…
The eagle-eyed among you will have noticed that all the carries I have shown here show babies legs outside of the sling. You can read more about why I generally only teach legs out here. I am aware that this is in contrast to many manuals that suggest the legs in position should be used until baby is ready to sit astride across, however, legs in comes with its own challenges which are often not made clear in manuals. Experience has taught me that alternatives such as the double hammock variation or even the Kangaroo carry can give the best of both worlds, allowing baby to sit comfortably on their bottom without being overspread while still having their legs and feet free to move naturally.
Hope these tutorials help inspire you! Happy Wrapping!
-Madeleine
While the Caboo comes already threaded, you may need to re-thread following washing or if it becomes very twisted.
Here is how to do it:
Further inspiration on how to carry baby and photo tutorials for 9 different ways you can use the Close Caboo can be found here.
-Madeleine
While all stretchy wrap are long pieces of stretchy material, individual brands can be quite different to one another. And one of the most striking differences can be in HOW these wraps stretch. In particular there are two main flavours – One-way and Two-way stretchy wrap. But what does this mean? What is the difference?
Simply put, a one-way stretchy wrap is one that stretches in ONE direction only (or stretches much much more in one direction than the other). Generally these wraps stretch only in the vertical direction (along the width of the wrap). While a two-way stretchy wrap stretches in two directions – both along the width and the length of the wrap.
You can see this for yourself here;
So what are the pros and cons of each type?
Two-way stretchy wraps are easier to pre-tie and then pop your baby in because they are stretchier and because they stretch evenly, which means they stretch in a way that feels more intuitive – easier for your brain to understand and predict. So it’s very easy to put the sling on and get it tight enough that it will support baby once they are in but still have enough space to stretch it out to put baby in easily. Conversely, One-way stretchy wraps are much harder to pre-tie because they don’t stretch evenly. That uneven stretch means it is often quite hard to tie them tight enough that they will support baby once in and still have space to get them in easily. The window between too tight and too loose is just much smaller. Consequently, I often think of pre-tying a one way stretchy wrap as being a bit like finding the right setting on a tempermental old toaster where there is just about 2mm between still bread and completely burnt. The window on a two way stretchy wrap is simply much wider and so it is much easier for a new sleep deprived parent to learn.
It is worth noting that you can tie using methods other than the pre-tie method, and this can work a lot better for one-ways. But often the manuals only show the pre-tied method so parents don’t realise this is possible and often the whole reason they bought a stretchy wrap in the first place was because they wanted the convenience and ease of being able to pre-tie first and then pop baby in and out as needed.
On the flip side in general one way stretchy wraps are more supportive of bigger babies. The reason for this simply being because they are less stretchy they don’t get stretched out as much as baby grows, while a more stretchy two way will definitely start to feel more “bouncy” and less supportive as baby gets heavier between 4-6 months. But often parents are moving on around this point anyway as babies tend to grow out of either type stretchy wrap developmentally rather than physically as they go through the huge developmental leap that happens somewhere between 3 and 4 months. So being less supportive isn’t a huge con, but it is worth noting if you have reason to believe your more likely to be using a stretchy wrap for longer (i.e. developmental delay or other special consideration).
Which brands are one-ways or two-ways?
Well known one-way stretchy brands include; Moby, Ama, Liberty, Funki Flamingo, Free-Rider, Manduca, ByKay and most the cheap stretchy wrap brands found on Amazon
Well known two way stretchy brands include; Izmi Baby, Hana Baby, Boba, JPMBB Original and Basic, Lifft, and Joy and Joe
For more ways in which stretchy wraps differ and a huge table comparing 16 different brands please do check out this article.
-Madeleine
I almost always teach legs out when supporting parents wrapping their baby in a stretchy wrap.
Many stretchy wrap manuals show legs in positioning for newborns and then suggest legs out as baby gets older. But I normally encourage parents to skip this for three main reasons
How can you tell if your baby is ready to sit with one leg either side of the cross? Firstly look at your baby when not in the sling – i.e when you hold them, when in the bassinet or cot… do they hold their legs all squished up together with knees together or are they starting to open their legs out (knees apart)? If starting to open out then they should be able to sit comfortably in the cross. The material is soft so you simply spread the wrap just enough to fit your child and where they most comfortably hold their legs.
If they are still really squished up it might not feel right putting them in the wrap with legs out on either side. But there are other options! The same wrap can be used to carry baby in a different position that allows legs to be together but feet still out of the wrap. Examples include Pre-tied Front Double Hammock, Kangaroo Carry or Seated Sideways (videos coming soon!).
Or if you prefer to wrap with feet in, if this feels more natural to you can do so knowing that ideally we want the feet and ankles in particular to be free of weight and restriction, so once baby is in sling you can run your hands inside to check that they are sitting squarely on their bottom with legs tucked towards your tummy and not under their bottom. That way you baby is sitting comfortably! Then once they do start to open their legs more and start to unfurl you can move to wrapping with legs out
-Madeleine
The Embrace is the newest carrier from Ergo Baby. Unlike their other carriers that work best from 2 or 3 months ish right through to 2.5 years… this carrier is designed to really fit that newborn and younger baby stage. It works really well right from birth and will last you till around 1 year ish give or take.
One of the reasons this carrier works so well for newborns is it’s made from very soft, slightly stretchy jersey material. The whole carrier is very lightweight and is designed to mold around both your and babies body… like a stretchy wrap or Caboo but with buckles. Because it is so lightweight it folds down into a really compact bundle, perfect for popping into a changing bag or under the pram.
The other reason it works so well right from the beginning is that this carrier has 2 height and width settings. This comes from simply rolling the waist band 2 turns towards you (as shown in the video below), which both shortens the carrier height and brings you to a narrower part of the panel. The adjustment isn’t smooth, just these 2 smaller or bigger settings but because the material is so soft this smaller setting does work really well on almost all newborns. Ergo recommend the Embrace can be used from 7lb (3.2kg) and I have certainly got a great fit on several babies who were just a few weeks old even as low as just shy of 6 lb (2.7 kg). Then as baby grows the waistband can be unrolled to the larger setting, typically around 2 months ish.
The Embrace offers 3 carrying positions. On the front facing inwards toward the parent, on the front facing outward toward the world and on the hip. Interestingly Ergo haven’t included the hip position in their manual, but it is actually a position this carrier does really well! The front facing inwards position can be used right from birth, and is really snuggly, a good position for a sleepy baby and comfortable enough for a long nap! The Hip position can be used from when baby has some head and neck control but it needn’t be as reliable as needed for the outwards position, this can be a really great position once baby goes through that big developmental leap around 4 months and transitions from being a baby who is quite sleepy interspersed with periods of ‘quiet alert’ to a full blown ‘nosy’ baby who wants to see anything and tries to resist sleep where possible!! Because it is a position that allows them to see more while still supporting them in a position where they can tuck in a sleep and support their neck as they start to tire! The front facing outwards position can be used once baby has really strong head and neck control. Which is typically anywhere between 4 and 5 months depending on the baby – you can read more about how to tell if your baby is ready for this position here.
While I think the hip and the front facing inward positions are really great, I can’t help feeling the facing out position on this carrier is more of a gimmick/marketing trick than anything else. It does work pretty well with a plastic doll, but I have my reservations about how well it works on live wiggly babies. The reason for my reservations is that facing away is a position that puts more strain on the parents back than any other position because babies centre of gravity is pulling away rather than toward parent… this is true of any carrier but this is likely to be exacerbated in the Embrace because its made from stretchy material… so as baby wiggles and bounces and strains to one side etc this additional strain is going to be magnified by the fact the material will stretch with baby. Personally, I wouldn’t buy this carrier to forward face. I would buy this carrier if I wanted an buckle option for a new newborn. Then as my baby grew I might use the forward facing position to see if baby liked being carried like that, then if they did I could buy a bigger carrier (something like the Ergo Omni or other such forward facing buckle carrier) that would offer me support, and if they didn’t when I came to upgrade to another carrier I could instead look at the huge range of amazing carriers that don’t offer forward facing safe in the knowledge that I wouldn’t really use it anyway.
You can see these positions in action here:
The position this carrier doesn’t offer is the back carry. Sadly this carrier isn’t really designed to be used on the back as there isn’t a chest strap. Added to the fact that the weight limit is 11.3 kg (25 lb) and that the stretchy material won’t feel as supportive as the child gets heavier this carrier this is definitely a carrier that most parents will move on from within the first year. However, if you are looking for an buckle option to use right from the beginning this is a pretty good option.
So what are the cons? Firstly, the extra soft jersey material is prone to bobbling. I have two of these in the library and one has gone a little bobbly and slightly worn looking already after only 6 weeks worth of hires. Doesn’t affect use but might bother some people! The other thing worth considering is that because this carrier works best for newborns to the first 6 or so months, it doesn’t actually add a lot more longevity or functionality that a Caboo or a Stretchy wrap but is a bit more expensive than either of these options. At time of writing the Embrace costs £79.90 verses £40-45 for a good quality stretchy wrap or £55 for a Caboo Lite.
How does it compare to other carriers? The two carriers on the market that this is most similar to are the Izmi Baby Carrier and the Mamaruga Zen. The Izmi like the Embrace is really designed to support right from newborn, even the smallest babies. Like the Embrace it offers front inwards, front facing out, hip and it does offer back as well. In fact generally the Izmi will last a little longer than the Ergo Embrace as it offers a bit more flexibility. And with its infant seat pad it can be used earlier with smaller newborns even many babies born prematurely too. But it is made of a slightly sturdier cotton so some parents will prefer the softness of the Embrace and the slightly more padded waist band. The Zen Sling is made from a very similar ultra soft jersey as the Embrace, and has a very similar slightly padded waistband too, so is definitely one to consider if you are looking for a carrier like this. The Zen sling has the benefit that it works really well from a couple of weeks old all the way to 2 years of age! Offers front inwards, hip and back carries and has a brilliant system for adjusting the height and width of this carrier giving an absolutely perfect fit for the child as they grow. Unlike the Embrace however, the Zen doesn’t offer the forward facing position and while it does offer a more flexible fit this comes with more straps to adjust and some parents prefer to have less to adjust.
All in all, the Ergo Baby Embrace is a great option for newborns and little babies. It won’t last as long as many carriers on the market but what it does do well is that first bit. Very few buckle carriers truly do newborn well and so is a good option for those looking for a buckle carrier rather than stretchy wrap or Caboo for this first bit. Cost is £79.90 and these can be purchased from Sheen Slings webshop here, or by arrangement at sling library meets, consults, workshops or doorstep collection.
-Madeleine
