Review of Infant Carriers, Which One is for Me?

Infant carriers are a necessity for any mother. Wearing baby on mother’s body is so incredibly important for the security of the baby and for the nurturing of the trusting bond between mother and baby. Humans are primates, closest relatives to the great apes (gorilla, chimpanzee, and orangutan) and it is in our biological nature to carry our infants on our bodies. Our babies are born underdeveloped and don’t have the muscular strength to cling to their mothers like great apes’ infants do so we must help them out in that respect. Since time immemorial human mothers have used all sorts of devices to strap their infants and young children to their bodies to satisfy the need for close physical contact. There are so many different types of infant carriers that it can be overwhelming trying to decide which is best. Here is a review of some of the most common infant carriers.

Before reviewing the good types of infant carriers I want to make the reader aware of the carriers that shouldn’t ever be used with your baby. One is the mainstream upright structured front carrier mainly sold by Snugli and Baby Bjorn. This type of carrier hangs baby at his crotch, causing the legs to be positioned straight down from the body. This position is bad for the baby’s hip and spine development and is known to cause Spondylolisthesis, a condition in which the vertebrae slip and the proper curves in the spine are not developed adequately to support the child’s weight. If the baby is worn in an outward facing position on the parent’s front the baby must develop a swayback posture with the hips tilted unnaturally.

The second infant carrier type to be wary of is the bag-type padded sling mainly sold by Infantino. This is the sling with the adjustable strap that hangs on the shoulder and padded rails that holds the baby in a cradle position. This sling is known to reduce blood oxygen levels for two reasons: the pouch of the sling holds the baby in such a position that the baby’s head falls forward onto his chest. This can crimp his airway and make it difficult to breathe. The structure of this sling is basically a triangle, with a flat bottom and two angled sides. Carbon dioxide tends to build up within this enclosed area. Because this sling is carried on a long shoulder strap and baby is so enclosed out of view, the mother cannot have continual visual contact with her baby and thus does not monitor him closely.

A good choice for a baby carrier is one that considers both you and your baby’s needs. The baby carrier should be able to provide sufficient support for the child’s spine and neck and allow for the baby’s bottom to be seated lower than the knees, with the knees at an angle of at least 90 degrees to the body. The following carriers meet these conditions when they are used properly.

Pouch slings consist of a loop of fabric with the ends sewn in a curve to create a pouch. They are worn over one shoulder, and the baby’s bottom is placed in the pouch at the supporting seam. The baby can be carried in a variety of positions, both on front and back and can be nursed in the carrier. This carrier is easy to put on and wear and the mother can quickly put the baby in and take the baby out. However, it is not adjustable, which can cause stability problems if the baby is not held tight enough to the body. This can be tiring for the mother and can cause some muscle aches, but pouch type slings are generally the cheapest of the carriers that meet baby’s support needs.

Wraps may be made of either a stretchy knit fabric or a non-stretch weave. Wraps are very simple in their construction. Generally about 28 inches wide, they are a length of about five yards of fabric. Unlike other carriers there are multiple holds that a mother can use to carry her baby. When the baby is worn with this type of carrier the wrap covers both the mother’s torso and most of the baby’s body. Attaching the baby to mother involves wrapping the fabric around both of them in different configurations depending on the type of carry. Wraps are highly adjustable, as one simply needs to wrap baby as tightly as needed. They do involve a learning curve, and it can be time-consuming to complete the wrap before getting the baby in the carrier. Many mothers choose to remain wrapped up the entire day, regardless of whether baby is in the carrier or not. This type of infant carrier provides excellent coverage for nursing, and distributes weight across the mother’s back and waist wonderfully. In general, it is a very comfortable carrier. The downside is the knit fabric wraps can stretch out over time. This carrier also tends to be overpriced, as it is simply a hemmed length of fabric.

Ring slings are one of my two favorite infant carriers. These consist of about two yards of sturdy bottom-weight fabric or a gauze, with one end gathered and sewn onto two aluminum rings. The other end of the sling is threaded through the rings and the baby is placed into the pouch created by the loop of fabric. The weight of the baby pulling down on the fabric creates tension and prevents the fabric from slipping through the rings. These slings are highly adjustable, which is very good for stability. The sling can be tightened both on inner rail and the outer to keep baby snug to mother’s body by pulling horizontally on the tail end of the fabric outside of the rings. Baby can be worn in many positions. The tail can be used as a cover for nursing. These slings are often constructed of very pretty fabrics, including silk, and generally aren’t too pricey for their versatility and attractiveness. I use a ring sling around the house at home because it is very easy and quick to take baby in and out of the sling as needed.

Mei tais are my other favorite infant carrier. These carriers are constructed from a main body that is basically a square (may include a headrest or not) with straps coming out of each corner. The body usually consists of one or more layers of bottom-weight fabric and it may have an outer layer of light-weight fashion fabric that has a design. There may be a pocket. The shoulder straps average 70 inches and are long enough to wrap around mother and baby in different configurations. Baby can be held either on the front or back or hip if desired. The waist straps are about 30 inches each, and may extend through the body of the carrier to aid in supporting baby’s weight. The mei tai carrier tends to be the priciest of the ‘good’ infant carriers, those that provide the proper support for baby, and it can take a bit of effort to tie the straps, but it provides excellent support and weight distribution, and it isn’t as unwieldy as the lengths of fabric involved in a wrap.

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