SLING DIRECTORY
Wrap / Pouch / Ring sling / Asian baby carrier or soft structured carrier
Wrap
A wrap is a rectangle of material, wrapped around you and baby and tied. Wraps come in a variety of widths and lengths, and are usually worn over both shoulders.
- versatile - front, back and hip carries
- comfortable for long periods and heavier babies or toddlers
- very adjustable for exact fit and can be used by different sized adults
- more of a learning curve than some carriers
Stretchy wraps are easier with a newborn, whereas woven wraps are more supportive for a heavier child.
Pouch
A pouch is a tube of material worn over one shoulder to create a pocket for baby to lie or sit in. Great for new parents and newborns because of their simplicity, but less adjustable.
- easy to use
- limited adjustability
- custom fit - pouch needs to fit you, so probably won’t fit both parents
- less comfortable for longer periods or with a heavier child
Some pouches are non-adjustable, others have zips or poppers to give more adjustability.
Ring sling
A ring sling is a rectangle of material with rings sewn in at one end. Worn over one shoulder it forms a pouch in which baby lies or sits and is adjusted using the rings.
- versatile
- very adjustable for exact fit and can be used by different sized adults
- some learning curve for adjusting using the rings
- may be less comfortable for longer periods or with a heavier child
Padded ring slings are easier to learn, but an unpadded ring sling allows for greater adjustability and more versatility.
Asian baby carrier and Soft structured carrier
An asian baby carrier (ABC) is a soft carrier with a rectangular body and straps to fasten it on, either by tying or buckles. A structured soft carriers has buckles and more padding on the straps.
- easy to learn
- comfortable for long periods or with a heavier child
- one size can be used by different sized adults
- great for back carries
- more suitable for babies with good head control
The most common asian baby carrier is a mei-tai which has four straps and ties around the waist.