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It’s the most natural thing in the world, the whole world over, to carry your baby. Then why is it so hard to pick out the right carrier? With an overwhelming array of styles available, it’s no wonder many moms stick with the stroller. Or end up with a carrier, or several carriers, that don’t work for them.

The most important step for successful babywearing is to select the right carrier. There’s such a wide variety of carriers because there’s a enormous variety of different shaped moms and different sized babies, and moms who want a carrier for all different purposes, and every baby prefers to be carried in a certain way. Even if your best friend adores her carrier, it doesn’t mean it will work for you and your baby.

If you are lucky enough to have an independent baby store in your community, this should be your first stop. Take your baby, and try on several styles of carriers. You will be able to eliminate the ones that baby screams bloody murder in, and the ones that just don’t fit your shape. The salesperson will be able to help you a lot here, making recommendations, and ensuring the carriers you try are fitted correctly.

If you don’t have a baby store, but you belong to a moms group, or know lots of local moms, then why not organise a babywearing get together? Invite everyone to bring carriers for all to try on.

Don’t dismiss carriers that seem a lot of work to put on. The most successful baby carriers often have a learning curve associated with them. I know moms who swear by Moby Wraps, the ones that look like they will take the same time to put on, and be as comfortable as an Egyptian mummy. I tried on a friend’s Moby Wrap, with my 30+ pound toddler, and he felt as light as a feather. If he wasn’t almost at the top weight limit, I’d be buying one. I wear him out walking and the extra time to put it on would be well worth it.

Think of how you will be using your carrier. Do you want to slip it on quickly, and pop your baby in and out? Or are you going to take your baby for walks in it? Or wear her around the house? Some carriers are easier to put on and insert baby, like slings and pouches, but need a supporting hand on baby. Others are more involved to put on but hold baby more securely, like the aforementioned Moby Wrap, and also Mei Tai, and pack carriers, and are more suitable if your baby loves it in there and you’ll be doing the laundry wearing it.

Once you have brought your carrier, have someone help you the first few times you use it. Another person is invaluable for untwisting and adjusting the straps, reading the instructions while you hang onto baby, and letting you know if it looks funny from the back or if any of baby’s body parts are in an unnatural position.

If you are having problems with a carrier you have brought, call the manufacturer, or the store it’s from. Most carriers are made and sold by small companies who have great customer service and will be happy to help you out.

So you have the carrier, you are wearing it right, is there anything else? Stand up straight! Carrying your baby while slouching will be downright uncomfortable, not to mention will exacerbate any back, hip or knee problems.

And even if you have brought what you thought was the ideal carrier, only to find it’s not working out, then sell it on eBay, or swap it with a friend, and try another. There is a perfect carrier out there for you.

Tags: Babywearing, Carriers, Shopping, slings, Travel