Yay! Welcome to one of my favorite post I’ve ever written. You’re most likely here because you are interested in learning more about how to wear your baby! I wrote this for all of my new and expecting caregivers who have an interest in one of my favorite things about motherhood: babywearing!

Let me start with this statement. Babywearing changed my life. It made me a better mother.  It made Grace a happier child. It made me a better wife! Lastly, it’s soooo helpful to me as a mother of multiples! Keep reading for a wealth of information and all the things you need to know as a babywearing beginner!

BABYWEARING BEGINNERS GUIDE

TYPES OF BABY CARRIERS

• woven wraps (these are long pieces of fabric) woven by hand or machine on a loom
• stretchy wraps (I stopped using these when Gracie was around 2 months old, and probably will never use one again as I prefer woven wraps for newborns. I’ve never used one with Norah.)
• ring slings
• soft structured carriers (half-buckle, free to grow, obimama, etc. all fit into this category)

Woven Wraps:

These are pieces of fabric that are used to do different types of carries. The most popular carry is a FWCC (front wrap cross carry). There are A TON of carriers for woven wraps, so don’t get overwhelmed if this is where you start! Try and perfect ONE carry at a time!

beginner’s guide to woven wraps

Posts and Videos:

Stretchy Wraps

Ring Slings

A ring sling is a shorter piece of fabric (usually around 2 meters) that has rings sewn to one end of it to create a “shoulder”. This is then wrapped around your body and threaded the rings.

Slings are great for newborns, and pretty awesome for medium sized babies. I wore Gracie in a sling until she was around two years old, and then she just felt to heavy. 

They are a great happy medium, however, if you don’t want to dive into the complicated world of woven wraps, but want more than just a soft structured carrier to wear your baby in.

Visit the posts I linked below titled “beginner’s guide to ring slings” for more info about what material they’re usually made out of, how to use one, and where to get a ring sling of your own!

Posts and Videos:

How to wear your newborn in a ring sling

how to wrap your pregnant belly with a ring sling for extra support

Soft Structured Carriers (SSC’s):

Accessories | Suck Pads and Reach Straps:

Shop baby carriers:

 

 

 

FAQ’S

What are your favorite baby carrier brands?

Baby Tula is my favorite. (SSC’s, ring slings, lots of adorable matching accessories)

Wildbird Slings (ring slings)

Sakura Bloom (slings, Scout)

Pretty much any handwoven wrap

WANT TO KNOW WHERE TO GET A CARRIER? Click here!

What are the best carriers for hot weather?

What is the best carrier for a beginner?

I started wearing Gracie with a stretchy wrap when she was four months old. I DO NOT recommend that for beginners, haha. The easiest carrier to use is the Tula Free to Grow. It’s super simple, and there are lots of videos on how to use them with your baby. They have a mesh option too, which I talked more about above.

What’s the best carrier for a newborn?

I really love the Tula Free to Grow for beginners who want to wear their newborn. It’s foolproof and extremely easy to use. It also serves as a carrier as your baby grows (the weight range is 7-45 pounds) so it’s definitely the one I’m constantly recommending.

As I’m sure you’ve seen, I wear Norah in woven wraps and ring slings as well. I’ve been using those with her since the day we brought her home. I love these things for a newborn, but I’m an experienced babywearer. My advice to you is to try out the SSC, then a sling, then a woven wrap!

More Babywearing Content:

HOW TO PUT YOUR NEWBORN IN A TULA FREE TO GROW

HOW TO WEAR YOUR NEWBORN IN A RING SLING

BABYWEARING 101: FOR BEGINNERS

A BEGINNER’S GUIDE TO USING A RING SLING

HOW TO DO A DOUBLE-HAMMOCK BACK CARRY VIDEO (WITH A BASE SIZE WOVEN WRAP)

WHAT’S IN MY BABY CARRIER STASH – 2016 EDITION (WITH VIDEO)

TULA BABY CARRIERS FREE TO GROW UNBOXING

HOW TO BREASTFEED A TODDLER IN A SOFT STRUCTURED CARRIER (TULA)

EIGHTEEN THINGS BABYWEARING HELPED ME DO IN 2016