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Guest Blogger: The Two-Shouldered Babywearing Method
March 10th, 2010
The Beco (Photo courtesy of AmberStrocel via Flickr (CC))
Yesterday, in her Family Jewels guest blog Michelle Branco of mom and toddler luxury website doudoubebe.com discussed the one-shouldered options for babywearers. Today, the possibilities for those who prefer the two-shouldered approach.
Babywearing: the two-shouldered styles
Wrap (stretchy: Moby Wrap, Cuddly Wrap/woven: Ellaroo, Didymos)
A wrap is a long piece of fabric that is tied around the wearer’s body to create a safe pouch in which baby is slipped – there as many ways to wrap as there are people who use them! While the learning curve can be steep, a wrap has the distinct advantages of being very secure and versatile. Once on baby can usually be popped in and out without retying – a huge plus. Wraps are usually either stretchy (generally a cotton jersey) or woven. Inexpensive, stretchy wraps the easiest to learn, but they tend to be less supportive for heavier babies. Woven wraps can be used for the very heaviest kids, but also tend to be more costly.
Mei Tai (Ellaroo, Babyhawk)
A mei tai is a rectangle of fabric with four straps sewn to it: two tie around the waist and the other two loop around the shoulders to tie around the body. A mei tai allows for front and back carries, a very secure and comfortable hold. A mei tai is less ‘poppable’ than a wrap and the long tails sometimes make for awkward tying. The Mei Hip is a variation on the Mei Tai, allowing for hip carries only.
Soft-Structured Carriers (Baby Bjorn, Ergo, Beco, Calyx, Scootababy)
These carriers can be used in much the same way as a mei tai, but have the advantage of using clips instead of knots. For comfort and long use, this is the top choice. However, some mothers dislike the buckles and they are not always the most adaptable carriers. SSCs tend to be among the more expensive due to their construction.
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