Baby Front Carriers - Slings Are Best

Having had six girls and owned a child care center for seven years, I have used a lot of equipment and accessories intended to make dealing with babies just a little easier.  If I had to do it all over again and was told I could only have one piece of infant equipment, without hesitation, I would choose a baby sling.  I did not own a sling for my first four children. I had never heard of them before, I had seen other mothers utilizing them but never made the connection with myself. I always believed they looked so difficult to use and to be honest they didn't look to secure! It was only after reading reviews in the popular baby magazines and on the Internet that I decided perhaps I should give one a try.

There are other hands free ways to hold your baby that I had tested; chiefly Baby Front Carriers and baby backpacks.  Many people really like these choices, and they may be perfect for you, so let's take a look at some of their features. 

There are umpteen makes of baby front carriers with slightly different features.  Graco and Baby Bjorn are two of the more fashionable makes.  With these baby carriers, two padded shoulder straps go over your shoulders and criss-cross your back. The straps adapt to accommodate various sizes and shapes that men and women tend to be.  The baby is then slid inside a supporting pouch with leg holes.  The baby's final position is against the chest with the feet dangling.  As the baby grows and gets stronger, many carriers let the baby face outward.  The things I did not like about the front carrier is that it seemed uncomfortable to me.  If the baby fell asleep while in the carrier, it was challenging to gently remove her to lay her down in the crib.  Also, as your baby is in front of you it can be more difficult to get on with your normal daily activities like filling the washing machine, doing the dishes and looking after any other children you may have.

Another alternative is a baby backpack, which is stood on the frame in order to insert the child.  Then the frame is elevated and slid onto the back of the father.  I found that the baby got heavy rapidly with this method.  Also, I didn't like the fact that I had no visual contact with the baby while she was on my back.  Another challenge that I had was that I couldn't simply sit down and take a rest without having to first take off the backpack.  I personally didn't like the functionality of the backpack for times when the baby fell asleep.  To Boot, it was rather bulky and took up quite a bit of space when it was not in use.

Nine years ago, after the birth of my Third daughter, I was finally familiarised with  ... cue up the Halleluah chorus ... A BABY SLING!!!  There are several kinds;  my favourite sling style was a long piece of material that fed through two metal fastening rings, leaving a "tail" of fabric.  My absolute favorite was the Maya Wrap with a pocket sewn into the tail, which I used to carry a couple extra diapers and wipes, and often my car keys and wallet!  With this style baby sling, I could accommodate the baby high or low, on the front, side, or back, facing forward or facing me, and lying down or sitting up. 

The worst disadvantage with a sling is that, for some individuals, they take some getting used to.  Some people practice with a small dog or life sized baby doll.  It is easiest to look at videos or pictures of how others are using them to get ideas.  It may take a some time, but I personally feel it is well worth the adjustment period.
As you can see, I am a bit slanted toward slings, but the other hands free baby carriers may be absolutely ideal for your needs.  Look at all options and try a few out.  Whichever you pick out, you will be a happier, more productive new parent as you learn to incorporate the pleasure of nurturing your newborn with the other long list of tasks that you have.