When I lived in West Africa, all of the new moms I saw used lengths of bright fabric to create their own wraparound baby carriers. These wraps looked so comfortable and versatile. While the village moms would shop or tend crops, babies would explore their world or – more often than not – sleep.
So, is a wrap right for you and your baby? Let’s look at the most common wraps and compare their materials, longevity, versatility, and price.
The Moby
Originally only one style, made of 100% cotton, Moby has diversified into two additional models, the Moby D and Moby Select. The latter two have snazzy fabric choices including batik and brocade. The main structural difference is that the Moby D is half a meter shorter. It is also available in microfleece for colder climates. Priced from $45-75, the Moby is tested for babies from 5 to 35 pounds. Some of my favorite ways of wearing my kids in the Moby included the hip hold (for shopping) and the cradle hold (for nursing). To use this wrap, practice was a must. Getting some demos in the small shop I visited and watching the DVD to learn the various holds were two must-do strategies for getting the most out of the Moby. The Moby is unique in that it can accommodate twins. Tip: Put the Moby on at home (sans baby) and when you arrive at your destination (say, driving to the park), putting baby in is much easier.
Didymos
Hand-woven in Germany and Austria, this wrap’s designers insist on raw cotton yarn woven on a Jacquard loom with single-ingredient dyes (to minimize allergens). Quality fabric and construction make this wrap attractive and it comes in two styles: the original Baby Sling and the Didymos, a sling with a ring (pleated or unpleated at the shoulder for optimal comfort). Ranging in price from 80 to 100 Euros, these wraps allow for all the same carrying positions as Moby. The fabric feels sturdy yet soft. The Didymos has the same wearing longevity as the Moby.
Gypsy Mama
Made 100% in the USA, Gypsy Mama features three styles. The Batik wrap is gauzy rather than stretchy, more supportive for older babies. The Batik stretch is made of knit-weave material and snuggles newborns close. Most exciting to me is their new product, the Wrapsody Water Wrap. It wicks away water, has a tapered design, and can be worn in swimming pools, at the beach, even in the shower. At about $60, a Gypsy Mama Batik wrap will last the longest (stretchy wraps are harder to keep snug around older children), but the water wrap is a great breathable choice and can, of course, be worn on dry land. I love the water wrap for hiking too, as it wicks moisture and has no seams that dig into shoulders or waist.
Reasons to Wrap
- Your newborn infant wants to be as close as possible to you.
- Wraps can’t be beat on versatility, allowing you to carry your baby in front (facing in or out, cradle, kangaroo, and more), in back (rucksack-style), and on your hip.
- You can discreetly breastfeed wearing baby in a front cradle-hold wrap.
- Traditional wraps have no snaps, closures, or rings, only the soft fabric that molds perfectly around your baby’s shape.
- It’s easier for a baby to nap in a wrap than, say, a framed carrier.
- Wraps, by design (or lack thereof), will not squeeze, pinch, prod, irritate, or otherwise cramp your baby’s style.
- They look better than soft-framed carriers, which can be backpack-like in appearance.
- If you learn all of the wrapping methods, a wrap may very well be the one and only carrier you’ll ever need.
And….The Bad Wrap
Pardon the pun, but what’s bad about wrap-style baby carriers? Here are the top hesitations and complaints from new and veteran moms.
- The cradle hold was easy to learn, but the variety of diagrams and DVDs showing different holds is slightly intimidating.
- Until baby develops head control, not all of the wrap techniques are safe (just cradle hold).
- Too loose/Too tight: In the first half hour of wear, the wrap seems to loosen, even getting too loose. On the other hand, if I secure it too snugly at first, I feel like I’m squeezing my baby.
- Sometimes I worry about my baby’s ability to breathe through the fabric.
- In some positions, baby’s limbs are contained or curled up, resulting in a squirmy baby.
- Mom and baby can get overheated with the closeness and fabric innate to wrap carriers.
Learning to use a baby wrap can be as rewarding as it is challenging for all of the reasons above and more. There’s something about having your baby right next to you (and having your hands free at the same time) that’s worth the steep learning curve.
