You may be used to seeing backpacked babies or infants nestled against their parent’s chest, but there’s another way to wear your baby – sideways, with baby carriers for the hip. A hip sling distributes your baby’s weight between the waist and the shoulders and are great for everyday use or quick walking trips. They also give the mother (or father) a bit more mobility, especially on their strong hand’s side. While a front carrier might limit the movement of both arms, a hip baby carrier gives a lot of freedom to the free arm, whether it’s to pick up an errant toddler, a basket of laundry or dropped keys – you’ll be thankful you have it.
Benefits and Drawbacks of Side Carrier Styles
One of the major benefits of a side sling babywearing style is the mobility it provides to the parents. While most hip carriers aren’t recommended for long treks or extended use because they can put a lot of strain on one shoulder, they are probably the best choice for short errand trips. Basically, wearing your baby gets you quickly in and out of places where strollers can be obtrusive or hard to maneuver, while a hip or side style of babywearing lets you keep an eye on baby and your hands more free to deal with things like making change or getting items from your purse.
Backpacks make it hard to monitor your child’s safety (hot drinks on shelves, branches, etc.) and front carriers limit your movement. A hip carrier, though not as enduring, finds that right balance of comfort and freedom needed for quick trips.
‘Hip’ Ways to Wear Your Baby
There are a number of specially designed hip carriers for babies on the market, like Ellaroo’s Mei Hip or the Sidekick model from Parent’s of Invention, but you can also use a basic wrap for a side sling style. Most wrap carriers, which are essentially long pieces of cotton fabric, will come with instructions on how to tie and wrap them to get a comfortable side carrier configuration.
If you’re not comfortable working with a wrap style of babywearing, there are specifically designed side carrier models like the Sidekick mentioned earlier. What makes the Sidekick product from Parents of Invention so unique is that it couples a simple hip-style baby carrier with a diaper bag that’s bursting with pocket and storage space. For moms on the go, this is the ultimate. That said, the strap is small and does have a tendency to ride up on the neck, so it’s best to try and fit it over your shoulder. Some moms like to add to the included strap padding to get a more comfortable fit.
Meanwhile, the Mei Hip from Ellaroo is a bit more basic, but has a specially designed shoulder strap that’s made to cup the shoulder. It’s wider and fits around the whole shoulder, thus preventing neck burn or painful pressure points. The Mei Hip also boasts convenient clips, making it easy to pop baby in and out quickly and give the Ellaroo product an adjustable fit for quickly growing infants.
If you’re planning on trekking mountains, walking for miles, or standing for hours – the side carrier may not be the right choice. But, if you’re looking for a baby carrier solution that’s quick, easy and unobtrusive, the hip method of babywearing is it. Whether you choose to adapt an existing carrier – like a wrap – into a sling style, or purchase a ready-made and specifically designed side carrier, you’ll discover the comfort and ease of hip carrying is worth it.
