Buying a baby wrap or baby carrier: Which one is right for me?
You are pregnant or have just had a baby and you would like to start carrying your little one. Perhaps you want to carry for the positive impact on bonding, maybe you have a restless baby, your child has reflux or cramps, or your baby sleeps better with you than in a crib during the day.
Naturally, you'll start looking for the perfect baby wrap or carrier for your baby. Baby wraps and carriers have all kinds of pros and cons, come in various shapes and sizes, and are made of diverse materials.
The great thing is that carrying your child has a huge number of benefits! We would love to tell you more about this, too!
On this page, you will find everything you need at a glance. Read on for all the information about carrying, baby wraps, and carriers.
Carrying your child is wonderful!
It is very natural to carry your baby with you. Your baby has a need to be close to you. You can lift and carry your baby or use a baby wrap or carrier for this. The latter is often better because you have your hands free and relieve your shoulders and back. It is less strenuous.
While being carried, your baby will recognize your heartbeat and enjoy your warmth, scent, and voice. This secure feeling helps your child settle down. A baby wrap or carrier also gives your baby that nice, encompassing feeling they experienced in the womb.
Carrying your child creates a lot of contact. This stimulates bonding between you and your baby. It is very nice that carrying in a wrap or carrier reduces external stimuli. Think, for example, of a party: you can enjoy the social atmosphere while your child sits safely, warmly, and familiarly with you, less affected by all the stimulation. Furthermore, your child is in the safest and most educational place possible. For instance, your baby senses from your reaction that a sudden loud noise doesn't have to be frightening, and they can comfortably hide with you if things become too much.
Carrying has a positive effect on baby ailments such as cramps, reflux, hip dysplasia, or positional preference. Cramps and reflux are often much less severe; having the hips in a good spread position contributes to improving the situation, and when a baby has a head-turning preference, you can relieve the pressure on the head, allowing the neck muscles to practice and get stronger.
Carrying therefore has a positive effect on the physical, social, and emotional development of your child.
From what age can you start carrying your child?
You can start carrying from day one, provided you have recovered sufficiently yourself. Did you suffer from pelvic complaints during pregnancy, or did you have a cesarean section? If so, always build up the carrying very gradually. Listen closely to your body's signals.
A baby wrap is always suitable for a newborn. It’s a bit different for a baby carrier, which we will go into further later in this blog. If your baby was born prematurely or is small for their gestational age, different advice applies.
When is a baby wrap or carrier ergonomic?
You have surely heard the term "ergonomic" often. But what exactly is it? It is important that your child is carried in a good position, often called the "frog position." A rounded back, legs spread, knees higher than the bottom (M-position of the legs), and always in a vertical position. Your baby's hands usually rest near their face naturally.
A well-tied baby wrap is always ergonomic. A baby carrier is ergonomic if it supports your child well from knee to knee, grows with your child, and gives them the opportunity to maintain a nice, rounded back. And, of course, that a small infant is supported up to the neck in the first months.
Ergonomic is not a protected title, which means any brand can put this on their box. All Pure Baby Love products are ergonomic; this is one of our key priorities. Our carriers even grow with your child to ensure ergonomics are maintained while providing a beautiful fit for both you and your little one.
So now what? Which one fits you best?
There are many types of wraps and carriers. Below, we will explain the features of each product so you can easily choose what best suits your wishes and situation. If you still need help, you can always contact us via the WhatsApp button on the page.
Stretchy wrap
A stretchy wrap is made of elastic cotton, like what you might recognize from stretch t-shirts. The stretchy wrap is a true newborn wrap and can be used for babies just born. As soon as carrying becomes too heavy in a stretchy wrap, many parents switch to a woven wrap or a carrier. In a stretchy wrap, you always carry your child on your stomach.
Tying a stretchy wrap is slightly different from a woven one. You carry your child in a stretchy wrap with 3 layers of fabric, meaning it is slightly warmer than a woven wrap. Therefore, in the summer, always be careful that your child doesn't get too hot.
A major benefit of a stretchy wrap is that you can tie it completely beforehand and then put your child in. This is handy when you are going somewhere, for example. You tie it at home, and once you arrive at your destination, you can easily place your baby inside.
It is important to tie a stretchy wrap tightly. If your child is well-supported, it is an ergonomic way of carrying that feels like a t-shirt around you, making it very pleasant to carry in the first period.
The Pure Baby Love stretchy wrap is great for you:
...if you want to start carrying your child immediately after birth
...if you are looking for a very pleasant wrap for your baby's first 8 months to a year
...if you want to buy a good, safe wrap at a very affordable price
...if you prefer to tie the wrap completely before placing your baby in it
...if you want to enjoy optimal carrying comfort from the super-soft fabric
In short: A perfect wrap for people who want to start carrying right after birth but aren't sure yet if they want to carry for a very long time. A perfect, affordable all-rounder for the first period.
Woven wrap
The characteristic of a properly woven wrap is that it has no stretch in the length or width, but it does have diagonal stretch. This allows the wrap to fit beautifully around you and the baby. Woven wraps are suitable for both infants and toddlers. They have more carrying capacity than stretchy wraps and feel firmer. With a woven wrap, you have many more options: you can carry on your front, hip, or back. Therefore, a woven wrap isn't specifically just a "baby" wrap, as you can also use it for toddlers.
You can start carrying from day one, usually starting with a carry to place your child on your front. From about 1.5 to 2 months, it is also very nice to be able to carry your child on your hip. From the moment your child starts to show interest in looking around (around 6 months), you can also start back carrying.
When tying a woven wrap, you tie part of the wrap in front, then help your child in, and start tightening and knotting the wrap. Once well-tied, you always carry your child ergonomically. A woven wrap is also always the first choice for children with special needs, infants born prematurely or small for their gestational age, or when extra support is required.
In a woven wrap, you carry your child in one layer of fabric, which always makes the wrap more breathable than a stretchy one.
Pure Baby Love woven wraps are made of 100% organic cotton or 50% organic cotton and 50% linen and are released in beautiful natural tones. A wonderfully soft wrap that ties easily—not too thick and not too thin.
Pure Baby Love woven wraps are ideal for you:
...if you want to carry your child from day one well into toddlerhood (max 3 to 3.5 years)
...if you want to be able to carry your child on your front, hip, and back
...if you tend to get hot easily, as these are more breathable than a stretchy wrap
...if you want to enjoy the optimal support of a woven fabric
...if you enjoy varying between different ties
...if your child has special needs or was born prematurely
In short: A durable and therefore cost-effective choice, as you can use a woven wrap for a long time with optimal comfort for you and your child. And if another baby comes along, you just use it again!
Ringsling
A ringsling is an additional product for most people. In a ringsling, you can carry your newborn, but it’s also very easy for your toddler. You carry your child on your front or your hip, and the weight is carried on one shoulder.
A ringsling is a quick way to carry, simple to use, and very suitable for shorter durations, such as popping into the supermarket or comforting your baby when they are crying.
The ringsling consists of a shorter length of a woven wrap and two rings. It forms a small package that you can easily take with you in your bag. A real must-have!
The Pure Baby Love ringsling is very soft yet incredibly strong. You can carry your child easily and safely from day one well into toddlerhood.
A ringsling is a great carrying product for you:
...if you are looking for a quick way to carry, for example, if you need to take your child up stairs in an apartment, for grocery shopping, or for comforting your child
...if you don't want to tie a full wrap every time but still want to enjoy the comfort of a high-quality wrap fabric and weight distribution
...to take in your bag on a day out. If your child doesn't want to walk anymore, carrying with the ringsling is much lighter than lifting your child.
Baby carrier
Baby carriers come in many brands, types, and sizes, but not every carrier is immediately suitable from birth. That is why good information is important, as it is vital for safety that a carrier supports your child correctly.
Where a baby wrap always fits and supports your child perfectly, with a carrier it mainly depends on the size, the fit, and the ability to adjust it and let it grow with your child.
When purchasing a carrier, the advice is therefore to always go for one that fits well and has the ability to optimally support your child. Choose based on your child's size, and do not go for a carrier that is too large or too small.
Click & Go +
The Pure Baby Love Click&Go + carrier is a true baby carrier, usable immediately from birth (size 44/50). This carrier can grow with your child and support them from knee to knee up to and including size 86, which is approximately 1.5 years.The ergonomic Click & Go carrier is suitable for front and back carrying. You always start on your front, and from the moment your child can sit independently, you can also use this carrier for back carrying.
In short: a wonderful all-rounder you can use for a long time!
Wrap & Go +
You buckle the waist belt and tie the shoulder straps. Unlike carrying the weight on your shoulders (like the Click & Go), you now distribute it optimally across your shoulder area and your back. Ideal for people sensitive in their shoulders, back, and neck. Also, you don't need to adjust anything when switching wearers. It is simple to use and really fits every body type.
The Wrap & Go is suitable from size 44/50 up to 86/92 and grows with your child. Additionally, it can be used on the back from about 6 months old, which is a lot of fun for the little one who then enjoys looking over your shoulders.
In short: The all-time favorite for many people. Fast, easy, and incredibly comfortable.
The Pure Baby Love carriers are all fully adjustable. This way, you can downsize them for a small baby and let them grow along. Perfect support is maintained throughout. You can also create a neck roll for extra neck support, and the areas under the legs are padded. This makes it even more comfortable for your child to be carried. The carrier is also perfectly adjustable for the wearer.
Even when you switch between two people, you don't need to readjust much, and that’s nice!
The Pure Baby Love carriers are all made of beautiful wrap fabric of 100% organic cotton or 50% organic cotton and 50% linen and are available in many beautiful colors!
Pure Baby Love baby wraps and carriers
Pure Baby Love is known for the unique softness of our wraps and ring slings, and our carriers with a perfect fit. The woven wraps from Pure Baby Love are perfect for babies and toddlers. Super soft for those very first days and strong enough to carry a toddler comfortably.
The ring slings are strong and offer a good grip thanks to the rings. You can easily and simply carry both babies and toddlers in them.
Our carriers have been carefully developed based on our professional background as nurses and babywearing consultants. They are safety-tested and manufactured according to strict standards.
Please feel free to contact us with any questions you may have. Whether it is about choosing the right product for your specific situation, adjusting a carrier, checking if you have tied your wrap correctly, or if you are simply struggling, you can always email us or send us a WhatsApp message directly.
We are curious! Which product will you choose?