SOFT STRUCTURE CARRIERS (SSC)
There are MANY options for soft structure carriers but they all have some common features among them. They have a body panel, a (typically padded) waistband, and straps like a backpack. They also have adjustable buckles that help to customize your fit. These are easy to put on, especially after you have worn them once and have adjusted it to fit you, and you can be set with baby ready to go without too much time or hassle.
And then you get to customize! There are SSC’s for infants, babies, and toddlers each differentiated by height, weight, and trunk/head control of the little one. Some carriers you would only wear on your front, some on front or back, some front, back, or side! Options for babies to face in, face out, or even easily nurse in the carrier. Some have hoods (to cover baby from weather or when nursing), pockets to store your essentials, clips and rings for toys, pacifiers, even diaper bags. And then there is the all important look of the carrier. There are patterns galore! Bikes, cars, candy skulls, guitars, camo, birds, giraffes, paisleys, geometric shapes of all kinds and patterns and so many more! Carry Me Away’s comparison of SSC’s is a great place to start to get a feel of the options. This site has done some extensive comparisons, so don’t get overwhelmed. Just kind of get a feel for what is out there and then see if you can find one to try before you buy.
RING SLINGS
Ring slings are a kind of mashup between a big long piece of fabric for a wrap, and a carrier with adjustable buckles and straps. They are typically shorter in length than the majority of wraps and implement two rings for adjusting. The fabric goes up through both rings then down through the bottom ring making it easy to tighten or loosen the sling.
You’ll want to know some of the lingo that flies around as you start to move away from structured carriers and into the world of slings and wraps.
Both slings and wraps have rails and tails. The the two long edges of your carrier are your rails and the short edge(s) is/are the tail(s). There will be a top rail and a bottom rail, and there is no distinction between the tails. Top and bottom rails are only differentiated by how you wear it. It is important to keep track of which rail is which so you can tighten as needed.
The seat in your wrap/sling is essential to get correctly. The seat is what keeps baby safely positioned in the wrap and not sliding down your body. The seat in both a sling and a wrap is made by pulling fabric up between baby’s legs, and positioning it between you and your baby. Imagine sitting in a hammock and your legs out over the side. The hammock is spread knee to knee and makes a nice seat for your to swing in. Same idea here. Sometimes it’s helpful to tuck the bottom rail (see that, using the lingo already!) into the pants of the baby to help keep the seat while putting baby on. Once you get the fabric between you and baby you spread it out under their bottom and legs, up to their knees. Ideally you want the baby’s little bum lower than the bent knees in a kind of M position.
Sometimes you’ll have a squirmer, or leaner, and the baby will wriggle their legs out of the M position and let them hang straight down, thus losing the fabric between you and baby. When the fabric has slipped out from between you and baby it’s called popping your seat. Some babies will sit and snuggle so cooperatively, and others are poppers! There are ways to wrap a baby so they have a more difficult (near impossible) time popping their seat but more on that later.
The identifying factor of a ring sling is that is has rings and the type of ring used is important. These rings need to be weight bearing and tested for integrity to ensure the safety of your little bundle. Rings need to be one solid piece, without a weld spot. Rings from craft supply stores are not okay in a ring sling. One reputable company is SlingRings.com where you can buy rings in different colors, sizes and material (aluminum or nylon). If you are going to make your own ring sling (which is totally doable with the right kind of fabric) you need to have safe rings!
Ring slings are worn over one shoulder typically with baby sitting against your chest or on your hip. There are those who use the ring sling on their back (PAX baby shows how she does it in this video at timestamp 5:00) and if worn correctly it would be safe as well.
Still with me? Ready for a little more? Click here to learn about the long piece of sometimes daunting fabric called a wrap.
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