Friday, January 31, 2014

What's what? A glossary of abbreviations and vocabulary :)

OK. If you find something I haven't listed please comment and TELL ME so I can fix! 

Carrier types:
  • SSC – Soft Structured Carrier (examples include ergo, manduca, tula, rose & rebellion, twingo, action baby carrier, kinderpack, beco Gemini, beco soleil, lillebaby) 
  • FB – Full Buckle carrier (something with buckle straps and a buckle waist)
  • FBWC – Full Buckle Wrap Conversion (as above, but made by a converter from a woven wrap)
  • HB – Half Buckle (uses buckles in straps OR waist but not both)
  • HBWC – Half Buckle Wrap Conversion (as above, but made by a converter from a woven wrap)
  • MT – Mei Tai (a panel with four straps - two for waist and two for shoulders) (fidella flytai, Mimi mei tai, hopptai, sica MT, topatop MT, ByKay MT)
  • WC – Wrap Conversion (a carrier sewn from a woven wrap)
  • WCMT – Wrap Conversion Mei Tai (a mei tai sewn from a woven wrap)
  • Pod – Podaegi (a panel with two straps which usually pass over the shoulders and then under the child's bottom)
  • RS - Ring sling (a length of fabric with two rings sewn into one end)
  • WCRS - (wrap conversion ring sling... so a length of woven wrap with two rings sewn into one end)
  • Stretchy - a stretchy wrap (Moby, hugabub, woogiwoo, ergo stretch, toto stretch, etc.)
  • SPOC – Simple Piece Of Cloth (a woven wrap, or DIY wrap made from a suitable weight-bearing fabric)

Got all that? OK. Who are these things suitable for? 

Any soft structured carrier or buckle carrier is really best after 4-5 months, when baby is showing good head control. 
Several big brands come with an "infant/newborn insert". This is good, but not great. Instead of buying the insert, buy a stretchy or a ring sling that you can use for snuggly front carries. 
To be really safe, wait until baby can sit independently before back carrying in a soft structured carrier, and check the manufacturer instructions for their recommendations too. This is to ensure that airways remain clear and that baby is safe. 



Back carries in a soft structured carrier are often a little low for you to check baby easily and therefore we want them to hold their own heads up easily and have great torso control too. Your carrier lasts until your child grows out of it or you're uncomfortable carrying them. Most are great at front and back carries, but a bit awkward for hip carries. 

Mei tais and pods are easy to adjust for small babies (you can roll or apron the waist of most mei tais to shorten the body) but again, the inert panel of fabric won't mould REALLY well to a tiny infant or give them extra snug fit around their upper body/neck. Better to save until your baby has good head support. These carriers are secured by straps and you simply knot securely. Suitable for back, front and hip carries. 

Ring sling - you'll notice I didn't include buckle slings or padded-rail slings or pouch slings in the list of carriers. That's because they're not especially comfortable or even safe, especially for new wearers and little babies. RING slings, however (literally 2 rings and suitable weight-bearing fabric) are incredibly adjustable and can be used from birth through to the toddler years. They're best used for front (tummy-to-tummy) and hip carries. 

Stretchy wraps are lovely for the early days but often get saggy and uncomfortable past about 6-8kgs, or 13-20lbs. Yes, the manufacturers say they can be used up to 30lbs, and that's true. However, you're probably not going to be happy about it. Front carries only please. 

Woven wraps: by far the most flexible wearing option, this is also the most intimidating category. 
There are SO many brands, blends, styles and designs/colorways. 
They come in different sizes (lengths), and depending on your size, your baby's size/weight, and the type of carries you want to do, you'll find some lengths just work better for you than others. Front, back and hip carries are all options. Most wearers start with a size 5(petite) or size 6, which will do a comfortable front wrap cross carry (popular with newborns and young babies) and have enough length for a back wrap cross carry (baby 6mo plus and sitting, please). Shorter wraps work more easily for hip carries and simple back carries like rucks.

4 comments:

  1. Clued-up post! Your accepted wisdom is great. Thanks for keep me notify. For more information I will be in touch.

    Baby Carry Wraps Australia 

    ReplyDelete
  2. This is great, ty. I think it's time to add the onbuhimo/bucklebu. I'm hearing more and more about them.

    ReplyDelete
  3. This is great, ty. I think it's time to add the onbuhimo/bucklebu. I'm hearing more and more about them.

    ReplyDelete
  4. This is great, ty. I think it's time to add the onbuhimo/bucklebu. I'm hearing more and more about them.

    ReplyDelete