Welcome to the next installment in the Babywearing 101 series! Parts one and two covered some background information on what exactly babywearing is and how to choose a baby carrier, while part three shed some light on ring slings.
The next style of baby carrier is one that is close to my heart – the pouch sling. I have a special affinity for pouch slings because my own introduction to babywearing came in the form of a Lucky Baby pouch sling. After I discovered that my daughter had quickly outgrown our Snugli carrier, I knew I had to have some way to get through a grocery shopping trip without having to carry her in my arms while trying to push the cart at the same time. She was just at the age where she loved to sit on my hip and experience the world around her, so a pouch sling was a perfect solution for us!
A pouch sling is perhaps one of the simplest styles of carriers. They are simply tubes of material that, when worn, form a pouch for your child to nestle into. They are a one-shoulder style of carrier and there are no rings, snaps, buckles, tails, or ties. Sleek and chic!
The most important aspect of choosing a pouch sling is the fit. Most pouch slings are not adjustable, and a good fit is the key to a comfortable sling for both mama and baby. Each pouch sling creator has its own standards of sizing, so make sure you measure carefully before you buy!
Here are some reader faves:
Lots of babywearers love Hotslings. Easy to find (even at Target!) and a wide variety of sizes.
Blissfully Domestic contributor Moosh in Indy is another fan of Lucky Baby!
For the first six months of babyhood or so, Jo of To a Pretty Life liked the Peanut Shell pouch.
Who doesn't love some Etsy? Etsy is a great place to find pouch slings. Amanda of ohamanda! really enjoyed her pouch sling from drewbabydesigns. Blissfully Domestic's own Jenni of Just Chicken Feed also found a pouch on Etsy that she really liked.
Canadian moms! Eva of Surprised Suburban Housewife loves her Little Star pouch which is lovingly made in Canada.
Janya of Mink Coat and Velvet Sweatpants loved her Mamma's Milk Invisibly Adjustable Pouch. I've always been intrigued by these pouches because they offer the adjustability that I love in a ring sling in the streamline design of a pouch. Maybe I'll finally get one for myself when our next baby comes along!
Finally, maybe you'd like to make your own pouch sling! That's what worked for Shannon of Idylwild. Jan Andrea has some great instructions and patterns as a jumping off point.
We've been talking about our favorite carriers over at the Blissfully Domestic Forums. Care to join us?
(Photo courtesy Cheatara)
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I had a fleece pouch when DS was born in December, and it was a lifesaver!!
Love, love, love the pouches! I also got one from Drewbabydesigns (on Etsy), and it is fabulous!
My sis-in-law gave me a pouch sling, but I'm not quite sure how to wear it. And there's no baby yet to practice with. How does one of those things work? How low should it be on your body? Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
thanks for all the sling ideas! good products to feature on babysteals!
I do love my little pouch! I bought it when my daughter was just starting to walk but still not ready to be completely on her own. I was getting so tired of carrying her. She's 2 and I still carry her in it when we're out for a long time.
I can't wait to use it on my new baby in September!
(thanks for the shout out, Megan!)
I have a hotsling and I love love love it. Don't know how I made it w/DD#1 w/o one!
AK, if you are looking for instructions on wearing one, if its anything similar to a hotsling, the videos on how to use it are on you tube!
Rosa Pomar also has great pouches here:
http://www.rosapomar.com
Check them out!
i make ring slings that are adjustable and sell them for $35. check out my blog and slings-and-things.blogspot.com. they are very great!