Today we are continuing our series on the art of babywearing by taking a look at carriers that fit into a category called Asian-Style baby carriers.  These carriers can each trace their roots back to use among the people of Asia, and although they are similar in construction, there are some slight variations to be noted. 

The basic construction of an Asian Style carrier consists of a rectangular piece of material and straps that are connected to the material that serve to "tie" the carrier onto the person who is wearing the baby.

Unlike a ring sling or a pouch sling, an Asian Style carrier is a two-shouldered carrier, which translates into the babywearer having both hands free to attend to other activities.  A baby can be worn in this style carrier in a front carry (such as the sweet baby peeking out of his Kozy on the left – photo courtesy ruby lu), in a hip carry, or on the back.

The Asian style carrier that is most closely identified with Japanese roots is the onbuhimo (examples include this one from FreeHand and this one from Peppermint.com).  Korean inspired carriers are podeagis (like this one from EllaRoo).  The carrier from this category that is probably the most popular today is the Chinese inspired mei tai (more on this style below).  For more information on the slight variations in these styles, see this article by Rebecca Wolf. 

The mei tai (pronounced MAY TIE) has found quite a following among babywearers around the world.  The second carrier I added to my collection was a mei tai, and once I started wearing my then nine-month old oldest daughter in it, I wondered how I ever got along without it!  I started out with mastering the front carry, but before long I ventured into the back carry and she and I were both delighted with the result.  My hands were really free to shop or do dishes or laundry or whatever I needed to work on, and she was thrilled to be able to view the world with the same perspective as her mommy.

So, where to begin browsing?  The above-mentioned Kozy carrier has many fans, as does the BabyHawk (that's a gorgeous BabyHawk holding that sweet baby on the left, photo courtesy Tuulya).  In fact, the BabyHawk is a favorite of Blissfully Domestic reader eager little mind.   

Stephanie of Adventures in Babywearing loves her FreeHand mei tai, and I can personally vouch for the Mei Tai Baby.  I added one to our stash when my second daughter was born, and I cannot say enough how helpful it was to wear her in it while I raced around with her big sister. 

As with most any carrier, you can make your own!  Once again, Jan Andrea comes through with some great patterns and ideas to get you started. 

Any other fans of Asian Style carriers out there?  We are discussing our favorite ways to babywear over at the Blissfully Domestic Living forum! 

What better way to celebrate our BABY week here at Blissfully Domestic than by talking about one way to wear those snuggly little wee ones?  This is part three in my series on babywearing.  Part One and Part Two have some general information on babywearing that you may want to check out.

In moving forward with this series, I would like to focus on each of the major categories of baby carriers.  I thought we could start with ring slings today.  A ring sling is basically one long rectangular piece of cloth that has been threaded through two rings.  The cloth can be any number of materials and may be padded along the edges or unpadded.  The rings are generally made from aluminum.  The "tail" of the sling – the part that is left over after the cloth has been threaded through the rings – then hangs down from the rings.

When I first started babywearing, I didn't think I would like the ring sling style carrier because of the extra fabric on the tail.  That was before I discovered that the tail can be very useful!  One of my ring slings (from ChicKen ScRatch) has a pocket sewn on the tail – very handy for stashing keys and pacifiers and my cell phone.  The tail has also served me as a nursing cover and as a toddler nose wiper.  Another ring sling I have does not have a pocket on the tail and when I wear this one, I just tuck the tail underneath my baby and it creates a more streamlined look.

Ring slings are great for new babies who like the laying down (or cradle) carry.  My little ones never liked the cradle carry, but I found great success with the tummy-to-tummy carry in the ring sling.  Ring slings are still incredibly useful beyond early infancy as older babies and toddlers usually love to ride on mama's hip – so much easier on mama when the little one is on her hip in the hip carry!

Popular ring slings include zolowear, Ellaroo, Taylor Made, and maya wrap.   

I am excited to include reader recommendations in this series.  Debra of Days of Grace enjoyed her Over the Shoulder Baby Holder.  Mandy of Quiet Radical still loves her Dream Bird Studio ring sling that has taken her youngest from infancy through the preschool years.  (I can't find any current links on Dream Bird, but I bet you can still find them around if you shop For Sale Or Trade forums.)  Here they are modeling this gorgeous sling for you:

And if you are so inclined, you can also make your own!

Stay tuned for the next article in this series, and don't forget to tell me all about your favorite babywearing carrier! 

Hey moms! Can I let you in on a secret? It's the one parenting practice I could not live without, and it does wonders to reduce infant crying, promote attachment, and encourage social and cognitive development from day one of a baby's life. And although celebrities like Gwen Stefani, Keri Russell, and Sheryl Crow are fellow fans of this practice, it's not just the newest Hollywood trend. In fact, it's a parenting practice that's been around since the times of the ancients.

Babywearing!

Babywearing is something I am very passionate about because I just can't imagine how I would be able to function without wearing my wee ones. For me, it all started when my oldest daughter was about three months old. She absolutely detested her infant car seat carrier and would wail non-stop each time I tried to make it through a grocery shopping trek with her in tow. (Yeah, she was that baby.)  After a couple of trips through the market with her precariously balanced on my shoulder with one hand, while I dragged the cart behind me with the other, I decided there had to be a better way.

More on our story in my next installment, but for now, here are some great articles on the benefits of babywearing:

The go-to site for all things babywearing, TheBabyWearer.com, has this short and quick overview of why babywearing is great for babies and for moms and dads – Great Things About Babywearing.

In fact, while you are there, check out the expanded list of articles on the benefits of babywearing at thebabywearer.

Attachment Parenting guru Dr. Sears has plenty to say about babywearing, including this overview of the benefits of babywearing – AskDrSears: Benefits of Babywearing – as well as Three Reasons Babywearing Reduces SIDS.

More to come in part two of my Babywearing 101 series!

(And no, that darling mama and precious baby in the picture are not of me and my babe.  Photo courtesy of istockphoto.)