Benefits of Baby Carriers

Bonding

Keeping your baby close and safe is a key benefit of a carrier. Feeling your warmth and heartbeat reassures your baby and can keep them calm.

Newborn babies have poor vision but a great sense of smell, so holding your baby near you means that they will be able to smell your scent and will feel comforted.

Comfort

Baby Bjorn Original

If your baby suffers from reflux, colic or wind after feeding it makes it easier for the gas to pass through their body, and reduces possetting. And slings are a great way of settling a tired, fretful baby.

You’ll be most comfortable if your baby’s weight is held high and close against your body. Look for a model with broad shoulder straps, and if you plan to do a lot of walking, a sling or carrier with a waist or hip belt will redistribute the weight of your baby making it easier on you.

Feeding

Certain slings are ideal for discreet breastfeeding, which is great if you feel self-conscious about feeding in front of other people or when out and about.

Older Babies

An older baby will love being held up high with a good view of the world, and being able to get lots of opportunity to interact with you and with other adults.

You’ll probably prefer a back sling by this stage as physically, this is probably the easiest way to carry your child. It makes life more interesting for your baby, you’ll be seeing the same sights and will naturally talk to your baby about what you’re both seeing.

A sling also helps you to take care of your back since it distributes the weight of your baby more evenly across your whole back, compared with carrying a little one in your arms. Many parents find that using a sling means they can carry their baby for longer, often until the child is at least 2 years old, around 14kg – or until they start to protest about being carried.

Hands-Free

A sling or baby carrier will let you do more by allowing you to have your hands free for other tasks like folding laundry, tidying up or even some cooking.

Of course, take care with your little one near sharp utensils, hot surfaces and boiling pans! Slings can even afford you the luxury of eating a meal with both hands.

Whats more, with both hands free and without having to manage a pram or pushchair, you’ll have more freedom to undertake such delights as shopping, negotiating public transport and loading up the car.

If you have one baby, then it means you can do away with a pushchair for short journeys. Remember, that if you go out for the day with only a sling and no pushchair and your child is quite heavy and not walking yet, you’ll be worn out from constant carrying by the end of the day.

One Plus One

Using a sling for your new baby and pushchair for your toddler may allow you to avoid or at least postpone the need to buy a double pushchair.

Or, with the little one in a sling you may even be able to walk with your toddler to a local toddler group, with no need for a pushchair, and join in when you get there too.

Disadvantages of Baby Carriers

• Back carriers may be more comfortable but you can’t see your baby and are only suitable once baby can sit upright on their own.
• Front carriers aren’t suitable for very small newborns as they are a little too squishy.
• Many babies grow out of wanting to be carried on your front and once more active, all babies will want a little more freedom.

Other Tips for Choosing a Baby Carrier

• Cleaning – get a machine washable carrier. It’s bound to get dribbled or vomited on, so anything that is sponge-clean only won’t stay as fresh as one that you can simply throw in the washing machine.
• Size and function – Do you want to use it to get out and about or more to get things done around the house? If you are going to use it around the house, you may not be quite as concerned about how bulky it is or how well it packs up. But if you want to get out and about with your sling, consider one that’s light and folds up neatly. If you and your partner both want to use it, select one that can be adjusted to fit you both.
• Research suggests that upright baby carriers which spread the baby’s legs wide are preferable to ones where the baby hangs from the crotch with their weight directly above the pelvis. This hanging position is fine for young babies, and you will find many slings for very young babies in this style. However, as they grow heavier the wide legged position is actually the optimal position for the development of the baby’s pelvis.

Baby Bjorn carriers are among the most popular – take their test to choose one right for you and see the Baby Bjorn collection at Kiddicare.

Let’s start at the begining with our list of baby essentials for the first 2 months.

To Take to the Hospital

• Front-opening nighties, dressing gown and slippers
• Nursing bras, breast pads
• Maternity, or super-absorbent sanitary pads and paper knickers
• Toiletries
• Nappies
• Baby toiletries and cotton wool
• Baby clothes
• Shawl or cot blanket, hat & mittens if it’s cold
• Clothes and a coat if it’s cold
• Money and camera

Travel Home & Out and About

• A carseat – for a newborn (rear-facing)
• Pushchair/pram -  You will need one with full recline until your baby can support his or her head.
• Blankets for the pram or buggy

Baby Room

• Cot, mattresses, sheets, blankets, waterproof liner – Many parents like to keep their newborns in a crib or moses basket by their bedside for the first few months. Your baby will need the right size mattress for their bed, fitted with a waterproof cover and soft fitted cotton or flannel sheets.
• Bassinet
• Cradle
• Nursery decor
• Changing table/mat/unit that’s easy to wipe clean
• Dresser
• Small lamp or nightlight
• Rocker

Clothing

• Six sleepsuits/ long sleeved suits
• Six vests/ short sleeved suits
• One-piece pajamas
• A couple of pairs of baby socks or booties for out and about
• Mittens
• Fleece outfits
• Sweater or Jacket (for winter) – If you have a winter baby you’ll need extra layers for out of doors.
• Bonnet or Cap (for summer)
• Scratch mitts

Feeding

• Baby bottles Feeding accessories – Bottles, teats, a steriliser or sterilising fluid and brushes if you are bottle feeding (you’ll need these later if you are breast feeding but want to be able to express milk too).
• Nursing bras, breast pads and somewhere comfortable to sit and nurse if you are breastfeeding
• Bottle liners
• Bottle brush
• Bottle rack
• Many baby bibs
• Teethers
• Breast pump
• Pacifiers
• Highchair
• Cream for nipples
• Nursing pillow
• Squares of muslin or muslin nappies to protect your clothes when feeding or winding

Changing

• Nappies – If you go for disposables, which you might find easier in the first couple of weeks while you’re adjusting, you’ll need quite a few of these as your baby will need changing every couple of hours. If you’ve got space then try and stock up for a week or so to make life easier on yourself later. There are lots of different brands out there, so you might want to get a recommendation from a friend or online. If you’re going for reusable nappies you’ll need at least 24 to get you through two days, and more if you don’t have a tumble drier. Don’t forget the fastenings.
• Waterproof pants – If you’re using reusable nappies you’ll need several pairs of waterproof pants for over the top (unless you have the all-in-one kind). You might also want to think about disposable liners that can be flushed down the loo to minimise the nappy soiling.
• Baby wipes and cotton wool for changing and top and tailing
• Washcloth’s
• Diaper powder
• Sealable trash can

Baby Bath & Health

• Soaps & Lotions – A mild bathing formula is optional for baby, many mums prefer to use no cleanser at all on their baby’s soft skin
• No-Tears shampoo
• Newborn tub – Baby bath, bowl or newborn bath support for an adult bath – There are plenty of options when it comes to bathing baby, and it’s really a matter of personal preference
• Baby oil
• Towels – A couple of small towels for after bathing, as soft as you can afford. The variety with hoods are particularly cosy for baby
• Ointment
• Thermometer
• Petroleum jelly
• Sterile cotton balls
• Baby powder
• Washcloths
• Baby nail scissors
• Baby nail clippers
• Liquid aspirin
• Baby brush
• Nasal aspirator

Might be Good to Have

• A sling for carrying your baby on your front in the first few months and/or a backpack or papoose to carry the child on your back when he or she is heavier later
• Portable cot

Probably Don’t Need

• Soft toys – you’ll probably receive lots of soft toys for your new baby as gifts. However, if your family and friends turn out to be more practical with their gifts then you can always buy toys later!

Compare prices on the most popular Travel Systems for Babies.

Purchasing a pushchair, carrier and car seat together in a package and save money and time whenever you need to travel with your baby.

A travel system is great when your baby is in slumberland as it eliminates the need to remove the little one from the car seat. The car seat / carrier snaps onto the travel system stroller frame for added convenience.

We check online prices for Baby Travel Systems from retailers including Amazon, Baby World, Bambino Direct, Boots, John Lewis, Kiddies Kingdom, Mothercare, Toys r Us and more!