Most parents these days have a stretchy wrap sling, or similar for their new baby. Maybe they were given it as a gift and feel they ‘ought’ to use it at least a few times. Maybe they did loads of research and found it’s what the professionals really recommend for Baby in the first few weeks and months.

To some people it looks a bit scary, confusing and intimidating. It is after all, a long (long long) piece of fabric with no structure to it, and all you’re meant to do is tie yourself up in it, and then secure with a knot. “Is that really safe??” “Is that going to hold my baby?!” I do know that some parents coming in to the sling library are put off and want something ‘more secure’. These parents then find themselves looking for a structured carrier that is 4 times the price and doesn’t fit baby nearly as well.

The brilliant thing about using a stretchy wrap is that it does stretch, so you can get away with some fairly rubbish attempts at wrapping – and it will still hug your baby in close to you. It can fit any size wearer, so don’t worry about carrying your baby weight still, don’t worry if Dad is 7 foot and you’re a petite 4 foot 9. Don’t worry about harsh fabrics that will rub your baby’s delicate skin, as they are soft to the touch. And don’t worry (too much) about a C-section scar, as you’ll be carrying baby nice and high, well away from that area of your tummy. You can even get lighter versions of a stretchy wrap too with soft breathable bamboo, which are great for summer or if you have a ‘hot’ baby.

Parents who use a stretchy wrap are doing an amazing thing for their new baby. Babies often don’t want to be put down, as if they know all the good stuff that happens when they are held close. There are things to look out for though, and identifying and correcting these will enhance your carrying experience. And rather than wanting to move onto another carrier at 3-6 months, as I find many do, you can use your stretchy for at least 10-12 months and maybe more.

1) Carry baby nice and high

Your baby should be high up and close enough to kiss. This way they won’t disappear into your cleavage with potential suffocation risk. But also, a new baby can only see 20-30cm away, and she’ll want to get to know your face and expressions, it’s all brand new to her, the world’s a big blur, and you’re the best thing ever.

The height some people secure a carrier, whether a wrap sling, or a buckle-up carrier is quite a low position supported on their hips. This is too low! It may well be where you buckle a rucksack when you’re backpacking around the world – as actually this is closest to your centre of gravity and can help your balance.

Hold her in a sling where you would hold her without a sling. You’ll normally find, especially with a baby with little or no head control this is pretty high, maybe higher than you’d expect for a sling. A good height is where she can rest her head on the top part of your chest.

2) Baby faces towards you

In most stretchy wraps facing outwards is a no-no, they are most secure facing inwards towards you.  I know that some wrap companies do include this as an option in their instructions, but also some have removed it. For me the wrap doesn’t provide enough support to keep baby in the right position, and it’s not something I would teach. Plus only babies with good head control should be facing outwards in a baby carrier, which a newborn will not have.

There are other alternatives, including wearing baby high up on your back, or a hip carry, that give baby a lovely view of the world, without compromising the J curve of their spine, or hip socket position. However, only use these positions if the sling instructions specifically detail how to do this.

3) The sling fits snugly

This goes along with baby being high enough. If you haven’t wrapped the fabric tightly enough, then baby is going to start sagging in the wrap when you start to move around. And baby can end up too low down.

But your baby could also be at risk of falling out of a loose sling, or slumping down in the sling with no support for the back or neck. To check, gently place a hand on the back of your baby’s head to support it and bend forward from your waist. If there is a widening gap between you and baby then you’ll need to tighten the wrap. If you feel baby is too loose then don’t let go of them until you have adjusted the wrap (or take them out and start again).

4) Shoulder Straps are supportive

One of the reasons your baby could feel too loose in the carrier, is that you have the wrap fabric spreading down your arm. It can be nice to spread the fabric so it ‘cups’ your shoulder, but do ensure the ‘straps’ that carry baby’s weight are available to carry the weight and not flopping down your arm. A quick fix for this is to actually pull the fabric all the way down the arm, like a full bat-wing, then fold it in half back on itself, and if you can fold it in half back on itself again. This ‘sandwiching’ of the wrap can be a nice neat way to wear the wrap.

5) Seat spreads from knee to knee

The wrap passes also need to spread from one knee pit right across the bottom to the other knee pit. Both of them. This is important, so you are giving your baby a proper 2 layer ‘seat’ to support their bottom, which also supports their thighs and keeps their hip socket in a neutral resting position. The shape from baby’s foot to knee to bottom to knee to foot should trace an ‘M’ shape.

6) Baby’s back is curved

Your baby’s spine has a natural curve that gradually straightens out as they develop head control, learn to roll, learn to sit, crawl, stand and walk. This ‘J’ shape should be maintained in any carrier, rather than pushing it to be straight. Carriers that force the back to be straight are normally too tight in the wrong place, or allow your baby’s legs to be straight(er) and not in the M shape described above. To achieve the M shape for hips and J shape for the back, you can do a ‘pelvic tuck’ – reach inside the sling with both hands, pull your baby’s knees up and towards you while also tucking your baby’s bottom downwards and away from you.

7) You can fit 2 fingers under baby’s chin

Newborns do arrive pretty scrunched up! So their spine can look more like a C than a J. Support their natural shape, with knees high up in a froggy position, but also keep their head up so it doesn’t drop down onto their own chest. You should always be able to get a couple of fingers under your baby’s chin, to ensure they are not slumping down and blocking their airways.

8) The sling is supporting all the way to baby’s neck

The 2 cross passes that create the X your baby sits on, should spread across your baby’s back. The ideal height for a carrier for a young baby is for it to be at the nape of the neck. A V shape gap will inevitably appear with this style wrap, but it’s best not to start off with this gap. If you see or feel it slipping then pull the fabric up again. Your baby’s shoulders and arms should be inside a sling of this type, with the wrap passes covering your baby’s back.

9) Always use the 3^rd layer

This is so easy to forget to do with the ‘wrap alternatives’ like a Close Caboo or Papoozle. There is a separate layer than is meant to tie around your baby. This is an important part of the carrier. It provides extra support for your baby’s back, should the 2 cross passes that create the X start to shift out of position. It’s also another layer supporting the weight under their bottom. So please don’t leave it off.

10) Straps do not cover baby’s face

Once you’ve tied the wrap, getting it nice and tight and securely on your shoulders, you can find you can barely see your baby’s face because it’s buried under the wrap straps. Because the fabric’s stretchy, it can be moved away from your neck, and away from baby’s face, and moved or folded out the way. Or go in underneath the strap with your hand, grab hold of the wrap where it’s close to baby’s face, and pull it back out, reversing the fabric. This little trick tends to hold out the way better and doesn’t ping back. So now you can check what the little guy is up to, whether he’s sleeping or not, and ensure there is nothing in the way of his nose or mouth, and that he can breathe ok.

11) Don’t use snowsuits or thick clothing

Snowsuits and baby slings do not go together. Yes they look cute and cosy. But they will force your baby into a starfish position, and it will be pretty impossible to get a good M shape for their knees, which in turn means the spine will probably straighten up.

But mostly my issue is one of temperature control, and your baby overheating. A stretchy wrap, with its 3 layers, is warm and snuggly by itself. You would be much better to ditch the snowsuit when using the carrier and layer up instead. A few thin layers that can be removed, plus your own cardigan/jacket/fleece/coat covering the both of you works best with this kind of carrier. Your own body temperature will keep your baby warm better than a thick snowsuit or coat, and you’ll be able to feel when it’s getting hot (or cold) inside your shared cocoon, so you can adjust your clothing. Babies and even older children just aren’t aware of their own body heat, and may not necessarily complain. And babies don’t sweat or control their own temperature very well.

I do hope this helps allay any worries, but if you feel you still need some help with your stretchy wrap then do find a babywearing professional.  Sling libraries can be a great place to get advice, or you may find you want more time with a babywearing consultant and want to book an appointment or a place on a workshop.

Above all, please do carry your babies high, tight and in view – as per the TICKS guidelines.

Are you looking to buy a stretchy wrap? I have some really lovely quality ones here.

• Carrying your baby this summer?
• Is your stretchy wrap or baby carrier too hot?
• Wondering what sling to pack for holiday?
• Need to get through a busy airport with a baby?
• Planning some day trips for the summer holidays with your family?

Summer Slings and Baby Carriers

Choosing a baby carrier is difficult at the best of times, but trying to pick one for summer adds a whole new problem – how do you and baby stay cool enough?

A common problem with some of the carriers bought from ‘the highstreet’ is that they actually make you really hot.  Black carriers, made from a thick artificial fabric, and sometimes a bit spongey(!) – tend to get sweaty and uncomfortable in the heat.  Even the carriers you love in cooler weather, the Moby wraps, the Close Caboos, can feel a bit hot.

• Here are some alternatives to the carriers you might see in the shops, that we love in the summer:
  • Izmi Baby Carrier, or Izmi Breeze
  • Beco Gemini Cool
  • Love Radius (formerly Je Porte Mon Bebe) Physio Carrier
  • Beco 8
  • Integra
  • Neobulle Evolu’bulle
  • Neobulle Neo Performe
  • A ring sling in a 100% cotton or bamboo/cotton mix
  • A shortie wrap, wrapped so it’s just one layer
  • A stretchy wrap in a bamboo mix fabric

  These carriers are either made with a mesh fabric, which allows air to flow, or are just natural fabrics which are breathable. All are nice and lightweight – some will even pack up nice and small for a bag or a suitcase.

Summer Babywearing Tips

So now you’ve got your carrier, here are some tips to carrying your baby in a sling over summer and on holiday.

🌞 Stay hydrated. Baby and you need to drink loads to make up for sweat lost. Breastfeeding mums, prepare for lots of feeds by drinking water throughout the day. Your milk will water itself down and there’ll be more of it – almost as if nature is prepared for this! There’s no need to give a nursing baby extra water, if you’re not weaning them yet, boobie milk is just what they need. But they’ll need plenty of it, day and night.

🌞 Stay in the shade. If this means staying indoors over the hottest part of the day then do that. It can be cooler to draw the curtains and close the windows, keeping it around 22 degrees indoors – instead of letting in the 28 degree heat from outside by opening the windows and doors. Then open them wide when it starts to cool off in the evening.

🌞 Sun cream is needed if you’re in the sun. But it won’t keep you cool. In fact it makes you hotter. So if you’re in the shade you don’t need it. A little bit of sun (20 minutes is enough) will give you a well-needed dose of vitamin D. We all know the dangers of too much sun but sometimes people go too far the other way – we really do need vitamin D for healthy bones and our immune systems. Just please don’t get burnt people, and remember baby’s skin burns easier than ours.

🌞 Sunhats and sleep hoods are great protection from the sun – if you’re in the sun. If you’re managing to stay in the shade, you won’t need them. Wearing a hat or covering your baby’s head will keep them warmer than not wearing a hat. But if you are in the sun, choose a hat for them that also covers their neck.

🌞 Dress your baby in just a nappy. This does mean your baby’s neck, back and shoulders are now exposed, so keep them in the shade, or use sun cream.

🌞 Dress yourself in as few layers as you can get away with! A strappy vest top is perfect.

🌞 Choose your carrier to suit the temperature. Did you see my list above?  Thinner single layer carriers are good, some have fabric designed to keep you cooler, such as a cool mesh or the solarweave that Connecta do. Ring slings are a single layer. Padded shoulder straps can feel hotter and get sweatier! Same goes for thick padded waists. Fabrics like bamboo and linen will also be cooler, same as with clothing. But a pure cotton carrier is fine too. A stretchy wrap with its 3 layers can feel particularly warm so thinner wraps like Hana and Boba with bamboo can be better.

🌞 It may sound a tad gross! … But your sweat will actually help keep baby cool. You can put a muslin cloth between you and baby to soak it up, or your t-shirt will do it.

🌞 If you have to go out and there is no shade, carrying a parasol or umbrella can be a great way to keep you shady.

🌞 Use a fan. A bit of breeze will help sweat evaporate, which cools the skin.

🌞 A great way to cool yourself down is to cool down the insides of your wrists – so pour cold tap water on your wrists, or hold a water bottle against them, then do the same for your baby.

🌞 If it feels too hot to carry then don’t – but remember buggies get hot too. Often made of artificial fabrics they can get sweaty. If you’re covering your baby’s buggy because you’re out in the sun then make sure there is lots of fresh air for them, and check them regularly. You may find you baby is cooler being carried because they are up in the air and getting a breeze; you can also keep a very good eye on them.

Don’t forget – always carry your baby so they are Visible and Kissable.

We hire slings and baby carriers at The Baby Sling Boutique, from £5.  This could be just what you need to take away on your holiday, or you may want to try a few different slings before you are ready to buy your own.