Kiddipedia
Looking for your first baby carrier/sling can seem quite overwhelming at first with a large variety of types and brands available online. Once you start you might quickly discover the world of woven wraps. But what exactly are they, and why do some people choose them over other types of baby carriers that look far easier to use?
Certified Baby Carrier Consultant and owner of Australia’s largest baby carrier specialty store Nurture Nest, Nikki Wilkins, has provided this guide to explain this beautiful world of woven wraps and why they are fast becoming one of the most popular ways to carry babies.
What is a woven wrap?
A woven wrap is an item used to carry your baby on you, and is one of the four main baby carrier options available. It’s referred to as a ‘woven’ because it is loomed by hand by experienced weavers or machines. A woven wrap is essentially long piece of fabric which you can tie around you in a variety of ways to secure your baby against your body. They are specially woven to support the weight of a child for as long as you are comfortable carrying them. Woven wraps have what is referred to as a ‘diagonal weave’, which means the wrap won’t sag. They are incredibly strong and much cooler than ‘stretchy wraps’, particularly because they only require one layer of fabric across the baby to provide adequate support. Woven wraps can be worn from birth until toddlerhood and beyond
Why use a woven wrap instead of ‘easier’ carriers?
To many people, woven wraps look quite complicated but once you know the basics and have had an opportunity to practice, they are actually quite easy to use.
- Woven wraps are incredibly versatile. Babies can be worn on your front, back and hip in a woven – but not only that, they can be worn in these positions in a number of different ways. Don’t let this overwhelm you though. I like to tell new wrappers not to become so overwhelmed with how to do every carry. All you need to know is how to do one wrap confidently and safely in order to be able to use it successfully, and then when you are ready you can move on to learn another carry
- Woven wraps can also be used by multiple wearers. There’s no adjusting required when you use your baby carrier after the person before you, as you tie around yourself each time
- They are incredibly comfortable. Many who use woven wraps love that they get a perfect fit every time. You wrap the baby to you, so it fits both you and your baby perfectly. Your wrapping technique is what provides the support, so it’s important you feel confident using it, and there are a variety of ways to practice before wrapping your baby (many people use a doll!).
- They’re so supportive for your baby, particularly newborns. As woven wraps can be adjusted to perfectly support your newborn, you can be sure their hips and spine are adequately supported so long as you follow wrapping guidelines. Many people believe they are the most supportive option for newborns.
- They’re so supportive for you. Woven wraps distribute the weight evenly across your body, and if you’re carrying for long periods you can try a few different ways of carrying throughout the day to shift the weight to different areas. This is particularly helpful if you have pressure points you want to avoid
- Learning to warp with a woven is fun. Wrapping becomes easier with practice and it’s quite fun to learn, plus you feel a real sense of achievement when you have learned a new carry.
- The patterns…. Do I need to mention how beautiful they are?
There truly is a lot of exciting things to discover about woven wraps.
If you are curious about using a woven wrap or any other baby carrier, we encourage you to get in contact with Nikki for a free email consultation where she can help you choose the perfect carrier for your family: Contact Nikki here
Nurture Nest website: www.NurtureNest.com.au
Email: info@nurturenest.com.au
Facebook: www.facebook.com/NurtureNest
Instagram: www.instagram.com/NurtureNest
You might also like to read:
Safety Considerations When Using (and Choosing) Your Baby Carrier
