There are a couple of baby carriers that would probably work for Julie, but our first choice is a woven baby wrap, such as those by Ellaroo. Baby wraps are very versatile and can be worn on your front, back, or hip. Stretchy wraps are more affordable, but for back carrying or using past 6 months a woven wrap is more supportive. They are a great choice for bad backs, and will provide the most comfort while babywearing. You can even tie your wrap around the area where your back aches for extra support.

Our second choice is a soft structured baby carrier. They are easy to use and secure with buckles or clips. They generally have padded shoulder straps and a waist belt for lumbar support. All soft structured carriers fit slightly different, but our two favorite are the Ergo Baby Carrier or the Beco Baby Carrier.

Whatever baby carrier you use, it is important to remember to carry your baby high on your body. If you are carrying your baby too low it will hurt your back. It is also a good idea to start carrying your baby on your back as soon as they are developmentally ready. I started wearing my son on my back around 6 months, but you may be able to slightly earlier depending upon the baby carrier you choose and the options for securing your babies head while sleeping.

Do you need help choosing a baby carrier? Email us or leave a comment below. We would be glad to help you choose the perfect baby carrier

For somebody who is not yet committed to babywearing or interested in learning a baby wrap, my first choice would be a soft structured baby carriers. They are very easy to learn and somewhat similar in appearance to a Baby Bjorn. While soft structured baby carriers such as the Beco Baby Carrier or Ergo Baby Carrier look similar to the Bjorn, they keep baby in a seated position rather than hanging by their crotch. This is much better for babies developing spine and sacrum. Ergo Baby has a carrier made from a lighter weight fabric for better breathability. The Sport Ergo Baby Carrier also has a vented panel in the body of the baby carrier for extra air flow.

Pouches are another good choice for those not experienced with babywearing. They are a simple tube of fabric that you slip over your shoulder and place your baby in between the layers of fabric. They are small, compact, and easy to transport. The Hotslings Adjustable Pouch is a good choice for a gift because you do not have to know your sisters exact size. However, pouches do have some limitations. A pouch will not be as comfortable when wearing for longer periods of time or with heavier babies. It is also very important to get proper positioning when wearing a baby in the cradle position to prevent a baby

Parents that are interested in a forward facing carrier should consider why they want one. Is it because the parents assume a baby will want to see what is going on around them just as an adult does, or will a baby truly enjoy facing outward? Babies benefit from being able to make eye contact with their parent, watch their facial expressions, and social interactions. Babies that are forward facing cannot do these things.

Babies that are forward facing can also easily become overstimulated. A babies senses are raised and very aware. So much is new to them, and they still have a whole world to discover. What would seem to be a normal situation for us can actually become too much stimuli for them. Babies in forward facing carriers are unable to turn away from a busy environment and find the calming comfort of their parents face.

A baby can also sleep much easier by resting their head on your chest. A baby facing forward cannot find a stable position for their head, and their head will bob around limiting the quality of their sleep. So we cannot in good conscious recommend forward facing baby carriers. High quality baby carriers such as the Ergo Baby Carrier, Beco Baby Carrier, and BabyHawk do not support the forward facing position.

An alternative to wearing your baby facing out is using the hip carry which can be done with both the Ergo Baby Carrier, BabyHawk, and all baby slings. This is not as supportive as a two shouldered carry, but allows your baby a wider range of movement to observe the environment while still providing them the ability to turn away and find comfort from you.

Are you buying a gift for a baby shower and not sure what to get the new mom?  Trying to find the perfect baby gift can be daunting.  A baby carrier or baby sling is the perfect gift.  It is the one piece of baby gear that will get used daily.  It is the perfect gift that allows parents to get on with their lives while keeping their precious baby close and secure.

With that said there are so many types of baby carriers to choose from.  Plus if you are considering a baby sling you may not know what size to buy.  So that leaves you with the perfect option, a gift certificate.  This allows parents to pick out exactly what they need.  So check out our new gift certificates available at La Stella Blu.  You can choose any dollar amount and we offer a 60 day return policy on all of our baby carriers.

Do you have back problems but still want to use a baby carrier?  This can be a problem for parents interested in babywearing.  Slings and other one shouldered baby carriers typically are not great for those who have back problems.

So what type of carrier should you use?  A two shouldered baby carrier such as a soft backpack, mei tai, or baby wrap will provide better weight distribution.  The type of carrier that you choose depends upon whether your back pain is in your lower back, hips, or shoulders.

The Ergo Baby Carrier is a soft backpack buckle carrier that is one of my favorite baby carriers for even weight distribution.  Weight is spread between your hips and shoulders.  This helps alleviate stress on your back.

Another option is a mei tai, such as the BabyHawk.  Mei tais can be tied higher on your waist to alleviate rubbing on your waist and hips. 

Wraps are really great at spreading the weight well across your entire back eliminating any pressure points.  They can also be tied higher on your waist to alleviate pressure on your lower back or hips.  For younger babies a stretchy wrap works perfectly, but for heavier babies and toddlers a woven wrap provides the best support.

When taking your shoulder to hip measurement, use a soft tape measure and start at the outer corner of your shoulder.  Measure diagonally across your body to the opposite hip bone.  The number (in inches) should be in the twenties. 

As you can see the measurements for a size are quite variable.  You might find yourself having a hard time choosing between two sizes.  Some people can wear more than one size, and the best fit is partially what you prefer.  Ask yourself if you like wearing tight or loose fitting clothes, are you anticipating a large baby, and how is your body going to adjust post pregnancy?  

If you still cannot decide you can contact us for assistance or order two sizes to see which you like best.  If you are unsure of sizing, we recommend ordering both sizes with your original order so that you can save $5 on the return shipping fee.

The Mei Tai and Mei Hip come in one size and fit up to a 48″ waist size.

The Ring Sling comes in three sizes (S, M, L). Most people will use a Medium sling. Very petite people, e.g. 5′2″ and 100 lbs, may use a Small. Larger moms and dads, e.g. size 20, will use a Large.

The Ring Slings are all the same width (about 27″), but they vary in length by about 6″. 

The EllaRoo Wrap comes in six sizes, with sizing as follows:

• 2.7 m Rebozo-length (Good for hip/cradle carry, hot weather, and quick trips!)
• 3.6 m Extra-Small (Good for short wraps: cross, rucksack, hip cross, etc.)
• 4.2 m Small up to 130lbs and 5′4″ 
• 4.6 m Medium up to 160lbs and 5′8″
• 5.0 m Large up to 190lbs and 6′
• 5.4 m Extra-Large over 190lbs and 6

What kind of fabrics are used, and how are they grown and processed? 

As of 2007, all new colorways of the Mei Tai, Mei Hip, and Ring Sling are made of 100% organic cotton, with recycled polyester batting. The Wrap is hand woven in Guatemala of conventionally-grown cotton and the dyes used are free of toxins and heavy metals.

How can I keep my Ellaroo baby carrier in excellent condition? 

We suggest washing all Ellaroo baby carriers in cold water by hand or in the gentle cycle of the washing machine and hanging them dry. When tying your Wrap baby carrier, avoid yanking on the fringe. Like any handwoven fabric, the Wraps are vulnerable at the fringes. If one part of the fringe is pulled hard away from another part, it may tear.

While your twins are young, a Moby Wrap is our favorite choice. You can wear the wrap throughout the day and carry one or both babies in the newborn cradle hold.  A baby wrap provides maximum support and evenly distributes the weight across your shoulders and back.

If you want to carry one baby in the carrier at a time, a pouch or ring sling is a good choice. A pouch is faster to put on and great if you need to get one baby settled quickly while you soothe your fussy one in your arms. Since ring slings are adjustable they can be tightened and may be more secure for some types of carries.

Once your twins have head control, you can easily use two pouches or ring slings to carry them on your hip. Wear the slings on opposite shoulders.You can also carry one baby on your front and the other on your back with a combination of baby carriers such as an ERGO Baby Carrier, wrap, and mei tai.

 Go ahead and experiment to find the best fit for you and your twins. What works for one parent might be different for another, but rest assured there are plenty of options for carrying your twins. Please let us know if discover another way to carry your twins and we will post them on our blog to help other moms!

Please take the time to read all instructions and watch any dvd’s that might be provided with your baby carrier. It may be intuitive to place your baby in the carrier, but there is a lot to learn from the instruction manuals. Remember each type of carrier is different, and the instructions will give you tips to make sure you are using the carrier correctly and safely. The instructions will also show you the age appropriate way to carry your baby and help alleviate frustration.

If you just received your first baby carrier, you might feel a little intimidated about starting to use it. You have a precious little baby that seems fragile, and now you are not quite sure where to start. Don’t worry, you are not the first parent to feel like this, and with a little bit of practice, you will be on your way to babywearing.

Try using a heavy doll or stuffed animal that is about the size of your baby. Watch yourself in a mirror while first trying out a new baby carrier. Sit down or get support from your partner when learning back carries. Walk around the house. What happens when you bend over? Does your baby carrier swing away from your body? If so you will need to support your baby when doing those kinds of movements or tighten the straps/fabric if appropriate. Make sure you have the correct size. This will ensure your baby is close to you and secure. When using the cradle position, make sure you don’t bump your babies head while moving through tight spaces.

All in all, using a baby carrier is not that difficult. Be aware of your movements and your baby. Remember all you need is a little practice!

I frequently get emails from expecting moms looking for the perfect baby sling. They want a carrier that they can use from birth through the toddler years, has multiple wearing positions, is easy to use, comfortable, and affordable. Is there any one baby sling available that can meet all of those needs? Probably not, but let’s take a look at the basic questions you should ask yourself in the hunt for the perfect baby carrier.

• Who is going to use the carrier? Is it just for you or does the baby carrier need to be adjustable to fit your partner, parents, and other caregivers to use it as well?
• What do you want to use the carrier for? Are you going to use it for quick trips and errands? Are you really into babywearing or will you wear it while you are busy chasing your toddler around all day? Will you use it for long walks?
• Do you want a baby sling or carrier that you can wear while you nurse discreetly?
• How much effort will you put into learning how to use the baby carrier?
• How old is your baby? How long do you want to use the carrier?
• What kind of support do you want? Which is more important fashion or comfort?
• How versatile is the baby carrier? How many carrying positions would you like?

Knowing what you are looking for is the first step to finding the perfect baby sling! Keep all of these questions in mind when looking at the pros and cons of each type of baby carrier.