Bella Slings

In addition to the slings that I offer, there are many other options out there for wearing your baby.  I have written down some of my experiences and thoughts.  Please feel free to e-mail me if you have any other questions.

Backpack

      Backpacks are great as your baby gets older (and heavier).  The straps are very much like a backpack that you would carry to school.  The one that we have has a metal frame to it that stands up on it's own so that you can put your baby in it and then slide it onto your back.  We recently got a backpack and used it at a parade.  We were able to put our daughter in and she got a birds eye view of the parade.  She eventually fell asleep and we were able to switch her back and forth between myself and my husband without waking her up.  They are awesome for long trips with lots of walking.

Front Carriers

     My experience with store-bought front carriers is very limited.  We were given one at my baby shower and I tried to put our daughter in it 3 times.  Each time she screamed bloody murder, so I put it away.  Not long after I gave up on the front carrier I got a wrap and she immediately loved it.  They look like they serve the same purpose to me, but it made a world of difference to her for some reason.

Padded Slings 

     I bought a padded sling online before I bought a native sling.  Lets just say it didn't work for us.  It looked like a great idea when I got it, but I guess our daughter was too small because she just sank into it and got lost.  She did not appreciate the experience, and I tried it a couple more times before giving up. 

Rebozo (Mexican baby carrier)

 I haven't personally gotten my hands on an authentic rebozo, but I have used a scarf as a baby carrier in a pinch and it works great.  It is a little tougher to get the tying just right and if it is too tight or too loose you have to start all over again and re-tye it.  It is a great low-cost option for babywearing!

Onbuhimo (Japanese baby carrier)

Again, I haven't personally used an onbuhimo, but it looks a lot like a Mei Tai, which I love, so it seems pretty great.  There are some very beautiful fabrics used for onbuhimos. 

Kikoy or Kanga (African baby carrier)

Like the Mexican rebozo, the kikoy is a length of fabric that can be used as a skirt, a scarf, a blanket and is also used to carry babies. The term refers to the woven style of the cotton fabric.  You tie the fabric in a wrap-type fashion around your body and it works great in a pinch.  I personally like my Podaegi's better.

Pareos 

A pareo is a colorful, sarong-like piece of fabric that is used in the islands such as Hawaii and Fiji.  It can be tied to carry your baby, much like the rebozo and kikoy.