Do I Really Need More Than One Carrier?
If you’re just starting your journey into babywearing and researching your options, you might have been surprised to find that a lot of parents own more than one baby carrier. Bonkers, right? I mean, you only have one baby that you’re babywearing at a time (usually!), so that seems a little excessive!
But for many families, having more than one carrier can be extremely practical and useful.
Is One Carrier Enough?
First things first. YES! You can make do with just one carrier. In fact, you don’t need a carrier at all. People have carried babies in their arms since forever (and still do!) and if you want to keep it simple like that, you totally can!
But if a carrier is on your list of essentials, that’s great. You won’t regret it! If you’re planning to own just one carrier, you should take into consideration a few factors:
- Ideally suitable for a long period (from newborn to toddler or however long you plan to wear your baby).
- Easily washable and quick-drying in case of accidents.
- Works well for hot and cold weather (but especially hot weather, as you can always add layers if you’re cold).
- Is tough and easy-care so you’re not afraid of using it in all situations (babies are messy).
- Aesthetically you may want to consider a neutral look so that it works for all occasions, situations, and outfits.
Why Two Carriers Can Be Helpful
If you’re struggling to find a carrier that meets all the above requirements, or if you have a little bit of extra budget to spend, it can be worthwhile acquiring a back-up. Here’s why I personally prefer more than one carrier:
- As I’ve mentioned, babies are messy! If you rely on your carriers as much as I do, you’ll be glad to have one available while you’ve got one in the wash, especially if you don’t wash daily.
- I like having options that can work for different situations. My first carrier was a stretchy wrap which was AMAZING for my newborn. But I found that my husband wasn’t so keen on it initially. So, I soon invested in a structured carrier with buckles that we used a fair bit for around the house and walking at the beach. For a look at the pros and cons of different types of carriers read about it in our previous article.
- With wraps, it can be handy to have both a long (base size) wrap and a shorty (base -2 or -3) for different carries. Wraps of different thicknesses and texture can also be handy for certain carries.
- Some carriers are great for hot weather, some great for cold weather.
- You may have a special carrier to use for certain occasions, and you may have one that you don’t mind getting dirty.
- Some carriers are great to use in the shower, beach, or pool, which might be handy depending on your climate/activities.
- Some carriers are ideal for hiking.
- Some carriers are ideal for quick carries, while some take more time setting up but offer longer-term comfort.
- Some carriers are more soft, cuddly, and mouldable (like a second skin) which is great for newborns, while others are more hard-wearing and may be awkward with a newborn.
- Some babywearers like to have a back-up to lend to friends who might be trying babywearing for the first time.
- You might have to attend quick school drop offs with your older children and need a quick carrier for this occasion but prefer something else during the day when you have more time to set it up or to partake in a particular activity.
You may decide that only one carrier is needed, your needs may change over time, or you might decide that it’s worth investing in a couple of different types. It is totally up to you!
What about MORE Than Two Carriers?
If you’ve got two carriers that you are using regularly, but you still feel like there’s a gap in your babywearing collection, you’re not alone. Many babywearers find that they use their carriers so often that it’s worth adding even more.
The benefit of this is you can have a carrier in the car, in the nursery, at Grandma’s house, and so on. And with lots of options to choose from, you can go with whatever is most appropriate for the occasion.
It’s a bit like choosing your outfit. Sure, you could survive with just one. But do you really want to wear one outfit to workout in, go to weddings in, the beach, the rain, summer, winter, etc.? Nope! And for some people, having the same options when it comes to babywearing is just as important!
Or maybe it’s more than practicality and need, but about what you want. Maybe they just bring you joy. For some people, babywearing is as much a hobby as it is a parenting tool! If you like to collect pretty things, this might be you. And that’s totally okay too, as long as you’re comfortable with it, and it’s affordable for your budget. If you’re starting to feel like things are out of control though… read on.
Uh Oh… I might be Getting Addicted
Some people are prone to taking things a little too far. I am somewhat speaking for myself here. When I do something, I REALLY do it. Do you resonate with what I’m saying here?
I fell down the babywearing rabbit hole very quickly. I went from one carrier to six in a very short amount of time. I spent a lot of late night feeds browsing the buy-swap-sell pages to find my next “perfect” carrier.
It doesn’t help that as a new mum, your whole world shifts. Your friendship circles and social life changes. Suddenly, your phone and Facebook groups keep you company through the night, your hormones and emotions are going through a lot of changes, and you’re potentially poised to make some crazy impulse buys to fill the gap. This doesn’t just happen with baby carriers – people get addicted to buying other products too, like high end prams, bags, baby clothing (Bonds!), and more.
Fortunately, I mostly bought low-end secondhand carriers, and have since re-sold most of them without losing too much money. And while I still like to browse the pages occasionally, I feel like I have tamed my obsession into more of a hobby. I get joy out of my babywearing collection, but it’s not out of control.
My collection from a few weeks ago. Not as small or big as some, but everything in it is loved and used, has some variety, and adapts as our needs change. It brings me a lot of joy!
If you’re feeling a little out of control, I can recommend a great Facebook group called “Staying Stashified”. It’s full of other babywearers who are in a similar position and it’s a safe place to talk about your struggles and get help. This includes help with resisting new purchases and reducing the size of your collection by selling, or even just loving your existing baby carriers so you can “stay stashified”. This group has played a big part in helping me see where my obsession was headed so I could put the brakes on!
What Now?
Hopefully you have some idea of how many carriers are right for you! The next step is to figure out what carriers are best suited to you, your baby, and your needs. The best thing you can do is head to a local meet to try on as many as you can or book in with a babywearing consultant who will make sure you have the right carrier and fit.
And remember, it’s not about how many carriers you have or the size of your “stash”. It’s about holding your baby close – whether in your arms, in one carrier, or in fifty!
Happy Babywearing!
Angela
Xo
P.S. If you found this article useful, please SHARE! :-)
P.P.S. Brooke is a qualified babywearing consultant based in Brisbane's bayside and online and is happy to help you figure out the right carrier for your needs. If you’re further away, please don’t hesitate to message or comment with any questions though – she can still help you find a baby carrier that will work for you.
Copyright Brooke Maree © 2019
Being a copycat or blatantly stealing is never cool. There is a fine line between inspiration and stealing, so please be respectful, honest, and full of integrity when sharing this piece of writing or using its information. Many hours of work, planning, and editing goes into our pieces to ensure the highest quality first-hand information. Any of our work that is plagiarised will likely be found and brought to attention. That being said, you are ALWAYS welcome to share our content, as long as you attribute and link back to the source. xxx
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