Everything You Need To Know About Baby Wraps
When you’re shopping for baby carriers and trying to decide which is right for you there are lots of options and it might feel overwhelming. One option is a stretchy wrap. Like all carrier types there are pros and cons to consider, you’ll find an overview of these below and once you’ve decided whether the Aura Baby Wrap is right for you we’ve got everything you need to know about tying it (it’s easier than you think – honest!) and making the most of it!
Pros and Cons of an Aura Baby Wrap
Pros
- Offers more control over a snug fit – making it perfect for your baby no matter what their shape or size
- Provides a close nurturing environment for newborns who are still getting used to this big wide world
- The benefits of skin-to-skin are well documented and is one of the very best ways to bond with your baby. If you’re at home, you can even go topless and just wrap baby straight onto you around the house! Not only can this be a sweet way to bond with baby, it is a way to start to reconnect to your beautiful postpartum body after birth
- Often provides a near-instant calming effect for fussy babies, helping them relax and fall asleep
- Easy to take your little one out of the wrap to feed or for nappy changes without disturbing them too much
- Napping and breast/chestfeeding-friendly
- Cheaper than a soft-structured baby carrier
- The Ergobaby Aura Baby Wrap is made from 100% Viscose from eucalyptus & acacia making it lightweight, breathable and machine washable
- Comfortably fits different sizes of mums, dads, grandparents, etc.
- Baby wraps are comfortable, snuggly, and soft – our Aura Baby Wrap is super cosy! Depending on the type of birth experience you’ve had the bulkiness of a carrier waist belt or a large buckle may not be ideal right away as you heal. The soft material of the wrap won’t put too much pressure around your waist or any scarring you may have. The compression of the wrap may even feel supportive and helpful or you can try tying off the wrap above your incision if you’ve had a C-section/abdominal birth.
- Ideal for those early postpartum days (pro-tip: just put it on in the morning and leave it on all day. Take baby in and out of the wrap, rather than taking the wrap on and off! You can just tie it once a day and you’re good to go.
- You can move around, hands-free, like you normally would while still bonding with your new baby
- You can tandem carry – either carrying twins in one wrap or wearing one baby on your front with an older baby on the bacon a structured carrier
- Multiple carry positions – we recommend wearing baby on your front inward facing and only progressing to other positions under the guidance of a qualified babywearing professional and when your baby is developmentally ready
- Leave the wrap on while running errands – if you need to go out and baby is asleep you don’t have to wake them up if they’re napping in the wrap, just make sure you’re both dressed for the weather and off you go
- Wearing a wrap can prepare you for other forms of babywearing – If you’ve already got your baby wrap down, it’ll be a breeze to transition into a more structured carrier, like our Omni 360. Once baby outgrows your wrap (we recommend wearing your wrap up to 25 lbs for the most comfortable experience), you can transition to one of our more structured carriers which will be more comfortable as baby grows!
Cons
- Takes a handful of tries to get the wrapping technique nailed down – pro tip: get your wrap before baby arrives and practice wrapping it around you before you have baby. That way, you’ll be comfortable with it and ready to go before they arrive. Then once you get the hang of it, putting on a baby wrap is quick and easy
- Isn’t the most convenient for older babies who weigh more
How to Tie a Baby Wrap
Compared to soft-structured baby carriers (ones with padded straps and a waist belt) or even a ring sling (long, rectangular piece of cloth with two rings sewn into an end), baby wraps (a long piece of rectangular fabric wrapped entirely around the caregiver’s and baby’s bodies and tied to secure it) typically take a little more time and practice to get used to correctly tying for first-time baby wrap users. But once you get the hang of it, tying a wrap will become second nature to you.
While you can use different carrying positions with most baby wraps—front inward facing, hip carry and back carry for example—the most common position is the front inward facing carry, especially for newborns. Below are the step-by-step instructions for how to tie a baby wrap in this classic carry position and a video to show you how.
Front Inward Facing Carry Instructions
- Unfold the wrap and find the center of it.
- Place the center of the wrap on your body (across or just under your chest) and gather the top half of the fabric.
- While holding the wrap, cross your hands behind your back and then pull them up to tighten the wrap and over your shoulders. This should form an “X” across your back.
- Gather the fabric, tuck it through the top half of the fabric that’s around the center on the front of your body and then cross it in front of you down by your waist. You should now have an “X” high on your chest. The higher the “X”, the higher on your chest your baby will sit.
- Tie the baby wrap around your waist in a double knot. You can tie it in the front, on your side or behind your back, wherever you feel most comfortable. Depending on your size and length of the fabric, you might wrap it around your waist once or a couple of times.
- Check the front to make sure you left enough space for your baby, about 6-8 inches. Also, check the neckline to make sure it’s in the right place and that the fabric feels secure and comfortable over your shoulders.
- Now it’s time to pick up your baby!
- Lay your baby, who’s facing you, against you over your side and shoulder that’s opposite of the wrap’s inside panel (the one closest to your body). Put their leg in through the inside panel first and then their other leg in through the other panel, or outside panel.
- You now have an X-seated position for your baby, and you’re going to pull the inside panel over their back so it’s all the way across, knee to knee, on the bottom. Baby’s back, bottom and thighs should be covered by the inside panel.
- Now repeat step 10 with the outside panel. After both panels are pulled across their back, double check that your baby is sitting ergonomically in an M-shape position.
- Take both of baby’s legs and put them through that outside, horizontal panel (the one across your body that you pushed down earlier) and pull it up all the way until it’s under baby’s neck.
- Lastly, tuck the bottom under baby’s knees to make sure they still in the M-position and that your baby is comfortably and safely inside the wrap.
How to Use the Ergobaby Aura Wrap in a Classic Carry
Top Tips for Wearing a Baby Wrap
Now that you know how to tie a baby wrap, here are some tips so you can know for sure that you and your baby will be safe and comfortable while using a baby wrap:
- Make sure the wrap is snug and comfortable for both of you. If the wrap doesn’t feel right, do three things: 1) Undo the wrap (without your baby in it) and tighten it. 2) Make sure the straps across your back are in a flat “X” position. 3) Be sure the “X” on your back is in the center of your back or up a little higher if you’re carrying a bigger baby.
- Make sure you have the right size. A question you might have when looking at baby wraps is, “What size of baby wrap do I need?” If you’re looking at a woven wrap, they come in basic sizes of size 1 up to size 8. Determining what size of baby wrap you need depends on the type of carries you plan to do, the fabric’s blend or thickness, what size you are and the size of your baby. But with other wraps, like the Aura Baby Wrap, you don’t have to worry about sizing. The Aura is a one size wrap that fits petite to plus-size wearers.
- Check and see if you can fit two fingers underneath your baby’s chin. Your Baby’s chin needs to be up off their chest so baby’s airways remain open to breathe.
- Always check that you can see your baby’s face. Whether your baby is awake, asleep or nursing, and even if your wrap is made of lightweight fabric, you don’t want her face smashed against your body or any fabric over her face. Gently turn your baby’s face to one side so it’s not pressed against you and move the fabric so it’s positioned off her face every time she’s in the wrap.
- Make sure your baby’s head, neck and back are totally supported with the wrap.
- She should be close against your body, not leaning away from you, with her back in a “C” position and her legs in an “M’ position.
- She should be high enough on your chest that you can lean down and kiss the top of baby’s head.
- Remember it may take a minute or a few tries before your baby likes or feels comfortable in the wrap. So if your baby is fussy when you put her in, do your best to soothe her by softly bouncing, rocking back and forth, rubbing her back and/or quietly talking to her, and be kind and give yourself and her enough time to get used to it.
