Buyer's guide to slings and carriers

Some parents also like the freedom that a sling can give them when out and about, so there's no need to haul a buggy around the shops or on and off buses. And when you have two babies you might find using a combination of carrier for the younger child and buggy for the older one more convenient than a double buggy.

Carriers
Carriers are more structured than slings, and depending on the adjustability may not be suitable from birth, so make sure you check if you want a carrier for a newborn onwards. Carriers support your baby's head with a padded support, which can later be folded back to afford your older baby a good view, and they offer the advantage of secure harnesses, so you don't need to worry about security. They are worn over both shoulders, rather than just one.

The structure means that they're generally not as flexible as a sling, but as more carriers come on the market there are more and more flexible models, with 3-way (front - forward and backward facing - and back-wearable) models now rather common. You can also get carriers that can be adjusted to be worn on the hip, like the popular Wilkinet carrier. Some carriers are also adjustable for breastfeeding, but it's best to trial this if it's a selling point for you, as not all of them are that comfortable or easy to use in that position.

BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original

Some carriers require you to put the baby in the harness before putting in on, though some allow you to drop the baby into the harness once on, so you can mess with straps before adding your baby into the mix, or clip the baby in and out of the harness separately, like the BabyBjörn Baby Carrier Original.

Carrying comfort is another aspect to consider, while slings are generally very good at distributing the weight evenly, carriers don't necessarily match up, although some carriers include lumber support for the parent. Different strap arrangements will offer different levels of support, so it's worth trying out how different carriers feel with baby weight in before buying.

Benefits

• Security - the harnesses mean that you can carry your baby around in a truly hands-free fashion.
• Variety - with all the different models of carriers on the market there should be one that suits your needs and tastes.
• Looks - It might not be important to Mum, but many men may find the sling a bit too 'Eco mum' looking for their tastes and prefer something more structured.

• Flexibility - Even the most flexible carriers are unlikely to be quite as flexible as slings, though carriers are getting better all the time in that respect.
• Fiddle-factor - Depending on what carrier you get it, putting it and baby on may be something of an acquired skill.

Slings

Slings are designed to be flexible in terms of the positions in which you can carry your baby, cradled or upright, and on the front, back or hip, which means that you can continue to use them as your baby grows for as long as is comfortable. Slings are usually fabric, often cotton, and are worn over-the-shoulder. There is usually no harness in a sling, which is great for putting a baby in a sling without needing to wake her up, but less good for security, and you may need to be careful when bending over with a sling, holding your baby in place with one hand. Some slings are given extra security with adjustable secure rings.

Different slings have different possible positions, and with some you can use the sling to help you breastfeed discretely. Whichever position you use with a sling you need to make sure that your baby's head, neck and back are supported.

Benefits

• Flexibility - slings are multi-way and so can be used in different positions and for different sized babies, or even toddlers.
• Weight distribution - Varying positions help distribute the weight, which really does make carrying more comfortable and helps prevent strain on your back as your baby grows.
• No harness - Absence of harness means that you can put your baby in the sling without waking her.

• DIY - Not everyone will get on well with the tie-it-yourself aspect, and if you don't have confidence in the safety of the sling and your tying abilities then you won't use it. Or shouldn't!
• No harness - What can be an advantage in terms of usability may also seem a disadvantage to some parents, if your sling has no harness you will probably need to take extra care when bending down to make sure that your baby stays secure.
• Movement restriction - Not all babies will like slings, though most will probably like the early days of cradling. As your baby grows she may find the sling too restricting and may struggle for freedom.