"Hands-free" comes to baby carriers

When I was pregnant with my daughter, I was eager to have her out of my belly and into my arms, but I knew I'd want my hands free on occasion. I loved some of the infant carriers that I saw other women wearing, but looking online at all of my options confused rather than clarified matters for me. There were so many styles, but not knowing how the baby and I would work together, I had no clue what would work best for us.

If only I had made the trip over to Birth and Beyond in Madison Valley. In addition to having a wide array of cloth diapers and other infant gear, this is the one-stop shop for infant carriers in Seattle. Whether you know what you're looking for or are seeking instruction on your options, the ladies in the shop can probably hook you up with a carrier that will serve you well.

Many of the carriers discussed here can be found at other boutiques around town, but if you are not sure exactly what you are looking for, Birth and Beyond is the best place to do an in-person, side-by-side comparison. Also, most of the Web sites listed below have videos or detailed instructions that show you how each of the products work. It's very helpful for narrowing your choices before you head out shopping.

The most ubiquitous infant carrier is the Baby Bjorn, which is not carried at Birth and Beyond. This front pack, which allows your infant to face you or face out, is a popular option for younger babies. Available in the classic model ($79.99, Target and many other stores) or the newer "active" style, which offers more padding on the straps for more comfortable use ($119.99), the Bjorn is adjustable to fit any wearer.

These carriers can safely support babies from 8 to 26 pounds, but most people I know tend to find them less comfortable by the 20-pound mark. They are a great option for babies with reflux who prefer to be held upright, and the separate warm blanket attachment ($39.99) makes it great for walks in foul weather.

The biggest drawback to the Bjorn, in my experience, is the relatively short window of use you get for the high price. My daughter enjoyed peeking out of her hand-me-down Bjorn on walks with her dad, but we found other carriers were more versatile for our needs. If you are considering a Baby Bjorn, you might want to check out your local baby goods consignment shop; I've seen many of them in great shape for less than half the new retail price.

The first carrier that I used with my daughter was a pouch sling, which is a simple loop of fabric that you wear over one shoulder like a tiny hammock. Birth and Beyond has several options in this category. The simplicity of the pouch is very appealing, as is its small size that can easily be tossed in a diaper bag.

Whether you get a simple pouch in a bold print from Hotslings ($47.95) or a more tailored pouch from local company Metrosupial ($119.95), you will find these slings easy to use, especially for the early days with a sleepy newborn. One drawback to pouches is the fact that they are sized, meaning that if you and your partner are different sizes, you won't be able to share one.

That's where the Kangaroo Korner pouch comes in handy; these pouches are essentially the same as the other brands, but they have several rows of snaps that allow you to adjust the size, meaning that you can share a sling if your co-wearer is within a size or so of you. They also come in stretchy fleece or a super-lightweight Solar Veil fabric, which is UV-resistant and good for use in water, should you decide to take your babe wading.

All pouch slings can be used to carry baby in several positions, including a hip carry that is great once the child is older. Most can be used for children up to 35 pounds. However, few people find them practical for more than short-term wearing after the baby hits 15 or 20 pounds.

More flexible than the pouch, but similar in concept, is the ring sling. These slings consist of a long piece of fabric cinched between two rings, which means that it can be used by people of all sizes. This sling is a favorite with nursing mothers, since the tension can be adjusted with each use, holding the baby in place, and the extra tail of fabric can serve as a cover for privacy. Birth and Beyond sells their own ring slings ($34.95) and can custom fabricate them in the material of your choice.

For fashion-conscious parents, the beautiful Sakura Bloom ring slings come in incredible fabrics, from linen to silk ($88-$200). These certainly aren't the most practical slings for everyday hard use (think spit-up and diaper blowouts), but they are popular with die-hard baby wearers who see their carriers as an accessory and want to have a dressier option.

If you are plagued by back and shoulder problems and can't tolerate the one-shoulder carry required by pouches, the ultra-comfortable Moby Wrap ($39.95-$68.95) may be right for you. This carrier is essentially a very long piece of jersey cotton that is wrapped and tied around the body just so, creating a cozy pocket in which a baby can be tucked in a number of positions, from a cradle hold to a forward-facing, legs-out position -- by far the most versatile of the carriers for smaller babies.

The Moby is very comfortable to wear and has the advantage of being able to hold even a tiny newborn relatively upright against your chest. When my daughter was at her worst during her evening "witching hour," the Moby -- known in our house as the "baby straitjacket" -- was a lifesaver.

If the complicated wrap of the Moby is off-putting to you, the Baby K'Tan ($59.95) might be the answer. Made of two connected loops of jersey cotton with a separate sash to hold it all together, it is easy to put on and allows all the same carrying positions as the Moby. The drawback on this one is that it comes in separate sizes, so it can't be shared by people of greatly varying statures.

Another very popular option is the Baby Hawk ($88.95), which is modeled after the traditional Chinese carrier known as a Mei Tai. Available in an array of stylish prints and colors, this carrier can be worn as a front- or backpack, with the child facing the wearer, and can be easily folded and tossed into a bag. While this carrier can hold children up to 40 pounds, like the rest of the carriers discussed so far, it is ideally suited to the first year or so of a baby's life, at least for longer excursions, since the weight on the shoulder straps can get a little cumbersome with a heavier child.

If longer treks with heavier babes are part of your future, the Ergo ($92) can't be beat. This super-comfy soft structured front- or backpack has become one of the hottest items with parents in recent months; Birth and Beyond reorders weekly and sells out about as fast as they come in.

While it seems pricey for a baby carrier, this one will last, and since it is size adjustable it can be easily shared. The infant insert ($25) allows you to use the Ergo with a newborn, but the carrier can hold up 40 pounds fairly comfortably. The padded hip and shoulder straps, along with the adjustable waist and shoulders, make this the most comfortable way to carry a baby on a longer walk. The included hood can flip up to hold the head of a sleeping babe, and a number of accessories, such as a backpack attachment that adds extra cargo pockets ($41.95), allow you to load up for the day without having to carry extra bags. Neither the Baby Hawk nor the Ergo allow for outward-facing front carrying like the Baby Bjorn.

When my daughter got heavier, we made the switch from a sling to an Ergo, and it remains her favorite way to travel. Making my way through downtown with her asleep on my back is so much easier than pushing her in the stroller through the traffic and noise. At two years old and about 25 pounds, I do find her heavy after a long day, but the fact that her weight is held very close to my body makes a long walk considerably easier than with any other carrier I have tried.

If serious hiking is your goal, you might want to head to REI to check out their selection of frame backpacks. With features such as sunshades, kickstands, and storage pockets, these beefy carriers are great when you are on the trail, but keep in mind that they won't work well with tiny infants, and many small people find them very unwieldy.

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