There are two main(stream) types of wraps to wear your baby – a woven wrap and a stretchy wrap. The stretchy wrap is usually made of a soft knit fabric with some stretch to it (like spandex). These wraps tend to be sold at one size fits most. The differences can come from the weight of the material, stretchiness, density, breathability and price.
From my experience, the scale from heavier weight to lightest weight stretchy wrap would go like this:
- Moby Wrap (least amount of stretch)
- Boba Wrap (right in the middle)
- Solly Wrap (lightest)
Pros for wearing baby in a stretchy wrap:
- Great for newborns and infants
- No need for an “infant insert” like buckle carriers
- Kangaroo care for preemies and high needs babies
- Distributes weight evenly
- Keeps baby pretty warm (save for feet if you have them out)
Cons with stretchy wraps:
- Can get hot, especially in the summer (you’re generating a lot of heat in such a tight space)
- Front carries only (I highly do not recommend back carries – I don’t think anyone would want to risk their baby in a back carry with a stretchy wrap)
- Long piece of cloth that can drag on the ground while trying to set up on yourself (I recommend getting it set up on you before you leave the house – saves time and doesn’t make your tails dirty)
- Can be pretty hard to breastfeed in (since you’ve got baby up close enough to kiss, you’d have to readjust and loosen your wrap a bit to get her down to your boob. This could make the hold too loose.)
While there may be a shorter lifespan in wearing your baby in a stretchy wrap, I still recommend it. It is the “snuggliest” hold you’re going to get with baby. If you want to get more life out of a wrap, then I’d recommend a woven wrap, which has very little stretch and can hold a much heavier baby down the line. (Even a toddler!)
