There are many different kinds of baby slings on the market. One kind of sling is called a wrap or wraparound. These baby slings are exactly as they sound, a long piece of material, usually around three to seven yards in length, which are then wrapped around the wearer and the baby and then tied. These slings are popular with people that want the most basic type of sling to carry their child, but still have something fashionable. These slings offer a wide variety of material to choose from, so that the wearer can have most any color, pattern or design for their wrap.

Basically, there are two types of wraparound type baby slings - stretchy and woven. These come in a variety of materials and have different functions for different weight children.

The stretchy wrap is generally made from a material like jersey knit. This is used because it’s lightweight, cool in warmer weather and it’s easy to place the baby in and out of the wrap without taking it off. Because these wraps are stretchy, as the baby starts getting bigger and putting on weight, the wrap isn’t very supportive to the wearer and it can place a strain on the wearer’s lower back and shoulders. Ideally, stretchy baby slings are for newborns and very young babies.

Woven wrap baby slings are generally made out of cotton, but can also be constructed from silk, hemp or linen. Also, handspun materials are popular for this type of wrap. While the woven wrap has some give, it’s not nearly as stretchy as a “stretchy” wrap due to the difference in material. Because of this, heavier babies and small toddlers can be transported with a woven wrap much easier than with its stretch counterpart. The key to look for with a woven wrap is strong stitching and fairly thick fabric. A thinner fabric, while cooler, will also produce pressure points on the wearer over a period of carrying time. Also, if the wearer has not perfected the art of wrapping, a thinner material is less than forgiving, making it harder to learn the art.

The length of the material determines what positions the baby can be carried. Smaller children, such as a baby or toddler, can be carried on the parent’s front, hip or back. It is possible to carry the child via a one-shoulder carry – similar to the ring sling, but a shorter amount of material is needed for this type of carry. While the pouch sling is probably the easiest of the baby slings to learn to use, the wrap or wraparound is more difficult.

Wraparound baby slings are not as popular as some of the other baby slings on the market, mainly due to the learning curve of how to properly wrap one and safely secure your child. However, once you have learned this art, it opens up a new alternative for the wearer to transport their baby or toddler while remaining somewhat hands free.