Other Types of Slings and Baby Carriers

Traditionally, baby slings and carriers were simply adaptations of whatever a culture normally used to carry anything heavy. Baskets, calabashes, animal skins, wooden carrying structures, all have been adapted to carry infants and children. Inuit mothers continue to use the packing parka or amauti to carry children up to two years old. In the west, this phenomenon has resulted in a variety of carriers based on camping backpacks (see below).

One design, used in New Guinea, resembles a small Mayan-style hammock, in which an infant or child is either carried in a net on the back of an adult, or hung on a tree branch or house beam.

Historical photographs of indigenous peoples show babies worn in sashes, baskets and nets hung from the parent’s forehead. Cradleboards and carriers hung from one shoulder like a purse have also been documented in several cultures.

Modern structured hip carriers, soft structured carriers which can be used on front or back, structured front packs and hard-framed backpacks are also used. Hip carriers may be closely related to ring slings or they may be more closely related to a mei tai, and several different types of fasteners are used in different models. Most of the soft structured carriers are loosely based on the traditional mei tai, with buckles, padding and clips added.

It is important to note that while structured carriers and other “purchased” carriers are popular, almost any sturdy piece of cloth can be turned temporarily or permanently into a baby sling or wrap. Bedsheets are often folded lengthwise and knotted, rebozo style. Four to six yards of soft, lightweight cotton fabric can be used as a wrap. A sweatshirt can be knotted sling-style or used to stabilize a “piggyback” back carry for an older child. There are a number of websites which provide how-to information on these improvised carriers.