Strollers and PushchairsA “stroller” (North American English) or “push chair” (British English, also sometimes “buggy”) has the child (generally up to three years old) in a sitting position, usually facing forwards, instead of facing the pusher. |
Other Types of Slings and Baby CarriersTraditionally, 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, [...] |
Mei Tai and other Asian-style Baby CarriersTraditionally, the Chinese mei tai was a square or nearly square piece of cloth with parallel unpadded straps emerging from the sides of each corner. It was traditionally secured by bringing all the straps together in a twist with the ends tucked. The mei tai did not become well-known in the United States until 2003, [...] |
Cloth SlingsPieces of cloth can be turned into slings by wrapping the fabric around the carer and the baby and either tying it with knots or using a twist and tuck method to secure the ends. |
WrapsWraps (sometimes called “wraparounds” or “wraparound slings”) are lengths of fabric (usually between 2 metres and 6 metres, or 2.5-7 yards long, and 15-30 inches wide), which are wrapped around both the baby and the wearer and then tied. There are many different carrying positions possible with a wrap, depending on the length of the [...] |
Pouch SlingsSometimes called “tube”, “pocket” or “ringless” slings, these are generally formed by a wide piece of fabric sewn into a tubular shape. Simple, or fitted pouches do not have rings or other hardware. Adjustable pouches may adjust with a wide variety of methods, including zippers, snaps, buckles, clips, rings (these are usually considered hybrids), drawstrings [...] |
Ring SlingsRing slings, these are baby carriers that use dynamic tension, a length of cloth and metal (such as aluminum) or nylon rings. The ends of the cloth threaded through two rings. (In commercial versions, for convinence the cloth is often sewn at one end to the rings). The cloth wraps around the wearer’s body from [...] |
Cradle boardA cradle board is a Native American baby carrier used to keep babies secure and comfortable and at the same time allowing the mothers freedom to work and travel. The cradleboards were attached to the mother’s back straps from the shoulder or the head. For travel, cradleboards could be hung on a saddle or travois. [...] |
Fastened CarrycotsCarry cot means a restraint system intended to accommodate and restrain the child in a supine or prone position with the child’s spine perpendicular to the median longitudinal plane of the vehicle. It is so designed as to distribute the restraining forces over the child’s head and body excluding its limbs in the event of [...] |
Carriages and PramsA “baby carriage” (in North American English), “perambulator” or “pram” (in British English) or “carrycot” is generally used for newborn babies and have the infant lying down facing the pusher. |