Sling Types

There are a huge variety of different slings available today, with new brands appearing all the time. Which sling you choose will depend on a variety of things, including the age of your baby/child, who will be using the sling, how often you'll be using it, how easy you want it to be to learn, and the wearer's body size/shape. This is why it is a great idea to visit a sling meet or have a one-to-one consultation to give you the opportunity to try out a variety of different slings.

The majority of slings fall into the following basic categories:

Stretchy Wraps

A long pice of stretchy fabric, pre-tied on to the wearer. Ideal for newborn and young babies.

Example brands: Moby, Kari-me, Hana baby, JPMBB, and many more...

Mei Tai Carrier

An Asian style carrier consisting of a structured body panel with straps attached, tied around the wearer's waist and over the shoulders. Can be used on the front, back and hip. Some mei tais have padded straps, whereas others have unpadded wide straps which can be spread over your shoulders and back. A variation of a mei tai is a 'half buckle', where the waist is fastened with a buckle, but the shoulder straps are mei tai straps.

Example brands: Hop-Tye, MySol, Lenny Lamb Mei Tai, Babyhawk, Didytai, Melkaj, and many more...

Soft Structured Carrier

A fabric panel with straps over the shoulders and around the waist, but these are usually fastened with buckles. They have a wide base which supports the child from one knee to the other in a fully-seated position.

Example brands: Ergobaby, Action Baby Carrier, Connecta, Boba, Beco, Rose & Rebellion, and many more...

Ring slings

Worn over one shoulder, adjusted by pulling the fabric through rings. Suitable from birth to toddler.

Example brands: Most woven wrap brands (see below) also produce ring slings.






Woven wrap
A long piece of woven fabric, which can be tied in a wide variety of ways. Can be used on front, back and hip, and suitable from birth to toddler. 

Example brands: Didymos, Natibaby, Oscha, Lenny Lamb, Ellaroo, Girasol, Storchenwiege, Kokadi, Baie Slings, Firespiral and many, many more.