A regular question on the Big Birthas Facebook Group is “What baby carrier/sling/wrap would you recommend? I’m a size XX…” So I thought it was high time for some Big Birthas babywearing recommendations.

We’ve all been in the “yeah, One-Size fits all. Heard that before… but will it fit me?” scenario, so here are some carriers that have been tried, tested and loved by BigBirthas group members.

But first… Why Babywearing?

Let’s be honest, your baby is usually happiest when being held by you.

Though you can adapt to do a lot of tasks one-handed, some things are just too difficult, if not impossible, with a babe in arms. And sometimes, your baby will make it very clear that they do not consent to be anywhere else!

I’m very much of the opinion that housework etc is way less important than being with your baby… (Frankly, I’m of the opinion that housework is less important than almost anything!) but that said, we do sometimes need to hang washing out because everything dry has baby sick on it, and if you leave it in the machine any longer you’re going to have to wash it again…

Way way back in time, an enterprising person once thought; “I could get a lot more done if I had both hands free…” and lo, carrying your baby in some sort of sling/wrap/carrier was born. There is evidence of babywearing in one form or another in almost all areas and all cultures across the globe!

Big Birtha all in green wearing an 8 week old in a green Close Caboo — You don’t have to co-ordinate your outfit with your sling and surroundings. But if you can…!

The thing is, I’m hardly an expert when it comes to the options available to plus-sized bodies. So clearly, the best thing to do was to ask the Big Birthas community what they would personally recommend.

Thank you to everyone who shared their thoughts and their pictures – see below!!!

The Vast Array Of Options!

If you’re looking at getting a sling or carrier, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. There are so many different types and brands to choose from! But in reality they all can be split into just a few basic categories:

Stretchy Wraps – think soft, t-shirty fabric that stretches and moulds.
Structured Carriers – these tend to have straps and buckles similar to rucksack and are a lot more obviously ‘constructed’. Can be more supportive, but also can be less flexible and tend to take up more space when not being used.
Woven plain pieces of fabric you tie yourself – the origami of baby-wearing! Easy when you know how!
And then there are ones which are a bit of a hybrid – e.g. Ring Slings which have a bit of structure to them, but require you to have a bit of knowledge of how to tie them…

Prices can vary massively. You can pick up a cheap carrier at Argos for under £25, or you can spend £800 on one made with Japanese silk… and everything in between. But aside from fashion, surely the most important thing when choosing your carrier is whether it fits you and is comfortable and safe for your baby.

There are sling libraries and sling consultants you can approach to borrow/try on and learn more about what might suit you best. You might want to read sling consultant Katy Gearing’s top tips on choosing a baby carrier here.

But if attending a sling library isn’t an option, it can be helpful to hear what has worked for others. Obviously, we’re all different sizes and shapes, and we have different needs and preferences. As Kris pointed out – “Slings are like jeans – my favourite won’t be comfortable on someone else!”. But if you are thinking of buying a certain carrier it’s helpful to be reassured it’s not going to turn up and you find the waist straps only reach half-way!

If you’d like to read the full discussion about baby carriers, just pop along to the post in our Facebook group here. But as a summary, in order of most popular, we have:

Big Birthas Babywearing Recommendations

Most Popular – Close Caboo – Stretchy/Hybrid Ring Wrap

By far and away the most recommended, with more than double the number of votes of its closest rival, was the Close Caboo. Now, whether this just means it’s the most ubiquitous in terms of being stocked by major retailers, whether it’s because of the tie-in with the NCT, or lots of people receive it as a gift (I was gifted mine), I’m not sure, but it’s a trusted brand that’s been on the market a long time.

It wasn’t without it’s detractors, however.

Close Caboo – Lauren

JoJoMamanBebe – £54.99

Sian wearing her baby snuggled in a blue close caboo carrier

Close Caboo – Sian

UberKids – £55.20

“I had a close caboo for the first few weeks until it became uncomfortable due to baby’s weight. (about 3 months with my teeny first but only about 6 weeks with my giant second). It was great although both of mine were born in heat waves so it was a bit uncomfortable when it got really warm – having said that I have a really old version and I believe the newer ones are more breathable. I liked the adjustability of it, both me (size 18, 5’5″) & husband (xxl, 6’3″) could get a great fit with it. Stretchy ones are far easier to use with a newborn as you can make sure their legs are properly tucked in and not too wide spread.”
Laura

“I really disliked the close caboo, personally I couldn’t get the cross at the back low enough for it to be comfortable, it gave me dreadful backache or the baby was entirely in my face. I was a size 20-22 using the caboo.”
Helen

“Pros – really soft and comfy, even after washing. The cummerbund acted as a pocket when worn (handy for a muslin) or as the bag when not in use. Husband happy to wear it too as comes in reasonably ‘masculine’ colours! I was a size 24/26
Cons – only suitable up to 1yr.”
Amber

Second-Most Recommended Carrier – Integra – Structured Carrier

Formerly known as Connecta, this was the second-most popular carrier amongst the Big Birthas responses.

It comes in 3 different sizes and an array of cute prints, some of which are exclusives to particular sellers (and the widest range on the Babipur website, not on Integra’s own site, oddly!). Lot’s of people said they liked it, but as with the Close Caboo, it didn’t suit everyone!

Integra or Connecta are ideal. I’m a 22/24 and still use with my 4 year old occasionally. The Integra especially is very adjustable, easy to put on, lightweight and easy to fold up small to shove in a bag and have plenty of capacity in the strap adjustment for those larger of tummy and boob. They do different sizes of carrier based on child’s age, but the smallest size lasted us from birth until well after the age of 2, and very comfortable for me and my daughter.
Helen

I also had a Connecta / Integra as a spare carrier – but although it was really convenient for short carries and packs down really small, I felt it wasn’t as comfortable as my Lillebaby and also it dug in at each of the strap points and really wasn’t even slightly flattering. Useful for nipping from the car to somewhere, but not for long walks or days out. For me anyway, I know loads of people love them! My husband also wasn’t the biggest fan, he found he couldn’t get comfy in it.
Laura

Hannah wearing her baby in an Integra carrier

Integra – Hannah

Integra I used from about 5 months till she needed a toddler carrier. Size 22-26 when using. Easy to use, dual tightening which helped me lots, no heavy or padded waistband which I found uncomfortable on my tummy, supportive. Was easy to get the waistband nice and high.

Babipur – between £65 and £95

Third-Most Recommended Carrier – Hana – Stretchy Wrap

And third place in the group’s recommendations was another stretchy wrap, this time made by Hana.

Kimmy Wearing her baby in a plum coloured Hana Wrap

Hana – Kimmy

This was my go to wrap when he was little. The two way stretchy made it much easier for me to get it secured in the early days. My husband is hypermobile and he uses the stretchy wraps without an issue. It might be a good idea for you to hire a sling consultant for a session. We got to try lots of slings with ours so we could find ones we were comfortable with.

Amazon – £29

This one is basically just a long, stretchy piece of fabric – similar to a Rebozo or woven wrap, in that you need to know how to tie it to use it, but unlike a Rebozo, the fabric stretches to hold you and your baby snugly.

If this sounds daunting, don’t worry! As with all carriers, there are plenty of instructional videos to be found on You Tube to help you see how to use them:

The Big Birthas Babywearing Recommendations Notable Mentions

All in all, 25 different carriers were recommended by members of the Big Birthas Facebook group. Below are all the wraps/carriers got more than one recommendation, but didn’t make the top 3.