Babywearing - better brands

Last week, we brought to you the pros and cons of different types of gear for babywearing, which provides countless benefits for you and your baby. This week, we’re bringing you the scoop on some of our favourite brands of baby carriers.

Snugglings

We love the line of fleece pouch slings from Snugglings. Made in Vancouver, Snugglings’ slings are soft, provide the perfect amount of give to easily slip your baby or even toddler in and wear comfortably. The easy-to-use slings pack up nice and small so that they can easily fit in the diaper bag or stroller. Perfect for cooler days, the fleece provides extra warmth and comfort for your baby. Even better, the price is right. www.snugglings.com.

Gorgeous Baby

These pouch slings are fashionable, comfortable, and easy to use, starting as soon as your baby makes her big debut! This babyvibe momma credits her Gorgeous Baby sling with giving me some of my only chunks of much-needed hand free time when baby was first born. These slings grow with your baby, and can be worn many different ways, as clearly explained on their comprehensive website. In addition, the slings are lightweight, and reversible, making them very convenient and versatile. www.gorgeousbaby.ca

Win a Gorgeous Baby Pouch Sling! Simply check out their site, www.gorgeousbaby.ca, and e-mail info@babyvibe.ca with your preferred style and size, and you will be entered into the draw to win one of these fabulous slings. Contest ends Friday, Nov. 20, 2009.

Other stylish pouch slings

Tot-to-go and Pippalily are both Canadian companies run by moms equally creating beautiful pouch slings. With stylish fabrics, any hip mom will proudly wear baby around town. A celebrity favourite, these slings definitely make a fashion statement.

Belle Baby Carrier

The Belle Baby Carrier is a high style, low-profile, lightweight front carrier that keeps your baby snug and comfy while you go about your business. Perfect for babies who like to face out, but still need a certain amount of upper body support. Along with being sleek and modern, this carrier is comfy for both baby and parent, as it distributes some of the weight on the parent's hips (not just neck and shoulders). And since it's so small, it is easy to toss into a diaper bag when you are on the go. www.bellebabycarriers.com

Babyhawk

This mei tai style carrier is becoming more popular all the time, and for good reason. It is versatile and very comfortable yet easy to use, and comes in hundreds of cute prints. Dads tend to love this carrier. They also offer an almost unbeatable value because they work very well from newborn up to pre-school age, are appropriate for both front and back carries, and are reversible. www.babyhawk.com

Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze wrap

This wrap is somewhere between a stretchy wrap (ex. Moby, Cuddly Wrap) and a woven wrap (ex. Ellaroo, Didymos, Hoppediz, Girasol) in terms of support and sturdiness. These gauze wraps are very light and perfect for summer or vacation, but also completely appropriate year-round. Because they do not stretch like a stretchy wrap, they will last much longer than a stretchy wrap in terms of baby's weight (25 lbs+ vs. 15-20 lbs). The Bali Baby Breeze is also very affordable and extremely versatile, with the option to do a variety of front, back and hip carries. www.gypsymama.com

Beco

The Beco is a very stylish and versatile carrier, appropriate for newborns right up to large toddlers and pre-schoolers. An infant insert is included, meaning baby can be properly positioned from birth. The Beco is very, very comfortable, even carrying a 35 pound child (or heavier!) on your back, and can be used on the front or back. Dads love this carrier. It closes with buckles, making it a comfortable and ergonomically correct alternative to other popular carriers on the market (it is also more affordable). www.becobabycarrier.com

Ergo

The Ergo is a popular option with active parents who spend lots of time outdoors or are just often on the go. With the additional purchase of an infant insert, the Ergo can be used from birth. It is a very comfortable and ergonomically correct option into the pre-school years. The Ergo works best on certain body types and ideally, you should try it on before purchasing to ensure you are making the appropriate choice for you. The Ergo also includes a zippered pocket which can hold keys, bank card, cell phone and an extra diaper - very handy! www.ergobabycarrier.com

UpMama ring sling

This is a hybrid between a ring and pouch sling, with a seam like a pouch sling making it easy to position baby properly, and the adjustability of a ring sling making it possible to share between wearers of different sizes. The tail of a ring sling comes in handy as a cover-up if needed, and the UpMama also features a zippered pocket on the tail for stashing essentials. Simple fabrics keep dads happy while a fun coordinating pattern on the pocket offers a touch of style for mom. www.upmama.com

Lindsay Ross is part owner of Calgary baby store Babes in Arms, which specializes in slings and cloth diapers. Her mission is to help parents get the best value for their dollar and use the products they buy. To accomplish this, the owners and staff of Babes in Arms offer their expertise to customers who have bought their slings and diapers in the store as well as elsewhere. They also offer classes, rental and trial programs, consignment and an accommodating return policy. www.babesinarms.ca