​Remember when we talked about why you should avoid buying a fake or knockoff carrier? The temptation is strong but the risks are not worth it! 

So, what do you do if you are a parent who wants to wear your baby, but you are on a limited budget? Everyone is telling you that you need a Tula, or you see woven wraps that you think are beautiful but that price tag is steep! 

With all baby carrier purchases, it's important to be informed.

• Know what you buying or making, when it will be useful (and when it won't), whether it fits you, and whether it meets your family's needs. Buying a stretchy wrap for a heavy older baby does not make sense, especially long-term. Neither does buying a standard size buckle carrier (like an Ergo without an insert) to carry a newborn.
• If you are buying a used carrier, be sure to check for recalls, particularly avoiding the Infantino SlingRider which has been recalled can still be found secondhand.
• Also be sure to check that the buckles are not chipped or cracked, the webbing or ties are not torn or frayed, the seams are intact, and the fabric does not have holes. (I will write another blog post on this soon!)

One great opportunity for research is attending a babywearing group meeting. Many babywearing groups have lending libraries where you can borrow a carrier for a month to see how you like it. You can keep borrowing, month after month, in many cases! Sometimes there are fees associated with borrowing, but these are almost always lower than the price of a carrier. Some groups have scholarships for families who cannot afford membership or rental fees. 

If you are willing to buy a secondhand carrier, you can often find really great bargains. See this post for more details, including the importance of inspecting your carrier. And DIY is another great option for affordable carriers. Learn more here! 

If you prefer to buy a new carrier, there are many great options available in the "under $50" and "under $100" price ranges. If you are coupon savvy or regularly scan the clearance racks and pay attention to sales, you can usually save even more off the list price. Some of the carriers listed below are available at big box stores (or their online versions), some are available from the manufacturers themselves, and some are only available from online specialty retailers. Use caution when buying from Amazon (be sure that the seller is authorized) to avoid ending up with a counterfeit. ​


Below are just some of the options that retail for under $50 and under $100. There are many carriers that retail for higher than $100 but can be found for less if you buy secondhand. (Boba, Ergo, Beco, and Tula come to mind). 

​Options under $50 (retail)
Moby Wrap (stretchy wrap)
Boba Wrap (stretchy wrap)
Happy Wrap (stretchy wrap)
Baby K'tan - original (stretchy wrap)
Sleeping Baby Productions - twill (ring sling)
Soul Sling - certain models (ring sling and some lengths of wraps)
Bibetts - linen (ring sling)
Zanytoes - cotton (ring sling)
Wallypop - cotton or linen (ring sling)
Peanut Shell (adjustable pouch)
Seven Sling (non-adjustable pouch)
Infantino Sash (meh dai)
WallyPop - canvas without padded straps (meh dai)
Mothers on the Move, or Mo+M (buckle carrier)
Evenflo Natural Fit (buckle carrier similar to an Ergo)
Infantino (various buckle styles)


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Mei Dais/Beh Dais/Mei Tais. These carriers are also very versatile, for newborns through young toddlers. They are adjustable between body types as well. They can be worn on front, back, and hip, and are fairly simple to learn to use. 

BabyHawk
Catbird Baby 
Wallypop (models with padded shoulder straps)
Soul Slings Meh Dai (some models)
Lenny Lamb Wrap Tai (some colors)
BaBy SaBye (some models)







Buckle Carriers. These carriers are generally best once baby is past the newborn/small infant stage. They can be worn with baby on front and back. I recommend trying them on before buying (or buying from somewhere that has a generous return policy) if possible, because they all fit a bit differently. Each person has a different body shape and size, and buckle carriers are like jeans - they don't fit everyone the same! 

Easy Feel (read my review here) 
Action Baby Carrier
Lillebaby Essentials
Soul Slings (some models)
Pognae Baby Carrier
Bitybean (a compact, narrower carrier, can be used in water)
MobyGo
Boba Air (good for travel, packs down very small)

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​(This post is the fourth in a series about choosing and using a woven wrap. See Part 1 here, Part 2 here, and Part 3 here). 

Today's post is for the crafty folks - how to make a DIY (do it yourself) woven wrap. While some people prefer to buy a wrap specially made for carrying babies, others choose to make their own wrap. Hopefully this guide will help. 

The basic things to know are: type of fabric, dimensions, and "how to." 

Recommended types of fabric 

• Osnaburg - it is a muslin-like material, natural/off-white in color with darker specks on it. It may feel a bit scratchy. This material should be "scoured" before using in order to clean it. 
• Duck cloth - may feel stiff, like canvas, on the bolt. It will soften up with washing, drying, and using. 
• 100% cotton or linen "bottom weight" fabric (usually near the denim). 
• Cotton jacquard tablecloths (Mahogany on Amazon, Threshold at Target, or Christmas Tree Shop) make excellent short wraps.
• Gauze - this can be a good warm-weather option. It requires careful wrapping, especially with heavier babies, in order to not "dig." Most people recommend it only be used in carries with 3 passes (layers) over the baby. 

Fabric types to avoid

• Polyester blends, including athletic mesh
• Quilter's cotton/calico
• Anything stretchy (like jersey/knits)
• Anything (even if it meets the criteria of the first list) that says "stain resistant" or "clean by wiping with a damp cloth - these fabrics are treated and not recommended for use as a baby wrap

Dimensions​
There is a lot of information about wrap sizes (that's another whole post!) but for now, we'll cover some basics. Wrap sizing can be confusing, but in general, most new wrappers start with a long wrap that will allow them to do Front Wrap Cross Carry. This size is also known as "base size." This list may help you decide which size is for you: 

• For very small/thin people, that length is a size 4, or 3.6 meters.
• For smaller people that length is a size 5, or 4.2 meters.
• For average size people, that length is a size 6, or 4.6 meters.
• For larger size people, that length is a size 7, or 5.2 meters.
• For very large size people, that length is a size 8, or 5.6 meters. 

Remember, you can always cut a wrap shorter, if you find it is too long for you - so err on the side of too long! Also this fabric will shrink about 20% when you wash it so be sure to account for that when you buy, and add enough extra so that you'll have the length you want in you final product.

Osnaburg fabric is usually 60" off the bolt. A wrap width of about 28" works well for most people, so you will have enough for two wraps! 

Step by step directions
1. Buy your fabric (see above).
2. Wash and dry it twice (wash on hot).
3. Scour the fabric if using osnaburg or another undyed fabric (see instructions here: http://www.rootsimple.com/2012/05/how-to-prep-fabric-for-dyeing-scouring/
4. Cut your fabric in half. Measure at the midway point (if your fabric is 60" wide). Cut an inch snip and then rip down the middle. This should be more accurate than cutting with scissors. 
5. Cut the tapers. This is not absolutely necessary, but most woven wraps have tapered edges to make tying knots less cumbersome. A 45 degree angle should work fine. Your finished wrap should look like a parallelogram, not a trapezoid. 
6. Hem your fabric. If you iron and inch fold all around, then hemming should be easier. You need to do a rolled hem. Cotton thread works fine. Sew very close to the fold! This tutorial is helpful, especially for the corners: http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/rehem.html
7. You're almost done! 
8. Last step! Make a middle marker to denote the center of the wrap. You can use anything for this: Fabric pen, ribbon, thread in a contrasting color. Most people like to have a middle marker on both edges (top and bottom). 

You're done! Go wrap your baby!