 Used under the Creative Commons license through Flickr. Photography by Mary-Lynn.  DIY faux K'tan style carrier 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.
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).  Moby Wrap 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)  Maya Wrap ring sling Options under $100 (retail) Stretchy or Hybrid Wraps. These are usually best for newborns and smaller babies. If you plan to wear your child past 15-16 pounds, be aware that you will probably need to buy another carrier then (unless you buy the Wrapsody hybrid, as it can be worn comfortably for much longer). These wraps are snuggly and the carrier can be put on first, then add the baby. Stretchy wraps cannot be worn in back carries (hybrid wraps can). Baby K'Tan - Breeze, Organic, Active, or Print models Wrapsody Hybrid Wrapsody Duo (can be worn in water or on land) Babylonia Tricot Slen ACK Wrap Ring Slings. These are wonderful for newborns through toddlers. Sometimes thinner slings will not be as supportive or comfortable for wearing a larger baby or toddler. Many of these are slings offered from woven wrap companies, but others are from companies that specialize in slings. Comfy Joey (linen) Sleeping Baby Productions (certain materials) Zanytoes Lil Peepers Keepers (some models) Beco Daiesu Babylonia BBSling Ethos Fidella (some models) Lenny Lamb Soul Sling (some models) Maya Wrap Chimparoo Bibetts (wrap conversion) Wallypop (wrap conversion)  BabyHawk mei tai 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)  Tekhni woven wrap Woven Wraps. These are incredibly versatile, from newborns through toddlers (and even preschoolers or big kids). They can be worn with baby on front, hip, or back, in a variety of ways to accommodate for different people's body sizes and comfort. There is a learning curve to using them but they can be the only carrier you'll ever need. Soul Slings Little Frog (some models) Toto Wrap BabyMonkey Tekhni (budget line) Wrapsody Breeze (gauze wrap - read my review here) Daiesu Ethos Fidella (some models) Babylonia BBSlen (certain sizes) Yaro Lenny Lamb (some models) Many thanks to this wonderful source: http://www.bwiaustin.org/babywearing-on-a-budget/ Special thanks to the babywearing families who graciously shared their photos for this post! What are some of your favorite baby carriers for families on a budget?
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copyright 2016 Beth Secrist All photos used under the Creative Commons license through Flickr. Photography by: littletuesday12 |
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