Dartmoor Sling Library
Baby Carrier Hire & Consultancy
Here at the Dartmoor Sling Library we have a a variety of different baby carriers/slings so you can find the right one for you and your child/children. There is quite a bit of jargon associated with slings or baby carriers so each category has a brief description (these are not all the carriers on the market just the types we have in stock):
Woven Wrap
A "woven wrap" is a length of fabric of varying lengths (see size chart and more info here), usually between 55-80cm wide. They come in different blends from 100% cotton to a mixture of cotton with linen/hemp/silk/wool. Depending on the blend and the density of the threads used they are more or less suited to different weights of baby and different climates. They are very comfortable and supportive can be used to carry a baby from birth to you want to stop in a hundred different carries, but some people find they take longer to tie.
Mei Tai
A "mei tai" (pronounced may tie) is an Asian style carrier which is characterised by a square of fabric with four strips of fabric coming off each corner. The shorter two strips of fabric are used as the waist straps and the longer two are used to create the rest of the carry to tie your baby in securely. A mei tai has the softness, snugglyness and flexibility of a woven wrap but often feels less challenging to learn to tie. You can use a mei tai to carry on your front, hip and back and they are, in my opinion, the easiest carrier to learn to back carry in.
Ring Sling
A "ring sling" or RS a like a short piece of woven wrap (usually between 1.8m-2.2m) which is gathered in some way and sewed on to two rings at one end. By threading the other end through those rings you are able to have a quick and easy to use sling that is light in the hot weather, easy to pop baby in and out of and great for breastfeeding in. People tend to use them for front and hip carries, but can also use an RS on your back. The downside is that the weight distribution make make them less suitable for people with bad backs.
Full Buckle
A "full buckle" (FB), "buckle" or "soft structured carrier" (SSC), is a carrier which uses all buckles, they look a bit more like a rucksack - with a buckle waist and buckled ajustable shoulder straps. They can be worn on the front, back or hip (depending on the make).What people tend to like best about SSCs is that they are very quick and easy to use. However, some people don't enjoy them as much in the early months as they can feel less mouldable to your baby and your body. Another upside of FBs, is that Dad's often prefer them to the other carriers.
Stretchy
A "stretchy" is a sling made of stretchy cotton jersey material. Typically they are a long 5.2m piece of fabric, but more recently there have been more lightweight designs created, that are easier to adjust; like the close caboo. These are particularly popular with newborns and small babies as they are soft, snuggly and "popable" - meaning you can just pop baby in and out without taking on and off. The downsides are that some people find them too hot (especially in the summer) and they are not recommended for back carrying.