How to Use a Baby Wrap (Tips & Tricks)

Our stretchy baby wraps are a popular way to carry your baby, especially with newborns. Here at hope&plum we are known for our ring slings but have recently added a stretchy baby wrap to our offerings! We are happy to add the option to our selection of carriers so every caregiver can find a comfortable way to wear their baby, and you can read all about why we love our baby wraps in another blog post. Read on here for some baby wrap tips & tricks as well as frequently asked questions about how to use our baby wraps and make babywearing fun and easy.

1. Place baby in the baby wrap when they are happy and content.
2. When prepping the wrap for your baby, tighten it up so it's about the same feel as a bathing suit or a fitted t-shirt. Since there is some stretch, you won't need as much space as you think. Less adjusting of the wrap = happier baby!
3. Once in the baby wrap, ensure you can easily see baby's airway at all times, that they are high enough in the carrier for you to kiss their head, and that their spine and neck are both well supported.
4. If you or baby become frustrated or uncomfortable, take a break and come back and try again! Practice makes perfect and it’ll get easier with time.

We understand that the amount of fabric can be intimidating, but we promise that once you practice it’s not as difficult as it might seem. We have lots of great videos on our IG page. You can learn how to get the wrap on your body and get baby into the wrap by checking out the tutorials on our socials.

Our baby wraps have a tested weight range from 7-35 lbs. Most people find the wrap works best for them before baby is about 25 lbs.

We offer two length to accommodate a wide range of sizes. Our Short is 4.3 yards and our Long is 5.3 yards. When tying the wrap on you want to have enough left over to tie a secure knot. The Short length will be comfortable for wearers up to a size 10/12 US, while the Long length will be comfortable for wearers up to a size 28/30 US.

We recommend that our baby wraps be used for a front, parent-facing carry only. It has not been safety tested to carry a child forward/world facing, and we think your baby would prefer a different position anyway. If you’re looking for a way to hip carry your toddler, our ring sling is a fantastic option for those babes who like to enjoy looking around and interacting with others.

To ensure you and baby stay comfortable and supportive make sure to take out any extra slack in the fabric. Our wraps are made of Tencel and Cotton, so they are soft, supportive, and breathable, with a little bit of stretch. You don’t need as much space in the wrap as you think, so make sure it is secure but not overly tight; this will help prevent sagging later on as baby's weight shifts and moves.

There’s no time limit! You can wear your baby in a stretchy wrap as long as you’re both comfortable and happy. In fact, baby-wearing for three hours a day significantly reduces newborn crying — 43 percent overall and 51 percent at night. So hold that baby!

You can read our full blog post on the benefits of babywearing, but here are a few reasons why babywearing in any carrier is great for you and baby!

Great for traveling. Our love of being close to our babes, combined with the desire (and quite frankly, the need!) to be free to move easily, is what makes babywearing so essential to our everyday lives as caregivers. Being able to keep your baby close and warm and give you and baby some peace from all the buzz and noise that comes with traveling.

Research shows babywearing can decrease the risk of postpartum depression. A recent Canadian study found that mothers providing daily skin-to-skin contact to their newborn had significantly lower scores on the depression scales when their infants were one week, and marginally significantly lower scores when the infants were one month. Babywearing your newborn keeps them close to your body and allows for extended skin-to-skin contact—with the added benefit of getting to hold your baby handsfree.

Limits people touching your baby. While babywearing, your babe is kept close to you which can help prevent unwanted touching!

Benefits cognitive and social development. Babies who are worn are able to see what their parents see, hear what their parents hear or say, and are overall more involved in their parents' everyday lives. Also, when babies spend less time crying, they in turn spend more time learning and interacting with their environment. Having your baby so close to you allows you to respond to their cues and touch them more. These can contribute to enhanced learning and cognitive development, and overall wellbeing.