Wrapping Weights

Wrapping Weights

Wrapping Weights

As babywearing becomes more popular with Western parents, different types of baby and toddler carriers appear on the market. Wraps, stretchy or not, can be used for babies and toddlers of all ages, in a variety of positions.

Stretchy Wraps Keep Newborns Comfortable

Wraps are basically one surprisingly long piece of fabric that can be wound around the wearer in different fashions to create different types of carries. Stretchy wraps, such as the Moby Wrap, are just one very long, stretchy synthetic piece of fabric. They can be used for newborns and young babies in the “cradle” (lying horizontal) or “snuggle” (front tummy to tummy) hold or with older babies in a “snuggle” or a forward-facing hold. Stretchy wraps are usually quite comfortable as the material is wrapped over both shoulders, distributing weight well.

According to babywearing educator Meg Eisenhauer Barry in a 2008 interview, stretchy wraps are great learning wraps as they do not have to be wrapped perfectly to work well. They allow for skin-to-skin contact with newborns and easy breastfeeding, but after the baby reaches 15 or 20 pounds, he begins to sag too low in the stretchy material.