Our Favorite Baby Carrier
Before I had Olivia, I thought baby carriers were strictly used for hands-free outings or walks. I always pictured a parent with their baby strapped to their chest in structured carrier running errands in a shopping mall. I thought it was all about convenience and necessity, nothing else. I don’t know why, but that was my point of reference! The reality is that baby carriers are so much more than a hands-free convenience. Carrying your baby has many other wonderful benefits like bonding, development, comfort, and snuggles! Our favorite carrier has been the WildBird ring sling. It’s plus-size friendly, comfortable and the fabrics are absolutely beautiful. Read on for more details and to understand why we keep going back to this carrier again and again.
I was pregnant during the coronavirus pandemic and gave birth in 2020. As a result, the majority of my pregnancy and a large portion of my postpartum experience was spent at home in quarantine. It was very isolating and really challenged Trent and I’s mental health. Once we were vaccinated, we felt more comfortable being in public.
As someone who knew they would be spending a significant amount of time at home, I wanted a carrier that would be comfortable to wear everyday and be useful in the future once we were able to socialize outside of our home again. I had been seeing ring slings advertised on social media, but worried they wouldn’t fit my plus size body. I worried about that with all carriers, actually. But then I saw Tori Block (@torii.block) in a campaign with WildBird and immediately fell in love. They had beautiful fabrics, ring color options and most importantly they offered and extended length that accommodated larger bodies. Their inclusive campaigns and website made me feel seen, supported and inspired!
I’m so glad I found WildBird ring slings. When Olivia was a newborn, it was a beautiful way to experience skin-to-skin while still being able to move around as needed, to coax her into a nap or multitask (examples: cleaning, doing laundry or cooking). As she got older and I returned from maternity leave, I used it as a way to work and keep her entertained. In fact, there were many times that she napped snuggled in the sling while I typed away at my standing desk. Now that she is almost a toddler it’s continued to be a form of comfort for us both and allowed me the convenience of being hands-free.
The WildBird ring sling pictured is the long 90″ in “Dusky – Pattern” from the Countryside Collection. The soft linen is woven in a beautiful apricot ground print with ivory half moons. It’s sturdy, breathable and I love the flexibility! Plus, it is so pretty to wear. If I need to take it on the go I simply roll it up in my diaper bag or throw it in my purse!
If using a ring sling is new to you (like it was for me) WildBird offers a ton of video tutorials explaining how to properly fit them. Like with all carriers, it’s really important your baby has a deep seat to avoid any hip issues. Please make sure to use their references to be safe!
I couldn’t recommend WildBird products enough. In addition to ring slings, they also offer products made from scraps like bonnets, tote bags, burp cloths, scrunchies and more! If you’re looking for a deal, check out their Last Chance page and keep an eye out for their “seconds” sale (seconds are ring slings with minor cosmetic flaws, but still beautiful and safe to wear).
Thank you to WildBird for gifting this sling to us. As always, all thoughts and opinions are my own.
