How to Choose a Stretchy Wrap for Your Newborn

What is a wrap?

A wrap is a continuous piece of fabric which when tied in a variety of positions allows you to carry your baby. There are two main types of wrap: stretchy and woven. Stretchy wraps are suitable from birth and can be used with premature babies during Kangaroo Mother Care. But it is important to remember that although we tend to group this type of wrap together, that not all stretchy wraps are equal. Each brand of stretchy wrap has different qualities, such as the size of the wrap, the stretch, elasticity, size of tapers and even the thread used. This makes finding the right stretchy often as difficult as finding the right woven wrap or other type of sling.

Getting Started With Wraps

Stretchy wraps are extremely popular as an introduction to wrapping. The basic skills of learning to wrap with a stretchy wrap can easily be transferred across if parents decide to progress to a woven wrap. Stretchy wraps can also be used for carrying older babies on the caregiver’s hip.

The Importance of Safety When Choosing a Wrap

Now we need to talk safety. As with any sling it is crucial to remember the TICKS guidance. Carrying your baby in a sling is a very enjoyable experience and has many benefits for both the baby and caregiver but it is crucial that it is done safely. The nature of a stretchy wrap means that it will stretch and unfortunately this can mean that a baby on the wearers back leans backwards and falls out. There are many wrap manufacturers out there today, but the quality and durability of wraps varies considerably. Make sure that the wrap you buy uses natural dyes (you don’t want your baby chewing on something toxic Oexotex standards as a minimum) and that the manufacturer adheres to sling safety standards. Many slings are manufactured outside of the UK which ultimately means they don’t adhere to the same safety standards as those made in England.

Some Things to Consider When Choosing a Wrap for Your Newborn Baby

What is the baby wrap made from? This is important because you want to make sure that your baby is safe and comfortable. Once again, aim to make sure that natural and safe dyes have been used in the production of the wrap and that the material used meets fire retardant and safety standards. Many of the imported and cheaper slings don’t meet these standards, so this is the first thing you want to check.

Do you know where the wrap was produced? i.e. do you know for certain that it wasn’t produced in a sweat shop and that it was ethically produced?

How much elasticity do you need? Traditionally stretchy wraps are 100% cotton but some are only 95% cotton and 5% spandex. It is not just the mix of thread used to create the fabric but also the weave of the fabric which is important. When considering different types of stretchy wraps we should remember that how much a wrap stretches is different to how much elasticity it has. The stretch of a wrap is the pull from A to B, and the elasticity is the pull back (A to B to A). It is the elasticity of a wrap which offers the wearer and baby the support. The more elasticity the more supportive the wrap will be and the longer it will last.

Does the wrap come with reliable safety and wrapping instructions? Now you may think you can find videos on YouTube and yes you can, but they are generally of variable quality. Make sure that your wrap includes detailed wrapping instructions on a variety of holds with images for you to follow.

Want to find out more about the YogaBellies Baby Wrap?

The YogaBellies® Baby Wrap is produced in the UK and made of beautifully soft, 100% cotton and is suitable for babies from birth to 35lbs. Each deluxe wrap comes with its own storage bag & a matching baby hat, as well as an instruction booklet & safety information. Each wrap features a care label on one end of the wrap & a company label as the middle marker.

The YogaBellies Baby Wrap will is now available for sale on Amazon UK.