General Babywearing FAQ
Can I wear my twins in a baby carrier?
How can I wear my baby in winter?
Do I have to learn all of those different positions?
I want to do some serious hiking with my baby. Do I need one of those expensive baby backpacking carriers?
Is it ok to let my baby sleep in the sling?
Can I wear my twins in a baby carrier?
Yes, you can carry your twins in slings, one on each side. But then you do need to have two slings. And how often will both babies really want to be carried at the same time?
ONE sling is useful enough for a twin Mama. That way you can carry one on the hip and push the other. This is great for situations where it has to be fast: in and out of the sling without any complicated carrying techniques. This is especially true when the babies start to walk and for toddlers. Just pop one child in the sling and let the other one walk, for example for a quick stop from car to store, where it would take too much time to get out the enormous twin stroller. Or how about one sling for Mom and one for Dad?
For longer trips you will certainly need a robust carrier, for instance one of our mei tais or a backpack style carrier like the ErgoBaby. This way you can carry one baby and push the other. Certainly there are also methods to carry both babies in a very long wrap. It is hard to believe that that could be a convenient choice in daily life with twins, but some mothers may find that they can get it to work for them.
How can I wear my baby in winter?
The ideal choice for a smaller baby is to wear him on your chest. This way, you can button your coat up around him, keeping a little spot open for fresh air. For a larger baby we recommend the high back carry, also known as the “Tibetan Carry”. It is the way Tibetans have carried their little ons through the harsh Himalayas and it will work for you, too. The advantage of the High Back Carry is that your baby or infant's head is higher than you shoulders, so you can actually put a coat on over both your body and his.
Do I have to learn all of those different positions?
No. Actually it is enough just to learn the front carry in the beginning. As you baby grows older you will naturally be interested in trying out new ones, and as your experience grows with using a mei tai baby carrier you will find it easier to catch on.
I want to do some serious hiking with my baby. Do I need one of those expensive baby backpacking carriers?
Use your mei tai! For a smaller baby the back carry should be all you need. A larger baby ought to be supported with the /cross/ to keep her weight from sinking down and becoming uncomfortable. You'll definitely want to master the /High Back Carry/ for a serious hiking tour. This position puts the whole weight of the baby up on your shoulders, making the baby seem almost weightless. You can hike all day long with a baby or even an infant in this position.
