Comparison Love&Carry Sling Scarf vs Love&Carry May Sling

— Kangaroo carrier. Kangaroo carriers are backpacks designed to carry children, allowing them to sit upright with their legs dangling out and arms moving freely. Unlike conventional backpacks, kangaroo carriers can be worn on the front, typically for older children with strong spines, although not recommended for long-term wear due to potential strain on the child's spine and legs, especially when facing away from the parent.

— Ergo carrier. Carrier for babies and toddlers. The device combines the advantages of slings and kangaroo carriers. Ergo carrier provides the baby with an anatomically correct position — the baby is on the mother's chest, and facing her. Like a kangaroo carrier, ergo carrier has in its design all types of straps, bridges and locks, which increases the safety of carrying the child, and also provides lumbar support, which provides comfort to the parent.

— Scarf. The classic sling is a long, durable piece of fabric that can be used in various ways such as a carrycot on the chest, a backpack, or a bag. It's suitable for newborns and older children, allowing for horizontal and vertical carrying with multiple attachment options. While simple and inexpensive, it requires manual tying, which may take some practice to master and can be inconvenient if adjustments are needed during carrying.

— Ring sling. A type of sling (see abo...ve), equipped with a fastening in the form of a pair of rings, between which one of the ends of the sling is clamped. The main advantage of this design is the ease of adjustment: you do not have to tie the sling manually and bandage it to change the position of the child or tighten/loosen the sling itself; all adjustments are made within a few seconds. On the other hand, models with rings are not as versatile as scarf slings. In addition, they are designed to be worn on one shoulder and the load on the parent’s spine is distributed unevenly; when the child grows up, this can create very significant inconveniences.

— Mei tai. The Mei tai sling is a cross between a kangaroo carrier and a scarf sling (see above). It has backpack-like straps, which makes it easy to adjust and eliminates the need to constantly re-tie the sling; Moreover, many models provide for carrying in both vertical and horizontal positions, and the design itself is much simpler and lighter than a backpack. In warm weather, a child in such a sling will not be as hot as in a scarf sling. At the same time, such slings are much less versatile in adjustment than scarves.

— Hiking. These devices are essentially hiking backpacks adapted for carrying children, worn exclusively on the back for optimal weight distribution during long-term carrying, ideal for activities like hiking. They often feature a rigid folding frame, typically made of aluminium, which can transform the backpack into a high chair. Unlike other types, hiking models have a wider age range, accommodating children under 5 years old.

— Sling pocket. A sling pocket is a modernized version of the traditional sling, designed for carrying the baby in front of the parent. It functions as a specialized backpack, worn over one shoulder or on the chest, providing maximum comfort for the baby with its shaped inner surface. Most designs allow for easy wrapping of the baby, making them convenient for both children and parents. However, they tend to be more expensive and less versatile compared to classic slings.

— Hip seat. A hip seat is a device designed for carrying a baby on your hip, providing support and comfort. It's suitable for older children who can sit upright, typically used from the age when the baby can sit independently. The hip seat resembles a wide belt with a shelf-like protrusion for the child to sit on, aiming to distribute the load on the parent's spine, reducing fatigue and preventing back pain. While it doesn't have straps, offering constant close contact between parent and child, some models include straps for added security.

— Chest harnesses. The harnesses are fixed with a chest band or strap. In this case, the harness will not press on the child's crotch, which increases the comfort of using the supportive harness.

— Crotch harnesses. In this case, the child is supported at the lowest point. The main advantage of this type of harness is the anatomically correct support of the internal organs. The disadvantage is the creation of pressure in the crotch area. Because of this, crotch harnesses are not recommended to be used for long periods of time.

— Strap harnesses. They feature adjustable height and width for the seating area, making them universal and customizable for each child. Equipped with clasped straps, their length can be easily adjusted to accommodate different body types. They come in designs with either chest or crotch harness configurations.

The weight group determines the maximum weight of a baby that can be carried in a kangaroo/sling. This weight should not be exceeded: although backpacks and slings are usually made with a margin of safety, but the service life when exceeding the weight is significantly reduced, simply put — the carrier can fail at any time. In addition, the maximum design weight is not only related to durability, but also to the design of the backpack/sling, and if it is exceeded, both the mother and heavy baby may be uncomfortable.

The recommended age range for kangaroos/slings is somewhat arbitrary, as children of the same age can vary in weight, height, and development. However, it provides a rough estimate of how suitable a particular model may be for your baby at different stages. The lower age limit, though, is more strict; for instance, if a backpack is labeled "3-12 months," it shouldn't be used for newborns as it's not designed for their needs and could potentially harm their bodies.

Now on the market are carriers designed for this age: from birth, from 3 months, from 6 months.

The possibility of placing a child in a kangaroo/sling in a lying position. This position is considered optimal for babies, because it creates a minimum load on the spine, while it is just being formed; and for older ones it can come in handy — for example, lying down a kid falls asleep much better.

The presence of a hood in the design of the kangaroo/sling. The hood is useful in case of adverse external conditions — it will protect the baby's head and neck from rain, snow, cold wind, etc.

The length of the sling (refer to "Type") when unfolded. The longer the length, the more potential use cases the sling provides; on the other hand, models that are too long can create inconvenience if you have to bandage the sling in an inappropriate place — for example, on the street.

The basic rule for choosing a sling by length is as follows: its optimal length in metres corresponds to the size of your clothes divided by 10. For example, with a size 46, you should take a sling 4.6 m long.