| Throughout the history of mankind, there have been | | | | for the child. |
| many different ways that babies have been | | | | In the West, the popularity of baby carrying has really |
| transported. For thousands of years, those in the east | | | | only taken off since the sixties. The sling has been the |
| have physically carried their children on their body, using | | | | most popular baby carrier. These often use a square |
| slings and wraps. This trend has spread to the West | | | | shaped piece of fabric and metal rings. The fabric is |
| and is today, increasing in popularity. Today, parents | | | | wrapped around the shoulder, the waist, then brought |
| use a variety of different types of baby carriers. | | | | back to the shoulder, where it is secured by wrapping |
| Traditionally, an adaptation of the baby sling has been | | | | it through the ring. There are also tube shaped slings |
| the most common way of transporting children. The | | | | available that are worn in a manner similar to a sash. |
| Chinese, for whom the baby sling is tightly tied to their | | | | One other popular type of baby carrier is the baby |
| culture, have long used a sling called a mei tai. A mei tai | | | | wrap. This uses a very long piece of fabric, which can |
| is made out of a square shaped piece of fabric, with | | | | often be longer then seven yards. The fabric is |
| straps on each corner. The fabric is then wrapped | | | | wrapped around the shoulders and waist to secure |
| around the baby and parent. The straps are used to | | | | the baby to the parent. These can be tied in many |
| hold it all together and are secured by twisting and | | | | different ways, but the total length of the fabric, can |
| tucking the straps in. The mei tai did not become | | | | limit what wrapping methods are available. Often the |
| popular in America until the early twenty-first century, | | | | fabric is made out of a material that is stretchy, which |
| when several were manufactured that used a similar | | | | makes it very easy to take the baby into and out of |
| design, but adapted the straps to by tied instead of | | | | the wrap. |
| folded together. | | | | Baby backpacks are also fairly popular in the West |
| Another traditional baby carrier is the Korean podaegi. | | | | today. This practice is based off of the way that Inuit |
| The podaegi features a rectangle shaped piece of | | | | mothers in Alaska carry their babies. Today, there are |
| fabric and a long strap. The rectangle is wrapped | | | | several types of back backs available. They generally |
| around the body of the mother and often is padded or | | | | either have a soft, but rigid material or use a solid |
| quilted to increase warmth. The straps are then | | | | frame. These can be worn on the hip, back or front of |
| wrapped around the bottom of the baby and tied | | | | the parent. They differ from other slings, because they |
| around the front of the mothers body. The baby is | | | | usually rely on buckles and clips, where most others still |
| then worn on the back like a backpack. This has | | | | use knots or tension. |
| traditionally been used without padding, which has | | | | The baby sling and wrap is more popular than ever |
| decreased their popularity in the West. There are | | | | and even though it is possible to make a temporary |
| several other adaptations of the podaegi that are used | | | | sling out of a piece of cloth, most parents choose to |
| by the Chinese and Japanese. These often include | | | | invest in a manufactured sling that is often designed to |
| things like headrests, extra padding, and wind blockers | | | | better support the baby. |