A pouch is a long U-shaped circle with a French seam, designed in such a way as to create a pouch to securely snuggle the baby/toddler into. Pouches have no "hardware," (such as rings) to learn how to use, so many consider pouches as one of the simplest of carriers. Pouches come in a particular size (XS, S, M, L, XL), so are not usually interchangeable. Choose your size to find an ideal fit for you. To find your measurement, place the end of a flexible tape measure on the edge of your shoulder where your shoulder seam meets your sleeve. Drape diagonally across to your opposite hip. Take measurement on the top of the hipbone on the side of your body (like where you would place your hand when perturbed!) If you are on the upper end of a size range, order the next size up. A pouch can be downsized, but not made larger! A pouch should fit snug against your body, landing close to waist level. You should be able to pull the outer edge of the pouch about a hand’s width away from your body. You will find that certain holds are more conducive to each stage of your child’s growth. Each pouch comes with a photo instructional manual and DVD showing several carry positions.
Baby Wraps: Instead of a bulky car seat weighing down your arm or struggling to maneuver a stroller through clothes racks, simply snuggle your little one (or toddler) in one of these baby wraps. 'Never tried one before? They come with an instructional DVD to get you started. Although wraps have a longer learning curve than some slings, I was pleasantly suprised to find that they aren't that difficult (once you get past the idea of that LONG piece of cloth =)!) Wraps are EXCELLENT at distributing baby/toddler's weight! AND they are not size-sensitive, so you can give them as a gift without fear! Many moms love to use a stretchy wrap while baby is small. As the baby heads on up toward 20 pounds or so, a stretchy wrap may end up, well . . . stretching . . . a bit. That is not necessarily a problem as long as Mama doens't mind a bit of a bounce. She might also have to adjust/tighten the hold if she is going to carry a heavy baby for long stretches of time. For this reason, some mothers prefer woven wraps. These may not be quite as snuggly, but they tend to lend more support to the baby with less give.