Baby Carriers

Shop for baby carriers today and you'll find a large range of slings, backpack-style and similar fabric-based devices that are great for taking the baby anywhere. They have all kinds of benefits. But they're all designed to ease carrying the child on the body. Still, the more traditional shell design retains its value as it improves technologically.

Shell Baby Carriers

A shell carrier resembles a car seat in having a sturdy molded plastic form. Many car seats are actually convertible to a shell-style baby carrier. It's padded to keep the baby immobile and safe from injury. That safety factor is typically enhanced by having an integrated restraint system.

Safety is always the first consideration in any carrier, of course. That's ensured by the shape and manufacturing process that creates a shell that can withstand considerable shocks. That is, after all, one of the reasons the design is almost universally used in car seats.

The padding is thick and comfortable, spread over all the sections the baby's body might come into contact with. It's tear-resistant and secured with extremely strong snaps, rivets or other attachments to make sure it stays in place and lasts a long time.

At the same time, padding is available in a hundred different styles. They run the gamut from ballerina themes, rocket ships and sea shells, to just an abstract color scheme. In short, there is padding that reflects every individual taste or interest.

The restraint systems are modeled after those used in car seats, where they perform a similar service. Usually Y-shaped, fabric belts strap across the chest from each shoulder and are joined by a third belt that threads through the legs. The meeting place is a set of plastic buckles that are nearly indestructible and won't come loose accidentally.

Even with the rise of fabric backpack or tummy pack carriers, shell carriers still have plenty to recommend them.

There are times when parents need a break from carrying the baby close to them. The sling style offers many values, but at times it isn't practical. Parents get back injuries that require a different method of transporting the baby to the doctor or store. Sometimes, older friends or grandparents are asked to take the baby and they may not be strong enough to carry the baby in the sling style carriers.

But even beyond any health issues, there are times when it's an advantage to be able to put the baby down on a table or grass. That's simply not possible with sling or backpack-style carriers. It's also a simple task to attach a canopy to a shell carrier to keep sun off the baby. Sling carriers sometimes have a fabric piece to cover the baby's head, but those make contact and can lead to overheating in some situations.

Both styles have strong benefits and parents on the go will want to have at least one of each type.