Baby Wearing and Conceal Carry for New Mothers [2025]

Baby wearing is a magical tool for parents. It allows you to be completely hands free while keeping your baby snuggly and close. As a conceal carrier keeping your baby close and your hands free is an asset, especially with the ever rising crime statistics. In this article we will cover different types of carriers, best practices for combining baby wearing and conceal carry, and more.

Types of Carriers

There are a lot of different styles and brands of baby carriers on the market. It can be overwhelming and difficult to choose what will be best for you and your family. Ultimately you’ll likely need some trial and error, but this piece should help reduce some of your troubleshooting.

Wraps

Wraps are long pieces of fabric that you wrap around yourself and/or your baby. These are further separated into two categories, stretchy and woven. We’ll cover both here.

Stretchy Wraps

Stretchy wraps have become increasingly popular in recent years, and is what you will likely find from most major retailers. Popular brands include Solly Baby, Moby, Boba, and Ergobaby. Stretchy wraps can range in price from $30-$90.

Make sure that you are following the manufacturer’s guidelines for weight and carry/tie. Many stretchy wraps start at 7-8lbs, and if you have a small or preterm baby like we did you might have to find something special. Stretchy wraps require three layers of fabric to cover the baby’s back, and most can only be worn with the baby on your front, facing you, or maybe on your hip.

Woven Wraps

Woven wraps have a steeper learning curve than stretchy wraps, but are way more versatile. Unlike stretchy wraps, woven wraps are not stretchy beyond the natural weave of the fibers. Some common brands are Didymos, Oscha, Girasol, and Lenny Lamb. Woven wraps range in price from $130-$1,000+. The pricier end of the spectrum will be from individual weavers and will be one of a kind weaves. These woven wraps are “wearable art” and the high price point accounts for the weaver’s time and talent.

Woven wraps come in a variety of sizes, while stretchy wraps are usually one size fits all. With woven wraps you will have your base size, but you can also purchase base +1, +2, or -1, -2, -3, etc. If you get the “wrong size wrap” you can still use it! You just might not be able to do a front wrap cross carry with it.

Woven wraps can be tied in a very wide variety of ways, and can be used longer than a stretchy wrap. From my understanding you can tie a baby as small as 4lbs and a child as large as 50+lbs. You can tie a baby on the front, back, or side, and there are a variety of different ties (known as finishes) ranging from practical to fancy. You can also purchase different materials and prints to fit any occasion. Woven wraps are also more comfortable in warmer climates as there is no spandex in them.

Ring Slings

Ring slings are a type of woven wrap that has a pair of rings sewn to one end. These are long stretches of fabric that you tighten around the baby. Ring slings are also great for growing babies, and can be used for small babies through toddlerhood without needing a new size. Some popular brands of ring slings are LoveHeld, Hope and Plum, Wildbird, and Moby. The average prices range from $50-$180 depending on fabric and print.

Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs)/Structured Carriers/Buckle Carriers

Soft Structured Carriers or SSCs come ready to be worn. There is minimal to no tying required, and are typically the most beginner friendly. Price range can vary greatly, but a quality SSC will be about $80+.

SSCs are defined as having shoulder straps, a waist buckle, and a back panel that holds the baby.

Apron Carriers

An apron carrier is a type of SSC that has a buckle at the waist, that you pull up over the baby. There will be shoulder straps, and usually a buckle at the shoulders to help keep the carrier secure. Some common brands include Ergobaby, Hope and Plum, Lenny Lamb, Happy Baby, Wildbird, and Tula.

Some apron carriers allow you to carry baby on either the front or on the back, and some allow for world facing carries. Please read the manual that came with your carrier to determine the safe ways to carry with it.

Meh Dai

A Meh Dai is a type of SSC that has a panel, but no buckles. Instead you tie the carrier to you. This is a popular choice because you have the ease of a panel, but the customization of the ties.

Similarly there is a Mei Tai, which has a waist buckle, a panel, and shoulder ties. This is even more convenient if you want to customize part of your carry, but need the ease of an already defined waist belt.

With both Meh Dais and Mei Tais you can wear baby on the front or on the back.

Onbuhimo

Onbuhimo isn’t exactly a SSC, but it is similar enough that it is often included in the discussion. An Onbuhimo doesn’t have a waist belt, but has shoulder straps and a back panel. The back panel comes down low and is tucked between the baby and the wearer and helps hold the baby in place. You can wear baby on the front or on the back.

Safety and Best Practices

Safety is important when baby wearing. Improper baby wearing techniques have led to injuries at best, and infant death at worst. Let’s take a look at some tips that have helped me be successful when conceal carrying while baby wearing.

Safety Considerations

If you are baby wearing you need to be aware of your surroundings. Be aware of uneven and slippery surfaces, and of potential tripping hazards.

Additionally, remember the acronym T.I.C.K.S. to make sure your baby is safe in the carrier, wrap, or sling.

T – Tight – make sure the baby is tight in the carrier so that they will not fall out.

I – In Sight – make sure the baby’s mouth and nose are visible and free of any obstruction.

C – Close Enough to Kiss – the top of the baby’s head should be close enough for you to kiss. This keeps their head on the firm part of your chest and not potentially being smothered by breasts.

K – Keep Their Chin Off Their Chest – make sure the baby’s chin is not touching their chest, this poses an asphyxiation risk. Just like in the car seat, we want their chins up.

S – Supported Spine – support the baby’s posture. For newborns make sure their back is in a C shape, and for older babies (sitting) more of a reverse J shape. This will help prevent slumping and will also help keep their chins off their chest.

Best Practices

Best practice for baby wearing considers safety, as well as ergonomic positioning for the baby. Namely, that their legs are in an “M” position. This looks like their bottom sitting lower than their knees. There are a lot of carriers on the market that don’t position baby’s hips this way, or don’t follow the safety considerations of baby wearing. A lot of these can be found on Amazon and are cheaper carriers.

If you are wrapping your baby or putting them in a ring sling, practice to make sure you get the desired M shape in their legs/bottom. It can take practice, so don’t worry if it isn’t perfect the first time. Failure to do so can result in less security for baby in the wrap, and has potential to cause long lasting injuries.

Baby Wearing for the Conceal Carrier

Now that we’ve been introduced to the common types of wraps, slings, and carriers and the safety considerations, we can begin to address the conceal carrier specifically.

Why Baby Wear?

The two biggest reasons I would recommend baby wearing to any parent who conceal carries is because you can keep your baby close and, it allows for both hands to be free.

Keeping your baby close keeps them safe. People are less likely to approach and get into your baby’s face, and those who do will stand out more to you. Not only are you keeping baby safe from a kidnapper, you’re also keeping them safe from germs (which is the more common threat). We can also better control the baby in the event we need to move quickly or aggressively. Think catching yourself falling, avoiding a dangerous driver, and more.

Baby wearing allows you to keep both of your hands free at all times. You can load groceries without taking hands off the baby, or manage other people around you. Should you find yourself in a position that you need to draw your firearm you can perform a normal draw stroke and grip. We can also agree that having two hands on the gun is better than one. If you’re someone who keeps tools on both sides of your body, now you can keep your EDC the same both with and without the baby.

What to Look For in a Carrier or Wrap

When looking for a baby carrier I recommend something that does not have a waistband, and something you can wear baby safely on your back. I would recommend an Onbuhimo style carrier, a ring sling, or a woven wrap.

Benefits of an Onbuhimo

An Onbuhimo style carrier doesn’t have a waistband, and can be carried on the front or back (depending on brand). You can draw AIWB and adjust your shirts without a waist strap being in the way.

Since an Onbuhimo is a type of soft structured carrier, you don’t have to worry about learning any ties, you can just put the baby on and go. For this reason my husband is a fan.

Benefits of a Ring Sling

Ring slings are great for “easy ups” and for a long day out. They are great for newborns and itty bitty babies, and there is no waistband to get in the way of your gun.

Benefits of Woven Wraps

If you can only afford one carrier, I would recommend a woven wrap. Unlike Onbuhimo style carriers, you only need to get one woven wrap. You can even purchase rings separately, and do a ring finish like a ring sling. Woven wraps offer versatility and can be finished with or without a pass across your waist. You can also carry baby on your front, side, or back.

Both parents can use the same woven wrap, so you don’t need to purchase more than one. Purchase one in the smaller parent’s base size, the larger parent will need to know if it is base -1 or -2 for them, and it will only slightly change the types of ties and finishes they can do.

Affordability

As I mentioned above, there is a very large price range for most of these carriers, slings, and wraps. If you aren’t sure what you might like, or what will work best for you, check out a lending library. There might be some in your town, or you can rent from one online. I recently rented a Happy Baby Onbuhimo from Carrier Connection to help us decide if we wanted to purchase one before spending the money to do so.

You can also join a variety of baby wearing Buy/Sell/Trade groups on Facebook. I am in several, and recently purchased a very good, used condition LoveHeld Waffle Ring Sling for below retail. An advantage to purchasing a used carrier is that it might already be broken in!

Baby wearing can be pricey, but it doesn’t have to be. There are a lot of options to get you something safe, that works for you, at a price you can afford.

Conclusion on Baby Wearing and Conceal Carry for New Mothers

Baby wearing allows you to move in the world in a way that a stroller won’t. Not only can you more easily move in and out of crowds, you are keeping your baby with you at all times. Finding a carrier that works for you can be tricky, especially if your baby isn’t the only thing you’re strapping on. Finding something that keeps your waistband clear will leave room for other important things.

Check out our other articles about conceal carry and parenthood below!

Conceal Carry During Pregnancy | The First Trimester

Conceal Carry During Pregnancy | The Second Trimester

Conceal Carry During Pregnancy | The Third Trimester

Conceal Carrying During Pregnancy | The Fourth Trimester

Conceal Carry During Pregnancy | Training and Classes

Conceal Carrying for New and Expectant Fathers

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