Your baby loves being close to you. And sometimes your arms need a rest—or to be free to handle other tasks! The many established benefits to babywearing include:

• Strengthening baby’s neck muscles
• Regulating breathing and heart rate
• Aiding digestion
• Early recognition of hunger cues
• Bonding
• Multitasking

Not sure which carrier is right for you? There’s a lot of overlap, and you might prefer a certain carrier for a certain situation. Try a few, and don’t be afraid to change it up!

People sometimes think a structured carrier better supports an infant’s neck, but a soft carrier actually allows for important developmental movements, helping strengthen baby's neck muscles and hips while in a more natural position. Structured carriers are a great choice for older babies and toddlers.

“When they’re really tiny, you don’t want any separation,” says Emily Varnam, a midwife assistant and birth and postpartum doula. "It’s like tummy time, but molded to a parent's shape."

First, dress yourself and your baby for the weather, and put on your shoes. Next, put on the carrier in front of a mirror to ensure that it’s flush against your body, not twisted. Splay out any bunched fabric to evenly distribute baby’s weight.

“I tie it very tight, loosen it a bit, put the baby in, and then tighten to safe standards and comfort,” Varnam says. Practicing at home will help you build confidence and get the tension right.

A single-piece soft wrap is a piece of long fabric that you tie over your shoulders and across your torso to create a snug and stable pouch for your baby. There are no clasps that can dig into your or your baby’s body, and babies can grow with the wrap.

Pro: It can fit just about any caregiver while growing with the baby.

Con: The fabric is long and involves learning tying methods.

The variety of notable brands include Boba and Moby.

A multi-piece soft wrap, which consists of shorter and separate shoulder and torso fabrics, creates a snug and stable pouch just like a single-piece wrap, but without the need to learn elaborate tying methods. Make sure that each shoulder and torso fabric fits you snugly.

Pro: The shorter fabric packs compactly for travel.

Con: One size does not fit all.

The variety of notable brands include Baby K’Tan and Koala Babycare.

A ring sling is typically made of a woven fabric cut to fit the adult and sewn at the shoulder with a ring. This creates a hammock-style seat for the baby across your front or on your hip. Different types have different weight limitations, so use these slings within the recommended range.

Pro: It’s sized to the adult, making it straightforward to put on.

Con: One size does not fit all.

The variety of notable brands include WildBird and Heritage Baby Designs.

Originating in China and commonly worn throughout eastern Asia, a meh dai is part soft wrap, part structured carrier. Four straps extend from each corner of a body panel, and you typically tie them around your shoulders and waist to evenly distribute the weight of your baby.

Pro: One size fits all and can support children through preschool age.

Con: Can be somewhat challenging for infant hip carrying.

The variety of notable brands include Liliputi and Helina Baby.

Soft frames are like soft wraps with built-in support in a thicker body panel, as well as ease of use in a buckle at the waist and/or shoulder straps. The buckle lets adults quickly adjust the straps to fit different sizes without extra fabric hanging down.

Pro: More structured fabric can incorporate pockets.

Con: Buckles may dig into your or your baby’s body.

The variety of notable brands include Beco and Designed by Geeks.

To ensure that your baby is in a safe position in the carrier, you can follow the handy mnemonic device TICKS when looking at your baby’s positioning:

• Tight to your body
• In view at all times
• Close enough to kiss
• Keep chin off chest
• Supported back

For more tips on keeping your baby safe in the carrier, check out the American Academy of Pediatrics page on babywearing.