5 ways to store your baby carrier (with photos)

Whether you have one carrier or 31, you will need to store a carrier on a shelf or hook (or in a cupboard) at some point. Carriers can feel awkward to fold with all of their straps and buckles. (Not quite as bad as a fitted sheet but it can still feel counterintuitive.)

In this blog you will find:

1) How to fold your baby carrier

2) How to fold woven wraps

3) Different setups for storage with photos of actual setups 

4) Frequently asked questions

1) How to fold your baby carrier

Most people see this technique and think "duh, of course that's how you do it". But if you don't know, you don't know!

2) How to fold a woven wrap

Some people choose to fold their wraps and store them folded and others prefer to roll them. If you are planning to store your wraps for some time, you will want to be more mindful of how you're folding them so that you don't end up with permanent creasing (also known as permacreasing). If you reach for them regularly, don't worry too much.

3) Ways to store your carriers

There are many ways that you could choose to store your carriers depending on how much space you have, what furniture you have available and how often you are reaching for them.

Here are some ideas from our community of babywearers:

Kallax / Cube Storage

This is my personal favourite for carriers that I don't reach for regularly. Folding as per the videos above, I then store them in the cubes so that I can see what I have at a glance. Some people prefer to have them down at their child's level so that they can choose their own (once they are big enough!).

Towel/Blanket Storage Rack

Another crowd favourite (mostly for woven wraps or ring slings) is to use a vertical towel storage rack. It is very aesthetically pleasing! Over the door racks with hooks are very popular.

Hooks

Another great option, especially for ring slings. I personally have a rack of hooks next to my front door where I hang my most used carriers (together with baby hats, jackets and way too many other things).

Drawers

Drawers and/or standard shelves also work to keep your carriers neat and tidy.

Cedar Chest

If your collection includes carriers/wraps/ring slings with silk or wool some people choose to store them in a cedar chest to protect against moths. Cedar sachets are also popular if you don't have a cedar chest.

Other honourable mentions

The options are endless but some people store their carriers in plastic storage tubs, the car, nappy bag or bottom of the pram.

A note about heat, cold and mould

High heat or extreme cold can all be detrimental to carriers, especially those with plastic buckles. They can weaken over time and eventually break. So if you're storing a carrier in the car it might be a good idea to rotate it sometimes to avoid any issues.

Mould... Well that one goes without saying. Ensure wherever you are storing your carriers is well ventilated.

FAQ:

How should I store a baby carrier? 
This is going to depend on how often you're reaching for it and what you have available. Carriers you use often might hang on a hook by the door, in the bottom of the pram or in the car. If you reach for them less or have a large collection you might prefer to have them in a cube or similar storage unit. If you are storing them long term, maybe a sealed storage bin or cedar chest would work best.

Should I fold or roll a woven wrap?
Both work! If you are folding you might want to fold it slightly different every now and then to avoid permacreasing.

What is permacreasing?
Permacreasing is when creases or folds in your wrap set permanently and no longer iron out. It can weaken the wrap / sling so we want to avoid it.

Can I store a baby carrier in the car?
You can but you want to be mindful of how high heat or extreme cold can weaken the plastic buckles. Best to rotate it rather than leaving it there permanently.

Written by Kiki - Certified Babywearing Educator and Owner of Cloth and Carry