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Buying Preloved

nooscorner
Apr 27, 2016
3 min read

Buying Pre loved

I’ve been asked a few times recently if it is safe to carry a child in a preloved wrap or carrier. The short answer is yes, absolutely, but there are a few considerations especially with woven wraps and ring slings.

-Has the owner inspected the wrap, and are there any known faults/flaws?

Broken threads, major thread shifting and holes are all things you want to be concerned about. A single broken thread near the tail of the wrap is easily fixed, and doesn’t compromise the safety. A broken thread near the middle marker can also be repaired but theoretically will always be a weak spot in the wrap from then on but a single broken thread shouldn’t compromise safety. A whole group of them however is a concern and I would rethink buying the wrap.

Some types of woven wrap, like Didymos Indio’s are prone to thread shifting. Small patches of thread shifting are not usually a concern, however the wrap at this point can get thinner over time and it may compromise safety when carrying a heavier child as the wrap will always be weaker at this point. Thread shifting can be repaired- wash the wrap and use a needle to gently put the threads back into place, iron whilst still damp to set them.

With carriers, it’s important to ask if there is any fraying of the webbing, is the stitching all in place and are there any other signs of wear and tear?

-What about pulls?

Pulls in a woven wrap happen and do not compromise the safety in any way. They are aesthetically displeasing, and are really annoying to fix, but they happen and should be expected as a ‘wear and tear’ sign.

-Has the wrap/carrier been dyed?

Dying/painting wraps and carriers at home is incredibly popular and unique and beautiful carriers have resulted. However not all dyes are safe to be used around babies, and if a wrap has been dyed, stripped, and dyed again it can compromise the strength of the fibres. Research the dyes used and methods of stripping and dying to make sure you are comfortable with the chemicals being used on something your baby will be close too. There are companies offering professional dye jobs using safe chemicals but again do your research.

-How many owners have there been?

Ask the seller if they are the first owner or has it been used by someone previous to them? If they are the first owner then they will be able to tell you the complete history of the wrap, if they aren’t use your best judgement. You should also ask if the carrier is from a smoke free home as you will be wearing your child in it and pet free home if you have allergies.

-Is this an original carrier or has it been converted?

Many woven wraps are converted into Ring Slings and buckle carriers. It’s important to research the company that has completed the conversion. Are they reputable? Do they have good feedback? Do they use high quality materials when carrying out their conversions?

-How have you cared for the carrier?

It’s important to ask how the carrier has been washed and stored, especially if it contains speciality fibres like wool which is easily felted. Detergents used should be liquid and free from optical brighteners and no fabric softener should be used. Wraps should be lightly ironed after each wash to reset the fibres. Each woven wrap and carrier company will have detailed washing instructions on their website.