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Monday, April 13, 2009

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Slinging around!

Today, my hubster decided to give me a break from the kids (only my girls because my little man is strictly breastfed so he remains mama’s little sidekick). He wanted me to rest, but last week I was terribly sick and had quite a bit of unfinished projects I needed to tackle so I wanted to put the quiet time to good use and get some work done.

Unfortunately, however, my little guy is teething. OH YEAH! For those of you’ve “been there, done that” you know exactly how much quiet time you get with a teething baby – a whole lot of NADA! I really needed to get this post wrapped up when Anelys, our wonderful blog creator and maintainer guru, told me to get Ilyas in my wrap and write about that. Now why didn’t I think about that? DUH!

So here we are; Ilyas quite content while he’s cradled in the sling and I’m sitting in my “office", which is actually the corner cushion of my couch with my laptop nestled between the arm of the couch and end table – LOL.

For centuries, people from various cultures have worn their babies as a means of soothing, bonding as well as carry on with their duties for daily life while caring for their infants at the same time. Here’s a wonderful picture of a Nez Perce Indian Cradleboard*. This adorable little baby looks like a stuffed sugar cone!

While we clearly understand baby wearing is not a new phenomenon, we’ve certainly modernized the concept and made it quite fashionable (and dare I say trendy?) to boot! 4 ½+ years ago when my first child was born there were a number of slings and wraps on the market but not nearly the vast selection of options/styles and gorgeous colors and prints available today.

Like cloth diapers, I’ve tried the breadth of baby wearing devices; ring slings, pouches, soft sided carriers, Mei Tais, wraps, etc… Having a long history of neck and back problems it was a challenge finding something comfortable yet supportive. I LOVE my ring slings for quick out and about errands. They go on and come off quickly, even with a sleeping baby! However, I can only go an hour or two tops before I’m in unbearable pain (since baby’s weight isn’t thoroughly distributed with a ring sling).

So, at the end of 2004 when my oldest child was only two months old and would not relent her big cry baby phase – I needed to find a better solution; that’s when I discovered the Moby Wrap. At that time it was relatively new to the baby wearing scene and very affordable (considering most other wraps at that time retailed between $80 – 150). My best friend Sarah, who is a baby wearing addict, also thought the Moby would be a great option for me too… I took the plunge and ordered one to try out.

In a word: wonderful! The comfort of a cotton t-shirt with the support of a wrap – all for a great price! The Moby Wrap can easily be worn with or without baby, eliminating the needs to take it on and off all the time. I immediately bought a couple more colors because I knew I was in love with the wrap. Moby has since branched out and now offers more color, print/design choices for those looking for a little more flair than a solid colored wrap!

Wearing baby allows you to hold and comfort your baby while still being afforded the use of your two hands; an important necessity for every mama! The only downside is figuring out which one to choose! Whatever you choose, I assure you baby wearing is as much fun as cloth diapering!


- By Serena

*Photo Credits of the Nez Perce Indian Cradleboard: Northwestern University Library,"The North American Indian": the Photographic Images, 2001. Photo taken in 1911 and it is not subject to copyright.

32 comments:

Umm Sayf said...

Awwwe. . .Serena, you and Ilyas are sooooo cute!
I love my wraps too! though now I'm on the lookout for another carrier - I think it'll be number 15 for me! Yikes! I'm as addicted to carriers as you are to diapers!
LOL.

Ashley said...

great read! your son is adorable!

Secret Mommy said...

I LOVE my Moby wrap, too! When my son was an infant, he could stay in it all day long! Now he's 11 1/2 months and prefers riding in the Ergo carrier (backpack carry.) For my next baby I really want to try a ring sling, and I've found many patterns (and a source for the rings) online, so I'm hoping to sew my own! :) Great post!!!!!

Angela said...

I have three that I use, yes one could do the job, but heck if you have them you might as well use them.

Upstatemamma said...

We only have the one and I definitely want another one. I want another color and I would love a print and... well you get the picture. But I'd love to have at least one more so when mine is in the wash it does not induce stress. :)

lsnellings said...

The more I hear about it, the more convinced I am that I need to try a Moby wrap!

Sally Michelle said...

I'm an avid sling user. I wouldn't get anything done without it!

Sarah said...

I may have to try out one of these ring slings. I bought a hot sling when Aiden was first born and I didn't like it and he didn't like it, so it got returned.

Amanda said...

I'm so glad I'm not the only one with the "corner office" (of my couch)!!! Such a great post! I'm really thinking I need to check out the Moby wraps...even though Kaitlynn is 19 months, She still wants to be held all the time, and it'd be easier to wrap her!

Katrina said...

Love your description of your office - sounds like my favorite spot. I can't count the hours I've spent on the couch with my laptop and a baby sleeping in my Moby Wrap...esp when he was a newborn.

Sara said...

Awww, what a great solution. When Kins is teething, she spends most of the day in our wrap. The rest is spent sucking on frozen fruit in one of those mesh bag things. They work great.

Kristin said...

It's amazing what you can get done with a baby in a sling - a sling is definitely a life saver!!

hosiewosie said...

I pretty much always have my baby in a sling whenever I'm out. The most common comments I hear are "where did you get that?" and "I wish they had that when my kids were babies." Pretty sure that women in different countries have been using them for centuries. Should show them the picture you posted.

Chic Mama said...

I too have back problems and experienced that same relief when I switched from a ring sling to a mei tai! I really want to try a wrap though too!

Sara in Seattle said...

I think wearing my little one is the only way I get things done sometimes!

Tani said...

I think that I'm going to try sewing a ring sling. The only good one I've used is the moby and I want to try another one. Great read and your baby is adorable!

Suzy said...

It is so nice having a sling to put my baby into to clean the house.

Jonna said...

Thanks for sharing! And I agree wearing is as fun as clothies!

PJ said...

How nice of the Hub to give you some off time even if it was not 100%.
I have soo been there with the laptop on the couch arm!!!

Kristin said...

I wish my baby would sit so contently when being worn! He likes it when we're moving around, but no way he'd let me look at the computer while sitting down. I guess that's a busy 10-month-old for you :)

It's so nice to have so many options for babywearing!

Jill S. said...

What cute pictures! I enjoyed reading this!

EdenSky said...

I love that last picture! Too cute. I have a cuddly wrap and I love it, is a moby wrap pretty much the same?

Katie said...

I am a ring sling fan for the early months. They have been so easy to use and easy to bring with me wherever I go.

A Psych Mommy said...

I didn't know that Moby had different prints now! I thought they were only solid! I'm going to have to check them out--thanks for the great post!

the monkeys' mama said...

This post was worth it even if you only featured the picture of Nez Perce Indian Cradleboard. Too neat to see that! thanks for a great post, as always!

Serena Michelle said...

THANKS LADIES!

Umm Sayf - you got a shot out for helping me with my baby wearing addiction all those years ago! ;P
LOL

EdenSky - yes, from what I can tell the Cuddly Wrap is a clone of the Moby Wrap.

Like most other things that are popular and work phenomenally well, people will make something the same/similar with their own take on it.

Aisha said...

ohhh teething woes...I'm going through that right now! I wonder if a clutz like me will be able to figure out how to wrap the moby?

Brittany said...

Your son is so adorable!

Serena Michelle said...

Aisha: I'm lovingly called "Calamity Jane" because I've always been one to get injured (I broke the same arm 3 times consecutively - and the last time I broke it IN the cast!!!) LOL

So if I can use Moby Wrap - anyone can do it. (Although I do forewarn anyone using the back carry for ANY carrier- just make sure you're aware of your little one back there when you're walking around corners - I remember when Aaliyah hit the wall because I underestimated a corner once - poor thing!!!)

Minnie said...

Babywearing is a blast for sure! Once I read your post I went to KC to check out the prices and I was amazed at how affordable the Moby really is....even less than my Maya wrap. Sweet!

Amanda G.

Minnie said...

Oh...and when I carry my DD in my ring sling even for just an hour or so, I am left feeling SO sore later on and I can only carry her on my left hip because you cant really turn it the other way....so it's making my scoliosis even worse....from what you are saying about the Moby it sounds like it may be the answer to further back pain w/ the next baby.

Amanda G.

Charndra said...

Lovely! I love baby wearing.

I also use it to reduce my diaper washing as it combines beautifully with baby pottying. (elimination communication)

I suspect my 8 month old is in the beginning throes of teething too...

I love my pouch, wrap, ringsling and mei tai.

When my baby starts wriggling uncomfortably, I know it's time for a potty break.

Charndra