Baby Wearers!

Libby Pritchett

Libby Pritchett

New member
So, I just got back from a get-together of the local baby-wearers group here in town. I'd never actually met anyone in person who used a sling/wrap/carrier, so I decided to go check it out and get some opinions on the different styles and options available.

These women were SO helpful! They showed me tons of different brands/styles, and they all had babies of different ages/sizes (from newborn to 2 years), so I was able to see how the different slings worked for different sized kiddos.

I ended up buying a ring sling cause she had them on sale 1/2 off (this was held out a little boutique here in town). It's super cute denim with pink and brown accents... I love it!

Now I just have to wait about 3 more months til I have a baby to put IN the sling. LOL

Anyway, just excited and had to share my enthusiasm with the other baby-wearers out there!
 
Yay! I love wearing my baby. I haven't used a ring sling, I've stuck mostly to woven wraps. I love being about to hold him and still do things with my hands. Best of both worlds.
 
I was amazed at all the different styles available. I seriously had NO idea there were so many options. And a lot of the moms had different slings for different things. So, I can totally see that I'll probably add another one or two to my collection before all is said and done. :)
 
you're gonna love it! I adored wearing my kids! Recently I got to wear my neice Sophie and it brought back all my warm and fuzzies :)
 
Oh FUN-Landen was a worn baby-my husband and I both wore him forever! I wished I could have had a girly sling just for me-BUT-Landen was a boy and Scott put his foot down on wearing a pink sling...
I can't wait to see pictures!
 
It looks like Im in the minority because I HATED wearing my kids. I only tried the ring sling and the mei tei carriers and didn't like either of those. I paid a lot of money for my slings too only to not even use them. :(
 
Ella wasn't a big fan of the pram like her sister so I use a carrier/sling/wrap to take her wherever we need to go. I went a little overboard so I have different ones but I never got the ring sling type.

Here's what I have
Sleepy wrap - This was nice and used it quite often when she was up to three months old
Pupsik pouch carrier - This I used when she was a newborn up to a few weeks old
Saya baby carrier
Evenflo Snugli Front Carrier - This I use regularly, like five times a week from when she was four months old up to now although at over 8kg I don't know how long I can use it my back is killing me with her weight.
 
I love babywearing! I bought a few carriers but mostly sewed my own, which means I was able to have a ton of them. I had different favorites at different ages. These are mine, but of course other babywearers would have a very different list.

For newborns: a buckle tai (easiest for me to nurse in) and ring sling or stretchy wrap (both good for head support in a vertical position)
For infants: a buckle tai (still for nursing) and pouch (easiest for me to position the baby to look around)
For toddlers: a ring sling (easy up and down) and mei tai (my favorite for weight distribution)

Lauren is almost 3 and over 30 lbs, but I still get to wear her once in a while. I keep my favorite mei tai in her room, and when she's having trouble falling asleep she sometimes asks to come up in it. I also keep a ring sling in the car, but it's been months since she wanted to be worn in it. I think the last time was when she scraped her knee over the summer and didn't want to walk.

One thing I've found is that a lot of new babywearers choose something for their light infant based on appearance or price, and when that stops working for them they figure their baby is just too big for wearing. As the child gets bigger, the materials used and style of the carrier make a big difference in your comfort. By the time my kids get to be 1.5 or 2 years old, I still love wearing but only in my 3 or 4 most comfortable carriers.
 
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I ♥ wearing our boys! Let me tell you, Libby - get ahold of a baby doll and practice :) It'll make you a lot more confident when it's time for the real thing!
 
YAY!!! You have no idea how happy I am that you have a local group to help you out!!!!

and I'm not going to admit here how many ring slings and wraps and mei tais and buckle carriers I have... nope, not going to admit... but I have a special story to each of them so I've never been able to let go of any of them LOL.

and agree with Darcy... practice practice practice... and be sure to lean on that group of woman to help too, especially in the beginning before you become confident... I know so many who give up on it because of the learning curve... so I'm super super happy you have that support near you!!!
 
AmberK said:
It looks like Im in the minority because I HATED wearing my kids. I only tried the ring sling and the mei tei carriers and didn't like either of those. I paid a lot of money for my slings too only to not even use them. :(
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I'm with you, Amber! Probably the biggest dislike factor for me was the fact that Rachel herself didn't like it.
 
I love babywearing layouts. For Ben I did one that shows lots of random babywearing pics and one of him in the same carrier throughout the first year. For Lauren I did both in the same layout--the purple ring sling pictures are at 6 days and 2 years.

Here is Lauren's:



Here are 2 of Ben's. They're more than 4 years old, so excuse the style.

Year_rach3975.jpg


WearingB1_rach3975.jpg
WearingB2_rach3975.jpg



I won't even post Jason's--that one was done 7 years ago and is just embarrasing!
 
You know, I never even thought of practicing with a babydoll. That's a good idea! The girls there had be try on the sling that I ended up buying, and they showed me how to adjust it and everything. They have a fb group, too, so I love knowing that I can go there and ask questions and look for help as I'm learning.

Now, I just need to find a good breastfeeding support group around here. I had a hard time nursing with Kendra, and I gave up after 4 months when her pediatrician told me to. I didn't know enough to know to argue it and thought that I just "couldn't" do it. So, now I'm determined to find help with that, too. :)
 
AmberK said:
It looks like Im in the minority because I HATED wearing my kids. I only tried the ring sling and the mei tei carriers and didn't like either of those. I paid a lot of money for my slings too only to not even use them. :(
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I tried it with Landon...was hoping it would let me be more productive, but he didn't like it AT ALL.
 
I am so interested in this thread! I wore both of my boys in a sling, but I'm totally open to something new this time. I wish I had a group here to try out some different ones, but I'll have to settle with hearing y'all's opinions.
 
I wear Mr. Zachary, but not very often. He isn't a huge fan of being worn, and my back has issues that prevent me from wearing him often. I wear him a lot when we're going to be somewhere for a long time. My wearer straps him REALLY securely, so I wear him for things like soccer games (watching, of course, not playing), and going to the Pumpkin Patch and stuff.
 
I wore my second in a sling all the time. Up until almost the age of 3. And she was a LARGE child. 9.6 at birth & a steady gainer. I wore her when I had to tend to the older one. I wore her at the mall, at the ball park (so much easier than a stroller), she would actually carry the sling around and cry to me to put her in it. LOL. She loved it.

Libby - look at the hospital where you are delivering for a lactation consultant. My hospital made it a point to send one in the days following the birth of my daughters. I'd also as your pediatrician about someone you can talk to.

Kellie - watch You Tube videos on it. That's what I did and got the hang of it. I think a ring sling will help you keep up with the boys while still tending to the baby.
 
:thumbup: another fellow baby wearer here. I love it!! I didn't know there are groups tho, that is fantastic.
 
joelsgirl said:
I am so interested in this thread! I wore both of my boys in a sling, but I'm totally open to something new this time. I wish I had a group here to try out some different ones, but I'll have to settle with hearing y'all's opinions.
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In addition to You Tube videos, there's a great babywearing site called The Babywearer. It's been a few years since I was there, but at the time they had a very active forum, tutorials and videos for anything you might want to learn, and lots of product reviews. For anyone with sewing skills who might want to try making carriers, there's also a DIY forum. That's how I learned to use (and make) carriers because the meetings here were at a day and time that I couldn't do.
 
Libby Pritchett said:
Now, I just need to find a good breastfeeding support group around here. I had a hard time nursing with Kendra, and I gave up after 4 months when her pediatrician told me to. I didn't know enough to know to argue it and thought that I just "couldn't" do it. So, now I'm determined to find help with that, too. :)
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Look for a La Leche League group in your area - they're a great resource!

http://www.llli.org/webus.html
 
Fun! I started babywearing with Noah. It really helped calm him down when he was an itty. Now when Eli is upset and sees me starting to pull the wrap out, he calms down immediately. I just bought a new one. I need to post pics of it!
 
Do any of you use a pouch carrier? my friend bought me a "Comfy Joey" when Elijah was born and I can't figure it out. I usually just go for my Dolcino Wrap instead. But I'd like to use it if I can figure it out. He's 17lbs now. 7 months.
 
My boys HATED to be in a sling/wrap. I was so bummed. I used a bjorn (still do sometimes) with Derek but no sling/wrap. I had another front/back pack I used with the other boys. They didn't mind being in the front pack....Derek still loves being in the bjorn when we are out and about when he gets tired. I so wanted them to love the sling/wrap but nope....

I can't wait to see pictures of baby Chloe in her sling!!!
 
Heather, I need you to come HERE to show me, lol.

I'd like to use it for hip too but I can't seem to get it right. I'll watch your videos and hope I can figure it out.
 
I used a ring sling with my oldest and found that it bothered the shoulder it was on. I always seemed to have issues adjusting it right as well. With my youngest, I did sleepy wrap and man I love that thing. So did she. It's awesome and way more comfy. It takes a few mins to get it tied right but one you get the hang of it, so easy! We used it all the time since she was our third and my middle child was only 2. Grocery trips she was in it or we couldn't get anything done. I could nurse in it and no one would know! We'd play Wii in it LOL Totally recommend the Sleepy Wrap!
 
I wish you lived just slightly closer, Libby! I have the absolute BEST lactation consultant ever (in my opinion of course!) and I know a lot of good ones here. The hospital probably has a few.

The hospital I delivered in had one, and she kept coming in, but always at really inconvenient times (when I was headed for a chest xay, or when I was having an echocardiogram, etc), and I kept telling her, "I have a lactation consultant already" but she kept coming back like, "yeah, whatever." Finally, she asked who my consultant was (I think she didn't believe I had one). I told her the name of my consultant, and she said "Oh! I love her! She's my boss! I will just leave you alone, then, I know she'll take care of you!" Um. I told you so already. :P So, that was pretty funny. :)
 
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