There are a variety of ways to “wear your baby” these days using slings, wraps, and carriers. Advocates of babywearing describe its benefits, which include less crying for baby, the promotion of baby-parent bonding, and ease of travel. Not to mention less fatigue for the arms! But they usually omit what I think is one of the greatest perks: accessorizing.
I must confess that one of the reasons I love using slings and carriers is the look of them. Does such vanity undo all the good that can be accomplished for Lucy? I hope not, because I just can’t resist all those fabulous colors and fabrics! The Maya wrap for bohemian days (see photo), “BabyBjörn when you are feeling sporty”:/news/2006/traveling-light/. Add coordinating outfits for mama and baby and you could easily make the cover of Baby Vogue — at least until you experience a spit-up eruption.
But what about finding an elegant look? And for cheap? I discovered a solution for this, too. Read on.
At a recent La Leche League meeting, I encountered a woman who wrapped herself and baby up in a very long piece of cloth and voilà ! — instant baby-carrier. She told me she took a class to learn how to wrap the cloth and bought the fabric at one particular website. When I looked there, I learned that the wrap cost $80! For five yards of fabric with no hardware. “I can make that myself,” I thought. And I was right. For $18. Here are the two simple steps I took:
# Buy a 5-yard long piece of fabric. (Some say it helps if the fabric has some stretch, like jersey, but my first wrap doesn’t.) Cut it lengthwise so it is 20-24″ wide. Hem all around, if you feel like it.
# Watch videos at WearYourBaby.com. They will teach you how to wrap your baby securely on your body. Practice wrapping to avoid dropping your baby.
Lucy loves her new wrap! It gives her great visibility (which is increasingly important to her these days), freedom of movement for those wiggly limbs, and easy-riding comfort. She has spontaneously fallen asleep in it twice (although who knows if the wrap can take the credit). And doesn’t she look fabulous? (See photo). I am just really excited about all of the fabric possibilities. I currently have some cheetah-print fabric being shipped to me — ideal to pair with a black dress, sunglasses, and hat for an upcoming wedding. Oh, and I’ll figure out something for me to wear too. :) Plus, I’m predicting the cheetah print will hide spit-up pretty well!
How nifty! I’m getting a lot of use out of my sling these days – since Benjamin learned to walk, he occasionally goes through a 30 minute or so phase where he just wants me to carry him around, usually while I’m trying to make dinner. Since I’m 6 months pregnant, the snugli is definitely out. So I use my sling to wear Benjamin on my hip. He enjoys watching me prep dinner and after 20-30 minutes is ready to be put down to explore again. He’s so attached to the sling now, that he will occasionally go pull it down and bring it to me. I decided if he’s still so attached when it’s closer for baby #2 to arrive, I had better order one in a different color so he doesn’t get jealous!
For anyone who’s curious, I ordered my sling from lucky-baby.com. They have lots of fun prints at an affordable price. Plus I really like the fact that the sling has no padding or rings or anything like that – it’s very simple and works great!
Oh yes! The sling! That kept me sane months 6-13. In fact, I’m wondering if I should try your idea…even though Daniel’s two, he likes riding on my back, so I wouldn’t mind carrying him in a sling still (won’t I look like a real African mama!)
The only thing with mine was that it was hot pink. So that, with Daniel’s curls, always had strangers saying, “Oh, what a cute little girl you have!”
I love my sling…I was just saying to Brian the other day how I need to make one to match my uniform!! I am going to the store tomorrow so I can make one and wear Maddy while I preach on Sunday and I want to try playing my violin while wearing her. I will let you know if it works. I wish we were closer to you, I would love maddy to have a play day with Lucy. :-(
Naomi has been the baby that I have worn the most. She loves it and I love it! Right now our method of choice has been the Baby Bjorn ( thanks to my sister who loaned it to me). I honestly dont know what I would do without it! I also have a sling that I was given when I had charles….It is very nice but I have on occassion wanted something a bit more trendy….so making my own would be lots of fun. Thanks for sharing such a wonderful idea!
My biggest question about baby wearing is the whole nursing thing…has anyone tried that with success?
And does anyone’s back ever hurt?
Off to find my sewing machine and some pretty fabric!
About slings and nursing. I’ve had much luck nursing with the baby in one of those slings with the padded rails and adjustable tail (loosened), even while walking. But I haven’t been able to work it with the baby in a pouch sling (new native style). Mostly now I just remove the baby from the sling to nurse and use the sling to enhance the discreetness and limit distractions for my curious baby. :)
I nurse with the sling…I work around a lot of homless people and must be on the go all of the time and discreet (I don’t want those men seeing my boobs!). My back hurts with the store brands like the baby bjorn, but not with the sling.
I like the picture with both of you in your hats. :)
And I really like the idea of a sling. I used a snugli for a while with Evan, but did not always find it worthwhile. I keep thinking that whenever we have another child, I will have to get a sling or wrap of some sort. Nice to be able to nurse on the go.
I tried nursing with the sling twice so far, and it hasn’t quite worked yet. I am still hopeful though. I think I need to try it at home first, so that Lucy gets used to it in a familiar environment.
My back sometimes hurts with different carriers. The one that (so far) feels the best is this crazy 5-yard-long wrap thing, because there is some support on my lower back too.
Did you all read that article recently about the backlash that Parents (or some other mag) got when they ran a picture of a baby nursing on the cover? Yes, apparently there were many horrified folk… who must not watch any cable TV or see any magazines at the grocery at all! Frankly when I looked at the cover 85% of what I saw was the baby. I just don’t get people sometimes… I think discrete is completely appropriate, but I want to encourage all the nursing mamas out there to be unashamed of what they are doing – I mean this is feeding your baby for goodness sake, not a hoochie-coochie show! OK… off my soapbox now… sorry.
Thanks for the wrap recipe, Ann, looks fabulous!
Bonus points to Allison for using the phrase “hoochie-coochie show.” :)