Babywearing

So, lets talk about babywearing. Because, really, this is my biggest 'hobby' right now.

It's expensive. ....or is it? Yes, wraps or carriers cost on average between $50 and $200. Most people have at least two different carriers for different reasons, so you're looking at probably $100 at the VERY least. Most likely a bit more than that.

Which, by itself, is not expensive.

But, rarely does it stop there. Most people who babywear think of carriers a bit like accessories. They become addictive in the way that most women love shoes and purses and clothes. Since I don't care for shoes, or purses, and I like my clothes to have a $5 price tag attached to them, yes, the price tag on a carrier does look incredibly expensive. But, also because I do not do any of these things, we can afford it.

This doesn't even touch on the fact that most carriers are completely re-sellable. And usually, for at the VERY least 50% of the purchase price. Unlike pretty much everything else you buy for a baby (which, if you re-sell, you are lucky to get 50% of the purchase price for. VERY lucky, no matter how well you took care of it or how little you used it).

So, I guess I might as well do the obligatory introduction post- different carriers, their uses, my preferences. This is by and far not even close to a comprehensive list. And it's just my opinions- a lot of people find different carriers more or less useful for different reasons than I do. That's ok. Being different is good (remember my previous post? We like differences!) If you have any questions about carriers, definitely check out thebabywearer.com. They have a TON of resources for you. If you want to BUY a carrier, they have a FSOT (For Sale or Trade) section, and you can also try diaperswappers.com which has a carrier FSOT as well as cloth diaper one, and babycenter's babywearing group, which also has a swap.

Carriers are one of the few things in life you will find you most likely PREFER used. Because they're already broken in most of the time, and so you don't have to do it yourself. AND you don't have to pay full price. So, you pay less and get what is arguably a better product. AWESOME.

There are four basic types of carriers:

Mei Tai/ Asian Carriers

Soft Sided carriers

Slings

Wraps

Mei Tai/Asian carriers encompass Mei Tais, Podaegi, Onbuhimo, and several others that I'm sure I have no clue about. Mei Tais are the most common ones, though. These tend to be the catch all carrier for just about anyone. They're pretty easy to use, straightforward, and relatively moderately priced. You can find a good one new for about $80 and used in the $50 range. MAKE SURE you do your research, though. A lot of these that you find on Etsy and Ebay and even in stores are not made sturdy enough to carry a heavy baby for very long. So, if you want one that'll last, check out thebabywearer and other websites to make certain the carrier is a good brand. Some brands that I know for sure are good: Kozy, Babyhawk, Perfect Papoose, Wrapstar, Ultimate Mama/Man Carrier. I know there are more, but I've only used the first three personally and I'm not really that big on Mei Tai's in general.

Soft Sided Carriers- These are also called 'buckle' carriers. They are like Bjorns, only better because they do not dangle your poor helpless offspring by his/her crotch. They are also more supportive for your back, so you can wear past 15lbs without wanting to die. Good carriers to look for are Ergo, Beco, Olives and Applesauce, Boba, Kinderpack, etc.

Slings- Ring slings and pouches both come under this category. These use only one shoulder to support your little one, so most people prefer them when your little one is actually little. Otherwise, it starts to hurt. They're particularly useful with newborns, though, and are reportedly the easiest to nurse in. I never got the hang of them personally, until I got a wrap converted one when Little Dude was already like 20lbs and it killed me to wear him in it longer than maybe 10 minutes. You do NOT want to use the Infantino or any of the kind that encourage you to wear your baby like a messenger bag. You should be able to see baby's face AT ALL TIMES in a sling. 90% of your store brand slings are dangerous to wear with- the exception being the pouch style slings like hotslings, and then you have to be VERY careful that you are using them properly if you want to use a cradle position. Mostly, stick with the tummy to tummy position where baby is upright and you'll be better off. Good brands for this are Sleeping Baby productions, Sweet Pea, Kalea, Sakura Bloom.

Wraps-

There are two kinds of wraps: stretchy, and woven. A stretchy wrap is good for when baby is little (less than 15lbs). They're also really good for learning how to wrap, supposedly, but I never got the hang of this either. Then again, I seem to be the exception rather than the rule in all this babywearing stuff, so don't listen to me ^_-. Figure out what works for you. Anyhow, these are your Moby wraps, Sleepy wraps, etc. These are pretty cheap (usually you can find a used Moby/etc for like $25, and new they're maybe $50?) and you can easily make your own ghetto version by going to JoAnns, getting like 5-6 yards of a stretchy jersey knit and slicing it in half lengthwise. Yep, that's it. No sewing required, 'cause it doesn't fray, though you can if you want it to look purdy. Cost maybe $20 for two that way, but they don't come with instructions,which you'll probably want to look up videos online anyways so who cares?

Woven wraps are a whole different animal- they are specially woven fabrics (you CAN buy cotton gauze or osnaburg fabric to use instead, but it will NOT be as supportive) that support baby. They are similar to stretchy wraps, in that they are a big long stretch of fabric. They are completely different, though, in that you can use these for back carries, and they are supportive for babies over 15lbs, whoo! Woven wraps are totally my favourite. Why? Well, unlike Soft Sided carriers, you can use these no matter what size you (or your husband, or your baby) are. SSCs are very individual, and some people with different body types like different ones better. Plus, if you and your husband both want to use it, you have to keep adjusting the buckles every time you switch. Annoying, and totally eliminates the point of a SSC (having something quick and easy!). Mei Tais are similar to wraps in this fashion, as most people find they can share them easily (since you tie instead of buckling, you don't have to adjust the straps) but, some Mei Tais are better for different sized adults and babies. When Little Dude was like 4 months old, I could not find a Mei Tai that didn't seem HUGE on the bottom, and since he wanted his little legs dangling out of the carrier at that point, I felt like they'd be stretched way too far for comfort. Not a problem in a wrap, which can be adjusted to your baby's size perfectly.

So, yeah, thanks for making it through all that with me. Now you're going "OMG I'm STILL confused! What do I get for x friend for their babyshower that I can just purchase at Target five minutes before I show up?" ..well, first of all, SLACKER! Second of all, you can get a Moby wrap or something, but I'd really suggest shopping online instead. There are VERY few good carriers that you can just nab at Target or Walmart or even Babies R Us. You don't want to go with a Baby Bjorn (seriously, your friend will thank you for sparing their back that agony) and you don't want to go with anything made by Infantino (unless you want it to fall apart). Yes, these carriers might be cheaper, but...well, you get what you pay for. They're uncomfortable, and often poorly made.

If you still have questions, though, feel free to drop me a line. I LOVE these things, because without them I'd get even less done than I already do, and my back would be in even worse shape than my c-section and pregnancy left it in. They are seriously the most useful thing a parent will ever own. And I don't bite, I promise.