My Baby Carrier Review (Pictures Added!)

So, I'm just going to go over the different baby carriers that we've used and what we've liked and disliked about them. =]

I was going to elaborate on the benefits of babywearing, and why you should try it if you don't already, but I decided to just link to Dr. Sears because we all know that he knows everything. So if you're at all interested in the benefits (less crying, learn more, more organized, more quickly "humanized", smarter, lowers the risk of SIDS) check out what Dr. Sears has to say.

Alright, on to the carriers!

The first carrier we used was a ring sling that I made when I was pregnant. A ring sling is a long piece of fabric with two metal rings attached to one end. You thread the fabric through the rings, creating a pouch that your baby goes in.

What we liked: When Z was a newborn, Ben could wear her in this and she would fall asleep. He wore her while I was resting and got some things done around the house too!

What we didn't like: When I tried to wear her in it as a newborn, she cried. How heartbreaking it was for a new mother that my baby liked being worn by her daddy but not her mother. I got over it. Lol. As she got a little bigger I tried it again. It just didn't work for me. She was constantly stretching her legs out and I felt like I always had to keep on arm around her, even though the point of wearing her was partially so that I could be "hands-free."

The next carrier we tried was a Baby Bjorn. We bought this at a yard sale for $20 with the manual. The Bjorn is a front carrier that straps on with buckles. Baby can face you, or look out at the world.

What we liked: Ease of use. It's really easy to strap on, if you've already adjusted it to fit you. Hands-free.

What we didn't like:
-After a little while it gets super uncomfortable. The weight of the baby is distributed across your shoulders.
-It was confusing to adjust the straps inbetween wearers. When Ben wore it after me I had to adjust it for him by pulling on the contraption in the center of his back... what if he was alone and he wanted to use it? =P
-If Z fell asleep in the Bjorn her head would just fall forward and it looked SO uncomfortable. For some reason her body wasn't close enough so that she could just rest her head on my chest. It was bizarre. I eventually found that if I rolled up a receiving blanket I could prop it under her chin, but it still didn't look very comfy.
-The Bjorn is designed so that the baby is supported by her crotch. This can cause stress to her spine, which can in turn cause spondylolisthesis (displacement of vertebra in relation to the ones below). Obviously, very painful, and not good.

The third carrier we tried was a wrap style that I made. The wrap is a 6 yd piece of fabric that is 95% cotton 5% spandex. You wrap it around yourself a certain way, then baby is put in while you have the wrap on.

What we like: VERY comfortable. She feels safe and secure, no need to keep one arm around her or anything. She stays warm cuddled up to you and you can stretch the fabric down over her feet, and up over her head if it's cold.

What we don't like: It's kind of a pain to wrap it. I usually put it on at home and wear it in the car so that I don't need to put it on in a parking lot. (Since the fabric is so long it drags on the ground when you're wrapping it and it would get all dirty.)

The fourth carrier we've tried is the Ergo Baby Carrier. This is a soft carrier that straps on with two buckles.

What we like: Where to begin? I just got the Ergo today and I'm already in love with it.
-First of all, it's so easy to put on. Just strap the waist buckle, hold baby against you, pull up the front with your arms through the shoulder straps and buckle the back buckle. (For the front carry.)
-If you need to adjust the shoulder straps all you have to do is pull towards the front. No funkiness. =]
- By its name, you may have guessed that the Ergo is ergonomically correct. For the baby and the wearer. The Ergo distributes baby's weight across your hips, not your back or shoulders. Instead of baby being suspended by her crotch, she is in a natural sitting position.
-The Ergo had 3 positions you can wear it in. Front, back, or hip. (Back and hip and for older babies and toddlers.)
-The Ergo is recommended for use up to 40 lbs, but has been tested up to 90 lbs.
-The Ergo has a built-in "sleeping hood." If baby falls asleep in the carrier, you just pull up the hood from the front pocket and snap it to your shoulder straps so that baby's head is secure while she sleeps.
-There are two front pockets on the Ergo. A small one, and a larger zippered one to keep a few small belongings in. (So handy for a tube of lip balm or a diaper!)

What we don't like: So far, nothing! If I find something I'll come back here and update. =]

Make your Own Baby Wrap AKA Fauxby

So my friend Heather and I decided to go in on the fabric together and make ourselves some baby wraps. =] I thought I would share here how simple it is and how awesome and comfy the wraps turn out!

-First you need to buy 6 yards of fabric. This seems like a TON and looks totally overwhelming, but you need it. If you're small you can get away with 5 yards. The fabric needs to have some stretch to it. The best we could find at our local fabric store was 95% cotton, 5% spandex - but from what I've heard 97/3 is even better. Our 6 yards totaled about $50, and I had a 50% off coupon, so it came to about $25.

-The width of the fabric is twice as wide as you need for your wrap, so you need to cut it in half lengthwise. (So our wraps cost us each about $12.) Honestly you don't even need to know how to cut a straight line - for if this were the case, I'd be in trouble! The fabric is already folded in half lengthwise, so I just layed it on my bed with the fold on the right, (since I'm right handed) kept the fabric steady with my left hand and just slid my scissor blade inbetween the two layers of fabric and cut all along the edge. Easy peasy.

-The fabric we purchased does not fray in the wash. Therefore this wrap requires NO SEWING. I love sewing. But Z loves to be held. So it was awesome that this wrap literally had one step to making it! One popular brand of wrap (rhymes with what I call this wrap and starts with an 'M'... ;P) has tapered ends so that when you tie it the knot isn't as bulky. I didn't taper my ends but it would be easy enough to do if you so desired.

-Then you just put it on and enjoy grocery shopping, cleaning the house, going for a walk, etc etc etc, hands-free while snuggling your baby!

Here is a video I found on youtube on how to wrap your wrap and put your baby into it! (This isn't me.)

Someone Else's Giveaway.

Haha. Mine will be up momentarily...

In the mean time check out this one for the Ergo Baby carrier!

Ring Sling!

This evening I finished my ring sling! This is me, wearing our 5 lb bag of sugar baby. =] The sling seems alright, DH and I both tried it, however, the rings seem awfully small, which in turn causes there to be a lot of struggle when adjusting the fabric. Hmmm... There's always the option of purchasing the next size ring up and taking apart my sling. So we'll see.

On an equally cute note, today I received my first fluffy mail! (For those of you who don't know, "Fluffy mail" is always cloth diaper related. =]) I had ordered this super cute fitted diaper from a seller on hyena cart.

This is a fitted diaper, so it still requires a cover, because it doesn't have a waterproof layer. I'm a little sad that the cute owls will have to be covered up!

Here's the inside.

The seller (http://www.hyenacart.com/simplyposh) also threw in a free snap in OBV (organic bamboo velour) doubler! Score. It is suuuuuper soft. I can't wait to try this diaper out on my baby!