Babywearing and Sling Review
I think I’ve been interested in babywearing since before I even had Camper. We went to the store to buy a sling (before he was ever born) and I bought the Jeep Harness system. Later on we also bought Infantino Sling Rider. We bought these both based on immediate availability. I wanted something and I wanted something RIGHT THEN. Even though I didn’t even have a baby to wear in them. Funny enough, my friend Emily later called and said that she was thinking of getting me one for a gift, and asked which one I liked. I had to tell her that I had already bought TWO! and so she got Camper lots of other cool stuff. I think I used the Jeep 3 times total, never out of the house, and although John liked it I didn’t. I used the Infantino a lot when Camper was really colicky before we got the GERD medicine, and it worked pretty well, but I later saw recalls on it (that I think were an earlier version) and eventually sold them both at a yard sale. After some actual research, I bought the MayaWrap and then went back and forth between getting and Ergo and a Beco, and settled on a Beco. From what I’ve seen of the Ergo, I think I would have been equally happy with both. And I secretly want one and cannot in any way justify ANOTHER carrier. Finally, I just received a Hotsling from a review that I did from csnstores.com. They contacted me about checking our their site, and when I found that YO, it has TONS OF STUFF! they let me pick something in return for a review on my website. I wanted the sling. I liked their site. It was a match made in Heaven. Interestingly enough, I think most of my slings have been gifted/funded. I bought the MayaWrap for my birthday money from my Auntie (Thanks Auntie!!), my Beco with money I earned from BlogHer, and then of course the free Hotsling. With all of this crazy slingness going on, I thought it was time for a full out reivew.
So here we go.
The Jeep. I’m not actually sure this is the exact one John and I got, since I thought ours was about $16, so keep in mind I think we got a “cheaper” version. This sling appealed to me because I could carry Camper in back or in front, and he could face outward when he got older. I liked it before I tried any other slings. However, as soon as I tried the Beco, I knew I could never go back. First of all, I’ve heard and believe that babies shouldn’t really face outward in slings. When babies (no matter how old) face away from their parents in slings like this, their center of gravity is centered in their…uh…package area. Or, in a girl’s case…the personal area. I did notice that Camper got red marks along his inner thighs whenever I faced him outward in this. It’s actually bad for the parent’s back as well, as they are leaning outward instead of in towards the wearer’s body, putting strain on the wearer’s back. Just my opinion here, but if I want my baby to face away from me, I’ll just put him in the stroller. He’s more comfy there. This one also had a lot of straps/buckles that made it a wee difficult to use. Will it work? Is it safe? Probably. But I wouldn’t buy another one. Like I said, I sold ours at a yard sale. The one BIG positive to this one: it has Dad appeal. Because it’s not a “pretty” sling, and because you can adjust it to fit anyone, switching parents isn’t a big deal. John wore Camper in this occasionally.
The Infantino. My first “cozy” sling, as I called it. When Camper was very, very young (6 weeks or so) he became very fussy. He wanted to be carried, and if I put him in this, he would stay calm. I liked that he fit in it nicely, that it hid him from view while I was walking around the mall, that there was some breathable mesh so that he didn’t suffocate. It went on and off like a purse, so once I got him strapped in it I could move him around easily. This, I liked. However, I didn’t like that he would get mesh face from being pressed against it, and I REALLY didn’t like that some GENIUS put SUPER LOUD VELCRO on the part that you use to strap the baby in with. This means that baby is all asleep and I want to take him out and put him down, and if the HUGE RIIIIPPPP sound to unhood one side didn’t wake him up, the second huge RIPPPPPPPPP sound to undo the other side definitely would. And of course, you can’t (and shouldn’t) lay a little baby down in a sling, especially one designed to cover them completely. When you’re standing up they can breathe, if you take it off and lay them down…they can’t. I ended up hooking it over our bouncy chair and then SITTING RIGHT THERE until he woke up.
(forgive the editing. If you want to see what to see the original pic…and I KNOW you, send me an email. But we don’t like the whole world having his picture to use for whatever.)(He’s really cute, I asure you.)
So, aside from the weird recall (rumor? who knows) the fact that it was sometimes too stuffy (made us both hot to wear it), and the fact that I don’t think this sling would work for older babies, at ALL…it was good for the month that I used it. Except for the Velcro. I think you get the picture. I think I might actually still have this one, packed away with all the newborn stuff. With the others that I have now, though, I don’t think it’ll get much use. We’ll have to see.
Moving on.
The MayaWrap. I really dig the MayaWrap. I first saw someone wearing one (this color) while at church in Provo. I promptly thought “What a hippie.” (She probably makes her own baby food and uses cloth diapers, too. Right?) It wasn’t until that “hippie” became my visiting teacher that I realized that her wrap was kind of awesome…and even better…. it still worked for her 18 month old. I waited until Camper was about 5 months old before getting mine, so I never used it like I did the Infantino (the baby laying down inside) but I seen it used for very small babies, mommy and baby both happy. (Right Amy? You used it for Princess all the time in church. She even made her OWN, people. Which is so easy to do if you are at all crafty.) I love it for the hip carry. I also love the bright colors and the pocket that you can put stuff in. I just recently discovered that it makes a great cart cozy. Camper just started to try and jump out of carts while walking around stores (fun, right?), so I put it around him when he’s in a cart, put it around the back of the seat, and tighten it just so. I can fit my keys, walet, and phone into the pocket…and then I don’t have to carry anything else into the store. The downside…this one has a bit of a learning curve. I actually had to watch the video it came with. (For five minutes.) But because of it’s long-term use and it’s pretty factor, it ranks as one of my favorites. Another negative is that sometimes I just can’t get it to sit quite right and end up redoing it a couple of times. When Camper was younger he was fine with it, but now he gets antsy. This only happens every so often, though, and usually when I don’t take the time to fold it right before I put it on. I used this just the other day in Target to keep Camper in the cart (didn’t have to use their cart buckle that barely fits him!!!) and then to transition to holding him when he got fussy. Worked great. I would NOT recommend this for anything more than an afternoon at the mall, though. I tried to take a walk with him in it, and I was TUCKERED. I hear it’s great for breastfeeding because it has a long tail that you can use as a cover up. I usually use the tail to cover Camper’s head when it’s raining. I just dig this one, and I’m glad it’s in my collection.
If I had to chose just one babywearing device, it would be the Beco. Like I said, I think the Ergo works just as well. You can wear your baby on your front or back, and he always faces you. The first time I put it on with Camper inside I was like “HEY! WHERE DID MY BABY GO???” He seemed that light in it. I love that when he’s on my front he can hug me, I can hug him, kiss his face. When he’s on my back he’s a part of what I’m doing. He can’t reach things around me, but he can watch people in the grocery store and seems very comfortable. I have worn this on hikes, see?
I dig it. It’s easy to put him on my front, requires some effort to get him on my back (but I can do it alone with the help of a couch or chair. Some people with more practice are better at it than me.) but once he’s on there, that’s it. He’s on. We’re happy and off doing whatever we need to be doing. Shopping, hiking, whatever. I’ve seen kids totally fall asleep in this, and if Camper were that type of kid…you know…to fall asleep anywhere but his bed or the carseat, I could totally see that happening. For pictures of the Ergo and review, go here. Good stuff.
And now on to the Hotsling. I passed this one up initally because it didn’t look complicated enough to be quality. I know, right? I’ve been using it for the last week and OH MY GOODNESS it is so easy, and so good! I don’t hesitate to bring it with me anywhere because it folds up super small. I’ve worn Camper on my front, my side, and my back. I can get him in and out super easily, so it’s worth sticking him in even for five minutes. Today at church he was crawling around, and then I stuck him in it just to go get materials from the library and go back to class, and it didn’t feel like a big effort at all. I use it to do laundry, to carry things upstairs or downstairs, or whenever. I LOVE shopping in it. I can have him on my hip, and then when I want to look at something or dig through a pile or something, I just swing him under my arm and around to my back. When I’m done, I slide him back, no prob. The things that make it a little difficult: like the mayawrap, it helps to have it on right. Spend 5-10 minutes watching the video and you’re set. Also, it’s sized…so passing between parents isn’t a possibility. (Unless you happen to be the same size.) It comes in so many pretty colors and patterns, and would probably be pretty easy to make as well. This is another sling that goes from newborn to something like 40 lbs. For someone who loves to carry my kid (when he’ll let me) it’s great, especailly for the “I DON’T WANT TO SIT STILL WHILE YOU BUCKLE ME IN LET’S GOOOO!!!!!” stage. This gets #2 because it is SO EASY, but because I couldn’t hike in it.
So there ya go. Those are my sling experiences. I’ve found carrying Camper to be good for both of us. I really buy into that whole attachment parenting thing, to an extent. I think that babies that get a lot of physical contact are more confident and happy. As he reaches out to more and more people at the age when he’s actually supposed to be going through a mommy-only phase, I wonder if he is able to venture out and meet new people because of all the comfort and physical contact he gets from his parents and grandparents. I don’t know, but all I can tell you is that nothing makes walking through a mall better than when you can hold your child with ease when they want to be held, give them hugs in the supermarket without breaking your stride, and get things done when all they want is closeness. Good, good stuff.
PS: Airplanes!!
You CAN WEAR YOUR BABY THROUGH SECURITY IF:
1. Your sling has NO METAL IN IT.
2. You are bringing NO LIQUIDS THROUGH that have to be checked (water, forumla, pumped breastmilk). In that case, athough you can totally bring whatever you need food/snackwise for kids, they check you out more thoroughly. (If I did it again, I’d just bring powder and buy the million dollar water on the other side.) (Internal breastmilk will not slow you down. Just wear your baby and your boobs, and walk right on through.)
3. You have cooperative people at security. I’ve heard this both ways. “They made me take my baby out of the sling to walk through the detector.” “They let me right on through.” It helps not to have liquids, but honestly…depending on their mood and if you get chosen for a “random check,” you may or may NOT have to take your baby out of the carrier.
If I had to ride on a plane again soon, I’d take my umbrella stroller and my Hotsling and I think with those two things, I could do everything I needed to quickly and without help. I’d check the stroller at the gate, and the Hotsling is thin enough to stuff into a bag without adding any bulk.
