Babywearing

Babywearing - yes I do! I have been blessed with four precious children and pictured below are my oldest and my youngest. With my youngest, I have certainly wore him more than the other three put together - pretty much out of necessity - to have both of my hands available while also holding Jacob. Why Babywear? Here's a few of the reasons that I choose to wear my baby: 1. Frees up your hands to hold other children's hands, cook dinner, fold laundry, etc 2. Keeps your baby close, where they want to be 3. Your baby can be awake, sleep, or nurse 4. Allows you to move around easier with your baby, without worrying about carrying a car seat or pushing a stroller 5. Allows you to decide who can touch your baby 6. They love it! I went a little overboard when preparing for this baby and purchased an array of slings and carriers. By far, my favorite is the ERGO Baby carrier. After using various slings, I started researching to find a carrier that would disperse my baby's weight better, therefore also not causing as much back pain.

He comfortably sleeps in the carrier.

Is awake in the carrier.

Goes Christmas caroling in the carrier!

At his brother's 4th birthday in the carrier.

His dad even tried it out this past Thanksgiving! (He's 6'3" & able to wear it!)

At his sister's Thankgiving celebration in the carrier.

ERGO Baby carrier -

Pros: comfort; easy to put on; able to use front, back, or side; able to safely sleep in it; able to nurse in it; adjustable; so many other pros! I truly use this carrier almost daily. It goes on with a few snaps & Jacob loves it. There's a handy zippered pouch I can put my keys, phone or pacifier in. It is my favorite carrier.

Cons: only use with baby facing inward (This may be a con with some people, but it hasn't been a problem yet with my almost 10 month old)

Before I discovered the ERGO baby carrier, I tried out quite a few different slings. I still keep these around & use them if I need to go into a store quickly or pick my kids up from school.

Here's a few I have tried:

My cousin sent me this sling that she found at a garage sale. I have lent it to a friend with a newborn right now, so I don't remember the brand, but it's a basic pouch sling.

Pro: goes on in seconds

Cons: not adjustable; back discomfort with longer use

I found this water mesh ring sling on ebay last year and have used it quite a few times too! It came in handy last Fall when it was hot in Disneyland.

Pros: adjustable; usable & quick drying in water

Cons: back discomfort with longer use

I also like this Moby Wrap.

Pros: many options for wearing; adjustable; more comfortable than slings

Cons: lots of material & a little complicated to figure out how to put it on; material tends to sag and stretch out as you wear it

Here's another pouch sling I found on ebay.

When Jacob was born, I gave my daughter a mini-Moby wrap, which she likes to carry her dolls around in.

My mom even tried out babywearing with the water sling.

Back to the Moby.

Here's Jacob's 1st time in our pool in the water sling.

As I said before, Jacob has been worn tons more than his older siblings, for sure.

Now, a quickly look back into babywearing my older three:

Here's a sling my precious friend made me after I had Isaiah. It's a basic pouch sling. With my daughter, our second child, I used this sling (she was only 5 weeks old). Looking back at my oldest, who's now 8, this is the only carrier I had with him. (This is my sweet sister carrying him on a hike we took when he was 3 months old!) So, personally, if I were to put them in order of my preference:

1. ERGO baby

2. Moby wrap

3. Pouch Slings & Ring Slings

When deciding which one is for you, I urge you to take advantage of a great program I just found out about on Heavenly Hold's website: They have a baby carrier 2 week trial program! It's only $8 per carrier! You could pick a few to try and keep them or return them, no problem. Such a great idea!

Happy Babywearing!!