I began using Thirsties way back in 2008 when my son was born.  We used their XS covers and prefolds and they worked great.  Since then they have introduced their dual size line up.  I have already reviewed their Duo Diaper, and now I am reviewing their Duo fitted and Duo Wrap which was sent by Madison Organics.

Ease of Use ✩✩✩ Fitteds seem intimidating to many because they often seem to have a huge array of snaps, maybe because the “popular” fitted out there is snap city.  There is a snaps version of the Duo fitted but it is super simple, and since the fitted has give, it goes on like butter.  They also have a velcro version.  Same for the cover, which comes in both snaps or velcro and is simple to use.  They both use a snap down rise with 3 options.  You will likely have it sized already before it goes in the baby so it isn’t an issue.

Bang for the Buck ✩✩✩ The Duo fitted is 17 and the wraps are 12.25.  Usually you only need 4-6 covers, and around 12-26 fitteds depending on the age of your baby.  I think a whole stash of these would be a little pricey but having a few for night time would be a great idea.

Performance ✩✩✩✩✩ Can I say, LOVE?  Oh my, I love these fitteds and I didn’t expect that.  I knew they would work, but I didn’t think they would become my new favorite overnight diaper!  With no extra stuffing these hold up all night (usually 10-12 hours) and the cover keeps everything in.

Fit ✩✩✩✩ Since both the fitted and the cover and dual sized my son should have plenty of room left to grow.  They do say they begin fitting at 18 pounds but my son is 17 pounds and needs to be on the middle rise snap.  As I said in the video, the fitted looks extremely comfortable and it comforms to his tummy so well!  The cover doesn’t leave any red marks or show other signs of discomfort.

Overall- Both the fitted and the wrap are easy to use, not too bulky compared to many other combinations on the market.  The innovative way the soaker is sewn in makes for no bulk when changing the rise settings.  The fitted does take longer to dry than one dryer cycle.

Where to buy: Madison Organics

A Thirsties Duo fitted and Wrap were sent for the purposes of the review.  No other compensation was received and all opinions are 100% genuine and my own.

This review and giveaway is part of the New Baby Event Part 2!  Make sure you check out all of the other giveaways for the new mom and baby going on now!  Lots more to come too so check back often!

One of the best things about having a newborn baby is cuddling them, kissing them, sniffing their sweet little baby heads, and generally spoiling them!  That is the perfect reason to wear your baby!  And, if you have a toddler running around, babywearing isn’t just a luxury, it is a necessity!  That is why I was so excited to try and review the beautiful wrap from Sugar Sweet Baby! I adore the designs she chooses!

If you haven’t tried a wrap, don’t be afraid! Wraps looks extremely intimidating but either watching a video tutorial or very detailed drawings/pictures tutorials (Sugar Sweet Baby has a fabulous booklet with instructions that they send out!) can make you a wrapping pro in no time.  With my first son I watched a lot of videos and practiced in my home before I took him out in public in our wrap.  I started late and never had a chance to wrap him as a newborn so I was so excited about wrapping baby number 2!

Why Choose a Sugar Sweet Baby Wrap?

First, you are buying from a fabulous mama!  I have “known” her for quite a while from Twitter (surprise, surprise).  She is a caring person who loves babywearing!

Her wraps are well made and gorgeous!  Plus, the bamboo is super soft!  While an all stretchy wrap is great, a stretchy wrap with a cotton knit panel in the front makes for a more decorative look and offers a little more support for older babies.  It is like a cross between a woven and a stretchy wrap!

Sugar Sweet Baby Wraps are WAHM made items, and are of course made here in the USA!

After my son arrived I was really excited to begin

In a wrap, in a coat, and a hat to keep warm outside!

babywearing again.  It took me about a week to feel “healed” enough.  Since then I have been using this wrap more than any of my other carriers!  Wraps are perfect for those tiny babies, especially since they cannot hold up their heads yet.  Plus, in this cold weather a wrap is even nicer because it keeps them all bundled up next to you and you can cover their little heads.

So far since having this baby I have worn him in the wrap:

• Around the house (of course)
• Walking around downtown Cazenovia
• Shopping (various places and times)
• My Gym (while I chased my toddler)
• Mall Play Center (while I once again chased my toddler)

Not bad for a week, right?  I make sure to carry the wrap with me when I go out so I have it handy.  I have already washed it once after a major spit up occurred.  The wrap came out just as soft as before it went in.

The only downside to a wrap is that is is bulky to carry around in your diaper bag.  If I know for certain I will be wearing Everett in my Sugar Sweet Baby wrap I “pre-wrap” at home so that when I get to where I am going I can just pop him in.  This is much easier than wrapping him while in the car, outside in the cold, or in a store.  Especially if my toddler is with me!

Getting some work done!

If you believe in the “4th Trimester” them wrapping is so helpful for this period of time when the baby needs to be held close and cuddled.  I have received so many positive comments while wearing my son out and about in this wrap.  Most people see how cozy he is and content and comment on that.  One woman actually thought I was pregnant (I had my coat on over the wrap so only his little head was out) until she approached me.  Wearing your baby is like being pregnant.  The baby gets rocked and swayed while you move, like he did in the womb, and is usually comforted to a quiet calm or to sleep.  And, you get to wrap your arms around that little bundle and squeeze tight.  But, you arms aren’t tied up!  You can let go and go about your day!

Sugar Sweet Baby is going to give a lucky DDL reader a super soft and stylish Bamboo Wrap of their own!

Mandatory Entry:

(1 entry) Visit Sugar Sweet Baby’s Shop and let me know what your favorite fabric choice is! There are sooo many! Leave it as a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

(1 entry) Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Enter to win the super soft and stylish bamboo wrap from @sugarsweetbaby and @KimRosas.  http://xmeyn.th8.us  Ends Nov 25”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet. 1 entry per day.

(1 Entry) Follow Sugar Sweet Baby on Twitter. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

(1 entry) Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

(2 entries) Blog about this giveaway and link to it. Post a link in the comment.

(2 entries) Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

(1 Entry) Click “Share this” (located at the top of the blog post) and share this giveaway on your Facebook page. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) “Like” Sugar Sweet Baby on Facebook. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) “Like” Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook.  Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) Follow the Sugar Sweet Baby Blog. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) Sign up for the SSB Newsletter. Leave a comment.

(1 Entry) Go to Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and start a discussion or reply to a discussion.  Tell me what you did. Just leave your comment

(1 Entry) Subscribe to my YouTube Channel. Leave a comment.

A Sugar Sweet Baby wrap was sent for the purposes of this review.  All opinions are 100% my own and genuine.  Giveaway ends on Nov 25. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn. *Open to US and Canada*

This review was written and performed by Kristen, DDL Contributor, for the New Baby Event.

I wore my older daughter a lot and I knew I would be wearing my new daughter as much, if not more than my first. I hadn’t tried a lot of different carriers originally but knew I wanted to experiment more this time around. I was given the opportunity to review the Sleepy Wrap baby carrier and was pretty excited about it.

It is similar to other fabric wraps in that it is one really long piece of fabric that you wrap around your body in different ways to achieve different ways of holding your baby. This can be a little daunting for the babywearing newbie, but they do give good illustrated instructions to help you out and once you get the hang of it, it’s easy to figure out the different wraps or positioning. The fabric is super comfy (I was trying out the organic style) and stretchy, which is good and not so good. It’s good because it’s really nice to be able to make the wrap tight and have your baby all snug and secure in there, but it’s not so good because I found that after wearing my daughter for a while, she started to sag a little lower. I think that this is something that people will learn through trial and error and the wrap probably just needs to be tied really tightly. There probably will be a period of adjustment though where it’s a little too tight in the beginning but once they sag a little, it will be a perfect fit. It is definitely comfortable to wear for long periods of time though as long as you initially tie it tight enough to not end up with lots of sag from their weight. Because of the stretchy nature of the fabric, I don’t think I would intend to use this wrap for a heavier kid, although it does evenly distribute the weight of the child well.

There are many great advantages of the Sleepy Wrap though. It’s nice because it’s essentially a “one-size-fits-all” kind of wrap because it’s a long piece of fabric and you can custom fit it to your body. If you are tiny, you will end up with a lot of extra fabric but it can easily be tied so it’s not in your way. I was also able to nurse my daughter while she was in the Sleepy Wrap. It was pretty discreet but it takes a bit of finesse to be able for me to do it. I think with practice it would be easy to nurse discreetly using it. The fabric is lightweight and comfortable for both myself and my baby but any wrap style carrier may not be ideal for someone in hotter climates due to the amount of fabric wrapped around you.

My daughter loved being in the carrier and often fell asleep quickly when I was wearing her in it. Because it was so comfortable, I was able to wear her for long periods of time…while cleaning my house, playing with my other daughter or just relaxing on the couch (which didn’t happen as often as I would like! haha).

To view the many sizes, shapes, ages, of babies being wrapped snuggly in a Sleepy Wrap I highly recommend visiting the Sleepy Wrap Photo Gallery.

Sleepy Wrap is giving one lucky DDL reader an Organic Sleepy Wrap in either Khaki or Natural. Closed

Mandatory Entry:

Become a fan of Sleepy Wrap on Facebook. Leave a comment saying you did.

-and/or-

Go to Sleepywrap.com and let me know something you learned about babywearing safety. Leave a comment.

For extra entries do any or all of the following.  Leave a comment for each you do.

Follow @KimRosas on twitter and tweet this giveaway. Please tweet, “Snuggle your baby close in a @sleepywrap.  Enter to win from @KimRosas http://odexy.th8.us #babywearing.”  Leave a comment with a link to your status.

You can tweet once a day for the duration of the contest. Leave a comment with your status for each tweet.

Follow @SleepyWrap on Twitter.  Leave a comment.

Subscribe to my blog via email through feedburner. Leave a comment.

Follow me through Google Friend Connect or via a reader. Leave a comment.

Grab my button and post it on your blog. Leave a comment.

If you have the New Baby Event button on your blog you get (3) extra entries. Leave 3 separate comments.

Blog about this giveaway. Post a link in the comment.

Get Creative: Post about this giveaway on a messageboard or forum. Leave a comment with a link.

New Entry: Become a fan of Dirty Diaper Laundry on Facebook and get 5 extra entries! To qualify, post on my wall with either your favorite review I have done (would prefer this to be diaper related but it can be another product if you don’t dig my diaper reviews) or let me know a diaper you want to see reviewed.  Then copy and paste what you wrote as a comment here.  Then, leave 4 more comments saying “facebook entry 2, 3, etc)

Giveaway ends on March 29. Winner will be chosen using random.org. If the winner does not respond within 48 hours a new winner will be drawn.

***Open to US and Canada***

This post is part of “All About Babywearing” Month (which has extended into November) on Dirty Diaper Laundry.
Why should you wear your baby?

Newborn- Imagine you are a happy fetus. You spend your days bouncing around gently in your mommy’s tummy, being bounced to sleep gently by the movements. It is warm and cozy in there, the perfect temperature, and you can drink all that water around you for fun, since there really isn’t anything else to do. Being curled up tight is pretty comfy too.

Then, you are evicted. It is pretty brutal, tight spaces, bright lights, strange “hands,” and vigorous wiping. Then you are placed on a hard surface to sleep.

If you wrap your baby tight against your chest in a stretchy wrap, you can mimic that feeling. The baby is kept warm from your body heat, he is cuddled up tight, and he will have ample access to your food supply. I don’t see anything better than that. I wish I had wrapped my son from the get go, but I know now!

Up to 3 months- When your baby doesn’t have full neck control, wearing them can be a challenge. Some of the most comfortable holds, at least for me, have been upright. You can wear your baby cradled in a sling, or wrapped with fabric behind their necks to offer more support. You can place them in a Soft Structure Carrier, like a Beco or Ergo, and add infant supports. There are lots of ways to hold them safely and comfortably.

At this point in their lives they want to be held, constantly. I remember when I was so hungry but couldn’t get off the couch because my baby was asleep in my arms. Had I been wearing him he would have been completely satisfied, and would have slept on me without keeping my arms tied up. *sigh*

3-6 Months- Your baby now has good neck control, so the fun can really begin. This is when you can use my favorite, the Kangaroo Hold. In this hold, you baby can sit cross legged, facing front. You can use this hold in a pouch or ring sling. While they are this age you can front face with no adverse effects on their spine, since they are seated. Trust me, your baby won’t mind this position. It is nice and cozy and scrunched up. Plus, they can get a great outlook on life. Some babywearing advocates don’t advise any front facing because of the outside world being met with your baby head on. Frankly, that seems silly to me.

By now, you are still most likely breastfeeding your baby. But you aren’t chained to the house anymore. Their feedings are frequent enough that you will need to feed them most trips. If you are able to, you can simply feed your baby in the carrier, saving you time and hassle. Around this age I wore my son, a lot. When we shopped, to amusement parks, short walks, and around the house. It was a way to keep him happy since he was still clingy. It was also a convenience. We decided to ditch the stroller on many occasions because I was planning on wearing my son. This was a godsend when we went to Tampa. Without a stroller at the theme park I didn’t have to worry with lugging it around.

6-12 months. Your baby is probably too large for the kangaroo hold at this point. If they really want to face out, you can consider a woven wrap. By now your baby is either already, or close to getting too heavy for a stretchy wrap. Or, there are carriers that have a facing out function that aren’t Bjorns, like the Cybex 2. GO and the soon to be released Beco Gemini. But, the best way to wear your babies is facing your tummy or back. This is a great age to use a back carry, and depending in the squirminess, they might let you put them in a back carry using the corner of your couch.

Back Carries are awesome to explore the world. Your baby will get a decent view, and your boobs will have some air time. I know mine get all sweaty when I wear my son for a long time! TMI! I love the back carry for tooling around town. You can actually grab a hot dog without your baby grabbing it from you! A carrier with a mobility position, where their arms have more wiggle room, is a good thing now also. While you baby might not want to be worn as much at this age, they will probably still tolerate it for short trips. Mine still loved it, but others might be more content in a stroller. As they continue to get heavier, it is important for their safety and your comfort to be wearing them correctly.

12 Months and up- ACK MY BACK! You might be thinking it is crazy to wear a 1 year old or older. I have heard tales of moms wrapping their 4 year olds for comfort! If your baby will still let you wear them, depending on independent they have become, then consider yourself lucky. You still get to snuggle them tight, and avoid the stroller! Back Carries and tummy to tummy are still great at this age, and if you want a heavier duty carrier, you could move up to a frame carrier like a Kokopax or Kelty. Those are very daddy friendly too, and daddies have more muscle to handle the weight.

Wearing them at this point is probably more of a convenience issue. You need to do dishes, wear them. You need to be hands free at the airport, wear ‘em. But, if your baby is having a hard time with teeth, or is sick, wrapping them close is a great way to comfort them when they are most in need. Plus, you can still grab lunch!

The best reason to wear your baby is this: It feels warm and fuzzy!

This post is part of “All About Babywearing” Month on Dirty Diaper Laundry and Mama Needs This.

If you had asked me while I was pregnant if I were planning on using a wrap for my son I might have laughed in your face.  The idea of wrapping multiple yards of fabric around myself and my son looked entirely too complicated.  I was certain I would never be able to figure out a wrap well enough to use it properly.  I also wasn’t a fan of how they looked.  I had only seen the stretchy, solid colored wraps.

Fast Forward to a trip to Jillian’s Drawers for a babywearing class.  The instructor showed a woven wrap after I asked to see one.  I was interested in wrapping at this point thanks to more exposure to it online.  A friend of mine also had a Moby wrap.  I was interested in Woven Wraps since they were better for heavier children.  Since my son was already gaining a good bit of heft I decided if/when I bought a wrap it had to be woven.  Ellaroo wraps were sold in Jillian’s Drawers.  I loved the look of them in certain colors.  Others were a little too bright or stripey for my taste.

I didn’t make my purchase that day.  I tried my friend’s Moby out and decided I could figure out a wrap.  Then, I borrowed  Didy from WooWoomama during her Babywearing Loan.  Borrowing a woven wrap gave me confidence that I really would be able to use my own.  It also made me realize that I wish I had started wrapping from the beginning.  My son could nap for hours in the wrap.

I found an Ellaroo in gorgeous blues and greens, the Kristen print, in a 4.2 meter length, perfect for my son and I to wear proudly.  There is fun fringe on the ends, but not enough to look “fringy.”  The wraps start off crunchy, but there are ways to soften it up.  Washing (hand washing in cold or using the gentle cycle on our machine), ironing, and braiding are all ways to break in your wrap.  The great thing about woven wraps like the Ellaroo is that they get better with age.  Stretchy wraps have their purpose, but woven wraps last so much longer.  They can last your child until toddlerhood, and will still be in great shape for multiple children.  I know moms who are saving their wraps to wear their grandchildren in, or to pass onto their children when they have their own babies.

Ellaroo Wraps are affordable.  If you are afraid of trying a woven wrap because of the sticker shock then take a look at Ellaroos.  I have worn a Didy and I own an Ellaroo.  Can I tell the difference between the two?  Not really… My Ella isn’t as soft as the Didy but this is because it isn’t as old.  It was new a few months ago.  It is getting softer and will continue to do so.  The quality is great; I haven’t had any tears or fraying.  And if I did Ellaroo stands behind their products.  You are able to return them to the store where you bought them, or can contact them directly.

About Ellaroo Wraps: Ellaroo was founded in 2003 as a reliable source of superior baby carriers, and to be an economically, soically, and environmentally sustainable business.  More about Ellaroo here.

Ellaroo Wraps are versatile.  There is a learning curve, but with so many resources available to help you learn the many different carries, there is help for even the most helpless of us!  I found the Ellaroo Wrap instructions extremely helpful.  If you already have a wrap and need help or plan to buy one soon, check out this handy .pdf of instructions.  Wraps can be used from birth up to very large toddlers.  I have heard of moms wrapping their 4 years olds.  The Ellaroo suggests carrying a baby up to 35 pounds, but it is strength tested for up to 100 pounds!  They suggest listening to your own body and comfort level.  Since I didn’t start until my son was 6 months I haven’t tried any carries with my wrap for newborns.  I first did the rucksack carry.  The rucksack carry is a back carry.  This can be done with a longer wrap or a short wrap.  I prefer to place my wrap across my couch in a corner, and sit my son there and quickly wrap him up.  Now, when I say quickly, for me, this takes 2-3 minutes.  I am not a pro!  The first few times I did this my husband helped me.  When I do it alone I still go to a mirror to check his rear and make sure he is safely wrapped.  When my son has been fussy and unable to entertain himself, I can put him on my back to carry on with my dishes and laundry.  On one occasion I put him in the rucksack carry in my Ellaroo and walked downstairs.  By the time I was back up he had fallen asleep.  I wore him a bit longer and then unwrapped him onto my bed.  He slept on the wrap very contentedly for almost an hour.  That day I was so grateful to the Ellaroo!

While not suggested by manufacturers or many babywearing advocates, the Ellaroo can be used for a front facing carry.  This is such a touch subject but I bring it up because I bought the wrap for this reason.  Sometimes facing in to my face or towards my back just doesn’t cut it for my son.  If he is awake and active and I need to wear him, he likes to face forward.  I didn’t want a Bjorn, so I got an Ellaroo.  He really enjoys looking outward.  This can be hard on your back because it isn’t designed to be worn in this fashion.  It also isn’t the best for your baby.  I only use this carry for short periods of time, and turn him inward for a Tummy to Tummy position after he is done being entertained.

The best position for us has been the Tummy to Tummy.  When he is cranky or fussy there is nothing that helps him more than being held.  This isn’t practical to hold him and carry him all day.  Being wrapped facing me can mimic that close hold, and even improve it by keeping him nice and tight.  As long as he is not wanting to play, wrapping him this way can soothe him and make him happier than almost anything else in the world.

My only wish for the Ellaroo would be that it have a tag or marker to note the middle of the wrap.  Having to hold it up to find the middle is a little annoying, but it only takes a little longer.

The prices of the Ellaroo really vary online depending on which store you go to.  I have seen some as low as 39.00 on sale and some as high as 100.00.  The average is a around 85, which is 40.00 or more less than the other wraps.

Congrats to Amy, Comment number 219.

This review was performed on an item I purchased myself.  I received no monetary compensation or freebies.

This post is part of “All About Babywearing” Month on Dirty Diaper Laundry.

While I was pregnant I researched the crap out of cloth diapers.  Before my baby was born I knew all of the acronyms, how to wash, how to prep, all of the major brands and some of the not so major, the places to find info, etc.

While on that journey I noticed that most of the moms who cloth diapered also wore their babies in different carriers.  Many of whom referred to themselves as “babywearers.”  I wasn’t hip to that lingo, and so I started off researching babywearing as I did cloth diapering.  What I found was a world full of strange terms like “didy” and 5.2 meters (hello, lets not confuse the Americans with the metric system, please), and ring sling, and mei tei, and more that I don’t even want to get into because I still don’t understand.

I never intended on becoming one of those mothers.  One of those who wore their baby in a sling or wrap all of the time.  In truth, I thought it was kind of silly.  I also assumed it would get pretty hot being wrapped in yards of fabric and having a human heater attached to your chest.  That statement does still have some truth to it!  I had also never really seen anyone wear their baby, except in a Baby Bjorn or a Kelty like backpack carrier.  I never saw a mom sporting a beautiful woven wrap with a baby snuggled inside, or a child cradled in a sling.  I was clueless.

A part of me wanted to wear my baby because it was the culture I was getting into, but I honestly didn’t think it was for me.  I decided that I would buy a ring sling for the newborn stage.  I had read that using a ring sling and the cradle position (where the baby is basically cradled in the sling like you would hold him in your arms) was a nice way to transition them from the womb.  Plus, it was possible to breastfeed while wearing them this way.  Win.

Unfortunately, my idea kinda bombed.  Even after watching a trillion You Tube videos on how to use the cradle position, how to adjust your ring sling, how to thread your ring sling, it wasn’t working.  It was never tight enough, baby was always crying, he either sensed my discomfort because I was nervous about putting him in, or he genuinely did not enjoy that position.

I now know many mistakes that I made in those first few weeks.  I had the ring sling threaded improperly, making adjustments nearly impossible.  The fabric would bunch together and it didn’t slide through.  It took my husband to pull it through to tighten it, which should have been an obvious sign that something was amiss.  I was also terrified of harming my fragile newborn baby.  I lowered him inside of the sling oh so gently, but never the right way.  All of it was wrong.  How I wish that I had tried a stretchy wrap back then.  I know for my next baby we will be wrapping from day one.

I left my ring sling to collect dust for a couple of months.  It was winter and we transported the baby to and from the car inside of the infant car seat.  In stores he stayed in the car seat.  At home I had to hold him constantly.  Why wasn’t I wearing him?  Because I assumed wearing babies was for running errands and shopping, not for around the house when you could just hold them.  Again, I wish I could have told myself how stupid that was.  I tried the ring sling ever so often but it failed.

Eventually I picked it up again and tried the tummy to tummy hold with his legs tucked in.  This was successful, and I started wearing him around while we shopped and occasionally around the house when I needed to go downstairs to wash diapers.

Ring Sling and Kangaroo Hold

Next hold we tried was the kangaroo hold.  This was where he sat cross legged inside the pouch, facing outward.  He enjoyed this one the most, and he looked so adorable too!

Soon after I purchased my Ergo.  This was when I finally “got” babywearing.  The Ergo was so easy to use because of the buckles.  I put it on without ever reading instructions, and got it right.  Fletcher fit in so comfortably, and I wanted to wear him everywhere I went.   This really saved my life.  He was not happy riding in the stroller, and so I had not gone out much.  He would cry the entire time and I ended up holding him.  Now, the weather was warming up and I was more comfortable wearing him, it became an everyday thing.  I started wearing him while I shopped, while I went for walks, in the home, out to dinner, and everywhere.

Then, I wanted more.  I wanted to try a wrap, so I did.  I wanted to try a mei tei, and did.  I even dusted off the ring sling and started using the hip carry as my son got older.  I finally learned how to nurse in my Ergo, and that was also a revelation.  You haven’t lived until you’ve walk around the State Fair with a baby hooked onto your breast amidst thousands of unknowing passersby.

I started wearing my baby for practical reasons.  He cried, I wore him to free my hands and cease the crying.  I wore him to prevent taking a stroller in the store or to the amusement park.  But, I also enjoyed the closeness.  I could kiss the top of his head, pat his butt (which I do way too much when I wear him, it is like an addiction), bounce him to sleep, and feel his hot little breath on my chest.  I could wrap my arms around him for a hug and not have to physically support him.  He was, and still is, completely safe in my arms.

I only wish I knew then what I know now.  I would have been able to make myself lunch while wearing my baby instead of being stuck on the couch holding him.  Next time I am going to have an arsenal of carriers for my every whim.  My baby will be worn from day one, and I won’t have to call my husband to come home and make me a sandwich!

I asked some of my twitter friends how they got into #babywearing.  Here are some responses:

@carareed said: colicky babe, 2 kids close together, babe who needed/wanted to be held constantly

@thegreenpair said: Seen some of the moms in my AP group #babywearing and checked into it. Saved my life-only way she wouldn’t cry/I get stuff done!

@nicolemarr (who designed my lovely button!) said: the desire to hold my little girl and never let her go made me buy a hotsling. Never did figure it out tho. Have a mei tai now

@rbrinner said: couldn’t bear to put my baby down. wanted to hold her too much, but still had to do things like, you know, eat. oh, and pee.

@marybethrabon said: I saw other moms #babywearing long before I got preggo, knew I wanted that. Then, DD required being held for 3 weeks.

@Upstatemomof3 from Our Life Upstate said: my baby needed and wanted to be held all the time and that started me on #babywearing

How in the world did people ever live without baby carriers?  I know what you are thinking, baby carriers have been around almost as long as people have.  You are right.  But somewhere along the way the tradition of holding your baby close and wrapping them tight so that you could continue living life while taking care of your home and your family got lost.  And can I just preach about how amazingly convenient nursing in a carrier is?  This is a relatively new development for me, but I have taken full advantage of it.  I recently walked through a crowded building at the State Fair like a salmon upstream.  Apparently, we didn’t get the memo that the crowd was going somewhere else. Well, while fighting the crowd I had a very content little boy suckling away in my Ergo.  If only the hundreds of people around me knew what we were doing!
I wish I had known about babywearing when my son was first born the way I do now.  I actually had a ring sling, but my son hated being cradled.  I didn’t have a wrap, and he was too small for the other holds at that point.  I didn’t wear him the way I wanted to until I purchased my Ergo.  Now I have a wrap, a ring sling, and an Ergo. The reason I am posting this is because I watched the newest episode of 18 Kids and Counting.  Michelle, the mom of 18 kids (who just announced she is pregnant with number 19) was carrying her baby around D.C.  Just carrying.  I know for a fact that they own an Ergo also.  Why in the heck weren’t they using it?  I hardly ever just carry my son.  If I know he won’t be happy in the cart or stroller I wear him.  Or, I let him start out in those but bring a carrier for back up.  I can’t stand having to tote him around like that.
I’m very glad that babywearing is making a huge comeback.  I’m sure part of this has to do with the easy new carriers and how fashionable they are now.  I can’t pinpoint where society gave up on babywearing and when it came back. Maybe I am imagining things and it has always been around.  I just know that moms in other parts of the world wear their babies around for an extended period of time.  A friend sent this article around that says crawling is a relatively new development for babies.  Most babies didn’t crawl since their parents wore them all of the time.

How did you ever live without your carrier?

Now that I am “on the wagon” and I can’t buy any more new, or used fluff, I still like to window shop. There are some diapers I have seen lately that make me regret EC! There are also some kinds I have just never tried before. I hope I still get the chance; I like to understand every aspect of cloth diapering. When people ask me opinions, I would love to have tried all types. Enjoy my list. If you want to send me one of these diapers, feel free! *wink wink*

A side snapping diaper I would love to try! These come in a rainbow of colors. One complaint I have with some diaper companies is that they do not give enough color options. Not so with GadBaby!

I just found out about these diapers called ES Baby, and I am mad about them! The mama who makes them happens to live VERY local to me. So hard to resist, especially since I have been wanting to try a side snapping diaper for a while. She has adorable prints. You can find her instock store on etsy.

I would like to try these to see how they stack up to Bum Genius. They are a more affordable option, they are a snapping pocket, and so far I hear great things. Check out Smartipants for more information.

Zany Zebra makes the most extraordinarily beautiful, drool worthy diapers I have ever seen. These are for someone who really wants to splurge! And of course, if I owned one I would never ever cover it up. Thankfully, I have baby legs. This sushi applique is my favorite!

I want to try wool, just to say I have. I need to know what all the fuss is about. Of course, I would love to own a pair of adorable crankypants. But, any wool will do! This sugar peas soaker looks cute, and is supposed to work great!

I really, really, really want a gauze cotton wrap. This brand, Gypsy Mama, makes gorgeous wraps. This one in particular has a nice print that belongs to me! Since trying my friend’s Moby, I am even more set on getting a wrap.

This isn’t diaper related, but since I am “on the wagon” for regular shopping too, I wanted to include it.