I am becoming so enamored by the idea of baby wearing with this LO. We had a baby born with DD when she was bigger, and it was so convenient for walks and festivals. I'd love something for while LO is still a newborn too.
I also fell down the YouTube rabbit hole, and I think I'm leaning toward a Tula ring sling. It seems less intimidating than the wraps. The next problem is picking one, there are so many beautiful patterns!
My question is the sizing- I would definitely use a small/medium, but DH would need a large/ex. Would it be feasible for me to size down a large to fit me, or would we need to get one for each of us?
Are wraps best suited for newborns... and then when the babies get "sturdier" do they then graduate to a non-wrap like the Tula, Lillebaby, etc? Or can you use a Tula from when they are newborns?
What are your favorite brands for those wraps? I'd love to hear about the wraps that are easy to put on/take off.... They seem so complicated.
You can use a Boba carrier at 7lbs and on up to 45lbs. I love mine. It's very easy to put on and take off and adjust while you're wearing it. I carried my son on several 4-5 mile hikes, both front and back carried and it's been comfortable for both of us.
Is it feasible to back-carry a toddler while pregnant? We've got an Ergo, but I haven't used it in months because I'm not sure it's a good idea to carry a 35 lb toddler while almost 5 months pregnant.
Is it feasible to back-carry a toddler while pregnant? We've got an Ergo, but I haven't used it in months because I'm not sure it's a good idea to carry a 35 lb toddler while almost 5 months pregnant.
You totally can do it! I personally find back carrying uncomfortable but there's nothing wrong with doing it.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
I am becoming so enamored by the idea of baby wearing with this LO. We had a baby born with DD when she was bigger, and it was so convenient for walks and festivals. I'd love something for while LO is still a newborn too.
I also fell down the YouTube rabbit hole, and I think I'm leaning toward a Tula ring sling. It seems less intimidating than the wraps. The next problem is picking one, there are so many beautiful patterns!
My question is the sizing- I would definitely use a small/medium, but DH would need a large/ex. Would it be feasible for me to size down a large to fit me, or would we need to get one for each of us?
You can use the L/XL and wrap the tail around the rings, use it as a cover, or just have along pretty tail. I use both sizes and my H can use either too.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
Sweet Jesus, why are Tula ring slings so expensive?
The demand is there so it works for their business model. They also have some pretty great limited runs on fabrics and patterns. The tencil blends are my favorite, and worth every penny in my opinion. $135 isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
@NoraAurora yes! I don't remember some of the shop names but several retailers who get Tula exclusives will work with etsy shops to create a set of custom accessories to go with the Tula. It's sanctioned by both Tula, and the retailer. The Suckling Duckling and Pink Castle Trading Company are two of my favorites.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
Wow, thanks all! I sort of thought I'd avoid baby-wearing threads because it seemed like a lot of baby-wearing moms were waaaay too extreme about basically everything. You guys have confirmed that most parents due this out of practicality, which is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm in Europe and don't even own a car (DH has a company car but Baby will only be in it on weekends) so I'll be walking/taking public transit pretty much everywhere. I had done some wrap research a couple months ago and feel like the Boba wrap is the best newborn option for us. Does anyone have experience wearing a stretchy wrap for longer periods of time? Like can I skip the stroller when walking the dog, going shopping, etc? Also, is there a trick to keeping Baby warm in the winter besides tucking them into your coat (not sure mine is wide enough on top)? Is it still safe to use a stretchy wrap if Baby is in a winter coat?
Wow, thanks all! I sort of thought I'd avoid baby-wearing threads because it seemed like a lot of baby-wearing moms were waaaay too extreme about basically everything. You guys have confirmed that most parents due this out of practicality, which is exactly what I'm looking for. I'm in Europe and don't even own a car (DH has a company car but Baby will only be in it on weekends) so I'll be walking/taking public transit pretty much everywhere. I had done some wrap research a couple months ago and feel like the Boba wrap is the best newborn option for us. Does anyone have experience wearing a stretchy wrap for longer periods of time? Like can I skip the stroller when walking the dog, going shopping, etc? Also, is there a trick to keeping Baby warm in the winter besides tucking them into your coat (not sure mine is wide enough on top)? Is it still safe to use a stretchy wrap if Baby is in a winter coat?
Not sure how much it would help in the winter, maybe under a coat, but Boba makes a hoodie and a vest that fit over your carrier.
@books&icecream I don't live in Europe (I wish!) but we visited Paris when my daughter was 7 months old and I exclusively wore her because I didn't want to deal with traveling with a stroller or getting one around on the metro. It just sounded like a nightmare. We walked about 12 miles each day and I was very comfortable with my woven wrap. I tried using my Tula one day and my back and hips were hurting (and chaffing) by noon. I think for day to day errands, though, a SSC would have been fine. I wear simply because it is more convenient for our lifestyle. It's not really a "parenting decision" so much as a quality of life decision for us. It just makes things easier.
Stretchy wraps aren't very comfortable or supportive after 3 or so months (maybe a little longer depending on the size of your baby) but I wore mine for hours at a time when DD was that small. Woven wraps can be used forever. There are babywearing coats if you think you'll be wearing a lot in cold weather, but you can also just size up on a coat. I didn't really like bundling up DD in a coat and then wrapping her when she was really tiny (it just made me nervous).
Sweet Jesus, why are Tula ring slings so expensive?
The demand is there so it works for their business model. They also have some pretty great limited runs on fabrics and patterns. The tencil blends are my favorite, and worth every penny in my opinion. $135 isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things.
Eh, that's over my limit for what's basically a bit of fabric (really nice fabric, granted) and some rings. I wasn't in love with any of the patterns. They're nice but just not my thing. I did suck it up and order a plain linen one from Sakura Bloom yesterday though thanks to some info in this thread. Still pretty pricey but a little easier for me to accept.
Sweet Jesus, why are Tula ring slings so expensive?
The demand is there so it works for their business model. They also have some pretty great limited runs on fabrics and patterns. The tencil blends are my favorite, and worth every penny in my opinion. $135 isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things.
Eh, that's over my limit for what's basically a bit of fabric (really nice fabric, granted) and some rings. I wasn't in love with any of the patterns. They're nice but just not my thing. I did suck it up and order a plain linen one from Sakura Bloom yesterday though thanks to some info in this thread. Still pretty pricey but a little easier for me to accept.
I mean when you look at it from that POV of course you can't justify the expense. But that's ok because there are tons of other manufacturers that offer less expensive, albeit possibly lower quality, ring slings. Why is a coach bag $250 but a Louis Vuitton is $1000+. Some people see value in the quality, design, style, where other people see a piece of fabric with handles. The beauty of babywearing is it's affordable for almost all budgets. Sakura is a great starting RS... My first was a linen Sakura Bloom.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
Be warned, though. Babywearing is addicting. If it's something you and your little love truly enjoy, there's an entire world dedicated to babywearing. So many other pretties and eventually you may find yourself justifying a $135 ring sling or $350 SSC. Crazy? Yes! But we're making memories.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
Another perspective on the price issue: I had a hard time justifying the cost of my carrier, but I honestly use it much more often than I ever use my stroller (DS hated to be in his car seat/stroller until more like 8mos old). A good carrier is less expensive than a decent stroller!
Another perspective on the price issue: I had a hard time justifying the cost of my carrier, but I honestly use it much more often than I ever use my stroller (DS hated to be in his car seat/stroller until more like 8mos old). A good carrier is less expensive than a decent stroller!
Agree. I definitely used my carrier more than the stroller. The carrier can go ANYWHERE. The stroller, not so much. But, I did pay a little more for my carrier than my stroller and I'm ok with that.
Sweet Jesus, why are Tula ring slings so expensive?
The demand is there so it works for their business model. They also have some pretty great limited runs on fabrics and patterns. The tencil blends are my favorite, and worth every penny in my opinion. $135 isn't terrible in the grand scheme of things.
Eh, that's over my limit for what's basically a bit of fabric (really nice fabric, granted) and some rings. I wasn't in love with any of the patterns. They're nice but just not my thing. I did suck it up and order a plain linen one from Sakura Bloom yesterday though thanks to some info in this thread. Still pretty pricey but a little easier for me to accept.
I mean when you look at it from that POV of course you can't justify the expense. But that's ok because there are tons of other manufacturers that offer less expensive, albeit possibly lower quality, ring slings. Why is a coach bag $250 but a Louis Vuitton is $1000+. Some people see value in the quality, design, style, where other people see a piece of fabric with handles. The beauty of babywearing is it's affordable for almost all budgets. Sakura is a great starting RS... My first was a linen Sakura Bloom.
"Some people see value in the quality, design, style, where other people see a piece of fabric with handles."
Well sure, but high cost doesn't necessarily always mean high quality. (Maybe in Tula it does, and for those who can afford it and are willing to pay for it, good! Enjoy it! Ain't no skin off my ass.) I do see value in and will pay for quality, design, and style (as opposed to a brand's name or the trendiness of a piece) when I feel like it's worth it. To me, the Tula wasn't it. No big deal.
Another perspective on the price issue: I had a hard time justifying the cost of my carrier, but I honestly use it much more often than I ever use my stroller (DS hated to be in his car seat/stroller until more like 8mos old). A good carrier is less expensive than a decent stroller!
It's soo true! I mean if you want real justification... If you use your $130-150 carrier for even 6 months, that's less than $1/day!
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
@rebeccuh, Tula wovens have a pretty middling reputation anyway. The Sakura Bloom is a good choice. Or, a 100% cotton jacquard tablecloth can make two great ring slings with minimal sewing skills required.
Most people babywear because it's practical and convenient. Some people turn into hobbyists (raises hand sheepishly), and some people turn into super duper extreme hobbyists, but you certainly don't have to, and most of the hobbyist community gets that most people don't feel the same drive to amass collections of carriers.
@rebeccuh fair enough mama. I'm an equal opportunity Babywearer. Like I said, Sakura was my first RS and its a great brand. There are some amazing ones that are even more expensive than Tula and are great. There are some that are less that are great. It's about personal preference and even budget.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
No questions yet just chiming in. I had a moby with my first and quickly hated it. Used the ergo more when she was a bit older but still not very often. Now with a toddler I just bought a Tula ring sling and I'm so excited to use it
@mkc3888 for me it was the thickness of the material. My December baby would sweat buckets in it so I ditched it for the Solly which is lighter weight, softer and more breathable. I've heard others have the same issue with the Moby.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
@nsquaredlife13@mkc3888 some brands do make more breathable options, like the Baby K'tan Breeze, Ergo Performance, Lillebaby Air flow, etc. Definitely something to think about if you live somewhere hot!
@mkc3888 for me it was the thickness of the material. My December baby would sweat buckets in it so I ditched it for the Solly which is lighter weight, softer and more breathable. I've heard others have the same issue with the Moby.
+1, some babies just don't like stretchy wraps; mine didn't
@kmvisioli I actually have the Tula coastal which is their new mesh carrier and it's perfect for us. A water sling (beachfront baby) is also a must have for the hot weather mamas. I used mine all last summer with my LO.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16) DS born 12.13.14 DD born 10.15.16 BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18 BFP 4.25.19, EDD 12.31.19
Ladies, reading this thread has resulted in about 15 open tabs on my browser! I didn't even know about several of these brands you mention!
So my sister (who is semi-crunchy and a huge baby-wearing advocate) said something like "well if you're going to buy a wrap, you should get something woven, like Oscha... the Solly's are lightweight but they tend to sag after a while because they aren't woven". Is this true? Or is she just forcing me to use the brands she loves? LOL.
Then she said something like "for ease, if you are intimidated by a wrap, you can always get a hybrid first". What does that mean a hybrid?
@annabenanna I did find that the K'tan (which is probably a "hybrid"?) would stretch over time during use, which made it less comfy. I was washing it to re-shrink it more often as DS got heavier. Haven't tried a woven though because it was too intimidating, and it was summertime in Houston (hot!)
Thanks @kmvisioli so what makes a wrap a woven wrap? Is it the material? Is it handmade? Also, why are they $200+ sometimes? I'm fainting over here looking at the Sakura Bloom prices.
Thanks @kmvisioli so what makes a wrap a woven wrap? Is it the material? Is it handmade? Also, why are they $200+ sometimes? I'm fainting over here looking at the Sakura Bloom prices.
Yes, the material is woven instead of knit like t-shirt material. The price is high for better quality materials, organic materials, the prints/dyes used, and if they are handmade. Sometimes woven wraps pop up on baby.steals.com for less than $50 if you want to try that route! You can also sometimes find them second hand.
Now I'm having a dilemma as to which Solly Wrap to order. Hahaha. I love all these neutrals, but how to pick just one???? (sorry they're so huge, I can't re-size!)
@annabenanna, you might want to join the Facebook group Babywearing on a Budget. Everything is $100 or less including shipping, and there are a gazillion choices of any type of carrier.
A hybrid wrap is midway between woven and stretchy -- I don't know exactly what the fabric is like -- so it's easier to use than a woven but will support more weight than a stretchy wrap and is safe for a back carry (when your baby can sit up on his/her own and you're comfortable getting him/her up there). The dominant brand there is Wrapsody.
I like the grey and white striped Solly wrap the best!
Re: The Official Babywearing Thread: ask your questions here!
I also fell down the YouTube rabbit hole, and I think I'm leaning toward a Tula ring sling. It seems less intimidating than the wraps. The next problem is picking one, there are so many beautiful patterns!
My question is the sizing- I would definitely use a small/medium, but DH would need a large/ex. Would it be feasible for me to size down a large to fit me, or would we need to get one for each of us?
Megantique
Me: 28 DH: 27
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
I'm in Europe and don't even own a car (DH has a company car but Baby will only be in it on weekends) so I'll be walking/taking public transit pretty much everywhere. I had done some wrap research a couple months ago and feel like the Boba wrap is the best newborn option for us. Does anyone have experience wearing a stretchy wrap for longer periods of time? Like can I skip the stroller when walking the dog, going shopping, etc? Also, is there a trick to keeping Baby warm in the winter besides tucking them into your coat (not sure mine is wide enough on top)? Is it still safe to use a stretchy wrap if Baby is in a winter coat?
DS#2 due 25 April 2019
Stretchy wraps aren't very comfortable or supportive after 3 or so months (maybe a little longer depending on the size of your baby) but I wore mine for hours at a time when DD was that small. Woven wraps can be used forever. There are babywearing coats if you think you'll be wearing a lot in cold weather, but you can also just size up on a coat. I didn't really like bundling up DD in a coat and then wrapping her when she was really tiny (it just made me nervous).
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Well sure, but high cost doesn't necessarily always mean high quality. (Maybe in Tula it does, and for those who can afford it and are willing to pay for it, good! Enjoy it! Ain't no skin off my ass.) I do see value in and will pay for quality, design, and style (as opposed to a brand's name or the trendiness of a piece) when I feel like it's worth it. To me, the Tula wasn't it. No big deal.
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
Most people babywear because it's practical and convenient. Some people turn into hobbyists (raises hand sheepishly), and some people turn into super duper extreme hobbyists, but you certainly don't have to, and most of the hobbyist community gets that most people don't feel the same drive to amass collections of carriers.
E born 6/2014
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
BFP #1 January 28, 2016
Felicity Joy, born September 2, 2016
My Chart
BFP #2 September 11, 2020
EDD May 23, 2021
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
E born 6/2014
Married to DH for 6 years (together for 16)
DS born 12.13.14
DD born 10.15.16
BFP 1.24.18, MC 3.13.18
So my sister (who is semi-crunchy and a huge baby-wearing advocate) said something like "well if you're going to buy a wrap, you should get something woven, like Oscha... the Solly's are lightweight but they tend to sag after a while because they aren't woven". Is this true? Or is she just forcing me to use the brands she loves? LOL.
Then she said something like "for ease, if you are intimidated by a wrap, you can always get a hybrid first". What does that mean a hybrid?
A hybrid wrap is midway between woven and stretchy -- I don't know exactly what the fabric is like -- so it's easier to use than a woven but will support more weight than a stretchy wrap and is safe for a back carry (when your baby can sit up on his/her own and you're comfortable getting him/her up there). The dominant brand there is Wrapsody.
I like the grey and white striped Solly wrap the best!
E born 6/2014