Lenamarina's last post made me wonder How long do most mamas (and daddy's) carry their babies in slings (or something similar)? We didn't use one with Ryvre at all (didn't know there was such a thing, and to be honest, he was in the carseat when we went to the store, a restaurant, etc we did have an old Snugli from the 80s that my parents used for me, but it was really awkward and i couldn't figure out if it was just weird, or if i was using it wrong). We carried Willow in a mayawrap-style sling that my hubby actually sewed together (hehe) for about 6 months (?) at which time she got too heavy and started hurting my shoulder. Is there a different method you use for wearing toddlers? I couldn't seem to get her squirmy little butt in the little "hammock" area anymore, and i couldn't figure out what to do with her legs to get her in more of a sitting position. Maybe someone just has a bunch of pics i could see or something?
Good question....I've wondered the same thing. I carried Bella in a sling for about 1 1/2 months and it hurt my shoulder and back. Maybe I did it wrong. It was a kind that they can only lay in and she couldn't see out. At about 6 weeks, she started getting mad when I'd put her in there because she wanted to see what was going on. It was okay if she was sleeping though. Then I found a Bjorn carrier at the Salvation Army (for $2.50!) and she loves it. I put her in the outward facing position (or inward if she is sleepy and just wants to cuddle) so she can see what is going on. It is also more comfortable for me because her weight is evenly distributed and it doesn't hurt my back or shoulders. The only thing I don't like about it is that I haven't found a way to breastfeed with it on like you can the slings.
We adopted Dakota when he was 5 1/2 months old. I was only able to use the sling until he was about 10 months old because he was just too heavy for me. With arthritus and other health issues it was just too hard. But my daughter, who is now 27 years old, stayed in a carrier until she was 18 months old. i was much younger and healthier then. I carried her on the front until she was about 6 months and then on the back until about 18 months. She was a big girl, 35 pounds at a year. And it was no problem at all. The problem was when I tried to put her down. I've known of mothers who used slings until their little ones were 3 years old. Kathi
I used my maya wrap with my ds untill he was about 2.5 and I ruined my shoulder (need surgery to repair ) I loved it while I could do it.
Oh My do I have pictures!!! I have lots of them! I'm gonna post these for you with links to purchase them if you want to. Just click on the photos: Maya Wrap Slings The Maya Wrap Sling is the most versatile sling available. Wear your baby in a variety of positions: front, hip, back, reclining, nursing, and kangaroo carry. Compact enough to fit in a purse or a diaper bag. Try doing that with a backpack! Additionally, the Maya Wrap can be used as a harness, shopping cart strap, and lightweight blanket. The top and bottom of the sling can be adjusted independently, allowing for a perfect fit. The dyes used to make Maya Wrap Baby Carriers do not contain any copper, nickel, lead, mercury, cadmium, cobalt, aluminum, arsenic, chromium or any other poisonous substance. Fabrics 27 and 28 are colorgrown cotton. Colorgrown cotton is bred to grow naturally in many different colors, usually in shades of green and reddish brown. Colorgrown cotton does not need bleaching or dyeing to achieve the color. The color intensifies with successive washings. Whether you choose 100% Cotton or 100% colorgrown Cotton, you’ll love your Maya Wrap Sling! With a little practice, you’ll wonder how you ever got along without it! The New Native Carrier (Pouch Style Sling) Popular for those finding padded carriers too bulky, and looking for a carrier that can easily be stuffed into a diaper bag or purse. Can be worn with the baby in the front, side or back. Ideal for discreet nursing. Made from 100% cotton fabrics, this carrier has no buckles, padding or metal rings. The Ellaroo Wrap Made of 100% cotton handwoven Guatemalan fabric, the EllaRoo Wrap has that just-right stretch, to form around you and baby, without being bouncy. We currently have eight gorgeous fabric choices, woven for EllaRoo by a cooperative of weavers in Guatemala. The EllaRoo Wrap is lightweight and easy to manipulate, compared to thicker wraparound baby carriers. For parents in warm climates, this means the Wrap is cool and breathable. For parents in cold climates, this means that it can be used under a winter jacket without making you feel (and look) like a polar bear. The simplicity of design make this the most versatile baby carrier you can find. You can carry your child from birth through the toddler years, on the front or back. Read some EllaRoo Wrap testimonials from our happy slinging parents. The EllaRoo Podaegi Korean Baby Carrier A podaegi (sometimes translated as podegi or podeagi) is a traditional baby carrier design from Korea. It is a piece of fabric that wraps around the mother and baby and is secured with two long sashes holding the baby in place on mama`s back. There are four (that we know of!) hands-free ways to carry the child, from infancy through toddler-hood, including one method that does not use the shoulders to carry baby's weight. This makes the podaegi particularly well-suited to a variety of body types and physical conditions. All of these characteristics come together in a versatile and practical baby carrier for anyone who needs to get things done. Traditional wide version: Straps - 4" X 183" Blanket - 21" X 61" New narrow version: Straps - 4" X 183" Blanket - 21" X 18" Both reversible, 100% cotton, with organic cotton batting. Made in USA. Instructions are provided with every carrier, but are available to view online here as well. Instructions: Podaegi General Instruction Brochure Strapless Traditional Back Carry Front Carry Back Carry with Straps Also there are more...like the Mei Tai I can't forget that one. I'll post again. Give me a minute here. I also wanted to add these links for finding out info on them and HOW TO MAKE THEM YOURSELF!: http://www.thebabywearer.com http://www.nineinnineout.org http://www.mamatoto.org http://www.slingrings.com http://www.rebozoway.org/
Here's a few more: From Left: ElloRoo Wrap in Hip Carry- EllaRoo Mei Tai in back carrier- EllaRoo Wrap in Back Carry- Bottom Left: Podaegi in back carry. Also, I make Asian Baby Carriers (Mei Tais) and have one on Ebay that will be listed for two more days. The address is here: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&rd=1&item=3982665407&ssPageName=STRK:MESE:IT Here's some example of some others that I've made: To answer the question you had posted...I wore Sage a lot in his baby evenflo pack just because I had no idea that anything else existed. I heard that those aren't good for your babies spinal cord and that they can actually cause damage. If you want more info on this, I can post it, but am running out of time right now...I've been wearing Sasha in her Maya since she was newborn. She will turn one in July and we have no plans of stopping any time soon. She actually enjoys her ABC (Mei Tai) even more. We are so happy with it. We use it for long hikes and it's less heavy/hot than a frame pack. I want to try the wraps, which are supposed to be a little harder to get used to, but look nice. Then the other one that I haven't tried yet is the podaegi, which are similar to the Mei Tais but only have two long straps coming out of the top of it(as opposed to two on top and two on bottom) and those wrap around the baby and your body like a wrap. Both the podaegi and Mei Tais can be worn like backpacks. If you wan to know anything else, please don't hesitate to ask me. I do this for a living so I don't mind throwing some info out off the top of my head. Also, PM me if you want to know more about my custom made carriers.
the podaegi is amazing... I wish I could still use one too bad...I guess I will just have to remember to teach my children about this kind of stuff
I slung my younger two for about a year and a little more. but occasionally put them in it much older when I needed my hands free, Moon was about 9 months she was my biggest baby, and man, was she heavy, I was not using a sling (they didn''t have petite-sized Over the Shoulder Baby Holders back then, and I had one of those complicated boyscout sack looking strapy slings and it was not comfortable, and with Sunshine I only had the Snuggli and she hated it. But I carried her in my arms until her sister was born when she was 26 months old. (except on the days I was having lots of contractions, then she had to walk.) Once when Moon was about 2, she had the flu and was so sick and I had to do stuff around the house and her older sister to care for ect. I took a bed sheet, wrapped it over my shoulder and tied the baby to me, because I could not put her down. It looked just like a OTSBH sling! In 1990!
these are wonderful! i'm going to try to get my next child to use a sling; however, if this next one is anything like it's sister, i'm outta luck. it woulda been so nice to be able to use a sling with kai.
hahaha, Maggie! That rocks and you totally could've marketed that and still can. People do it all the time and it's called a wrap. Just a long piece of fabric, and you can wrap it however you like! I'm gonna make one for us because I've been just itching to try them. I've heard they are quite comfy. Thanks Michelle- -you aren't so bad yourself! (((HUGS)))
u name ure kids Rhyver and Willow.... creative... hmm... not to be rude, but definatly a lil hippish Good luck with ure uh... sling thing
