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Thursday, August 7, 2014

Behind That Confidence Lies a Story

I know, I've taken a good chunk of time away from blogging however, I'm ready to be back with a vengeance (not that too many people care but it makes me happy so here I go). With my new little punkin settled in nicely there have been so many things rushing through my head that I would love to share with other moms. The issue has been where to start. With International Breastfeeding Week and National Breastfeeding Month kicking off this week the natural thing to do for me is to start at breastfeeding. Now, I'm no where close to an expert in this area. In fact, I'm a relative newb and I wanted to share my journey with you if for no other reason than to bring awareness the the trials and joys of a breastfeeding journey.
My first time nursing Hannah (left) and Charlie (right)

Breastfeeding for most moms is not something that just comes naturally. Almost every mom I have talked to have had some bump in the road. For me, I have had a lot of bumps. With Hannah I went into breastfeeding wtih thoughts of unicorns and rainbows. I knew that there was a decent chance of stress and hurt that would come along with a tiny little mouth nursing on me nearly 24/7 but I wasn't prepared for what our journey would look like. Prior to birth we took bradley classes, focused on a natural birth for optimum breastfeeding success, read books and tracked where and when the local La Leche League meetings were. When Hannah was born she was a large and bruised baby with the biggest cheeks I had ever seen. We called her Big Bertha. Our birth plan asked that no bottle, formula or nipple make it's way to our babies mouth. Birth's never go according to a plan. Hannah came out with a bang in a short 8 hour labor and roughly 2-3 pushes. She was 9lbs 2oz, big by some standards and because of that and how fast she was delivered it was decided it was medically necessary to feed her formula regardless of the fact that she latched immediately after delivery just fine.  That is one of the few pictures I have of Hannah breastfeeding and although it shows more than I would prefer to show, it's all I have and I continue to cherish and share that picture because of it. After they brought her back from a brief stint away from our room the lactation consultants handed me a nipple shield. Everyone asks the same questions, did she have issues latching, were your nipples inverted, etc and the answer to all of them are no. Why did they give me the nipple shield, I have no idea. It was not necessary in our case and it was one of the pieces that let to a shorter than preferred breastfeeding relationship.
A peaceful nursing moment with Hannah

 At the hospital and for a while after I left I tried over and over to get Hannah off the nipple shield. She would fight and scream. Sometimes she would latch but then immediately let go. We went to LLL meetings, we saw lactation consultants, and I talked to my small network about options. Then I got mastitis. I went to the local urgent care at 9pm with infant and husband in tow and was prescribed an antibiotic by a doctor who didn't take effects into mind when prescribing. I checked in with my OB the next day only to find out the antibiotic was not a great option for breastfeeding moms and quickly switched to a new one. My supply dropped a little but we kept on. Then at about 6 weeks I found myself with an incredibly unhappy child who was now losing weight according to the doctors. I will never forget that moment in the pediatricians office. A tired a defeated new mom with a baby who seemed to cry at the sight of her breast feeling like the ultimate failure. As I cried in my husbands arms I watched the pediatrician feed my child her first taste of formula. I was heartbroken. Even as I type, I find myself tearing up because the emotions of the moment continue to be so raw. After gulping down the whole bottle she slept and slept and slept. And then she had a GIANT poop. We at least giggle about that still. Our supplementing had started. 

With supplementing came pumping and herbs and tears. After discovering the bottle, Hannah wanted nothing to do with my nipple. I still continued to fight because it was so emotional and I was not ready to let go. Every LLL meeting I attended I felt guilty when I pulled that bottle out after trying to nurse my screaming baby. Everyone made it look so easy! Why wasn't it easy for me. As a new mother I was filled with anxiety. I had a friend who would meet me at the mall and we would nurse in public together. I will never forget that support. But I also remember being terrified that my child was going to start crying for milk the minute we were around people. I was terrified to pull out that nipple shield because there is no graceful way to put a nipple shield on in public. There were just so many layers of anxiety around breastfeeding but then add the terror of doing it in public and you had one stressed out mom.
My beautiful formula fed baby

 I went back to work when Hannah was 4 months. I remember leaking through several nursing pads a day and pumping regularly. It didn't matter. The damage had already been done with all of our issues from day one. The only time I could find a happy nursing moment was when she was sleepy and in bed with us. So I continued to nurse her until she was about 7 months old mostly at night where we could be at peace. I remember asking one of the LLL leaders if they ever thought there was a time that nursing had become so mutually emotional and exhausting that it was ok to quit. They told me no....I never went back to that meeting. One night my husband and I sat down after several repeated days of crying on both mine and Hannah's part and discussed stopping our breastfeeding relationship because it was just too much stress for all involved. I still have to try hard to look back and recognize how great it was that I was able to provide her with breast milk for the amount of time that I did. I continued to fight for breastfeeding moms rights watching my list of friends grow who actually had a dog in the fight. I found a village to help me raise my child who was a mixture of parenting styles and beliefs and it helped me find my foothold as a parent who was confident in my decisions and continued to stay informed. If you haven't guessed this already this is my local babywearing group. It's no wonder I have stayed involved for so long. It took a while for me to not feel incredibly akward seeing other moms breastfeed in public but eventually it happened, that day that I didn't bat an eye at seeing a breast right next to me nourish a child.

When we discovered we were pregnant with baby Eaton #2 we had a lot of decisions to be made. The first was where to give birth. Breastfeeding played into our decision to have a home birth. I wanted to have the highest possibility I could of having a successful breastfeeding relationship this round. Hospitals and doctors are great, especially when there is an emergency and you need them. However, hospitals also have a much higher probability of interventions because, well they are there as an option. At a home birth many interventions are removed because they just aren't necessary like nipple shields and bottles with formula. After giving birth to Charlie I was able to sit on the bed for a whole hour and just let her latch. For me, it was healing. I let her latch as much as she wanted for the next few days for as long as she wanted. I practiced all the techniques I had used with Hannah in hopes for success. I did get sore but not like with Hannah. I used cream and let my breast hang out for everyone around to see because that was what I was told to do so that I could heal. At five days post partum we took a short trip to target to get necessities and the dreaded public crying happened and I decided to give it a go. Here I was, breastfeeding my newborn in public for the first time and you know what was missing for me....the anxiety. It wasn't there and I didn't care who had issues with me feeding my child. Go ahead and challenge me, I dare you my mind said. Well, no one has dared me yet and I have nursed in public several times since then both in a carrier and out of a carrier, exposed and covered. 
A quiet nursing moment with Charlie

Don't get me wrong, it's been almost 5 weeks of breastfeeding Charlie and we have had a few hitches along the way. I had a plugged duct which we quickly took care of with lots of rest thanks to my dedicated husband. I have had soreness off and on. I have been touched out a few times where I just needed a little space. I have had a back that was uncooperative and was crying in pain while I nursed my little Charlie. I cry thinking about going back to work and having to pump. And every now and then when Charlie is crying for no reason like babies do, I offer her my breast and she refuses, I panic a little thinking back to all those times with Hannah. But you know what, we are doing it and we continue to work on it so we can keep our breastfeeding relationship going as long as it's beneficial for both of us. I try to not make issues when there aren't any and just keep a smile on my face and enjoy that little hand hugging my boob as she is cuddled close.
Having a moment with my girls

So next time you see a mother nursing whether it's in her home, in public, discreet or not just remember that although we may look tough as nails and confident in that moment, nursing is an emotional, loving and connected journey that every mother has a different experience with. The one thing we all have in common during this journey is the need for support and community.

Thursday, March 20, 2014

Some Fun Fluff

I can't believe it's been a whole month! What happened? I seriously have no idea. Somewhere in there my child past the 1.5 year mark which blows my mind. Also in that time period I was able to chop up some woven wraps for a friend and make some ridiculous accessories. So, today instead of talking about babywearing, lets talk about that side business I have called 512 Cherry Lane.

This is my really lame drawing of what I wanted for a logo



How Did you come Up with the Name?

This is my really awesome final logo created by a
friend with much more knowledge than me
No one ever tells you when you decide to open a business that one of the hardest things you will do it pick a name. You want it to be meaningful and also reflect your business. When I decided to work on baby goods I didn't want it to reflect my current products too much in case I decided to move away from  these particular products. After lots of random notes and keeping a list of ongoing possible names for at least a month we decided on 512 Cherry Lane. It's the perfect mixture of where I came from and where I am. It also doesn't pin me into one particular category so my business can morph as I do in life! But let me break it down for you. 512 is the area code in Austin where we currently live and Cherry represents where I grew up, in Michigan. If you didn't know that Michigan is known for it's cherries you do now. They are amazing and I miss being able to buy them at crazy low prices during the season. We rarely pay less than $4 a pound here but sometimes I just need a cherry. We added the lane piece because it just needed something to round it off and it sounded cute. No additional story there.

What Did Starting a Business Look Like?

For me it was deciding what kind of product I wanted to sell and then figuring out if it was obtainable on a
My very first necklace

very low investment since we just don't have money to really put into a business. I think a lot of work at home mom's start out this way. I mean, we are work at home moms! It's not like we have investors running around pushing money on us. I love fabric and sewing has been a hobby of mine for a long time so naturally I gravitated toward something where I could put my passions behind it. There were two baby items that I ended up making myself because I just couldn't find what I wanted at the price I was willing to pay. Those ended up being my first two for sale projects of the teething necklace and the quilted diaper bag. Since starting I have gravitated even more toward custom items as requested only because it keeps things fun and interesting in an area that can become boring and monotonous.

So What Products Do you Make Now?

Currently I take all sorts of custom orders. I do have a very busy toddler and a baby on the way so I'm slowing down and can only take a certain amount of requests at a time. I'm also being picky about projects because some just require longer periods of focused time than I can dedicate right now given the circumstances. In the past I have made custom quilted bags with various shoulder and backpack straps, teething necklaces of all shapes and sizes, wrap straps for various sized carriers, lots and lots of unpaper towels and oven door towels, and my most recently accomplishments include custom wrap conversion items pictured below. My expertise lays within mixing patterns and colors so I'm not afraid of getting all crazy with combinations because although it might seem overwhelming to some, mixing patterns is usually pretty awesome as long as you do it the right way. I also have two quilts for friends on my cutting table that must be finished before my little squish gets here because I will be taking a few months off to enjoy the cuddle time :-)
Strap Wraps - fully reversible and customizable

A backpack bag completed as a custom


Tula accessories for a local customer

Unpaper towels with snaps!


Reversible pillow cases made from Natibaby Kraken

Bugaboo stroller canopy made from Natibaby Bikes Karamel

Where Can I Find Your Stuff?

My most up to date information is found on my facebook page. Here is the link:https://www.facebook.com/512cherrylane. I also have an etsy store that is sometimes updated but I find that I have much less traffic on there than facebook so right now I'm not spending too much time on keeping it maintained as I focus on custom projects. You can find my etsy story at: etsy.com/shop/512cherrylane. And then lastly I also have both ready made necklaces and strap wraps for sale locally at the Natural Baby Company located at 515 South Congress, Ste 200, Austin TX 78704. The store owner Whitney is super nice and will help you with any questions you have plus they have some pretty amazing things in the store so it's always worth it to stop and see what they have new in stock.

Are you a work at home mom? I would love to hear what you do and why you started the journey. Just comment below or share you information on my facebook page! Do you have an idea and would like to put it into action? Let me know and I'm happy to work with you to create your one of a kind item!

Saturday, February 22, 2014

Pregnancy Makes Everything....

Truth, pregnancy makes everything kind of foggy! I can't believe I haven't posted in over two weeks. Since I can blame it on pregnancy I suppose now would be a good time to talk about babywearing while pregnant!

You Shouldn't Lift That

This is one of the most common lines that I hear right now. I'm only 21 weeks pregnant but once you start growing a little person everyone assumes that you are basically useless. I keep reminding everyone that I have a toddler. That means I have to pick up at least one little cutie who is over 25 pounds on a regular basis and I don't really get a choice about it. Sometimes I would prefer not to have to hold her but she is a toddler and demanding at time. I prefer my sanity. So, a few tips for babywearing while pregnant. 

Choose Comfort

Seems simple right? Well, if you don't have a lot of choices in terms of carrier options this may not be as easy as it sounds for you but there are some modifications that you can do with carriers to help out a little. My first trimester I preferred to carry with a wrap because I HATED anything around my belly. With a wrap, I would tie off around my chest and avoid most pressure on my belly. With a wrap I can also use multiple layer carriers so there is more support for my shoulders and chest since all the weight is resting on that area. My preferred wrap at this stage was actually a double hammock with a candy cane chest belt. Just so comfortable. Now that I'm well into my second trimester I can switch it up a little more. I have always preferred to do a high back carry in buckle or mei tais. This works on my favor with pregnancy because you either have to wear really low or really high. I'm used to wearing high so this is the route I go and it works wonderfully. Curious about how I do this? You are in luck because I just made a video in conjunction with my local babywearing group showing 5 ways to get your baby on your back in a buckle carrier and it's all using a high back carry while 20 weeks pregnant! You can view the video here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OFFYzwrTdtY

Know Your Limits

Now, I like to push things to the edge as much as the next person. However, you also need to listen to your body when it's telling you enough is enough. Pretty quickly in my pregnancy I learned that front carries were a no go anymore. I can do a hip carry for a short time but when I have a large toddler on my front even without the belly showing yet I could really feel it on my back. It was very uncomfortable and so I just don't do front carries right now. I did go for a really long walk the other day with Hannah on my back. I'm not going to lie, I know it was good exercise for me and I took it slow but I was dead by the time I got back. So, another note to self, don't go for 1.5 long walks by yourself in case you can't make it back. I did but I took a nap right after and wasn't sore at all so I know it was fine but I wouldn't push myself any more at this point. Just know when to call it quits is all I'm saying. You may be taking care of the baby on the outside but you also have to take care of the baby on the inside as well.

Let Others Help

Probably one of the hardest things to do at any time is let other people help you. However, I try really hard to rely more on my husband and let him wear Hannah when we are out and about or use the stroller when we are walking vs wearing her during a walk. I LOVE the closeness of babywearing but I also love feeling ok and not being in pain. So, I try to limit my babywearing more than I would like at this point. Do I still babywear on a regular basis, yes. Do I do a lot of physical activity while babywearing, no. Since we are at the stage of wanting to go all the time as well, I take the opportunity to have as many outings and play dates with friends as I possibly can so that Hannah isn't as needy at home and is super tired out when we are home. This has helped as well and although it may not be the traditional help you are thinking of these friends are still saving my sanity because I don't have to sit and watch or play with Hannah all day and I get to spend a little time having some adult conversation while the kids are playing.

What Have We Been Up To?

Well, it's been a while since we updated so here is what has been happening. We got the first and only ultrasound of the baby. It's so different the second time around because it doesn't feel as alien. We almost
caved this time and found out the gender but luckily we held strong and are now proud parents of who knows what! I think it makes the process even that more fun with a huge surprise to look for at the end. I have had to draw some clear boundaries at work so I'm not super stressed out. That also includes drawing boundaries on my sewing business. I have stopped taking large custom orders and am just sewing as I can which is a lot less than before but again, I have been trying to be good at focusing on taking care of myself and my family first. 

I have been pretty involved in the babywearing community as well lately and am taking the opportunity while I can go to events and play with all the pretty carriers. I have had the luxury of playing with some crazy epic high end wraps as well as help new moms out on the fly. Yesterday we took pictures of most of the library carriers for our chapter which was fun, crazy and exhausting. 



Our house is back to being a complete disaster because we have been spending so much time being gone. As a mom, I have worked really hard at letting this expectation go that I can be perfect in all areas of my life. I do become super guilty a lot but I still try to not let it get me down or stress me out that the dishes aren't done or that I can't see the floor because of all the toys and unfolded clean clothes there. 

We also got back my brothers wedding pictures! So awesome. Although I do love my brother and his wedding was fun, I cherish the pictures that we get as a family, especially when it involves babywearing. So I wanted to share a few of those as well since I can't get enough of them. 



Oh and one more update, you should not be able to leave comments below as I changed the privacy settings so leave me some love! Hope your weekend is starting off well!!!

Wednesday, February 5, 2014

NO Fun to be Sick!

Everyone knows that being sick stinks. A lot. And when you have a baby it stinks in more than one aspect usually. However, babywearing can help you get through these tough times. When my child is sick she wants nothing more than to be held. She wants to be held all the time, all day long. I don't blame her because I want that too but we all know I'm too big to be held by my momma all day when I'm sick. Not to mention, my mom is a go-er and I'm positive that having to sit around all day would drive her bonkers. And even if you aren't one of those personalities, the world doesn't stop even though your child is sick and food still needs to be made, animals still need to be taken care of and on and on and on.
Sick baby

So the great thing about babywearing while you have a sick baby is that you can actually get those things done and give your child the attention they desperately want and deserve when they aren't feeling their best.
It means for the parent or caregiver that you don't have to feel guilty about not being there for your child because you have other things to get done. You can do both! The other thing that happens when my child is sick is that they want to nap on me. And guess what, that's ok because she can nap and I can still get things done. If I need to go to the store I don't feel horrible that she is touching everything and making everyone else sick because she isn't touching anything but me and my carrier. So I'm saving everyone else too!

Sick mommy
But what if you are sick?!? Well, babywearing can help with that too and in fact I am currently dealing with being sick with allergies and 18 weeks pregnant with a toddler who appears to have allergy issues but is still on the go AND being needy at the same time. So here I am, congested like no other, short of breath and just want to lay down. However, I don't get the option to lay down because I have a toddler and that is just how life is. Last night she was whiney and tired because she refused her nap during the day with daddy and I was left to fend for myself as my husband headed off to work. So instead of losing my cool and breaking down crying like I would have liked to do we bundled up and walked to the park. She settled in on my back, I let her down to play when we were there, she didn't want to play at all so she went back up and I socialized with other moms at the park while she hung out on my back. Was it my first choice of how I wanted to spend my evening? Of course not but it was sure better than the alternative and it was a babywearing win for me because I also go to talk to other moms about babywearing AND about CASA which is a program close to my heart.

What Have we Been up to?

Speaking of being sick, that's why you haven't seen me posting as much. These allergies have been a slow burn in our life and are finally taking a toll on me. I'm currently working through my craft/business closet to get some things sewn and out of the door so I can destash and have been busy taking care of myself and my toddler both of whom are not feeling up to par. We did have a play date about a week ago that I have to tell you about though. 

Teaching babywearing comes with the perk of cuddling
babies and showing off sleepy dust!
I have a friend who actually gifted me my first babywearing item, a moby wrap, when I was pregnant with Hannah. She was my go to mom for everything because her baby was about 10 months older than mine so I could ask her about things she had been through and I had no clue about. We all need one of these friends. So as her babywearing journey was short lived mine was just starting. I went to the local babywearing group when Hannah was about 4 months old for the first time and I was off and running. Now over a year later she is on to baby number 2 with a toddler running around and I have been hounding her about babywearing and the amazing things that it can do for your crazy life. We have attempted a few babywearing focused play dates but this girl is busy and watches kids during the day too so it can be hard to have extended focus. Well, we finally accomplished it and I sent her away with three different carriers of mine to try out and see what she liked. The awesome part for me is that initially we talked about why I have so many different carriers and the fact that you don't NEED them all but that it's like buying shoes, you can have just one pair but who wants just one pair when they are both function and cute. She has been a quick convert after finding the right carrier for her and that has been the issue in the past, the carriers she has been using were uncomfortable and therefore I don't blame her for not sticking with it. I wouldn't have either. I may have watched her jump into the black hole of woven wraps after our play date but I'm honestly so excited that she has found something that works for her family and for her back so that she can have some hands free for her toddler and take care of her adorable little girl.
We also had a babywearing meeting to attend right after the play date and I rented a carrier for both of us to try out with our kiddos. My friend hasn't had a chance to try it out at all because we haven't been able to get together yet but I'm sold on the lillebaby! It's amazing and even as a plus size mom who is preggo, I love it with my toddler. It is comfy and it fits her great although this picture doesn't do the best at demonstrating that. I'm thinking about doing another plus size review on this carrier, what do you think?
We LOVE the lillebaby

Monday, February 3, 2014

Baby Slow Down!!!

Let's take a little hiatus from talking about babywearing. Ok, I'm still going to talk about babywearing some but this post has another topic as it's basis. Our babies growing up! I hear all the time in the babywearing community this idea that once your baby is off and running that you will no longer babywear. It's like your child is going to hit this major milestone and they are no longer going to want to be close to you and be held or snuggled. OR, that your child is going to turn into a toddler and automatically sleep amazingly. As if one night it's just going to click and they are going to decide they don't need your kisses in the middle of the night to calm them in the dark. Or how about a topic that is even closer to my heart than babywearing, feeding your baby! My child is formula fed so I kept hearing the expectation that as soon as my child turned one she would automatically switch from formula to cows milk. For what it's worth, I reject all of those ideas, especially the last one and let me talk a little more on the last one since it's pretty close to my heart.

Formula can be touted as an evil processed substitute to beautiful and creamy mother's milk. Well guess what, my child is formula fed and she is just fine. I didn't choose this route but it happened. When that 12 month mark loomed in my future and I heard other moms talk about the switch I panicked! I worked really hard emotionally to get to a place where I wasn't constantly feeling guilty or imagining a world where I had been able to continue breastfeeding well into toddlerhood. And now, I was going to have to face another emotionally charged change for both me and my child because taking her off formula meant she was getting big! And not only that, she loves her formula! So, it wasn't about to be an easy transition. However, here is what happened. I realized that my baby is still my baby. We choose to reject society's expectation that my child wasn't a baby anymore once she hit that magical mark of one year old. I started asking the question, if it can be normal for moms to continue to breastfeed, why can't it be normal for me to continue to let my child continue drinking formula from a bottle. And it can be. I don't feel guilty about it and I recognize this decision wasn't all about her but also about me. My child happily takes her organic cows milk as she is running around but before bedtime she wants her bottle with her formula. And I'm ok with that for now. She is able to slowly make that transition herself without me pushing her because someone out there has made it the normal thing to do.

This is how we function as parents in general. Our motto is "why make things hard when they don't have to be". It's been true for transitioning to food, to cows milk, from bed sharing to sleeping in her own room, from the crib to the toddler bed and for babywearing! It works for us. It also allows is to cherish those moments that won't be there forever. It makes transitions so much easier because we wait until she tells us it's time for a change and then, we change!

And all of these words to tell you, let your baby be a baby. Don't make them grow up too fast because you will never get that time with them back. Your baby will eventually not want to be rocked and cuddled and will at some point grow up and move out to have their own babies. Enjoy the time sitting on the floor playing silly games. Enjoy the sick baby snuggles. Enjoy the goofy pacifiers if it keeps them calm. Reject the "normal" if it doesn't work for you. Do what is best for your family and stop feeling so guilty about everything. Stop second guessing your parenting decisions and slow down and enjoy the moment. Stop wasting those precious moments defending your decisions to do what is best for your baby and just do what is best for your baby and live it! Embrace it! Embrace your child and your family and stop putting timelines on everything from the tiny to the huge. Make your own decisions for you and your child and it will all turn out ok!







Wednesday, January 29, 2014

Umm, How Old is Your Baby?

Let's face it, babywearing an infant is totally different than babywearing a toddler. You get completely different stares when you are in public and the range of carriers available to use is different from size to size. Let's start with infant wearing.

Such a Cute Baby

When you have a teeny little squishy baby connected to you in some shape or form people love it. They think it's adorable and ooh and ahh over your new little package. I babywore Hannah when she was little for a few different reasons. First of all, I didn't really wear her at home as much because at that point I was so overwhelmed by just having a new baby to care for that the process of putting her in a carrier was too much for me. By the time I got her in and adjusted she wanted to eat again or needed a diaper change. So, mostly I only wore her when we were at the store. I did this because I didn't want people touching my fragile little 9 pound chunker and was told that people are less like to want to touch and kiss your baby if they have to get all up in your business to do so. I agree with this minus the random little old lady who has no concept of personal space. I also baby wore because infants sleep so much but wake up at the most inconvenient times, like while you have a crap load of stuff to buy and your only half way done. Babywearing took some of the anxiety out of those shopping trips. Not all though because I totally remember being stressed out in the beginning and mostly because I was terrified of breastfeeding in public. 

As a new parent and therefore beginning babywearer most people start with the well known carriers that are easily accessible. That doesn't mean these are the best carriers out there or the best ones to fit your needs but they are always a great gateway if you enjoy babywearing. Typical infant carriers are the Moby wrap, the baby bjorn or similar and the Ergo. I had a Moby and an Ergo and although I seriously considered the bjorn somehow skirted that one. Here is my opinion on each of the hot carriers for newborns. 

Moby Wrap
The Moby wrap is great but the boba wrap is better and a Gypsy Mama Wrap even better! The moby is stretchy and forgiving so it hugs you and your newborn however the material is thick and is really hot for places like the Texas summer. If I was back in Michigan I probably wouldn't care so much about the thickness. I loved my moby in the beginning. Moby does say that they can be used up through 35lbs or so but that isn't actually super accurate. Around 15lbs they start to sag and your back will hurt. Also, they CANNOT be used for back carries. DO NOT DO A BACK CARRY IN A MOBY. It is dangerous and you are just asking for your child to get hurt. I will repeat, don't do it. Now, I say that the Boba wrap is better because it's actually cheaper and made of slightly different material that is thinner and has a different stretch. My bigger selling point is that it's cheaper. And Gypsy Mama has two wraps that are hybrids and are great for hot weather wearing and wearing through toddler hood. You know I like to get the most out of my money. 

The Bjorn is a carrier that I haven't ever had the opportunity to wear. It has a bad reputation in the babywearing world and you will hear people toute that carriers like it are dangerous for your child and can cause hip issues. What we actually know is that there is no evidence of this unless your child is predisposed to hip issues which most people wouldn't know at that stage anyway. The main reason I don't recommend it to people is that it typically becomes super uncomfortable for the wearer as your baby gets bigger because all of the pressure is put on just your shoulders and back. They are about the same price point as an Ergo which will last you longer so again, why not get more for your money! I had a friend that used a bjorn for a while because her child had a club foot which required a cast. It worked awesome for them. I also know lots of people who have used them and liked them and used them and hated them. Use what works for you and enjoy wearing your baby. That is most important!! 
Ergo

The Ergo is actually not super great for a little bitty baby but really starts to shine around 4 months or so. They provide support for both the baby and the wearer and can be found easily at big box stores. I know lots of people who love their ergos. I was not one of them. If you want a similar carrier there are TONS of choices out there and I always recommend finding a babywearing group to look through your options before you spend the money on one. Some other good options similar to the ergo for infants specifically are the Pikkolo, Lillebaby, Beco Butterfly II, Beco Gemini and the Kinderpack Infant size.  

Ring Sling
My personal preference was the stretchy wrap and a ring sling for the newborn floppy stage. Both for ease of use and portability. Once you move on from the newborn stage to the infant stage you will probably prefer something else if you have the opportunity. I loved my ring sling through about a year. I was able to do both front and hip carries which are great when baby wants to see out into the world. Around 6 months I got my first woven wrap and mei tai. I didn't really fall in love with woven wraps for a while but I LOVED my mei tai for back carries until she outgrew it. We also used our Beco with lots of love until she outgrew that. Once she outgrew those however, we were moving into toddler wearing. 

So, How Old is Your Child

Toddler Kinderpack
When you are toddler wearing this is when you get those super strange looks. People ask if your child can't walk or assume they are delayed or spoiled. I do notice my husband gets far more adoring looks than I do when carrying out 25 plus pound toddler. Another reason daddy wearing is a big plus! Toddler wearing is not for the weak of heart. When you wear at this stage you mostly do back carries because front carries start to get uncomfortable long term. Your child also probably wants up and down a bunch so you want something fast and easy. Your child can also express when they want up and when they don't. Mine always chooses babywearing meetings to NOT want up. Mostly because there are tons of other kids to play with and who wants to be confined then! You already know all the reasons I choose to continue to wear so I won't go into more details about the whys. 

What I would love to talk about are the various toddler size carriers out there. There are a few very popular ones so I will talk about those more in detail and try to share a more extensive list as well of just names. One of the most popular out there are the kinderpacks. In fact, kinderpacks come in four different sizes including preschool! They are popular for a reason. They are comfortable for most people, have regular and plus size straps, have the option of mesh in the middle of the carrier for better airflow and have straps that unbuckle so if you do want to wear a larger child in the front you can cross the straps on your back for more support. We sized up to a toddler early but my child has always been tall and I'm confident that she would actually still fit well in a standard size even at almost 18 months old. We knew we would we extended wearing though so we opted to again, get the most out of our money. I will say that I tried one out before I bought it though and always recommend doing so before you spend the money. 

Standard Tula, 17 months roughly 34 inches, 25 pounds
Another super popular toddler carrier is the Tula. These are a hot commodity right now for a few different


Toddler Tula, 15 months and
roughly 32 inches and 23 pounds
reasons. People love them and find them comfortable. They are in fact my favorite carrier for my body type but again, not everyone finds them comfortable. The one thing you need to know about toddler Tula's are that they are huge! Fitting into any toddler carrier is more about your baby's height and their leg length than anything else. Companies always give you weight ranges but that doesn't mean much if you have a short chunky baby because their legs may not spread far enough to make a toddler carrier comfortable. 

So Kinderpack and Tula are probably the two MOST popular toddler carriers when talking about buckle carriers. Of course woven wraps aren't toddler specific but are great for carrying toddlers. You can also find wraps that have been converted into mei tai's and some regular material mei tais that are in toddler size. Some brand options for toddler size carriers besides the ones already mentioned are Babies Beyond Borders, the Moby Go, Jumpsac toddler, Beco Soleil, Bamberoo toddler, Kanga, and Angelpack MAX. I'm sure I have forgotten some but this is a good list to get you started.

Note: I also had a friend highly recommend the comfy joey toddler size ring sling. She says it ROCKS for toddlers and unfortunately her comment isn't showing up so I wanted to share with you all regardless :-)


Nothing holds a toddler down like a wrap though!

Sunday, January 26, 2014

The Places You Will Go

Since we are just coming off of the stroller topic, lets talk about the things that babywearing allows you to do that would either be made difficult or impossible with a stroller! Babywearing allows your child to become an extension of your body. It compacts two people into the smallest possible space which makes the impossible, possible for parents.
Out back at the fire pit keeping warm!

Every Day Activities

  • Cleaning up - sure you can put your child in a pack and play or activity bouncer or even for some tummy time on the floor but my child never stayed happy long enough in those places for me to get anything done and if she was in the stroller she wasn't happy unless it was moving. Don't even get me started on trying to clean up with a toddler running around
  • Feeding your family - you do have to be careful around hot sharp items but it has frequently allowed me to make dinner instead of heading to the local fast food chain at the last minute because I just couldn't get  myself together enough for dinner
  • Taking a shower - if you have a water sling or wrap then  your problems are solved. I can't tell you how many moms I know, including myself, go without a shower for more than one day
  • Walking up stairs - either in your house or somewhere else, since your baby is attached to your body you can actually walk up stairs without having to figure out how to maneuver with a stroller or find an elevator. I have lived on the second and third story apartments and I promise you I would have ditched the stroller before baby even came just thinking about the chaos.
    Goin up?
  • Breastfeeding - now, I'm not super skilled at this one but that's a whole other story. However, I know that babywearing allows you to breastfeed if you can get it down pretty much anywhere and generally you can't see anything that is going on because the carrier is blocking any view.
    I had actually just finished breastfeeding here!

Lets Have Some Fun

  • Hiking - obviously uneven terrain and off roading isn't something you normally think of doing with a baby because it's just not that easy...unless you babywear!
    The Japanese Tea Garden
  • Tourist attractions - I immediately think of the Japanese Tea Garden or River Walk in San Antonio. The tea garden is FULL of random tiny pathways and stairs and the River Walk, well if you have been there you can understand that sometimes you are afraid you are going to fall into the river because of the lack of space there is NO WAY I want to push my child in something that has wheels on it. 
    Riverwalk in San Antonio
  • The Beach - enough said
  • Busy events or festivals - so many people and not enough room. I pretty much hate anywhere with large crowds but add on something huge that I have to navigate around with my child in it and I would so much rather stay home. I remember going to Zilker Kite Festival with my cousin last year and I felt so bad watching families struggle to navigate with flimsy umbrella strollers through the grass and dirt. I mean, it's possible and lots of people do it but that doesn't make it any more enjoyable. 
    Zilker Kite Festival
  • Boutique stores - you know, those stores that you can barely fit through the isles, yeah those. 
  • Dancing - no lie, one of my favorite activities to do with my child. If I have her in arms at 25lbs + I get so tired so fast but if I can attach her to me in a comfy manner we can dance the night away and have at more than one wedding. 
  • Swimming - yes, you can take your child with you in the pool or in a body of water. When I say swimming I guess I really mean walking but you get the point. 
    Texas State Capital

    The Zoo

    The Fair
I could keep going but you get the idea. I would love to hear some other ideas! Share your thoughts and activities below!!
The Detroit Tigers store is seriously not easy to navigate

The Airport

At the airport
I'm going to tackle this one knowing that this is one of those where people have very different viewpoints. But you know I'm slightly biased so here I go. The first time we flew we really debated what we wanted to bring with us. My vote was no stroller because I hate hate hate having extra things to carry along especially when I'm flying. We finally decided to forego the stroller and boy were we glad we did. Generally how we function is we check a small bag each and then carry on just an essentials bag that is packed in a backpack. That way we can put the backpack on our back and baby on our front or divide the duties so each person has one. I have done this easily when I was flying solo with baby too. There is no stroller to check, most of the time I can walk through security and I don't have to take her off and depending on the air line or flight attendants I can just leave her attached to me the whole flight which is awesome if she is sleeping. This arrangement is particularly awesome since we fly into Detroit which is a massive airport with lots of escalators. The reality is that you are walking the crazy amount of distance anyway so yes, you will be tired but I can get to my destination so much faster if I don't have to worry about navigating with a stroller and I have my hands free for picking up or dropping off  my checked luggage. Easy peasy.

About Me

My photo
My husband, William and I moved to Austin in July of 2008. We own two chihuahuas and a sickly cat that will never die. We are proud homeowners in a very stepwives looking neighborhood and are friendly with almost all the neighbors (the ones we like at least). We have been blessed with one beautiful baby girl and have another baby on the way of yet to be determined gender.