Baby Wearer - Slings, Mae Ties, Wraps and other ways to strap on a baby

So along with being food crunchy (I prefer organic or at least live foods), I'm what many refer to as a "modern hippie mom". Some qualifiers are: Exclusive Breast Feeding, Cloth Diapering, Baby wearing, eating organics, growing their own foods, homemade cleaning products, homemade deodorant, no shampooing, organic toys or reusing toys, none or selective/delayed vax, homemade soap, homemade herbal remedies, bed sharing or co-sleeping, and everything in between. 
Note: I do not have any opinion on how anyone raises their child. I believe everyone does the best they can for their child with their circumstances. 

Okay, with that said, I think many of my friends think I'm crazy. 

If me ten years ago was looking at me know, I would probably think I was a little off as well. I am going to come clean about something that I feel so guilty about but I was just so young and naive. But I believe it has attributed to the mom I have become today.
*And if you are offended by nursing stories do not read on. You've been warned.*

About 8 years ago my husband and I were newly married and traveled quite a bit. We took a day trip with another couple to a town a few hours away just for the heck of it. We saw a movie at some brand new theater and then had a lovely meal at a restaurant. On our way out of the restaurant I saw a woman with a baby. The baby must have been less than 3 months old. She was nursing, not really covered, and I was shocked. (Here's the part that kills me) I turned to my husband and said, 
"Gross, don't ever let me do that in public."

And now I laugh at my young, stupid, immature, and naive self. Oh how little I knew about motherhood. I knew my mom nursed me about 6 months, and my sister about 4 months, but I thought it was odd to see at that point in my life. I was a college senior at the time, I was only concerned with being "hot" and revving up my career, marriage and new home. Little did I know that an animal would wake up inside me when I became pregnant with our first child. I became a roaring lioness lactivist. I had no fear of giving birth, only of my success at breast feeding. More than anything, I felt like my entire career of motherhood would hinge on nursing success. Boy had I changed in only a few years.

My first baby and I had a rocky start on the breastfeeding journey. After being induced because of high blood pressure @ 40 weeks, no milk for almost the first week, sore nips, bleeding & cracked nips, hormone flux led to sleep deprivation confusion. I hated myself for the conflict I felt about nursing, bottle feeding breast milk, bottle feeding formula. I was determined to succeed, but had weak moments and was ready to give up when the nipples cracked. Now again, no judgement on anyone who choses to bottle feed, I had begun my journey to crunchy town so this was my ideal. 

My amazing Yiayia (grandmother) came and helped me when my first was born. And when I say helped me, I mean held my boob in position so baby could latch when I had given up and was crying from the pain/hormones. I never had to see a lactation consultant because apparently my grandmother did the job and I was perfectly comfortable with her seeing me a mess. La Leche League was there for me to email and call and get answers and support. Yiayia was there to teach me and my husband took it all in. 

"Who was this girl?" I'm sure he was thinking. 

A few weeks before baby was born I bought my first baby carrier. A Sleepy Wrap. I started practicing with a doll and using the wrap with my first born helped me succeed at breast feeding. So here is my second step to crunchy mom. I am now a breast feeding baby wearer. 
A few nights in and I started to lose it. I couldn't keep track of day vs. night. I tried to write down everything from sleep, to diapers, to boob sides until I just couldn't keep anything straight anymore. I fell asleep nursing the baby in the glider as I was waiting to put her in her crib. 

"Enough!" I said to my husband, "she's sleeping with us so I don't fall asleep and drop her"
This was my third step to crunchy mom. People said I would regret having baby sleep with me, but it made my life easier. They said my husband would never get any attention and yet we still got pregnant with baby #2 (surprise!). People said baby would sleep with us until age 5. Nope. People said lots of things that made me question my methods, but I was well rested and had a healthy baby so I no longer cared. Now I was a breast feeding, baby wearing, co-sleeping mom. (Thank you Dr. Sears for guidance & comfort through your literature when I was so sleep deprived.) http://askdrsears.com/

With both babies I had crunchy addictions. With baby #1 it was slings. I spent many many many hours learning, reading, looking, online shopping about baby carriers. With baby #2 it was cloth diapers. I was not that crunchy with baby #1. 

Here are the carriers I own, love and use for their various reasons. I'll have to write a part 2 on my "Crunchy Mom Journey" to get to Cloth Diapers. But here is my list.

1. Sleepy Wrap - Price $39.95 
Likes: So comfortable to wear for hours, easy to carry baby and nurse in many positions. Nursing success.
Dislikes: I live in Florida, can we say HOT! 8ft of extra fabric makes me sweat! When baby would fall asleep on my chest, they would have sweaty head. & I would have sweaty boobs. Bulky to store in diaper bag.
You can get away with having this as an only carrier if heat is not an issue for you.


2. Hugamonkey - Price $29.95 
Likes: Light, easy on/off, takes up very little room in diaper bag. Nursing success. 
Dislikes: Have to switch sides after wearing my heavy dude after a few hours. 


3. Sling Ring - Home made by me Materials cost me $20 & about an hour of time 
Likes: So pretty. It's my fashion sling. Very adjustable. Tail can be used as discreet cover for nursing.
Dislikes: Like the hugamonkey, wearing a heavy baby on one side for a long time makes you want to switch sides. The fabric I used snags easily. Here's the pattern I used: http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/sling.html

4.  Mei Tie - 
Home made by me Materials I brought from Africa when I was 16! (Still amazes me)
Likes: Unique, very sturdy, comfy, versatile easy to wash, easy to nurse in, and can be thrown in my bag with little space. I can wear this for hours front, side, or back carry. Pattern: http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/Baby/asian.html

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