Finding a comfortable, efficient way to tote your baby on a stroll to the park is incredibly personal. While some mamas prefer to push their tots in a stroller, others opt for a closer experience by carrying their lil one on their body. From carriers in the front to those on the hip to baby slings, there are plenty of options for all parents. Take a look at some of my favorite styles in this slideshow.
Motherhood can be mind-boggling! Beaner submitted this question in our The Mommy Club group.
Like most newborns, my little one loved being held all the time. But I quickly realized that I wouldn't be able to get anything done if my arms were continuously full of baby. I tried a bunch of carriers – the Baby Bjorn, Ergo, a ring sling, and a Mei Tai. None of them could compare with the ease, safety, and comfort of the Moby Wrap. I loved mine so much, I had to buy a second one. It's the gift I always show up with for baby showers because I feel it's a must have for new moms, one I honestly could not have lived without it. Here are five reasons why:
As you can see, I am a huge fan. I loved the Moby when my daughter was first born, and at five and a half months, I still love it. There is nothing like the feeling of having your baby close to you. It is perfect for long walks and grocery shopping, and when you're in the house, if your babe is needing you just slide them in the Moby and you can still get to the dishes or make dinner. If you're debating about which carrier to buy, I would 100 percent recommend a Moby. It may look confusing, but once you learn how to tie it, the Moby will quickly become the item you never leave the house without.
Do you have a treasure trove of sweet baby suggestions? Start sharing your advice and tips in our The Mommy Club! Here's a detailed guide to posting questions or posts to groups if you are new to the PopSugar Community.
Parenting and baby news made national headlines this year. While celebrity pregnancies and births kept us gossiping, there were a lot of medical and social issues that became major stories in 2010. Here's our look back!
It was quite a year for baby wearing mamas! Despite a Consumer Product Safety Commission warning about the use of certain slings, moms turned to the fabric carriers to keep their lil ones close and their hands free throughout the day. European-import, Cybex added some style and color to the baby carrier market when they introduced the 2.GO ($98) last year, and now LilSugar readers voted it the best baby carrier of year. Though the Moby Wrap and K'tan carriers waged a strong write-in campaign, the Cybex 2.Go walked away with 54 percent of the vote. The carrier distinguishes itself with a zippered seat that converts into the "spread-squat position" doctors recommend for infants. It also distributes 70 percent of a lil one's weight on its mom's hips, keeping her back and shoulders stress-free, which is something that all mums could use!
Don't forget to vote in all of my Best of 2010 polls!
Every mama could use an extra hand or two, and baby carriers make that possible. Though Baby Bjorn had the market cornered for some time, many new brands have made a name for themselves over the past few years. Despite a Consumer Product Safety Commission warning about the use of certain slings earlier this year, moms love the hands-free devices. We looked at a lot of carriers – which is your favorite?
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Best of 2010: What Was Your Favorite Baby Carrier?
Going hands free can lighten mom's load. But when Summer comes, baby-wearing mamas often find themselves in a catch-22 – they want the ease of a baby carrier, but a clunky stroller offers more shade from the sun.
Leave it to the company that brought the baby carrier to the mainstream to create a solution to the problem. This month, Baby Bjorn will introduce a sun cover ($70) complete with UPF 40 fabric to keep tots shielded from harmful rays. The lightweight cover has a detachable sun hood and mesh for ventilation to keep all of baby's limbs comfortably protected even on the warmest days. Would you try the Baby Bjorn Sun Cover?
Earlier this month, the government issued a sling recall after infants were injured and/or died in baby slings. The release cited suffocation as a potential hazard. In a recent article, two grieving mothers shared their tragic stories of loss. Women around the world have been babywearers for generations. In light of all this, do you still feel secure putting your child in a sling?
Gisele Bundchen didn't feel pain giving birth or when toting lil baby Benjamin! The supermodel was spotted out twice yesterday with her son in an Ergo baby carrier. The three-way cotton ergonomic carrier ($105) is built to hold infants and tots in front, in back, or at the side and doesn't do a number on mama's back since it was created with comfort in mind. The Ergo is also a hands free carrier, which will come in handy when this new mama wants to hold her newborn close and still keep up with his big brother, Jack! We wonder if daddy Tom Brady will become a baby wearer? Maybe if he finds a carrier that showcases his New England Patriots pride!
Now that I have three young kids and only two arms, a baby carrier is a necessity. Whether a mom prefers a sling or a carrier, it's bound to make life at the park, running errands, and helping her children easier. I'm going to search out the best options and report back. Petunia Picklebottom recently sent me their Sojourn Sling ($70) to put to the test.
Who is this product designed for? This sling is made to hold newborns to 25 pound tots.
Is it practical? Yes, if the sling is purchased at the time of the baby's birth, a mama can get a lot of good wear out of it holding the baby in three different age appropriate positions. If $70 breaks your budget, old fabrics tend to go on sale when new designs are released and you can pick one up for half price.
What sets it apart? The carrier is simply a piece of sturdy fabric that creates a pocket to secure the child in. Once you get the hang of putting your kiddo in, it takes just moments to slip into the sling and be on your way.
To see what could be improved and if I'd buy it, read more
Babywearers beware! The head of the Consumer Product Safety Commission is preparing to issue a general warning about baby slings, citing suffocation hazards with the popular fabric carriers.
Speaking at the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, CPSC head Inez Tenenbaum said, "We know of too many deaths in these slings and we now know the hazard scenarios for very small babies. So, the time has come to alert parents and caregivers."
The agency head did not specify any particular baby sling manufacturers, there have been growing safety concerns about the products. In some cases, slings have not been properly secured, and babies have fallen out of them, while other versions force lil ones into a curled up "C" position, increasing their chances of suffocation.
Babywearing has grown in popularity as more mamas heed attachment parenting beliefs. Seventeen percent of LilSugar readers told us that they tote their tot in a sling, and the carriers' popularity was even spoofed in a You Tube video earlier this year.
If you are a babywearer, do you ever worry about suffocation? Will you consider alternative methods for carrying your wee one now?
