I work at home and I am going to back to work on Tuesday after being out on maternity leave. My son will be 6 weeks old on Tuesday. He really likes to be held a lot so I am think I will need a baby carrier or a sling so that I can hold him but still have my hands free to work on the computer. Which do you think will be better? Can I sit at a desk with a baby carrier or will I squish his little legs? I have heard that some babies have suffocated in one brand of slings. Does anyone know if this is just that brand or do I need to stay away from slings all together? Any suggestions on brands? The budget is pretty limited for this considering I didn't get paid at all for my maternity leave so I probably can't spend more than $50. And that might even be pushing it, but I don't want to get something cheap that won't work or won't be safe. Thanks.
Thanks for all of the advice! I bought a Moby wrap. I tried it out this morning and I think it is going to be great! He seemed to really like it, he fell asleep almost immediately when I put him in it. After a little while I could tell he was ready to get out, but we will keep practicing and I think it's going to be great!. Thanks!!
I personally prefer the sling. I got mine at etsy.com and prefer the one that is not adjustable. You can get oNe at etsy for about $30. I used mine as a cover for breast feeding too. Here is one for $15 http://www.etsy.com/listing/66669683/solid-color-reversib...
Last time I looked there were some Moby wraps on Craigslist for about $20. They're easy to throw in the wash b/c it's just fabric.
Love, love, love my moby wrap!! It was an instant sleep remedy for my son, put him in there and he was asleep in 5 minutes top. It is is very versatile and will last a long time. Take your 20% off coupon that Babies R Us send you and get a Moby :)
Congrads
I completely agree with Terra D.! Except I'm not fond of my woven, I think they are so beautful and great!! I have a Kozy mai tei that I love!!! For litte bitties, I like a good stretchy wrap, though. I have friends who love their Ergo. When we have another baby I will get a ring sling. But definitely check out that website to decide what carrier will be best for you!!
WAIT....I just noticed you're in Denton! There's a local Babywearing group! Here's the link:) The fb page isn't super busy, but you should try to make one of the meetups (3rd Sat of each month). People bring their carriers and you could try them on and look at them to see what you might like.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/DFW-Cloth-Diaper-Group/1639...
and there's also a newer group, for the McKinney/Allen/Frisco area. There's a local cloth diaper store in Allen that will soon be selling a couple different slings/carriers (CatBird Baby and BabyEtte I think). http://www.facebook.com/pages/DFW-Cloth-Diaper-Group/1639...
The MOBY wrap is great. I got mine at Target online - some Target locations have it in the store. I did all sorts of things with my son in the wrap - and you can nurse in it as well. It comes in several colors and is $35.99 online http://www.target.com/s?keywords=moby+wrap&searchNode...
I love babywearing and have been doing it for years! When done correctly it is 100% safe. The carriers that were recalled were made in such a way that it was impossible to wear the baby in them safely. A good rule of thumb when baby wearing is "Close enough to kiss" you need to be able to see their face and make sure that their chin is not being pushed against his chest.
I love wraps. I started with a stretchy wrap like the moby but quickly found that once your child hits about 15lbs it doesn't have enough support for extended use and proper positioning. It's at that point that I discovered woven wraps. They are AMAZING! I can wear my 4 year old in one and be totally comfortable (and have carried my baby in one for hours and hours at a time without getting uncomfortable). They are so versatile and can be used in front, hip and back carriers. A great website to check out is www.thebabywearer.com. It is an on-line babywearing community and you can find information about every kind of baby carrier on the market, how to use is safely and even buy one used on the FSOT trade board.
Congrats on your baby S.! I used a baby sling to go grocery shopping with my infant, and she never suffocated. Thank God. It was easier than taking her in her car seat, and she usually slept the whole time she was in it. Then when she got a little older and wouldn't lay in it, she was able to sit up in it and look at the world around her. The last time I put her in it was when she was about 13 months old. The package the sling comes in shows you the different ways you can use it. I really recommend it, I hope you at least try it. I think he would be more comfortable in the sling, then the baby carrier. I ordered my sling from www.thepeanutshell.com. It was on sale for $20.00 plus tax and shipping. This was over a year ago, so I don't know if there prices are still about the same or not. I found a picture of when she is 8 months old and she's in it. If I can I will send it to you. Good Luck.
since he is still tiny...moby for sure. you can get them at target for 39.99. once baby gets older i bought my ergo baby carrier. it is 110 dollars but it has paid for its self ten fold. also try second hand babystores in your area. they normally have awesome stuff to choose from. and they have very high standards most the time on what they take in as second hand.
-libby
I've had both. I loved my sling, I felt like the baby was more comfortable, and it can be used from birth on up to as big as you can carry them (just used it on a trip and he's almost 3). However, I will say I wasn't as comfy with it when he was a new born, I liked it better by age 3mo. so he had some head stability. The carrier I used was fine, but it took a lot to get on and off. If you are working at home, that won't be as big of a deal. If you get a sling, get one that is SIZED TO YOU - not just one at Target. I got the Slingling and that's the one that worked best.
Babywearing while you work is wonderful and completely safe! I've done it with both my girls. For a newborn, I highly recommend a Moby Wrap. http://peppermint.com/moby-wrap.html
Your baby will be so happy and content. They feel like they are back in the womb when they hear your heartbeat and the sway of your movements. Pure bliss.
Here is a wonderful resource and mom blogger who has been babywearing for 5 years. She has a lot of articles on her blog about babywearing where she also addresses the safety issue.
http://www.adventuresinbabywearing.com/2010/05/adventures...
Here's one more vote for Mobywrap. It was by far my favorite.
Moby Wrap! I am lucky enough to have my infant daughter at work with me, but I wouldn't survive without my Moby wrap. We tried three other kinds of slings and carriers before we found the Moby wrap. The slings put her head and neck at a funny angle and I can definitely see how a baby could suffocate in one. The carrier just was not comfortable for either of us. My Moby wrap is perfect. I can wear her for hours and she plays and sleeps and is a happy baby. Plus I can tuck her hands in to keep her from grabbing things off of my desk. She is one year old now but the moby distributes her weight so my doesn't hurt either. It might seem funny the first couple of times you wear your baby, but it is the only way to go for us. Good luck going back to work.
we had both, and i only used the sling once. my son looked so scrunched up in it and he looked hot in it, then i read a bunch were recalled because babies were suffocating in them. i got a $13 carrier at walmart that you carry the baby facing you when they are itty bitty and facing out when they develope good neck support, my son loved it and would often fall asleep in it while i was carrying him.
This site has all kinds and they're great value for money!
I would recommend getting a Mobywrap. They start at about $40, so within your budget, and you can wear your baby in several positions - either upright or in the cradle position like a sling. I sell them at my store, Babies Bottoms and More (www.babiesbottomsandmore.com) and you are welcome to come by and try one on to make sure you like it and know how to wrap it safely. We're closed for maternity leave right now but we reopen for our normal Saturday hours of 1-4 pm on February 5th. If you need more info please feel free to email me at ____@____.com sling that was recalled was the Infantino bag sling. It looks like a duffel bag type sling with elastic around the pouch opening. Slings can be very safe but first of all you MUST make sure they fit you properly and second there are specific rules to follow for safe positioning. Some companies are advertising their slings as a "one-size fits all" sling. If the sling does not adjust, it must be sized to your body to be safe. There is no such thing as a one-size fits all sling. The way slings work is to hold the baby snugly in position against your body, using your chest as part of the structure of the sling. If the sling is too loose, it won't work and your baby will slide down and could suffocate.
Get a sling, or make a Moby Wrap--piece of cake, safe as you.
Good luck!
I think you could go with a Moby wrap. They are a little complicated to get figured out (lots of fabric and wrapping) but comfortable. My main problem with mine is that they are pretty warm, and since I live in Dallas, I didnt find it great to go and walk around places with. I think it would work well for what you are describing.
My favorite carrier is the Ergo - which probably would not be good for this - its a better walk around carrier, and better for bigger babies, and pricey - but worth it.
Most slings are totally safe - you can google to find the recalled ones - and use common sense - if it seems like the baby couldnt be able to breath well, readjust him.
Good luck!
I see quite a few people have suggested the moby- I just couldn't deal with that much fabric, so I found the Baby K'tan, which is just two loops of fabric and MUCH easier to manage. I love love love it!
Example: http://www.amazon.com/Baby-Ktan-Carrier-Black-Small/dp/B0...
I'd just like to second Baby K'Tan over Moby wrap. It was easy to deal with and wash and dry.
