The Evolution of a Babywearer

The Evolution of a Babywearer by Christy Montemurro
My interest in babywearing began when I was pregnant with my son, Leo. Frightened by tales of moms who barely had time to shower, let alone cook, clean, go shopping, or bathe the dog, I thought that babywearing would be my salvation, allowing me to carry my baby everywhere and go about my business. At the recommendation of one her friends, my sister gave me a baby shower gift of a fleece pouch. Her friend also suggested if I was interested in other types of babycarriers that I visit a comprehensive website called TheBabyWearer.com (TBW). Comprehensive was an understatement! A quick glance into the forums revealed a cult of babycarrier-obsessed parents (about 99.5% female) who had not just one carrier... or two or three... but a dozen (or more!) of them. Different types and brands, sometimes even more than one of the same carrier in different colors. Wow! I thought. These people are crazy. In a chat subforum I found a thread about wearing your baby in the shower. Conjuring an image of myself with my baby in the fleece pouch, I thought, these people are nuts! I decided that my fleece pouch would suit us just fine. A couple months later, my precious little Leo was born, and when he was only a few days old, I popped him in the pouch. He was happy in there, but I wasn't satisfied. For one, he seemed completely swallowed by the fabric and I had to prop him up with blankets and burp cloths so I could see him. And while I felt he was secure if I was walking around, I found I couldn't bend over or reach out without feeling like he might fall out. So it was only partially hands-free. I turned to that trusty source that I rely on for all my needs, from driving directions to movie reviews to babycarrier research: the Internet. Soon my head was spinning with confusion about ring slings and wraps and pouches and Asian Baby Carriers. I learned that a Maya Wrap is actually a ring sling, not a wrap. And that a rebozo, which works very much like a ring sling, is really just a short wrap. And that a hot dog is not just a mysterious and frightening ballpark refreshment, but a style of ring sling shoulder. That an MT is just one kind of ABC, and a Hotsling is a brand of pouch. I learned that there are pros and cons to each kind of baby carrier... and could not solve the agony of which ONE was right for me! "Ah," the sagely babywearing experts wrote to me on the Internet, "you may want a ring sling now, but a Mei Tai later on." Egads, you nuts, I thought... I just need ONE! Which ONE should I get! Eventually, I settled on a very neutral sage green ring sling, as it seemed versatile and very good for discreet nursing, and that was one of my most important criteria. Also, I didn't like the idea of of a wrap, just a long piece of fabric, with no buckles, ties or rings or other gadgets. How could that be secure? Plus, the wraps were very eye-catching, and I didn't want to draw attention to myself. I wanted something nice and subtle so I could just slip in and out of stores without anyone noticing me. Unfortunately, things did not get any easier. I tried and tried and tried... but I struggled with that thing. Who knew that two rings attached to a swath of fabric could be so baffling? I read online instructions, contacted the vendor, sought help from my friend who had the original ring sling I'd seen at my shower... finally, after several weeks of persistence, I started to get the hang of it. And yet this still didn't seem like the idyllic babywearing I'd heard about. While the ring sling was great for quick trips, and snuggly front carries, I found that much as when I was pregnant having him in front made it was difficult to wash dishes or carry laundry baskets. And he was not that big yet - only three months old! So now what? Back to the Internet I went, seeking more help as to why babywearing was NOT making my life a simple breeze. I learned that the only way to truly be able to go about your business was to put your baby on your back... and for that I would need one of the carriers I had previously ruled out - a wrap or a Mei Tai. I fell in love with the sleek, sophisticated look of the black-strapped Mei Tais and ordered one. The Mei Tai was great. So comfortable and easy to use, and I was able to get Leo onto my back ALL BY MYSELF! What a difference! Suddenly... babywearing WAS a breeze. I felt very hip and chic toting Leo around in this stylish carrier. A few weeks later, I met a mom who was a stretchy wrap distributor. I tried one of her wraps... and it was even MORE comfortable than the Mei Tai. Leo's increasing weight, as he was now about four months, completely disappeared as he was snuggled closely to me. I bought one on the spot. Now absolutely in love with my stretchy wrap, I realized that Leo would soon be too heavy for it, and that the next step was a woven wrap. I settled on one of the less expensive options, an Ellaroo, in case I didn't care for them, and as it was now early July and hot, and I wanted something very lightweight. And how far I'd come from just wanting to blend in... I chose eye-catching, brightly-striped stunning LaRae pattern. And since it was summer... I discovered water-friendly sun-blocking babycarriers, and bought a solarveil ring sling and water wrap for our trip to the beach. Suddenly I flashed back to the posts about showering with baby and realized how incredibly naive and uninformed I'd been when I'd conjured the image of a fleece pouch in the shower! With Leo now fast approaching his first birthday, my obsession has only gained momentum. While I occasionally still use a ring sling or a Mei Tai (not my original one ... I sold that one practically off my back and have acquired a few more), wraps are my passion. That's right - that "long piece of fabric that could not possible be secure and looks odd." I love wraps because they are so versatile, simple, secure, snuggly and comfortable. There is nothing better for distributing baby's weight. As for looking odd - what was I thinking? They are gorgeous! And as a mom who works full-time outside the home, babywearing has been an invaluable tool that helps me get chores done in a timely fashion while still staying close to Leo. When I get home from work and need to wash bottles, unload the dishwasher, throw in a load of laundry, or make dinner, I toss Leo on my back in a wrap or Mei Tai. He enjoys the excellent view over my shoulder and watches, fascinated, taking in all the sights. We love it!	About Pittsburgh Babywearers Meeting Schedule & Locations What Happens at a Meeting? Photo Galleries Babywearing in Pittsburgh Babywearing Beyond Pittsburgh Resources Pros and Cons of Selected Babycarrier Types Popular "First" Wrap Carries The Babywearer Correct Positioning For the Safety & Comfort of your Newborn The MamaToto Project Articles The Evolution of a Babywearer An Afternoon with Two Boys Wearing Baby, Car-Free Home
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The Evolution of a Babywearer
by Christy Montemurro

My interest in babywearing began when I was pregnant with my son, Leo. Frightened by tales of moms who barely had time to shower, let alone cook, clean, go shopping, or bathe the dog, I thought that babywearing would be my salvation, allowing me to carry my baby everywhere and go about my business.

At the recommendation of one her friends, my sister gave me a baby shower gift of a fleece pouch. Her friend also suggested if I was interested in other types of babycarriers that I visit a comprehensive website called TheBabyWearer.com (TBW).

Comprehensive was an understatement! A quick glance into the forums revealed a cult of babycarrier-obsessed parents (about 99.5% female) who had not just one carrier... or two or three... but a dozen (or more!) of them. Different types and brands, sometimes even more than one of the same carrier in different colors. Wow! I thought. These people are crazy. In a chat subforum I found a thread about wearing your baby in the shower. Conjuring an image of myself with my baby in the fleece pouch, I thought, these people are nuts! I decided that my fleece pouch would suit us just fine.

A couple months later, my precious little Leo was born, and when he was only a few days old, I popped him in the pouch. He was happy in there, but I wasn't satisfied. For one, he seemed completely swallowed by the fabric and I had to prop him up with blankets and burp cloths so I could see him. And while I felt he was secure if I was walking around, I found I couldn't bend over or reach out without feeling like he might fall out. So it was only partially hands-free.

I turned to that trusty source that I rely on for all my needs, from driving directions to movie reviews to babycarrier research: the Internet. Soon my head was spinning with confusion about ring slings and wraps and pouches and Asian Baby Carriers. I learned that a Maya Wrap is actually a ring sling, not a wrap. And that a rebozo, which works very much like a ring sling, is really just a short wrap. And that a hot dog is not just a mysterious and frightening ballpark refreshment, but a style of ring sling shoulder. That an MT is just one kind of ABC, and a Hotsling is a brand of pouch. I learned that there are pros and cons to each kind of baby carrier... and could not solve the agony of which ONE was right for me!

"Ah," the sagely babywearing experts wrote to me on the Internet, "you may want a ring sling now, but a Mei Tai later on." Egads, you nuts, I thought... I just need ONE! Which ONE should I get!

Eventually, I settled on a very neutral sage green ring sling, as it seemed versatile and very good for discreet nursing, and that was one of my most important criteria. Also, I didn't like the idea of of a wrap, just a long piece of fabric, with no buckles, ties or rings or other gadgets. How could that be secure? Plus, the wraps were very eye-catching, and I didn't want to draw attention to myself. I wanted something nice and subtle so I could just slip in and out of stores without anyone noticing me.

Unfortunately, things did not get any easier. I tried and tried and tried... but I struggled with that thing. Who knew that two rings attached to a swath of fabric could be so baffling? I read online instructions, contacted the vendor, sought help from my friend who had the original ring sling I'd seen at my shower... finally, after several weeks of persistence, I started to get the hang of it.

And yet this still didn't seem like the idyllic babywearing I'd heard about. While the ring sling was great for quick trips, and snuggly front carries, I found that much as when I was pregnant having him in front made it was difficult to wash dishes or carry laundry baskets. And he was not that big yet - only three months old!

So now what?

Back to the Internet I went, seeking more help as to why babywearing was NOT making my life a simple breeze. I learned that the only way to truly be able to go about your business was to put your baby on your back... and for that I would need one of the carriers I had previously ruled out - a wrap or a Mei Tai. I fell in love with the sleek, sophisticated look of the black-strapped Mei Tais and ordered one.

The Mei Tai was great. So comfortable and easy to use, and I was able to get Leo onto my back ALL BY MYSELF! What a difference! Suddenly... babywearing WAS a breeze. I felt very hip and chic toting Leo around in this stylish carrier.

A few weeks later, I met a mom who was a stretchy wrap distributor. I tried one of her wraps... and it was even MORE comfortable than the Mei Tai. Leo's increasing weight, as he was now about four months, completely disappeared as he was snuggled closely to me. I bought one on the spot.

Now absolutely in love with my stretchy wrap, I realized that Leo would soon be too heavy for it, and that the next step was a woven wrap. I settled on one of the less expensive options, an Ellaroo, in case I didn't care for them, and as it was now early July and hot, and I wanted something very lightweight. And how far I'd come from just wanting to blend in... I chose eye-catching, brightly-striped stunning LaRae pattern.

And since it was summer... I discovered water-friendly sun-blocking babycarriers, and bought a solarveil ring sling and water wrap for our trip to the beach. Suddenly I flashed back to the posts about showering with baby and realized how incredibly naive and uninformed I'd been when I'd conjured the image of a fleece pouch in the shower!

With Leo now fast approaching his first birthday, my obsession has only gained momentum. While I occasionally still use a ring sling or a Mei Tai (not my original one ... I sold that one practically off my back and have acquired a few more), wraps are my passion. That's right - that "long piece of fabric that could not possible be secure and looks odd." I love wraps because they are so versatile, simple, secure, snuggly and comfortable. There is nothing better for distributing baby's weight. As for looking odd - what was I thinking? They are gorgeous!

And as a mom who works full-time outside the home, babywearing has been an invaluable tool that helps me get chores done in a timely fashion while still staying close to Leo. When I get home from work and need to wash bottles, unload the dishwasher, throw in a load of laundry, or make dinner, I toss Leo on my back in a wrap or Mei Tai. He enjoys the excellent view over my shoulder and watches, fascinated, taking in all the sights. We love it!

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