Friday, January 21, 2011
Acceptance
While we are still extremely sad that our favorite beach hang out closed down, I think we may have found a suitable alternative. Thanks to Liz and Chris for recommending Pioneer Coffee Company. The hot chocolate topped with whipped cream and sprinkles won Marley over pretty quickly!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
A Babywearing (r)Evolution
When I was pregnant with Marley, my resident baby gear adviser (Tanya) assured me that I would want some type of infant carrier. Not knowing much about carriers, I registered for the cheapest one that Babies R Us sold, the Snugli.
The Snugli
Dates of usage: February-July 2008 (for Marley age 2-7 months)
Price: We got ours as a gift, but they retail for under $30
Pros: Dad friendly (all black, buckles) - in fact, Jeff was the one using it most of the time. Inexpensive.
Cons: Not very comfy for you or baby, especially once baby is over 15 lbs, or so. And, contrary to what the name might have you believe - not very snugly. The material was actually so hard and scratchy that we would stuff a diaper in the front so that Marley's face would not have to touch the carrier.
Final recommendation: I would not recommend this carrier. However, I will give it credit for introducing us to the world of babywearing. We loved being able to travel light without the bulk of a giant stroller all the time. It allowed us to ride the bus and visit restaurants and businesses with much less hassle.
As Marley got older (and bigger) and the the Snugli got less and less comfortable, I began to look around at what other parents were carrying their older babies in. Everywhere I went, from the farmer's market to the beach, I saw Ergo Baby Carriers. I asked these parents a million questions and got nothing but rave reviews. So, I took a deep breath and decided to plunk down the money for one.
The Ergo
Dates of Usage: August 2008 - Present (that's nearly 2.5 years of almost daily use!)
Price: I bought ours new for a little over $100
Pros: Another Dad friendly carrier, available in black and brown, Jeff was the main wearer of this one, too. Super soft and cozy for both you and baby. Large pocket can hold a spare diaper, so you can really travel light. Can be worn on the back or the front. Lasts a long time - at 3 years and 35 lbs, Marley can still be carried in it!
Cons: It has kind of a short body, which, as you can see from the photo, is not good for supporting sleeping babies. (It does have a sleep hood, but Marley would never let us put it on him.) Also, it doesn't work for babies under about 4 or 5 months old.
Final Recommendation: We love our Ergo! This thing has traveled the world with us. I would buy it again in a heartbeat! It turns out, however, that the Ergo belongs to a class of baby carriers known as soft structured carriers. And there are actually quite a lot of rather lovely ones out there. Had I known this back when Marley was a baby, I may have gone for something else, or I may have still ended up with an Ergo!
I sold the Snugli the moment the Ergo arrived in the mail. Once I knew that babywearing could be so much more comfortable, there was no going back. Plus, I'd been doing a little research, and I knew there were better newborn carriers out there, should I ever find myself in need of one again. One of the first gifts my parents bought me when I found out I was pregnant with Amelia was a Moby.
The Moby
Dates of Usage: Mostly May 2010 - September 2010, but it's still around (for Amelia age 0-4 months)
Price: Gift from my parents, but they retail for around $40
Pros: Super soft - it's the perfect carrier for newborns! It's like wrapping your baby in a soft t-shirt. Great for soothing fussy babies. Perfect for doing skin-to-skin to promote breastfeeding! I wish I'd have known about stretchy wraps when Marley was a baby!
Cons: Cumbersome - it's like 20 feet of fabric - not exactly what you want to be dealing with in the parking lot. Only good for about the first 6 months or so. There's a bit of a learning curve to getting it on correctly. Also, Jeff wasn't a big fan - "too much tying and wrapping," though he did use it (he had to, since I sold his Snugli). Plus, I suspect he didn't think it was manly enough, though maybe he'd have changed his mind if he'd seen this guy.
Final Recommendation: A stretchy wrap (there are other brands besides Moby) is great for newborns. We didn't use it much after the first 3 months, but for those first few months, I had it on all the time. Most of the time, I just wore it like a shirt all day. Sometimes, it was my shirt. 'Nuff said.
In the beginning, I was really just biding my time until Amelia could fit comfortably into the Ergo. While the Moby was great, it really wasn't practical for being out. I couldn't get it on fast enough to keep up with Marley. Plus it was difficult to breastfeed in because, with the newborn hold, there's fabric between you and the baby. Enter the Maya Wrap.
My friend, Kristie, tossed a Maya Wrap ring sling into a bag of hand-me-downs that she loaned me before Amelia was born. I didn't really even know what it was at the time. I had no idea it was going to become my favorite baby carrier for months. I loved it so much, in fact, that I ended up buying it from her because I couldn't bear to part with it!
The Maya Wrap Ring Sling
Dates of Usage: June 2010 - Present (both kids ages 1 month+)
Price: bought used for $30, retails for $50+
Pros: Super fast and easy to use. Works for a newborn or big kid (I've actually carried Marley in it several times). Infinitely adjustable. Has a pocket on the tail large enough to hold a wallet and keys, or a spare diaper. The perfect "running into the store" carrier.
Cons: Again, Jeff was not a fan - "too drapey" - this one he refused to even try. Once your baby is over 15 lbs, it gets pretty heavy on the one shoulder. Not good for extended wearing with a larger baby.
Final Recommendation: I really don't know how I would've gotten by without a ring sling. I can easily put Amelia in and adjust the fit while chasing after Marley. Plus, it doubles as a nursing cover up, blanket, burp cloth, tissue, and sun shade, just to name a few! I only use it now for quick carries, but Amelia spent a ton of time in it as a newborn.
In the middle of summer I started wishing for something a little lighter. Both the ring sling and the wrap have a lot of fabric and can get really hot. I also wanted something that would distribute Amelia's weight more evenly, and could be used for back carries. So, I picked up a used Free Hand Mei Tai, and fell instantly in love!
The Mei Tai
Dates of Usage: August 2010 - Present (I wish I would have had it sooner, though!)
Price: Got mine used for $40, retails for $70+
Pros: Light weight and comfortable, folds up pretty small in the diaper bag. Works for newborn through toddler (though it's not great for extended carries with a big kid, it'll do in a pinch). Can be worn on the back or front. I was able to get Amelia on my back when she was about 4 months old. Reversible, so it can be flower print for me, or plain brown for Jeff.
Cons: A bit of a learning curve, especially with back carries - that took a lot of practice. Doesn't go on and off as quickly as a buckle carrier. The long straps can sometimes be difficult to deal with. Jeff's not a big fan of all the tying, but I think he likes it better than the Moby.
Final Recommendation: I love this carrier! I wish I'd have gotten it sooner. Amelia loves it, too. It's one of her favorites for sleeping:) Plus, I think it's just kind of fun! And even Grandpa likes it!
Around 6 months old, Amelia started fitting really comfortably into the Ergo, and that became the main carrier for her. But there was one problem with that: Marley. Sure, he's three, he's a "big boy". But he likes to be carried sometimes, too, and I'd much rather haul an extra carrier for when he gets tired of walking, than a stroller. Which brings me to my latest addition, another soft structured carrier, the BabyHawk Oh Snap!
The BabyHawk
Dates of Usage: December 2010 - Present
Price: $140 for custom straps and print fabric
Pros: Ultra comfy carrier, super adjustable to get just the right fit. Wide seat and tall back, perfect for bigger kids. Easy to use buckles make Jeff happy:)
Cons: Doesn't work for little babies (it's even a little big for Amelia at 8 months!), expensive.
Final Recommendation: Worth the money! This is another one I wish I would have invested in sooner. We walked down to the beach the other day, sans stroller. Marley walked by himself nearly the whole time. Jeff simply wore the carrier empty on his back, like a backpack. On the way back up the hill Mars decided he was ready to be carried. He was so comfy in the BabyHawk, that after about five minutes, he was sound asleep! That hasn't happened in a while
So, now that I've written it out like this, it seems like a lot. But truly, they all serve different purposes and I can't imagine getting rid of any of them, even the Snugli (which I should have kept so that Jeff could have used it with Amelia when she was little). Need to do skin-to-skin with your newborn? Moby. Going on a long hike? Ergo. With a big kid? BabyHawk. Running into preschool to pick big kid up? Ring Sling. Walking down to the beach in the summer? Mei Tai.
I mean, think about how many pairs of shoes you own. Even if you're not a "shoe person" you at least have some tennis shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, and maybe a pair of sandals. Well, that's how I see baby carriers. Anyway, I'm done now. I have all the carriers I need. Well, I might have my eye on just one more...
Edit: Thanks for all the positive comments. I just wanted to add that this review is only based on what I've tried, personally. There are SO many more great carriers out there. I encourage anyone interested in purchasing a baby carrier to check out the Paxbaby sling exchange, where you can rent several different carriers to find the one that's right for you.
The Snugli
Dates of usage: February-July 2008 (for Marley age 2-7 months)
Price: We got ours as a gift, but they retail for under $30
Pros: Dad friendly (all black, buckles) - in fact, Jeff was the one using it most of the time. Inexpensive.
Cons: Not very comfy for you or baby, especially once baby is over 15 lbs, or so. And, contrary to what the name might have you believe - not very snugly. The material was actually so hard and scratchy that we would stuff a diaper in the front so that Marley's face would not have to touch the carrier.
Final recommendation: I would not recommend this carrier. However, I will give it credit for introducing us to the world of babywearing. We loved being able to travel light without the bulk of a giant stroller all the time. It allowed us to ride the bus and visit restaurants and businesses with much less hassle.
As Marley got older (and bigger) and the the Snugli got less and less comfortable, I began to look around at what other parents were carrying their older babies in. Everywhere I went, from the farmer's market to the beach, I saw Ergo Baby Carriers. I asked these parents a million questions and got nothing but rave reviews. So, I took a deep breath and decided to plunk down the money for one.
The Ergo
Dates of Usage: August 2008 - Present (that's nearly 2.5 years of almost daily use!)
Price: I bought ours new for a little over $100
Pros: Another Dad friendly carrier, available in black and brown, Jeff was the main wearer of this one, too. Super soft and cozy for both you and baby. Large pocket can hold a spare diaper, so you can really travel light. Can be worn on the back or the front. Lasts a long time - at 3 years and 35 lbs, Marley can still be carried in it!
Cons: It has kind of a short body, which, as you can see from the photo, is not good for supporting sleeping babies. (It does have a sleep hood, but Marley would never let us put it on him.) Also, it doesn't work for babies under about 4 or 5 months old.
Final Recommendation: We love our Ergo! This thing has traveled the world with us. I would buy it again in a heartbeat! It turns out, however, that the Ergo belongs to a class of baby carriers known as soft structured carriers. And there are actually quite a lot of rather lovely ones out there. Had I known this back when Marley was a baby, I may have gone for something else, or I may have still ended up with an Ergo!
I sold the Snugli the moment the Ergo arrived in the mail. Once I knew that babywearing could be so much more comfortable, there was no going back. Plus, I'd been doing a little research, and I knew there were better newborn carriers out there, should I ever find myself in need of one again. One of the first gifts my parents bought me when I found out I was pregnant with Amelia was a Moby.
The Moby
Dates of Usage: Mostly May 2010 - September 2010, but it's still around (for Amelia age 0-4 months)
Price: Gift from my parents, but they retail for around $40
Pros: Super soft - it's the perfect carrier for newborns! It's like wrapping your baby in a soft t-shirt. Great for soothing fussy babies. Perfect for doing skin-to-skin to promote breastfeeding! I wish I'd have known about stretchy wraps when Marley was a baby!
Cons: Cumbersome - it's like 20 feet of fabric - not exactly what you want to be dealing with in the parking lot. Only good for about the first 6 months or so. There's a bit of a learning curve to getting it on correctly. Also, Jeff wasn't a big fan - "too much tying and wrapping," though he did use it (he had to, since I sold his Snugli). Plus, I suspect he didn't think it was manly enough, though maybe he'd have changed his mind if he'd seen this guy.
Final Recommendation: A stretchy wrap (there are other brands besides Moby) is great for newborns. We didn't use it much after the first 3 months, but for those first few months, I had it on all the time. Most of the time, I just wore it like a shirt all day. Sometimes, it was my shirt. 'Nuff said.
In the beginning, I was really just biding my time until Amelia could fit comfortably into the Ergo. While the Moby was great, it really wasn't practical for being out. I couldn't get it on fast enough to keep up with Marley. Plus it was difficult to breastfeed in because, with the newborn hold, there's fabric between you and the baby. Enter the Maya Wrap.
My friend, Kristie, tossed a Maya Wrap ring sling into a bag of hand-me-downs that she loaned me before Amelia was born. I didn't really even know what it was at the time. I had no idea it was going to become my favorite baby carrier for months. I loved it so much, in fact, that I ended up buying it from her because I couldn't bear to part with it!
The Maya Wrap Ring Sling
Dates of Usage: June 2010 - Present (both kids ages 1 month+)
Price: bought used for $30, retails for $50+
Pros: Super fast and easy to use. Works for a newborn or big kid (I've actually carried Marley in it several times). Infinitely adjustable. Has a pocket on the tail large enough to hold a wallet and keys, or a spare diaper. The perfect "running into the store" carrier.
Cons: Again, Jeff was not a fan - "too drapey" - this one he refused to even try. Once your baby is over 15 lbs, it gets pretty heavy on the one shoulder. Not good for extended wearing with a larger baby.
Final Recommendation: I really don't know how I would've gotten by without a ring sling. I can easily put Amelia in and adjust the fit while chasing after Marley. Plus, it doubles as a nursing cover up, blanket, burp cloth, tissue, and sun shade, just to name a few! I only use it now for quick carries, but Amelia spent a ton of time in it as a newborn.
In the middle of summer I started wishing for something a little lighter. Both the ring sling and the wrap have a lot of fabric and can get really hot. I also wanted something that would distribute Amelia's weight more evenly, and could be used for back carries. So, I picked up a used Free Hand Mei Tai, and fell instantly in love!
The Mei Tai
Dates of Usage: August 2010 - Present (I wish I would have had it sooner, though!)
Price: Got mine used for $40, retails for $70+
Pros: Light weight and comfortable, folds up pretty small in the diaper bag. Works for newborn through toddler (though it's not great for extended carries with a big kid, it'll do in a pinch). Can be worn on the back or front. I was able to get Amelia on my back when she was about 4 months old. Reversible, so it can be flower print for me, or plain brown for Jeff.
Cons: A bit of a learning curve, especially with back carries - that took a lot of practice. Doesn't go on and off as quickly as a buckle carrier. The long straps can sometimes be difficult to deal with. Jeff's not a big fan of all the tying, but I think he likes it better than the Moby.
Final Recommendation: I love this carrier! I wish I'd have gotten it sooner. Amelia loves it, too. It's one of her favorites for sleeping:) Plus, I think it's just kind of fun! And even Grandpa likes it!
Around 6 months old, Amelia started fitting really comfortably into the Ergo, and that became the main carrier for her. But there was one problem with that: Marley. Sure, he's three, he's a "big boy". But he likes to be carried sometimes, too, and I'd much rather haul an extra carrier for when he gets tired of walking, than a stroller. Which brings me to my latest addition, another soft structured carrier, the BabyHawk Oh Snap!
The BabyHawk
Dates of Usage: December 2010 - Present
Price: $140 for custom straps and print fabric
Pros: Ultra comfy carrier, super adjustable to get just the right fit. Wide seat and tall back, perfect for bigger kids. Easy to use buckles make Jeff happy:)
Cons: Doesn't work for little babies (it's even a little big for Amelia at 8 months!), expensive.
Final Recommendation: Worth the money! This is another one I wish I would have invested in sooner. We walked down to the beach the other day, sans stroller. Marley walked by himself nearly the whole time. Jeff simply wore the carrier empty on his back, like a backpack. On the way back up the hill Mars decided he was ready to be carried. He was so comfy in the BabyHawk, that after about five minutes, he was sound asleep! That hasn't happened in a while
So, now that I've written it out like this, it seems like a lot. But truly, they all serve different purposes and I can't imagine getting rid of any of them, even the Snugli (which I should have kept so that Jeff could have used it with Amelia when she was little). Need to do skin-to-skin with your newborn? Moby. Going on a long hike? Ergo. With a big kid? BabyHawk. Running into preschool to pick big kid up? Ring Sling. Walking down to the beach in the summer? Mei Tai.
I mean, think about how many pairs of shoes you own. Even if you're not a "shoe person" you at least have some tennis shoes, dress shoes, casual shoes, and maybe a pair of sandals. Well, that's how I see baby carriers. Anyway, I'm done now. I have all the carriers I need. Well, I might have my eye on just one more...
Edit: Thanks for all the positive comments. I just wanted to add that this review is only based on what I've tried, personally. There are SO many more great carriers out there. I encourage anyone interested in purchasing a baby carrier to check out the Paxbaby sling exchange, where you can rent several different carriers to find the one that's right for you.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
8 Months
 |
| Marley: 17 lbs 2 oz, 27" |
 |
| Amelia: 18 lbs 12 oz, 27.25" |
And guess what? Our little girl is on the move!
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Monday, January 3, 2011
Happy New Year!
So, I'm a little behind in my blogging, but it's been a while since Marley and Amelia fans got to see any cute videos. I figured, what could be cuter than kids on Christmas morning? So, here you go! Enjoy!
Ps. Sorry about the weird effect in the first clip. It was really dark and I couldn't figure out how to brighten it up. I'm horrible at this whole video editing thing!
Ps. Sorry about the weird effect in the first clip. It was really dark and I couldn't figure out how to brighten it up. I'm horrible at this whole video editing thing!
Thursday, December 30, 2010
Monday, December 20, 2010
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