Linen - It's All About the Blend

Happy Blog Day, Midlands Babywearers!

 

I love meeting people who love babywearing out in the wild. Some won't be wearing - maybe you'll see them struggling with a bulky stroller through an apple orchard as you're picking apples, maybe you'll see them carrying a tired, heavy toddler that refuses to sit in the stroller through the crowds of Soda City . . . the best thing you can offer parents that you think might find babywearing to be a useful tool, is commiseration. You can still chat them up (you are both parents, after all), and if they show interest in your carrier, invite them to a babywearing meeting. Yes, I know some people find babywearing laughable. But that's because they haven't tried it. Or maybe they tried, and with out support, weren't able to be successful. Most parents that see me out wearing my increasingly heavy toddlers tell me they wish they could do that. That's a great opportunity to hand them one of our cards and invite them to a meeting. So next time you see a parent struggling with carrying their child in arms, commiserate a bit, and invite them to a meeting - we love sharing the babywearing love!

In the midst of this mild winter, I'm looking forward to true warm weather, wearing shorts, tank tops, flip flops, and what wrap goes best with those? Linen!

Linen

The last time I talked about fibers, I talked about wool, and clearly was so convincing, that several of you have since added some gorgeous woolies to your stash. Linen is a different beast altogether, and I am using the term beast intentionally. Linen gets hard knocks because it can be so difficult to break in, but like any fiber you'll hear me talk about, not all linen is created equal.

What is linen? Linen is a plant fiber known for its lightweight and breathable nature. It's a summer favorite due to both these qualities, and a favorite for those wearing heavy babies and toddlers as it is universally lauded for its sturdiness. Lightweight, breathable, and sturdy - sounds fantastic! Where's the downside? Linen also has a reputation for lack of cush and digginess. I know those aren't real words. Where as wool has a lot of natural cush and is almost always comfortable on the shoulder due to that attribute, linen is the opposite. Linen by itself (that is 100% linen) has almost no natural cush. That said, if you wrap carefully and spread or sandwich passes on your shoulders, you will still find linen to be a comfortable option even for heavier babies and toddlers.

Linen is also great for warm weather because it is so sturdy and supportive. It will rock a single layer carry, which means, to me, that it's ideal in shorter and mid-length wraps. You can kangaroo, do any number of hip carries, rucks and ruck variations, rebozos. . . . the possibilities are endless.

*Sidebar*

Cush: the feeling of a wrap on your shoulders, often equated to marshmallows, fluff, comfort. Wraps that are cushy are comfortable to wear for long periods of time. Though wraps that are usually described as cushy tend to be on the thicker side, it is not universally true that thick = cushy.

 

Dig/Diggy: basically the opposite of cush, it is an undesirable quality for sure, though there are things that can be done to counterbalance it. It most often happens with thinner wraps and ruck straps, where it feels like the fabric is going to dig into your shoulders. But, again, just because a wrap is thin, does not mean it is diggy.  Many wraps will become less diggy and more cushy as they break in and soften up. You may want to avoid carries with ruck straps, as ruck straps tend to compound digginess.

DIY and 100% Linen

100% Linen by Didymos

I know many DIY'ers buy bottomweight 100% linen for homemade wraps. You will also find this in Etsy shops. Didymos makes a 100% linen, as do a few other wrap brands. I've tried Didymos 100% linen - trying to break it in for a friend - and while it was certainly lightweight and breathable, I am not always the most careful wrapper and found it uncomfortable on my shoulders after a while with my 2 and 1 year olds.








In most cases, linen is blended with at least one other fiber to add some softness and wearability to the wrap.

 

Linen/Cotton blends

Linen by Oscha

Linushka Linen

You will see a variety of percentages with this blend, but in all cases I've seen there is more Cotton than Linen. The more cotton, the softer and probably easier to break in the wrap will be. Cotton also breathes well, so I don't think you need to be concerned with less linen meaning less breathable or being more hot to wear. I think my favorite linen/cotton blend was a Diva Milano - it was so soft and thin, and felt lovely on my shoulders. Like anything in the woven wrap world, "love" is subjective - what I like someone else probably thinks is horrible - I can only offer my opinions. Most woven wrap companies offer a linen cotton blend.

Linen/Bamboo

Linen/Bamboo by Natibaby

Bamboo is a tricky fiber . . . it's technically natural, but must be so processed in order to make fabric, that by the time it reaches your hands it is really not "natural", but a kind of naturally sourced rayon. I'm not saying this to discredit bamboo as a fiber choice for wraps (there is Repreve that is made from recycled plastic, yet I hear wonderful things about its wrapping qualities) but just as an introduction - when I say tricky, I mean that it is not easy to care for - you can not keep it submerged for more than 40 minutes lest it harm the fibers. So when you wash it, it must be gentle and quick in your machine and moved out of the washer to lay flat to dry or handwashed in order to maintain the fiber's integrity. (Now that I think about it, this is probably why my bamboo cloth diaper inserts do not hold up - my washing routine is probably too intense for this delicate fiber).
And yet - bamboo makes an excellent counterpoint for linen. It is smooth, buttery soft, and has a lovely silky sheen. I had a no-cotton linen/bamboo blend from Natibaby and it was a favorite blend for me. The sturdy grippiness of linen married to the soft, slide of bamboo I found to be a great combination for wearing my toddler in a shorty. (She was not a fan of the neutral color, alas, and the wrap was sold).

Tri-Blends



Didymos Jade Indio Tri-Blend

You will also see linen in a ménage a trois with cotton and silk. Oscha Slings is the most common maker of the tri-blend. They offered a vanilla roses tri-blend and a small Japanese knots in it, at the very least. In a tri blend, you get the soft sheen of silk, comfort of cotton, and the sturdy support of linen, blended together to make truly wonderful wrap.

Didymos offers at least one Indio now in a Cotton-Hemp-Linen blend (Jade Indio) and I have heard nothing but good things about this wrap.

Breaking in the Beast

The most frequently heard negative thing about linen is how beastly it can be to break in. Being a plant fiber, it's naturally stiff and takes more work to break in than the animal fibers (wool and silk for example do not need much breaking in at all). Of plant fibers, cotton is the easiest to break in, as it is in structure most similar to wool, hemp takes a little work to break in (it often feels like screen mesh brand new in box - but a wash and iron can have it feeling soft and buttery in hand), whereas linen often requires quite a bit of work to get that magical broken-in feeling in hand.

Natibaby Linen Feathers

Break in linen by washing it, ironing it (according to manufacturer instructions), using it, sitting on it, braiding it, using it as a hammock or swing, send it to your friends to use . . . and eventually it will soften up and feel lovely and floppy in hand. Some brand's linen breaks in easier than others. Natibaby linen doesn't take much work to break in, neither does Diva Milano. Didymos linen takes some work. Ellevill and Little Frog also offer linen blends and fall somewhere in the middle as far as ease to break in.


Want to try some linen? Our Lending Library has a Natibaby Linen feathers in a size 4 that would be a great thing for you to try.

Happy Blog Day!

Today is the kick-off for International Babywearing Week, and we couldn't be more excited for what we have planned for y'all this week. Meetings nearly every day this week, joint ventures with BWI Columbia, giveaways, online only events . . . there is a way for every one of our 400+ members to take part.

Recent BotM Zoo Invasion

 

The theme this year is Share the Adventure. This really hits home for me, and I think, should, hit home for most of you. If we were all in a room together and I asked you to stand up if the generosity of a friend or stranger helped you to begin or further your babwearing journey, I would bet big money that not one of you would be sitting down. Somewhere along the line, someone introduced you to the idea of babywearing. Along the line, another someone probably helped you perfect the use of that carrier, or introduced you to a different one that you liked even better. And another person perhaps showed you a different way to wear that carrier. We don't exist in a vacuum, and babywearing is such a community effort. If you haven't already, please check out this fantastic video a local mama made featuring our local babywearing groups:






Babywearing connects us, as parents, with total strangers, all because of a tool in our parenting toolbox. I'm reminded of myself, a few years ago, when I bought my first new car. It was a Toyota Scion XB. The cars weren't all that common then, and still aren't now (which is a shame. They are AWESOME cars). Whenever I'd see another one on the road, we'd wave and honk at each other. Completely silly, of course, but just the fact that we owned the same vehicle forged a connection, albeit brief, between total strangers. Babywearing is much the same - you see a babywearer out in public and nudge your spouse or companion, "Look, honey, she's wearing a Kinderpack!" and shyly wave, or even approach this complete stranger, gushing like you are meeting a celebrity, "I love your carrier! It's a Kinderpack, right? Your baby looks like they love it. Do you like it?" Maybe you invite them to a babywearing meeting. Maybe you never see them again, but for that moment in time, you know you met a kindred spirit, and that is always a remarkable thing.

Rachel, Sharing the Adventure at Finley Park

Now, if I were to ask you how many of you have shared a carrier, or knowledge of carriers with someone (friend, family, stranger) - would all of you still be standing? I know most of the 400 of you, at least in passing, and I'd wager to say yes. Since the first month we launched Babywearers of the Midlands, we've heard stories and seen how generous each of you has been with your personal carriers, loaning them to friends, even giving away, for free or very cheaply, your own carriers to friends or strangers you knew needed them.

Jennifer shared the adventure
 with her husband

You've shared your knowledge within our Facebook group, answering questions, posting pictures, meeting one on one with people that can't make it to a meeting. This sort of peer-to-peer help is what the babywearing community is based on. Historically, that's how it has been done. None of us here are professional babywearers. We don't "do" certifications. But I, and the rest of the admin team, believe each of you has expertise to share. You are experts in how to use the carriers you have. You are the expert when it comes to your own baby and what they prefer. (another analogy, if you'll forgive the churchiness of it, is the idea of the priesthood of believers - that is, in our case, just by being a babywearer, you are an expert, just as by being a believer, you are a priest, and all believers are equal under God). It also means that each one of us, no matter if we have been wearing for a week or a decade, has more to learn. New carriers are being developed, there are new safety standards to figure out, there are new manufacturers and cottage businesses cropping up all over the place. Babywearing is a hot topic right now, and that is truly amazing.

Me, with borrowed Green Wool Fish

One more personal anecdote before I get into what's coming up this week. A few days ago, I posted a blog on how great wool is. Confession: I've never owned it, or really had the chance to play with it for more than a few minutes. I've played with wool wraps owned by friends, and wrapped with the lending library Snowflake wrap, but I've never really tried to really get to know wool. I've been terrified of felting (at one of my very first babywearing meetings, I saw a felted wool wrap. It was devastating). But, since doing the blog post, I've decided to take the plunge and at least give it a shot.

On a different Facebook group, I asked for suggestions for wraps for my nearly 3 year old daughter that loves green.  Many people chimed in with their suggestions (Everything from Yew Indio, to Kokoskaa Fern, to Didymos Pfau in various shades of green), but one person, who used to live here in Columbia but has since moved to Nashville, actually said she'd let me try hers, and mailed to me a wrap a couple days later. So, as a result, Green Wool Fish is visiting, and I have learned something else new.

What have I learned? It really is the smooshiest fiber. And yet, it threw me for a loop when I first tried to get my youngest up, because it has a stretch and moldability to it that I'm not used to (both are wonderful things, by the way) but I had to re-wrap several times (which is not something I do much of anymore) before I finally got both him and I in a semi-reasonable carry. I can't wait until my daughter gets home from visiting her Nana and I can wrap her up in its smooshy greenness! Hooray for generous friends, and Sharing the Adventure!

Upcoming Events

please see the event links for complete details

 

Monday, October 6th - Join us at the Richland County Public Library (downtown, on Assembly Street) for Storytime. In between the two stories, we'll be discussing the benefits of babywearing and will be available to answer questions. This is a great opportunity to take advantage of one of RCPL many free events, meet new friends, and share a bit of babywearing knowledge.

 

 

Tuesday, October 7th - Join us at the LDS church on Broad River Rd where fellow babywearer Kara will lead us in a Crossfit workout, all while babywearing. Wear comfortable clothes, bring your carriers, and babies, and get fit together! There will be toys and room for older children to play as well.

 

 

 

Wednesday, October 8th - Join us for an afternoon playdate - we'll be at the Clemson Children's Garden at 4:00 p.m. until . . . If you've never been to the Children's Garden, it's across from Sandhills, buried at the back of the Clemson University complex. Grab a beverage from Starbucks drive-thru, and join us at this adorable play area. There is a sandbox, kid size houses and gardens, and lots of open space.

 

Thursday, October 9th - Join us for Lunch at the State Fair - your $5.00 admission fee is refunded when you leave before 2:00 p.m.

 

Friday, October 10th - Join us in Downtown Lexington. We are going to meet at the 9/11 monument for a quick photo op, walk down Main Street, and around to Virginia Hylton Park. Bring a friend and a picnic lunch.

 

Saturday, October 11th - Join us as we join forces with BWI Columbia and other SC babywearing groups to invade the zoo, a favorite babywearing destination.

Get your Group On - a Babywearer's Guide to Facebook Groups

Happy Sunday, Midlands Babywearers!

It is scorching outside this weekend - I hope you all are either enjoying the air conditioning or have your "toes in the water, a** in the sand" somewhere. It's too hot for anything else! At least you get to put our Hot Weather Babywearing tips to good use. If you have, please hop on over to our Facebook group and tell us how they are working for you. We'd love to see pictures of  your water/mesh baby carriers, what woven wraps you prefer in the heat, and which brands/styles of Mei Tai and SSC/Buckle carriers work the best in the South Carolina weather for you and your little ones.


It's no secret that I'm on Facebook a LOT. And I'm in a LOT of groups, many of the them having something to do with babywearing. I love babywearing. In real life, if I spot a babywearer, it's like I know immediately we have something in common and we can be friends. As a former military brat, I don't like wasting time on friendships that won't work. If you babywear, chances are we already have something to talk about, and we probably have lots of other things in common, too, like cloth diapering, co-sleeping, breastfeeding (and chances are, if the babywearer doesn't breast feed it's not because she didn't want to, and I can sympathize with that), homeschooling, online shopping, and lots of other things. I mean, not all Babywearers do ALL of these things, but chances are good that a fellow babywearer does at least one of them. Or is curious about it. Call babywearing a gateway into Crunchy-ville or Attachment Parenting/Natural Parenting-land if you will - I don't know why, but it is.

In fact, I found my current mama tribe through babywearing, because I asked my doula about natural parenting groups in the area, and she pointed me to the Babywearers, which led to the awesomeness that became Babywearers of the Midlands. Babywearers are just awesome. Especially the local ones!

Now, out in the wider world, there are lots and lots of other babywearing groups on Facebook. There are more every day, and I thought it would be helpful to give you the rundown on the ones I'm familiar with, so you know where to go to get advice, where to Buy/Sell/Trade, where to go for a laugh, and groups that you might want a few pointers on before joining or posting.

 

Babywearing Advice/Support Groups

Babywearing 102

This group got off and running not too long ago, as a better, friendlier place than Babywearing Love and Support (which you will see abbreviated elsewhere as BLS). At first, the group was awesome. The admins were fantastic, it really was an open, drama free environment to share stashes, ask questions, and share knowledge. It's grown exponentially since it's opening, and as a result, it sometimes gets out of hand. The Good: it's huge, most questions get answered. The files section is FANTASTIC. Join there just to check out the files. Much of my advice and knowledge here comes from reading their files. How to ship internationally, to how to nurse in carriers, to what wraps are best for what carries, they've got it covered. They have great Tumblrs, and used to have informative blog posts - all of which are archived under the Files. Check. It. Out. The Bad: it's huge, it moves very, very quickly, and due to it's size, I (and those that admin it. I'm NOT an admin over there), can't always stay on top of all the posts. Which leads me to The Ugly: The advice and comments over there *can* get nasty and rude and downright mean. I consider myself a seasoned babywearer, and I rarely post pics of wrap jobs over there, because everyone is a critic, even if you are not asking for advice. Many of the members forget that they are talking to REAL people over there and forget their filter somewhere along the way. Bottom Line: it's worth joining, mostly for the body of knowledge found under the files. If you have questions or need advice, I'd ask elsewhere though.

Related: 102 Off Topic

A place to ask questions of your Babywearing 102 friends that have nothing to do with babywearing. Sometimes this is just things like, "how to wash cloth diapers" or "what color should I dye my hair next", sometimes it is deliberate internet bashing. (which the admins, to their credit do their best to quash.) This is their pinned post:

"**ADMIN*** The rule is "no personal attacks." It is not "no name calling." If you don't want to be called a jerk, don't act like one. You guys are adults, stop tattling to us every time someone disagrees with you or your friend. Cut it out before we delete this whole group because you guys can't handle yourselves. The rule says admin discretion, this is an unpaid and unappreciated job. Trolling will not be tolerated. Tighten up and carry on."

Join in the fun, but tread with care.

 

Everyday Babywearing

 

Created as the chatter group for Babywearing on a Budget, this is a friendly group that welcomes beginner questions, has specific topics every day (like Technique Tuesday and Guru Friday). They ask new members to introduce themselves, and instead of having a completely separate OT group, any OT chatter is directed to the daily Coffee Talk threads.

Babwearing for the Plus Size Mama

Self exlplanatory: this is welcoming group for women who want to wear their babies but are curvier than average.

Wrapper's Delight: Beyond the Basics

This is a community that focuses on woven wraps. It's smaller than Babywearing 102, and the majority of the members here are well-seasoned Babywearers. They have great advice, and beautiful stashes. This is where wrappers go to "geek out" so to speak. The good: the advice here can be trusted, and it's usually delivered tactfully. If you want to learn more about GSM (grams per square meter), handwoven woven wrap lines, upcoming releases, limited editions, etc, this is the place to go. The bad: This group can seem a little exclusive, due to the geekery and terminology a novice wrapper may be unfamiliar with. But, give it time, and they'll either grow on you, or you'll find a better fitting group elsewhere. The ugly: The Stash Shot Saturday's here will have you green with envy. They are seriously amazing collections, which is wonderful for collectors, but a bit hard to look at for some.

related: these brand specific groups often have news about upcoming releases, exclusives, action shots of wraps, and most allow b/s/t.

Didymos love and appreciation
Kokadi addicts - US
Natibaby FSOT
Natibaby Love
Little Frog Exclusive Wraps
The Pavo Society
Artipoppe Slings
Oscha Slings

This is not an exhaustive list. Virtually every wrap maker has its own fan page and b/s/t group now. I've listed the ones I know about, and ones that are closed, but searchable. I know for a fact there are other "secret" Facebook groups, that you have to know someone in order to be added.

Buckle Up! SSC and Buckle Carrier Users Of All Kinds Unite!

*full disclosure* This is a group I personally created, to discuss and "geek out" over buckle carriers. Most of the SSCs out there have individual fan pages, but there was not a good place to compare them. You *can* do that sort of thing in Babywearing 102, but it gets overrun by people using other sorts of carriers (not that there is anything wrong with that), and it's nearly impossible to get an honest answer about other carriers on fan pages. This group is a fledgling, but hopefully will continue to grow as a resource.

Related: Kinderpack Chatter and B/S/T

Go here to ask questions about which size KP to buy, whether you like solar veil, comfort mesh, or kool knit better, and buy, sell, and trade used kinderpacks. This is not the place to go to ask if Tula is better than KP. (which is why I created the above group). This group is relatively drama free, and the owner of KP is a member of the page, which I think helps keep drama and bickering down to a minimum.

Related: Tula Love

This is the chatter forum for Tula SSC. I've heard rumors about drama in this group, but haven't seen much. (drama seems mostly related to b/s/t transactions gone awry). Same deal here, ask questions about sizing, exclusive releases, and share pictures of your cuties in your Tula. Tula B/S/T is here. and here and here and here.

Related: Madame GooGoo b/s/t

This is the mostly b/s/t group for Madame GooGoo baby carriers. She's a Polish seamstress that makes gorgeous canvas and wrap conversion carriers with amazing attention to detail and that are high quality. This group includes some chatter, but is mostly b/s/t.

Put a Ring on It

Also a new group - a place to discuss different styles, shoulders, and makers of ring slings, and b/s/t.
Check it out and help it grow, by sharing it with your friends.

 

General Buy/Sell/Trade groups.

General commentary on these groups, and b/s/t in any of the groups that permit it: Feedback is a must. Most groups accept feedback links (to an album you create and others comment on) for The Babyearing Swap Feedback. Some groups have their own feedback groups. When a group requires a feedback link, please be mindful in ALL of your transactions to leave honest feedback, both as a buyer and a seller. This feedback is how we stay accountable for these transactions. It's how you can sometimes find carriers you've sold (by tracing b/s/t feedback) in the event you ever want to track down a carrier that you loved. Feedback is important!  Paypal. Always, always, pay goods/services. Yes, the seller will incur fees. They are minimal, and they should be pricing their items with the fees in mind. If you as a buyer offer less than what is listed, the seller, if they accept your offer, should still be mindful that fees will be charged. If I recall correctly, Paypal fees are like 3%. When you buy as goods/services, it offers you protection through paypal should the transaction go badly or if you don't receive your item. If you buy as friends/family/gifted, there are no fees, and no protection. This is essentially b/s/t at your own risk, and not worth it (in my very humble opinion) - the only exception to this is when you buy something on a payment plan, as each payment is only insured through paypal for that amount. In that case, often you will do one payment as goods, and the rest as gifted, but that is really up to the parties involved in the transaction. Bottom Line:  I say all of this not to scare you away from buying in these groups, but just to make sure you go in with a clear mind and know what to expect. If a buyer or seller asks you to do something fishy, it probably is. Trust your instincts!

The Babywearing Swap

See my blog post detailing it, and how to navigate it here. It's so serious it needed its own post. Seriously.

Babywearing on a Budget

All carriers here are $100 or less, it's a great place to find a bargain on any carrier, or sell one, especially if you are selling a less sought after brand, like infantino (which does make great, budget friendly ergonomic options), DIY carriers, etc, that may not sell as well on The Babywearing Swap. This group has its own feedback group, Babywearing on a Budget Feedback.

Local Groups that you may find carriers in:
https://www.facebook.com/groups/LexingtonMoms3/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/123062517859720/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/Lexingonmomsnorules/
https://www.facebook.com/groups/ColaSC/

High End Babywearing Swap

To be perfectly honest, I'm only in this group to ogle the pretties, and to find out how much the hand wovens and highly sought after things go for. To post here, the wraps (and wrap conversions) are priced at AT LEAST $375 PPD, and often for hundreds more.


I think that's the general gist of all the babywearing groups - If you aren't already in some of these, I highly suggest joining the fun. Like all things babywearing, it's addictive, and should come with an appropriate disclaimer. Consider this your warning.

Upcoming Events:

Babywearing Yoga. Yes, we will be babywearing. And doing Yoga. AT THE SAME TIME. This will be a class for all skill levels, including children that want to participate, Led by our very own Emily Thompson, who also teaches yoga classes at Expecting Well. Dress comfortably, bring kids of all ages, and don't forget your sense of humor. This should be a fun class. Like all meetings, we will open the floor to questions and carrier trouble shooting after the main portion of the meeting.  Please remember this is a peanut-free facility.
Thursday, June 26th at the LDS Church on Broad River Rd, from 10:00 a.m. to  . . .

Midlands Baby, Kid, and Family Expo. This is a huge event, with tons of vendors, including US! We will be giving a live demonstration at 11:30, and we will also have a booth for answering questions, displaying the lending library, and troubleshooting carriers.
Saturday, June 28th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Convention Center, Downtown Columbia

If the carrier fits . . . . wear it! - Babywearing Plus Size Style

Happy Blog Day!

The last few weeks have been chock full of events - Expos, play dates, meetings . . . it's a sign summer is coming and we will all be getting even busier! Even me, your erstwhile blogger, so I thought I'd take advantage of a quiet evening and talk about something near and dear to my heart, plus size babywearing.

Tandem wearing my oldest 2

I've been plus sized my entire adult life, and though I'm working (successfully!) at getting healthier and slimmer, I know too well the frustrations of being bigger than average. My husband, too, has been there, done that. At his largest he was nearly 400 lbs and wearing 3XLT shirts. At my largest, I was nearly 250 lbs and wearing size 20, though I am sure that was snug. Despite our size, both my husband and I were intrigued by babywearing and determined to make it work for us. When we became parents in 2009, we started with an Ergobaby buckle carrier (SSC) - it fit him with an extender belt, and I was just able to make it work without the belt. Since then, we've discovered and used lots of other carriers, and I'm here to tell you that no matter what size you are, YOU can wear your baby. In all sorts of carriers, from buckle carriers, to mei tais, to woven and stretchy wraps, there is something in every category that will work for you, I promise. Not only do you have options, your options have options! I believe that you will find at least one carrier you love, not only because it works for you, but because you love the look and feel of it, too.  I'm going to walk you through the different categories of carriers and tell you what will likely work, and what (probably) won't.

First, the bad news.

Most of the things that will work for you aren't available in a brick and mortar store. A couple of weeks ago I shared a blog post about locally available carriers, and to be quite honest, though I got all of them to fit (and as of that writing, I was under 200 lbs and a size 16) - with a few of them it was a near thing. You can probably get a few to work for you, but your best options are available online, and there are plenty of them, so never fear!

The good news:

There are so many options, I am going to break it up by carrier type, explaining the good, the bad, and the ugly, including how to make some of these options less ugly, so to speak.

 

SSC/Buckle Carriers

Ashlyn and her daughter in an Ergo

This category includes Ergobaby, Boba, Beco, Kinderpack, Olives and Applesauce,Tula, Infantino Union, and a whole host of others.

The good: Buckle carriers are easy to use, and since these are often the option commonly chosen by daddy wearers, these tend to have generous length of straps and waist belts. Most of these aren't too bad on your wallet either; ranging in price from under $50 (the Infantino Union) to under $200 - most every other brand, unless it is a custom carrier (in which case, of course it will run you more) brand new. The only brand SSC that seems to run small in the straps is the Lillebaby. When I tried it, I barely got the waist to buckle. Every other carrier I have tried, I had waist length to spare. And I've personally owned an Ergobaby, Boba, Kinderpack, Olives and Applesauce, Babyhawk Oh!snap, and a Nana's JetPack, as well as having tried other brands available locally, and a friend's Tula.

Lillebaby
 tight, but it works!

** A word on strap length - many online makers offer Plus Size straps - Kinderpack offers this option, as do many others, though it may be labeled differently. Kanga calls their Plus Size carrier the Kanga XLT. Unless you are very plus sized, or quite tall, I doubt you will need plus straps. That "plus" bit only refers to the additional length of padding. The problem with extra padding usually comes in back carries, where you need a lot less length usually, and if you are short like I am, you need a LOT less length. With the plus straps you may not be able to get it tight enough to be comfortable for you and baby. I do know many plus sized parents that like the extra padding - but wanted to mention that you may not actually need that if you can't find it.

The bad: The price for a good carrier can be daunting to some, and it can sometimes be hard to find the carrier you want in the color or print you love. But honestly, that is true for any wearer of any size. Also, eventually you may want a different size or brand of carrier as your baby grows - buckle carriers are not the best birth-to-toddler option (though some carriers, like Olives and Applesauce, come close with built in infant panels for babies and wide seats for toddlers).

The ugly: Muffin-top. If you buckle this snugly around your waist, where most people wear it, you may notice some bulge above or below the webbing. If you are at all vain about how you look while wearing your baby, this may deter you from this choice of carrier. How to avoid this look? Buckle your carrier higher, around your ribcage/under your breasts. This is usually the slimmest part of your body and will look better. Another advantage is baby will be higher on your back which many find more comfortable, and baby may be happier being able to see over your shoulder. If you are like me and often wear layers for nursing, I usually will drape my top layer over the buckle, to disguise the bulge.

Mei Tai 

This category includes Babyhawk, Infantino Sash Mei Tai, Cat-Bird Baby (easily available), and other custom makers like Obi-mama, Bamberoo, and many Woven Wrap companies make a Wrap Conversion Mei Tai (Didymos, Hoppediz, and Lenny Lamb do for sure). 

Minde - tying Tibetan looks great!

The Good: Mei Tai are also super easy to use - just tie it on, and there are lots of options for ways to tie to adjust the comfort for you and  your baby. This is an easy carrier to move between different wearers since there are no buckles to adjust and it's truly one size fits most wearers and babies. There are tips to making a mei tai fit a smaller baby which also apply somewhat to SSC/Buckle Carriers. The price point is also pretty reasonable - ranging from around $30 for the Infantino to $200+ for custom wrap conversion options - you can find something in your budget.

The Bad: Strap length might be limiting somewhat, for what carriers you can do. Especially in the more custom options (or if you decide to sew your own) you can opt for longer straps to suit your needs.

The Ugly: Unlike an SSC, there are options for tying to avoid muffin top. There are some great tips for using and trouble shooting mei tai HERE.

Ring Sling

Rachael - this she sewed herself!

My favorite all time resource for all things Ring Sling Related is www.sleepingbaby.net - Jan Andrea has been doing this for years. If you poke around her site a bit, you'll find information on different shoulder styles, buy an inexpensive sling from her, send her a woven wrap to convert (if you see a ring sling done with an SBP or Eesti shoulder, it was done by her or by someone else using her instructions), and lots, and lots of DIY tutorials. Other great ring sling makers include Zanytoes, Sweet Pea Slings, Rocking Baby, Sakura Bloom, and Babyette.

The Good: Ring Slings are wonderful for new parents and new babies - you simply slip over your head and tighten. They also are a great carrier for toddlers who want up and down eleventy million times. What size do you need? I'd say no smaller than a medium, but you certainly do not need the size that corresponds with your shirt size. Basically, the extra length affords you a longer tail, which is pretty, and can serve as a handy nursing cover, or to wrap the rings if they get uncomfortable. Price - Ring Slings can easily be found under $100, even wrap conversion ring slings on occasion.

The Bad: Ring Slings are, by definition, a one-shouldered carrier. It will not be comfortable to use them for hours with a newborn or a long period of time with a heavy toddler. It may take some trial and error to find a shoulder style that you find comfortable. It's not generally recommended to use ring slings for back carriers (it's tricky to ensure the rings stay secure, though I know some wearers slide toddler from their hips to their backs for a minute or two to get them out of the way as they cook, etc ).

The Ugly: Some men aren't fans of ring slings - I think the find the draping fabric too feminine. That's the only "ugly" thing I can think of, as I find ring slings pretty universally appealing.

Woven Wraps



Amber is using a size 3 wrap

Woven wraps are wonderful. They are by far the most versatile of any sort of carrier, as they can be worn front, back, or hip, by any size or gender of wearer, for any size of baby from squish to preschooler. You will never need to "size up" for an older toddler the way you might choose to for a SSC or Mei Tai. (You may find different qualities in wraps appeal as your baby grows or you deal with variations in the weather, however).  That's great, I hear you say. What's the catch?

The Good: no matter if you are a size 14/16 or a size 22/24 or more, you can use most wrap sizes, from a size 2 to a size 7+.  The chart linked here gives you a good idea of what you can do with what size wrap. As you can see, any size can be your friend. I found as a new wrapper with a young baby, I preferred the length of a 7 to do multi-layer supportive carries. As my experience and baby grew, I preferred shorter wraps so I could secure baby faster. As an added bonus, shorter wraps tend to be less expensive. There are tons of different companies, fabric blends, and patterns to choose from, I honestly believe that there is something out there for everybody.

The Bad: Woven wraps have probably the longest learning curve of any carrier option. You'll sweat, curse, and cry. But then, if you keep at it, your muscles and joints will magically work together with your brain, and it will CLICK. And you will post pictures everywhere of your sweaty, tear-streaked awesomeness and we will cheer for you, because we have all been there. If we haven't (yet), we will stand back in virtual awe of your mad skills. Trust me. It's worth it. I admit, I'm mostly a buckle girl these days, but I am beyond grateful that wrapping is in my repertoire - it's a skill that's come in handy nearly every day since I had my second baby, and continues as my third baby grows into toddlerhood. For the plus size mama, especially if you feel your joints may be a bit limited in mobility, you might want to start back wrapping when your baby is a little older, like 6+ months, since bigger babies are easier to wrap (you don't have to try to reach quite as high on your back to do the passes needed to secure them). Unfortunately, wraps come with the most sticker shock - there are some budget friendly options - Little Frog, Storcheweige, Tekni Wovens has a beginner wrap option, and there is a Babywearing on Budget Swap on Facebook (everything under $100) - there are wraps that sell in excess of $300. Wraps also seem less budget friendly, because most people don't seem to buy just one. Yes, you can have just ONE wrap. (or two, or three . . .). Many of us DO have only a couple. The trick is to try some things to see what you like. The good news? Wraps have great resale value! and people love to trade!

The Ugly: there is no ugly in wrapping :) For many people I know, it's why they choose wrapping over other options, because there are lots of gorgeous ways to tie off a wrap that are flattering. Google Saltwater Tie off (done to finish a Double Hammock) or Sweetheart Tie (done with Back Wrap Cross Carry) or Taiwanese Carry.

You see, no matter what size you are, you can find a carrier that suits your personal needs, style, and body type. Babywearing can be the ultimate confidence booster as doing it often and successfully makes you feel like Super Woman, and that's a feeling that's flattering on every body shape.

Upcoming Events

 

Our weekend meeting is coming up on June 14th (a Saturday) at 10:00 a.m. at the LDS building on Assembly Street - come join us and check out our Lending Library where we can help you find a carrier that works for you.

Our June weekday meeting is Thursday, June 26th at 10:00 a.m. at the LDS Church on Broad River Rd. We'll be doing Yoga. And Babywearing. AT THE SAME TIME!  This will be a great time to bring your older kids who are out of school to join the fun.

Please note that both buildings are Peanut-Free Facilities, please choose nut-free snacks for your littles.

 

Also: Saturday, June 28th is the Midlands Baby and Kids Expo, where we will have a table set up to do demonstrations and troubleshooting.

Every Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. come join us in the Facebook Group for live chat with other local Babywearers - we talk about everything under the sun.

Newsflash: It's Hot Out There

Happy Mother's Day!

I hope everyone is enjoying Mother's Day, whether you are a mom of one, mom of several, a mom-to-be, a dad celebrating the mother of your child(ren) . . . . celebrate the women in your life. Today, especially since the weather is cooperative, I'm sure many of you are outside, grilling, barbeque-ing, picnicking, or otherwise enjoying the outdoors and all it has to offer. Here in the South, we love the outdoors, except when both the heat and humidity is through the roof - which unfortunately is half the year. How do you survive when your babies and toddlers still want to be held or worn? Can it be done - without one or both of you melting into a puddle?

I will not be the first, or last, to tell you that no matter what, you and baby will be hot if you are wearing them. There is no magic trick or secret carrier or special way that will instantly keep you and your baby cool as cucumbers in the South Carolina weather. Yes, you will be hot. but there are some things you should know that can help both of you keep as cool as humanly possible in 90+ degree weather with 100% humidity.

Most of these tips are common sense, some of them would never have occurred to me had I not known some awesome people who shared them with me.

 

Let's talk fabric

The more layers of fabric there are, in any carrier or woven wrap carry, the hotter you will be. Choosing a carrier with thinner, lighter weight fabric that breathes well is the first step in staying cooler in the heat.

Mei Tai

Mei Tai - choose one that has an unpadded body and thinner straps for optimal cooling - the Infantino Sash is one such, as is one by Cat-Bird Baby. Wrap straps provide more support, but will add stifling layers that will trap the heat.

Kinderpack with
Comfort Mesh at the Zoo

SSC/Buckle Carriers - choosing one with a mesh panel will improve circulation and help keep baby cool - Kinderpack and Bamberoo both have Kool Knit, Comfort Mesh, Solar Veil/Solar Weave panel options. Ergo makes a Performance Carrier that is one of my top picks for a carrier that is available locally - it has mesh in the straps that is helpful, plus a taller, wider body that the Ergobaby Original.

Ring Slings - any ring sling is a great option in the heat, since there is only

Ashleigh's Ring Sling

one layer (two if it's a double layer ring sling - Sakura Bloom, PeaPod Slings and others make double layer linen and silk slings) of fabric over baby. If your baby or toddler likes to be up and down frequently, a ring sling is a great addition to your carrier collection. It folds up small, and is useful for any stage - newborn through toddler. If your baby or toddler will be "up" a long time, a two-shouldered carrier will be more comfortable for both of you, though. Fabric options for ring slings that are popular include linen, cotton, and woven wrap conversions. Honestly, any of these are a great option and will breathe well.

Woven Wraps: as far as fabric goes, the top picks for hot weather wearing are usually linen and cotton. Both breathe well and do well in a lighter, more open weave. Look for Indios or Waves (these are patterns, available in various colors) by Didymos, plain twill weave (available by many brands, like Girasol), and some gauze wraps. Of all the gauze out there, the wraps by Wrapsody/Gypsy Mama are my favorites for sturdiness. You can make a DIY wrap out of certain kinds of gauze available at fabric stores, but these tend to be thinner and less supportive. Wrapsody Bali Breeze Gauze wraps are very affordable - new ones are less than $90.

Didymos Waves Tramonto
at the Zoo

Do not totally write off other fabric blends. Wool and hemp blends tend to be thicker and cushier on your shoulders, and more supportive for growing babies and toddlers. Since they are cushier, you can often manage a shorter wrap (less fabric!) for a longer period of time. I also like silk wraps in summer since they tend to be thinner. In general you can determine the thick or thinness of a wrap by looking at the GSM ( grams per square meter) - around 200 gsm is a thinner wrap 300+ is quite thick.

Molly and the Moby Wrap

Stretchy Wraps - these include the Moby and Boba wrap - honestly, these are both very hot carriers.Wrapsody Hybrid Stretch - this is a soft, breathable stretchy wrap that is supportive enough for back carries (the Moby, Boba, and K'tan are all too stretchy for back carries) - the Hybrid Stretch will cost a little more than the Moby or Boba Wrap, but like it's sister carrier, the Bali Breeze, runs well under $100 making it still a fairly affortable option.
Since they are stretchy, you need multiple layers to provide support, and the fabric blend traps heat. If you want something like this, a great option is the Baby K'tan which is also available in Breeze which is a very breathable, lightweight fabric. The main thing to remember with the K'tan is that you need the right size, which should fit like a snug t-shirt, and these carriers are most comfortable for babies under 15 lbs. Another option available is the Gypsy Mama/

More on Woven Wraps:

Less fabric is more cooling - In the summer (and spring and fall/Indian Summer) I love shorter wraps. Most people start out using a size 6 or 7 - this is your base size that you can accomplish most carries in, like a Front Wrap Cross Carry, a Double Hammock back carry, etc. As you get more experienced, many wrappers like to move to "shorties" AKA shorter wraps sizes 2-4, for many reasons.  It's less fabric, faster wrap jobs for wriggly babies and toddlers, and often these wraps are less expensive (since they are less fabric). Carries that are popular - because the are only one or two layers:

Melissa - Front Cross Carry

Front Carries: Kangaroo and Front Cross Carry














Laura - Semi FCC

Hip Carries: Rebozo (most often done with a size 2), Poppins, Robin's, Coolest Hip Cross Carry, Semi Front Wrap Cross Carry












Katrina - HJBC

Back Carries: Rucksack/Ruck (and all its variations), RRRR/Pirate's Carry, HJBC (Half Jordan's Back Carry - look for the symmetrical version), DHTAS (Double Hammock Tied At Shoulder), Rear/Back Rebozo

Torso carry in a size 3

Torso  - these can be done on front or back, and are great when you have sunburned shoulders. These can even, in a pinch, be accomplished with a beach towel. You will notice with a torso carry that baby sits lower on your back, right in your lumbar curve, so it can take some time to get accustomed to the difference, if you are used to wearing baby high on your back.


 

Wearing in the water

Water Ring Sling
 at Folly Beach

Yes, you can wear in the water. My favorite thing to use is a water ring sling - made by several reputable makers on Etsy, Zanytoes, and others. These are made from athletic mesh that dries quickly and is fairly inexpensive. I've used mine from squish through toddlerhood, and I love it. You can also buy a length of athletic mesh and use it like a woven wrap. Downsides: this is a lot of fabric that is going to get wet and heavy, and possibly quite hot, once you have all those layers. I wouldn't recommend this in a rebozo, as the knot will get difficult to adjust when wet. You can buy sling rings and get a short length and either sew your own or use it as a no-sew ring sling. The only thing, purely for safety reasons, is please do not wear baby on your back in the water. You need to be able to see your baby and make sure his or her airway stays clear, and that is difficult on your back.  Once you are out of the water, back carries are awesome.

Other tips for staying cool:

Frog Toggs - This is a large cloth pad available at Wal-mart and other retailers  in the camping section designed for keeping people cool. Cut in to smaller sections, dampen and place between you and baby to stay cool

Hydrate - make sure you and baby drink plenty, since chances are you will be sweating. Maybe get a handheld misting fan to keep you and baby cool.

 hat + shade + baby on back
= cool times at the beach 

Stay covered - hats, baby legs, long sleeves, etc will help avoid sunburn and keep you both shaded

Take breaks - when possible, switch positions, take baby down and let them move, rest, etc.

Wear baby on your back - for some reason, it seems less hot to have baby on your back. Maybe it's just less places for sweat to pool, but for whatever reason, many people find having baby on their backs is much cooler than wearing on the front.

 

The weather is warming up, and it's only going to get hotter - come join the conversation in our Facebook group about you like to stay cool in the South Carolina Heat. Better yet, come join us at our Ice Cream Social next Saturday, May 17th at 11 a.m. We'll be at Heathwood Park  - this is a great park with a water feature that the kids are sure to love.