Ive joined the Wrap-er's!...but which one?

[Carter'sMummy]

a mom at my baby group said id like a wrap, like the moby wrap, so she nicely brought me about 5 yards of fabric and showed me with her 7 month old how to carry (shes a maya sling-er) so ive been using it the last 24 hours and i love it! ive cradled, front facing, kangaroo'ed and tryed the back carry. cj likes it more than the sling i made so i think its the carrier for me.

But the fabric, as the other mom said isnt ideal, id like something a little stretchy but which one do you other wrap-er's use?

and its kinda pain to re-wrap for different positions, is there an easier way to avoid all of it?

[cristeen]

The stretchy ones have a limited life span - babe gets too heavy for the stretch. I love my Moby, but he's 2 months, and in another month or two the stretch will not be supportive enough any longer. I think I may have to get a woven wrap.

As for the retying, I know I've seen one that's like a couple loops that act similar to the wrap without the tying. I'm sure someone else will chime in on that.

[Carter'sMummy]

Originally Posted by cristeen

The stretchy ones have a limited life span - babe gets too heavy for the stretch. I love my Moby, but he's 2 months, and in another month or two the stretch will not be supportive enough any longer. I think I may have to get a woven wrap.

As for the retying, I know I've seen one that's like a couple loops that act similar to the wrap without the tying. I'm sure someone else will chime in on that.

oh thank you for letting me know that, thats why i love mdc

[KristyDi]

I now have this EllaRoo woven that found in a consignment shop for $27 and I love it, but for at least a year I used a DIY wrap made with these directions (the woven one). I loved my DIY, but as DD has gotten heavier (around 20 lbs) I could feel more pressure points and it got less comfortable. My Ella Roo is more supportive and comfortable. I still use the DIY but only around the house for shorter times and I have to be more careful to wrap neatly and keep it spread for comfort.

Welcome to wrapping! My wrap is my go to carrier even though I have slings, an MT and a Beco. I love wrapping. There is a learning curve to be patient and give yourself time to learn.

And just for fun, here's my favorite beginning back carry. The Back Wrap Cross Carry with a chest belt.

[Carrruth]

Another good woven wrap for starters is a Hoppediz. They are wider, so easier for most people to learn with. Also, they come with a very detailed instruction book, although you can find videos on youtube too or buy a DVD.

[blumom2boyz]

I bought a woven wrap (storch) when ds3 was 2 and still in a very "needy" stage. I now use the same wrap with my dd! It is sooo versatile and you can really do a ton of different carries with one wrap depending on what you are doing. I chose a storch b/c it really is a workhorse of a wrap and you can throw it in the washer and dryer without damaging the wrap.

[Carter'sMummy]

they are all so much money (for me) did anyone just buy fabric instead?

[NickisDiapers]

You can use just fabric. There's one called Osnaburg that wraps really nicely. Here's a good site on how to make your own wrap.

Personally, I find the expense of wraps worth it -- they last from newborn through big kid!

Check out Neobulle wraps, they're a little less expensive than Hoppediz, Storchenwiege, Didymos...

[lisad1]

I had a Storch(enwiege) wrap that I used for a long time through many different phases and carries and LOVED it - so versatile and sturdy, yet cozy and comfortable!

Re-wrapping gets a lot less annoying after getting some practice at it. Have fun!

[ann_of_loxley]

Stretchy is nice for newborns. Its a bit more snuggly on them and makes BF in a wrap much easier as, because of the pliable stretch, you can move them about more easily inside the wrap without ever really having to take it off.

But once they are no longer newborns - I hate stretch! lol It just does not offer as much support. I think using them up to about 15lbs (baby weight) is a bit of a stretch. I never found them much comfortable after that.

I LOVE woven wraps though! I have to say...so far...Indios (didymos) are my all time fav! (the choice really just comes down to which colour! lol). I prefer linen but I know they so wool and silk. Linen is nice and thin though (but of course, not too thin!...all woven wraps are pretty strong!) - but linen is also one of those fabrics that nice and cool/breathable in the summer and warm in the winter.

Try thebabywearer.com. You can get used slings there for much cheaper than they are new (and it also means you can get slings you would only be able to get used due to them not being made anymore for example - and this can often be the case with woven wraps as they come out with so many colour combinations, they may not actually make new the one you might be after).

[lindsayjean]

I have a storch and LOVE it. It worked well when my babe was little, and now that he's a chunky monkey 5 month old and SUPER heavy, it still works. I have a feeling it will work until he's done being wrapped. LOVE it.

It's not stretchy, but I think stretchy starts to hurt after a while once they get heavier. I originally thought I would like something stretchy before I actually tried a nonstretchy wrap. Now I will never ever use a stretchy because I just LOVE woven so much!!

[gbutterflykissesm]

I have a stretchy wrap - a Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Stretch - which is more supportive than a Moby, and I was doing some great back carries a few weeks ago. But my baby must have hit 20 lbs or something because they are just not comfortable anymore. The fabric pulls too tight and feels like a stretched out rubber band against my skin. And if I try a chest belt, it slips and doesn't stay tight.

I bought some osnaburg fabric, and here's a question for you DIYers:
I checked out the link that a couple of you posted on how to make a wrap. In regards to putting the rubber bands on the ends, what is the reason for this? Most purchased wraps are not gathered at the ends, is that correct? I just didn't know if I should try to sew in a gather or simply taper the ends of my osnaburg.

[GoBecGo]

I think the rubber bands are just to stop ends getting snagged and potentially fraying - tapering the ends should be fine.