woven wrap-how different are they really?

[omelette]

I'm using a stretchy wrap right now and it is the comfiest carrier by far. My little one is starting to get droopy in it after awhile so I was going to switch to a woven wrap. There are so many different brands out there. Are they really all that different? What would you recommend for somebody who is new to a woven wrap?
Also, does it provide the same comfort even though it doesn't have the give of the stretchy wrap?

[ElaynesMom]

It is different wrapping with a woven than a stretchy, you have to wrap a bit more carefully and make sure to tighten the rails and the center of the wrap so that one part isn't much tighter than another part. With a little practice woven wraps are very comfortable IMO. I'd stick with an all cotton wrap probably since they are easy to care for. Most of the big brands should be fine (hoppediz, storchenwiege, didymos, neobulle) so I'd just pick a color that appeals to you most and a brand that is in your budget.

[coldandsleepy]

I started out with a Moby and loved it SO much when my son was still pretty small; however, I found that as he's gotten heavier, the Moby's gotten less and less comfy for us. He's 17.5 lbs now and I really don't put him in the Moby unless we're planning to sit around the house because while it still starts out great, he's sagged down to my knees in no time.

A friend of mine made us a woven wrap-- just a long piece of woven fabric that she serged the sides of-- and the transition from it to the Moby has been really smooth. We tie it a little bit differently, but after the first or second time, it was as easy as the Moby's been. My son doesn't seem to be able to tell the difference between the Moby and our woven wrap and loves both.

The woven fabric makes a HUGE difference for my (huge ) baby. I feel like it's a lot more supportive and puts less strain on my back, in part due to the fact that he stays in a good position and doesn't sag down to a point that makes me ache.

I don't know much about the different brands of woven wraps, but if you get to the point where your stretchy wrap isn't comfy any more, they're definitely worth trying! If you're not sure you're ready to commit to buying one full price (they're spendy!) and you're not comfortable making your own (almost definitely the cheapest route), you might look for a used one online.

[FelixMom]

If budget is what you're concerned about, you could always head over to thebabywearer.com and check out the FSOT forum to get wraps that are already broken in and cheaper than a brand new one.

You will notice that a woven wrap is waaay more supportive than any stretchy wrap, so when warmer weather approaches, one layer of fabric is sufficient to carry your baby/toddler/cranky tired 4 yr old!

[Adasmommy]

There's a lot of chatter about the minute differences but in my experience, the german style woven wraps are all very similar in use and feel. I wouldn't worry about brand too much--get one you love!

Didymos, Storchenwiege, Hoppediz, Girasol, Neobulle, or EllaRoo for a cooler, thinner woven.

Buying one used is a good way to get a soft, nicely-broken-in wrap.

IMO, woven's are much more comfy.

[Pepper44]

Out of the ones we have (slight obsession ) the Didymos and the Ellaroo are the softest, thinnest ones that I think are most comparable to a stretchy wrap. They are like the next step up from a Moby. The Hopp we have is a lot thicker, which is very sturdy but harder to get used to after a stretchy Moby!

You can get a used Ellaroo wrap for pretty cheap on The Baby Wearer. I got mine for $25 last year from there.