Caught the woven wrap bug « Back to Group Discussions

[odinsmama]

Someone please put me out of my misery!!

There are just way too many. Cotton, bamboo, linen, hemp. A million different designs and colors. I can't deal with this much shopping around. I just want to magically find one that is perfect and love it and quit shopping!!

The good news is I'm totally on a budget, using birthday money, so I can only choose one and my budget excludes the crazy expensive ones.

I'm getting some good advice but some of it is conflicting so I'm ending up a little torn.

I have worn both boys in a mei tai and very limited time in a ring sling, but never done a wrap before.

Currently loving 3...
A cotton didymos Indio. From a friend, probably a crazy good deal but she's slacking on getting the price to me Also have no idea if this is a nice soft, supportive one.

A dyed bamboo/linen 80/20 natibaby. Color a little odd but it looks really soft and well loved.

A natibaby butterflies which I think is cotton/linen 75/25.

Any mamas with experience with any of these?

I'm feeling stuck waiting on my friend to find out the price of the Indio as well as get some feedback on the softness. Even if it is a crazy good deal I can still only afford one wrap.

I realize I should be posting this in the baby wearing forum but I'm feeling more like venting to you ladies who can relate to the state of my preggo brain.

[etsdtm99]

I don't have any of the wraps you listed as your current choices but i have a hemp jersey wrap and i LOVE it.  I've used it for 2 babies, including one who was 20lbs by 6 months. very supportive, yet still slightly stretchy (so easier to use for me, i tried a didymos woven wrap - not sure of details i borrowed it from a friend, it was heavier and i really didn't like it compared to the hemp jersey) , not too hot for summer/warm climates  (mine is a hotmama wrap, though it is a solid color - http://www.mom-and-me-creations.com/hotmamawrap.html)

[buko]

OMG-- this is me, LOL!  And I have never actually used any carrier with a real live baby... just "Bushy Tail," DH's funky hybrid stuffed animal from his childhood in Malaysia.  (We've already bought 2 really inexpensive, decent slings from a Zulily sale and a Mei Tai from a consignment sale.  Luckily I've only spent $50 total, so far.  )   

DH and I went to the local hippie store (cloth diapers and carriers) and tried a bunch of them out.  I kinda liked the SSC, particularly the Beco Butterfly II, but DH looooooooved the Moby and wanted nothing else.  He hated the buckles and "apparatus"-ness of the SSCs-- preferred the wraps and Mei Tai.  He said if he had his way, the baby would just grab onto his fur like an Orangutan, LOL... 

Anyway, I started thinking that a woven wrap might be the way to go once the baby gets past Moby stage, so I started hanging out around thebabywearer.com and I am officially hooked.  I think we'll start out with a Bali Breeze, since baby will be about 2.5-3.5 months at the beginning of summer and it gets kinda gross and sticky here.  But I'm really interested in the Storchenwieges, too!     

[TheDeVitos]

Hello ladies, I just joined this group and happen to be looking to expand my wrap collection so this post really caught my eye!

I own a storchenwige and LOVE IT.  My daughter is 18 Months and I still use it all the time at 21 weeks pregnant :)  I can't do the front carries anymore, but do hip and back carries all the time (grocery store, out and about, etc.)  I will say in the hot summer months it can get really sweaty.  I am looking at getting a Bali stretch for next summer since it is a lot more light weight and breathes.  I also have a moby that I used with my daughter until she got too big for it (they don't recommend a moby for back carries since it is so stretchy they can throw themselves out of it).  I am actually excited about trying to carry both of my babies at once.  I definately have the wrap bug :)  I have 2 ring slings, but I don't use them nearly as often, I like the increased support and versitility of the wrap, I even figured out how to nurse in it so no one even knew.  Hope you find something you really like.  Being able to carry my daughter in a wrap has been the best thing ever (she hates riding in a stroller).

[etsdtm99]

Originally Posted by buko 

OMG-- this is me, LOL!  And I have never actually used any carrier with a real live baby... just "Bushy Tail," DH's funky hybrid stuffed animal from his childhood in Malaysia.  (We've already bought 2 really inexpensive, decent slings from a Zulily sale and a Mei Tai from a consignment sale.  Luckily I've only spent $50 total, so far.  )   

DH and I went to the local hippie store (cloth diapers and carriers) and tried a bunch of them out.  I kinda liked the SSC, particularly the Beco Butterfly II, but DH looooooooved the Moby and wanted nothing else.  He hated the buckles and "apparatus"-ness of the SSCs-- preferred the wraps and Mei Tai.  He said if he had his way, the baby would just grab onto his fur like an Orangutan, LOL... 

Anyway, I started thinking that a woven wrap might be the way to go once the baby gets past Moby stage, so I started hanging out around thebabywearer.com and I am officially hooked.  I think we'll start out with a Bali Breeze, since baby will be about 2.5-3.5 months at the beginning of summer and it gets kinda gross and sticky here.  But I'm really interested in the Storchenwieges, too!     

I just wanted to enable you a bit - you can never have too many carriers, esp. when you haven't had a chance to try them out on a real baby!  and there is no reason you and DH need to share!! lol  I LOVE my wrap and I also LOVE my beco butterfly 2 (for slightly older babies more than the tiny ones) - i have 2 wraps, 2 beco butterflies (a 1 and a 2).. a pouch, and a mei tai and that is my seriously toned down to the basic MUST HAVES carrier list lol   i also have an ergo, a ring sling, and a few other home made carriers that i collected over the years but don't really use so i lend them out to friends ;)

[akemi]

I have a didymos jacquard Jakob and I LOVE it. It's quite heavy, but I wore it in the summer and didn't have any problem, but I don't tend to sweat much even in hot weather.

In fact I loved it so much that when I somehow lost it  I found a used one on ebay and bought it again - the exact same pattern.

I just got my Ergo in the mail and showed it to DH and he doesn't like it :( He was telling me about his favourite carrier when his DD was a baby and we googled around and it turns out it was a snugli :(

I'm hoping once the baby comes and is old enough to go in the Ergo he'll change his mind once he tries it with a real live baby.

[odinsmama]

Well I was finally able to make a decision. Kept looking at different ones, showing DH a few, and he asks "why don't you just get 2?"

So I bought a 100% cotton storch Ulli which is really pretty and supposed to be a great one.
And I bought the 75/25 cotton/linen Natibaby, brown butterflies.

Both were great prices and I'm super excited to get them.

The cotton/linen was the one I originally really wanted so I'm stoked about that one. And the storch is nice and colorful, which will be fun to add to my wardrobe which tends to be greys, blacks and browns.

[HouseofPeace]

wow- i've never looked into these at all.  i had a maya with my first child, and that was it.  wore it out, replaced it.  now i have a mai-tai, my own handmade woven uber-long wrap in pea green (great for winter and small babies, i can't get the latest child to every stay in it), and my newest maya wrap.  i would consider an ergo since i carry for about 2 years and some kids get big fast.  but my last child stopped letting me carry her at around 16 months.  right before she weaned.  and started walking.  so frustrating.  i feel so tied down with a stroller!!!!  especially since it's a double wide to carry my giant almost 3 year old who can't walk more than 2 miles in a stretch...  sometimes not that.  

but will be spending more time looking at wraps!  mostly cause i love the fabrics and have a crafty mom!!!

attach links!!!

[odinsmama]

I *highly* recommend trying to find some mamas in your area who are wrappers so you can talk to them, see their wraps, ask about sizes (lengths) and fabric blends.  

There is a babywearing group in my area that just started out and it can be overwhelming (some moms just have a TON of wraps) but also helpful.

I was able to get good recommendations at least for fabric blends that work well with babies as well as toddlers and will not be too hot in the climate here.  

thebabywearer.com forums are also great.  You have to sign up before you can see the forums.  There are several help areas (choosing a type of carrier, choosing a type of wrap etc), a DIY area and a FSOT forum.  There is also a facebook babywearing FSOT page which is pretty fast paced.

I thought about making one myself but knew I wanted a heavier fabric (not muslin) that was double sided.  The fabric in my local store just didn't cut it and when I looked into ordering some I found that the wraps are actually not as expensive as they seemed at first.

I ultimately ended up buying both of mine used from moms on thebabywearer, since they had what I wanted and for a good price.

Here is a great link on wrap info.

Also, keep in mind that you can really resell wraps so if you get something and just don't love it, you can sell it on one of those swap pages.  You have to be a member of thebabywearer forums for 30 days and have 30 posts before you can sell anything on there.

[cierra159]

I too am going for a didymos Indio, although I'm going with linen blend bc I'm in Florida and it should be more breathable. The purple just screams buy me now, wear me now! It will be perfectly broken in by my toddler in time for new LO.

[Amor Rays]

I love the ergo type and the moby wrap type, both can be made at home if you are a litttle crafty, obviously the moby being easier

[odinsmama]

Here is my new (to me) Storch Ulli wrap, size 6, 100% cotton.

No, I do not intend to carry around this 4 year old ;) just wanted to try it out.