Relatively new to babywearing. Need help...

[SaraFR]

As per the title, I'm relatively new to babywearing. So far I have just the stuff you can buy in Burlington or a regular baby store. Their selection is quite poor.

I have a 3 year old who doesn't need to be worn too much but I think he might enjoy it if I did.

I have a light weight 16 month old who really loves to be close to his Mommy. I'm proud to say he's quite a mommy's boy.

I babysit my friend's baby. I'm not sure how old the baby is, maybe 8 months or so. The only thing is that the baby doesn't bear her own weight and is quite large (soy formula fed-yuch!).

My friend's baby likes to be held close but her weight has been getting too much for my back when I use the snugli. Today I bought a Playtex hip hammock to see how that goes.

I know there are plenty of other babywearing tools but the sites I've seen make my head spin.

Can anyone please tell me how I can get things, particularly not so expensive (Dh and I are on budget-organic is eating the rest of it )?

Additionally, I know how to sew and I have a machine. Can anyone help me get a proper pattern so perhaps I could make my own?

[Caryliz]

HI Sara!

I think, given financial constraints and the need to carry three children of differing sizes, your best bet may be a homemade mei tai. Jan at Sleepingbaby has simple instructions on her website here: http://crafts.sleepingbaby.net/asian.html and even for a non-seamstress like me, it looks do-able! She says it should take you 60 - 90 minutes from start to finish. (Plus, there's no pattern to cut out; it's just a matter of measuring and cutting the fabric.) She also has directions shown here http://www.sleepingbaby.net/jan/inde...aby/asian.html for something called a "Frankenkozy", which is a mei tai with wrap-style straps. These much wider straps help to distribute a heavy baby's weight over your shoulders better than the narrow-strap model does.

Really excellent instructions for wearing that new mei tai can be found on the Kozy site, here: http://www.kozycarrier.homestead.com/instructions.html

I think the advantage of a mei tai (or any two-strap carrier) over a hip hammock is that it will distribute the baby's weight evenly across your shoulders and back, with no pulling on one side or the other. This is especially nice when you are toting a heavy or sleeping baby! (I swear when they fall asleep they gain 10 pounds! )

Let us know how this works out!

[stellimamo]

:

I love my mei tai. I made my own and it was easy and fun to choose my fabric. My dd is 24 at 9 months and i wear her all the time for long periods of time with my back problems, actually it makes me have better posture. We are on a budget too so I had to find inexpensive ways to wear dd. Good Luck!

[SaraFR]

I made a mei tai from that site. I used extra cloth that I had previously bought and ended up not using. The carrier came out pretty good. I think the fabric is slightly stretchier than I would like. I think it would feel more secure if it had less stretch.

AN (Ds2) really liked bouncing in it. He used it to play peek-a-boo with us while he was inside. YY (Ds1) thought AN was hilarious and had a blast watching AN party.

I do need to get better at wearing it because it doesn't yet feel as comfortable as I had expected. Maybe I'll make another one using wider straps.

I can still use more advice. Calling all wearers of babies...

[Caryliz]

Originally Posted by SaraFR

I made a mei tai from that site. I used extra cloth that I had previously bought and ended up not using. The carrier came out pretty good. I think the fabric is slightly stretchier than I would like. I think it would feel more secure if it had less stretch.

I think for best results you need to use a heavyweight twill if not canvas fabric. Something of this weight will stand up to heavy babes and constant use while still providing plenty of support.

If you're not crazy about the mei tai option, you could always try a wrap. I love mine, but there is definitely a learning curve, and if you need something that will work RIGHT NOW, it might be frustrating. On the other hand, they can be very easy and inexpensive to make! Try checking out http://www.mamatoto.org for both sew and no-sew wrap instructions.

HTH!

Cary

[NataliaMama]

I was going to say go to mamatoto.org, but pp beat me to it! Defineatly look into making your own if you want to save money and know how to sew. It's very easy!

Also, www.thebabywearer.com has lots of links and info to help you decide on what type of carrier you want.

Sarah