Continue reading]]> Hello there!  We are pleased to bring to you a  Buttons Cloth Diaper review and giveaway.  I had the opportunity to try a Buttons diaper for a few weeks so I could review it.  I was very pleased with the quality and construction as well as with the look and function of the diaper.

Buttons has options and I like options!  You can choose snap-in soakers with microfiber for a budget option.  If you are not a fan of microfiber, (which I am not), you can choose an organic cotton/hemp blend.  You can even choose an overnight snap in soaker that snaps into the regular soaker or into the cover itself.  They have a wide variety of cover options and the thing I like best about Buttons diapers is the attention to detail.  My diaper came hand wrapped in tissue paper and string!

Speaking of the cover, it is really well made.  It has 2 layers of PUL and double gusseted legs to help prevent leaks. It is a one size cover that fits babies 9-35 pounds.  I never had a leak with this awesome diaper.

If you would like to see my full review of this diaper, check out my YouTube video here.

THE GIVEAWAY HAS ENDED AND THE WINNER IS: BECKY ANN!!!  I have never had the first commenter win before.  Congratulations!  You have 72 hours to claim your prize.  Next in line is Anel!

GIVEAWAY
Enter to win a free Buttons cover and TWO snap in soakers of your choice!

DETAILS

Expires on 11/12/2014 at 9 am MST

A winner will be chosen at random

HOW TO ENTER

(Use any or all of these options)

1. Post a comment on this blog post stating what you like best about Buttons diapers= 1 entry

2. Follow us on social media = 1 entry EACH

Subscribe to the Positively Mommy blog (top right of this page)

www.youtube.com/user/PositivelyMommy/featured

www.facebook.com/PositivelyMommy

www.pinterest.com/positivelymommy/

twitter.com/PositivelyMommy

3. Follow Buttons Cloth Diapers on social media = 1 entry EACH

www.facebook.com/buttonsdiapers
www.twitter.com/Buttons_Diapers
www.pinterest.com/buttonsdiapers

MAKE SURE TO COMMENT ON THIS BLOG POST TO TELL US WHAT ENTRIES YOU COMPLETED SO WE KNOW TO COUNT YOU

(If you are already following us on social media, that counts as an entry too!)

RIGHT NOW BUTTONS HAS FREE SHIPPING OVER $75 FOR A LIMITED TIME!!!

Continue reading]]> Charlene Freestone, a cloth diaper expert, an admin on the diapering group, Chic Utah’s Moms on facebook, and owner of the blog C, G & Mr. B, graciously allowed me to take some videos of her beginning Cloth Diapers Class held in Lehi, Utah.  You will see 6 videos here in this post that were taken that night, all with a different and helpful theme about cloth diapering.  Links to the diapers and items used in the videos are in the description of the videos themselves, so be sure to check those out (click on the title of each individual video to get to the links).

 
CLOTH DIAPER BRANDS, STYLES, & BASICS

CLOTH DIAPER ACCESSORIES YOU WILL NEED

HOW TO WASH CLOTH DIAPERS (WITH REGULAR DETERGENT)

HOW TO CLOTH DIAPER A NEWBORN (EASILY AND INEXPENSIVELY)

HOW TO CLOTH DIAPER TWINS SUCCESSFULLY!

CLOTH DIAPERING OVERNIGHT

Continue reading]]> While my husband and 13 year old were on a vacation, I decided to cloth diaper our one year old baby (I had decided to when he was first born as well, but never followed through). At that time, he had a horrible rash on his entire stomach all the way up to his chest as well as on his legs. My other kids have been very sensitive to bleach and I suspected he was even more sensitive than they were. I asked the doctor about it and he said he could prescribe a steroid cream. I am not even remotely interested in trying steroid creams as I feel the risks outweigh the benefits and I would rather find the source of the problem than treat the symptoms which is all steroid creams can do.

Within 2 days of cloth diapering, the itchy rashes on my little guy’s belly were completely gone. Within about a week and a half, the rashes on his legs were gone too. I admit there is a bit of a learning curve with cloth diapers and finding a routine that works for YOU (and not someone else), is vital. Now that I am in the habit, it’s no big deal at all and I figure it takes me about an hour a week in extra time. It also saves money. We will save about $1000+ by cloth diapering over the next 2 years. Cloth diapers have a robust after market value as well (especially Grovia), so once you are done, you can sell them for half of what you bought them for, and sometimes more!

I set off on a mission to find the best cloth diapers. I have tried 20-30 different types of cloth diapers and have narrowed down the best one in each category.  They are in no particular order. If you would prefer to skip my written commentary, please feel free to watch the video instead!

TOP 5 CLOTH DIAPERS

Some affiliate links follow.  I was given free samples of some of these diapers, but I am giving my true and honest review of each.

Best Pocket

Baby Kicks Premium pocket diaper, color is called “Poppy”  (buy on Amazon)
Buy on Baby Kicks Site

Pocket diapers are the most popular type of cloth diaper on the market.  They are easy to use and very effective.  There is usually an outer shell that has an opening in which an insert is stuffed in.  The top portion wicks moisture away from the baby onto the insert.  You remove the insert before washing.  Here are some details about the Baby Kicks Premium pocket diaper:

• Cost: $21.50
• Comes with JoeyBunz pocket insert AND a stay dry liner
• Made from 30% certified organic cotton and 70% rayon bamboo.  The inside is velour.
• This is a one size (OS) diaper for 7-40 pounds and has a snap rise
• Awesome, soft leg gussets called “air” – no red marks
• Front pocket opening (most other diapers have their opening in the back.  You decide which you would like better)
• Side snaps (also available in Velcro) – no wing droop
• Very trim
• Waterproof PUL cover
• Very soft!  Like ridiculous soft
• Very minimal pilling
• No leaks
• Made in China

Best All in One

Grovia AiO, print is called “Pudge” (buy on Amazon)

Buy on Grovia’s site

All in one means everything is sewn in and attached.  No stuffing needed.  This is a really easy way to cloth diaper (but may have longer drying times and the cover needs to be washed every time the diaper is soiled because it is all one piece).

• Cost $24
• Comes with everything needed to diaper the baby sewn in (and a snap in/out doubler)
• Made from organic cotton
• This is a one size diaper for 10-35 pounds and has a snap rise
• Soft lining (no red marks)
• Thermal laminated waterproofed outer shell, called TPU (no solvents or formaldehyde involved in the process) – YAY!
• Side snaps – no wing droop
• Attention to quality and detail are apparent
• No leaks, very absorbant
• Very trim
• No pilling
• Doesn’t take a long time to dry
• They seem stain resistant to me
• Made in China

Best All in Two (Hybrid)

A hybrid or all in two (Ai2) is a 2 part system, usually involving snaps which keep the soakers in place (yes!).  Hybrid’s and All in Twos are my personal favorite type of diaper.  I like that you only touch the dry part to unsnap and I like that you can reuse the covers because that means less laundry and less wear and tear on the covers.  And, I’m all about less laundry and diapers that last the long haul.

Grovia Hybrid cover and soakers, print is called “Surf” (buy on Amazon).

Buy on Grovia’s site

• Cost $33 (but comes with 2 soakers) – so you get 2 uses out of this set
• The soaker is made from organic cotton (or alternatively choose the stay dry soaker which is not organic cotton, but is unbleached)
• This diaper set is one size for 8-30+ pounds.  It has snaps on the front (called a snap rise) for size adjustment
• Comes in Velco (also called Aplix or Hook and Loop) or snaps.  I like Velcro for my squirmy, busy guy.  It’s faster and a more custom fit.  I find it friendlier for my hubby and my daughter to put on too.  Velcro diapers will show more wear (pilling on the fabric), but they are really nice in the short term.
• Laundry tabs for velcro (genius!)
• Mesh on the inner cover helps keep leaks at bay
• Snap-in and stay in place soaker has TPU backing so the cover never gets soiled when baby wets.  When baby poops, I alway need to wash the cover.
• Cover dries almost instantly, but the soakers take quite a long time to dry.
• No leaking.  These are amazing diapers!
• No pilling
• Very trim.  You can hardly tell the baby is wearing a diaper.
• Made in China

Honorable mention in the Ai2 category:  Happy Endings Eco Diapers made from charcoal bamboo (a little larger than Grovia in the trimness factor, but they are very effective and nearly a third of the price).  And, no stains, ever. $11.  They have AWESOME prints and are one size with a snap rise.  They have double leg gussets to combat leaks. They dry very quickly.  I am still on the fence about whether I love or hate microfiber right now though.  The fabric does “pill” if that bothers you.  This is a normal occurrence with many styles of diapers.  As a bonus, these can be used as a pocket or an Ai2. Here’s a link to buy on Amazon if you wish.

Best Overnight Diaper

I have tried so many overnight diapers which make my son look like a bull-legged marshmallow man.  I’m serious.  It’s insane.  And, on top of that, they leak.  Just sayin’ my son sleeps 14 hours, so I wasn’t expecting a ton, but this diaper was the best and the trimmest of all of the ones I tried.

HappyEndings Eco Diaper, “Night, Night” diaper, Mine is the “ABC’s” print which is no longer available (buy on Amazon)

Buy on HappyEndings Eco Diaper site

• Cost $16 + comes with soaker
• Made from charcoal bamboo which is naturally antimicrobial, antifungal, and antibacterial
• One size diaper with a snap rise
• Stay dry layer protects baby’s skin from wetness
• Has a sewn in overnight booster that ROCKS!
• Double leg gussets
• Trim fit for a night diaper
• Customizable to your needs
• Use as an AiO diaper if you are not using it at night
• Has a back pocket to stuff the insert into
• Effective as a night diaper, even with a heavy wetter
• The fabric “pills”
• Not technically organic, but is so much more effective than any organic overnight diaper I have tried.  Charcoal bamboo is not bleached and is a natural material that is great for sensitive skin.
• Made in China

Best Fitted / Prefolds

A fitted is made from all fabric with snaps (no cover).  A prefold looks like an awesome burp cloth.  People tend to choose fitteds and prefolds because they are easy, very customizable and budget-friendly.

OsoCozy Fitted – Choose appropriate size (buy on Amazon)

Oso Cozy Fitted (buy on clothdiaper.com)

OsoCozy Prefold – Choose appropriate size (buy on Amazon)
OsoCozy Prefold (buy on clothdiaper.com)

• Cost for organic SIZED fitted $10, Cost for prefold $3.50-$5 depending on size
• Choose your size and get a custom fit for your baby
• Prefolds are made from 50% bamboo and 50% cotton
• Lint free
• Covers more surface area, so it absorbs more (great for heavy wetters)
• The fitted comes with a sewn in soaker
• Birds Eye Weave fabric on the fitted
• Easy to use
• Easy to wash
• Needs a cover (get double gusseted covers here for under $8.50)
• The quality is absolutely untouched with OsoCozy.  Their fabrics are thick and absorbent and so, so soft.
• You can use the prefolds as a doubler or as a soaker with the addition of a cover
• Keep in mind these diapers will shrink 10-15% when you prep them
• Made in the USA

If you have any questions, please post a comment and I would be more than happy to answer or help in any way I can!

Continue reading]]> I have recently had the opportunity to try out a few different baby carriers and/or slings.  See the following short video reviews below for my honest opinion.  I was not paid or given free items for these reviews.

Infantino Mei Tai

Bity Bean (love this one for short term wears and in the pool!)

7 Sling (ouch!)

I hope you found these baby carrier reviews helpful.  I still hold to the Boba being my very favorite carrier from birth all the way to 1 year +.  If you have any questions, please post a comment.

Continue reading]]> I know we all have our favorite things when it comes to baby toys and just all-around great products that makes out lives easier.  Here are my top 5!

These are my son’s favorite 2 toys

What baby doesn’t like to look at himself in the mirror? My little guy LOVES this toy. He plays with it every day and always enjoys it. He plays with it so much, he gets his cute little slobbery fingerprints all over it!  It’s always the first toy he goes for when he plays.

Our little guy always goes for this rattle made from safe plastics.  I like it because it doesn’t have an annoying rattle sound, it’s pretty quiet (except for when it’s banged on the hardwood floors over and over and over and….).  He also likes the other high quality cornstarch toys Green Sprouts sells.

My feeding favs

So, I think THIS is the most genius invention ever.  You can put soft food into it and simply hand it to the baby and they can suck on it as much as they want and they won’t choke on the food inside.  This little device makes our family dinner SOOOO much easier.  My son gets so excited when we hand him his Kidsme Food Feeder all full of yummy bananas.  It washes up very well in the dishwasher as well.  We have 2, so one can be in the dishwasher while he is using the other one.  It has a cap so you can travel with it in the diaper bag if you wish.  I think it is also really great for teething babies.

I also like this mash and serve bowl for convenience in feeding my baby homemade food.  He eats avocados and bananas often and this little device makes it very easy for me to mash them and then feed them right to him (without getting another bowl dirty).  It washes up nicely in the dishwasher as well.

When Mobility is an Issue

My son scoots and rolls around all over the house.  When I need a few minutes to get something done on the computer, or to prepare a meal, I put him in his exersaucer.   This helps keep him safe and in a place where I can watch him and where he can also have a lot of fun.  I can’t say enough great things about this as it keeps him upright (better for spitty babies and for digestion) and it’s lots of fun for him to jump in and play with.

Well, there you have it, my favorite baby items!  What are your favorites?

Continue reading]]> We all know the simple basics that a baby needs when they are first born:  A place to sleep (we chose a crib, but you could also have your baby sleep in a bassinet or a pack & play or even co-sleep with you), diapers, wipes, changing table food, and clothes.  We chose to get our crib used, we purchased natural diapers because our other children had chlorine allergies.  If you are interested in using cloth diapers (see our post here).  At our baby shower we were given many of our baby clothes as gifts and purchased the rest used. If you are a minimalist like me, here are my ideas of the ONLY other things you will need for your newborn up to 6 months.  These are my own personal opinions on baby products and I have not been paid, given free products, or rewarded in any way to list the items below.  These are all things our family really uses.

Number 5

Fold Up Baby Bathtub and Bathing Essentials

I like having a fold up tub because it fits nicely under the kitchen sink for storage.  We actually have this one only in a different color and it has lasted 12 years and through all 4 of our kids.  At about 6 months, our babies graduate to the regular tub when they can sit up on their own.

I use this soap and this lotion.  Do not ever use scented bath products on babies (even ones that say they are made for babies)… ever!  They are so bad for the skin and can cause lifelong problems for your child. I used mildly scented products on my first baby and she has lifelong excema.

When your baby gets out of the bath, he will be freezing and will get chilled very easily.  To help him stay warm, a very thick towel or a You can place a heating pad under his hooded towel if you wish.  If you have any history of skin problems in your family, I would suggest organic cotton towels and washcloths for your baby.  We use organic baby wipes to wash him in the bath and after he eats solid foods (at about 6 months).

We bathe our babies once to twice per week.  For some reason, bathing them more often plays into their dry skin.  So, we limit baths to when they really need it.

Number 4

Bottles & Feeding Essentials

The Dr. Brown’s bottles are by far the best bottles to keep harmful plastics away from your baby and to ensure they don’t get air when they eat. It’s always nice to have a couple bottles around even if you are nursing.  They are handy to have around if you pump your breast milk or if you are away and your spouse needs to feed your baby.  I have had issues with breastfeeding.  Even though I desperately wanted to breastfeed, it never worked out, so I bottle fed exclusively.  Here’s the formula we use.  Three bottles should be enough if you breast feed exclusively.  If you bottle feed exclusively, plan on your baby eating about 8 times per day when he or she is first born.  He will use the 4 oz bottles for a couple months and then move on to 8 oz. bottles.  We have three 4 oz bottles and about nine 8 oz bottles and we run the dishwasher every other day now, but when he was first born, we ran it every day.  If you prefer glass, they also make glass bottles in the 4 oz and 8 oz size.

We use these organic cotton burp cloths. They are pricey and my husband hates them (they are not the most absorbent) and I love them (because they are soft and small and easy to carry around).  If you need something more absorbent, we also use the tri-fold baby diapers as well for spit up messes.

If you plan to use a pacifier, we have really liked these ones that fold up when they get dropped.   These ones are fun too and are supposed to help baby be able to grab and find his paci earlier.

At about 4 months, you may want to start your baby on solids.  You will need a chair, a bib, and a set of spoons (safe plastic) and bowls.  The links are the ones we use and find to be very effective.  We have never used a highchair because our kitchen is small.  We have never missed it and the baby feels a part of things when he is on our level.  Best of all, we can easily transport his feeding booster seat when we go to family’s house, etc.

Number 3

Soak Proof Pads

We have these everywhere for the first year of life because there are so many messes and it’s a lot easier to wash the pad than it is to wash sheets, bedding, changing table covers etc. They are nice to have your baby sit on when he is on your lap if he is prone to blow-outs.

Number 2

Blankets and Sleeping

At first your baby will want to be swaddled.  Aden & Anais are my very favorite blankets to use.  They are lightweight, easy to pack around, soft for the baby, and they make it easy to swaddle your baby and stay put because they are so large!  They get even better after they are washed.  I use these during the day.  At night, when I don’t want to have to worry about the blanket coming undone, I use a swaddler or a wearable blanket when they get older. Wearable blankets can be purchased at Walmart for under $10 and they have sleeves which I really like.  I use the swaddler for the first couple months, and then the wearable blanket until about 6 months, then the baby graduates to a “normal” blanket (but not a quilt).

This next item is an important foundational item for sleep training and it should be used from the very first day that your baby sleeps at night.  It’s a white noise sound maker.   I use the “rain” sound for my kids and they have all slept through the night at 6 weeks or sooner.  My current baby (who is 6 months now), slept through the night at 5 weeks and it only took 1 day to train him.  My other kids took a couple weeks.  I plan to do a post on how to get your newborn to sleep through the night.

Number 1

Baby Travel

This is the carseat I have and this is the stroller I borrowed from my sister in law. The carseat snaps right into the stroller shell which is really handy. I feel like a travel system is pretty important to help you feel like you can get around town easily and still have a life even if you have a new baby.  We chose the Graco Snugride Classic carrier because it was rated highly on Consumer Reports.  We also use this carseat cover to keep our baby warm and free from over stimulation.  It could also double as a blanket in a pinch or as a nursing cover.

As you may have noticed, all of my baby clothes have the mittens on them.  Newborns constantly scratch themselves (and you), hit themselves in the face, hit you in the face, and get their fingers confused for food.  These mitten cuff jammies and onesies are really nice to have them wear for the first couple of months.

IF YOU PURCHASE ALL OF THE ITEMS MENTIONED YOU WOULD SPEND ABOUT: $550 (not counting formula)

IF YOU ADD A USED CRIB, USED CHANGING TABLE, & CLOTHES YOU WOULD SPEND AN ADDITIONAL: $500 (approx. not counting diapers).

Not too shabby!  Especially since many of the items recommended are organic.

Here are a couple “how to take care of a newborn” videos I have done this year.  If this is your first baby, you might want to take a looksie.

Continue reading]]>

Baby K’tan Review

As some of you know, I am really into babywearing. As a Mom of 4, I have to have a life while still being able to hold my baby and have my hands free.

I have tried a lot of different baby carriers and what I’ve come to realize is that there is really not ONE carrier that is the only one I would need.  I personally have 3 to fit all of my needs.  I know this seems a little like overkill, but 2 of them are really inexpensive and one is expensive, but is a lot more comfortable for long term wearing.

The expensive one I have that is great for long term wearing is the Boba 3G. I can wear this for hours and my baby feels as heavy as a feather. It’s great for newborns because it doesn’t have any inserts and it has a hood for when they fall asleep, which is a great feature and I use it all of the time!

The second one I have is a sling. I shied away from the ring slings because I was terrified I would put it on wrong and the baby would fall out. I feel much more comfortable with a clip in sling.  I use the sling for short term wears and times when I want to pop him in and out frequently.  It’s great for him to eat a bottle in and sleep in (in the laying down position).  He can also sit up in it facing sideways or forward.  It really is quite flexible in terms of what it offers as a carrier.  However, it’s not very comfortable to wear and puts a lot of weight on one shoulder.  I keep this carrier in the car because it’s easy to tote around and to bring for errands.  You can use the K’tan as a sling, so you may not need a separate sling if you have the k’tan.  I didn’t have the k’tan when I purchased the sling.

The third one I have is the Baby K’tan. Here are some pros and cons and my Baby K’tan Review.  If you are worried about sizing or are in-between, choose the smaller size.

Pros:

1. A variety of wearing positions (including facing out).

2. Easy to use once you learn the basic tying techniques.

3. Fold up into a small pouch and will easily fit into a diaper bag or large purse.

4. Works for newborns on up.

5. Soft fabric is comfortable for Mom and baby and the shoulder fabric spreads out for distribution of baby’s weight.

6. Comes in various sizes and colors.

7. Reasonably priced compared to other carriers

8.  Easier to use than a Moby wrap etc.

9.  Great for short term wearing.

10.  No buckles or snaps to fuss with or to break.

11. Adjustable back loop makes it more comfortable to wear.

Cons

1. Unless you and your spouse are the same size, it will not fit both of you.

2. I can never get the holds completely even so it puts uneven pressure on my back (even in the sales photos they have on Amazon, the baby is a little crooked).

3.  As your baby gets older and heavier, the carrier becomes less comfortable (because of the give /stretchiness of the fabric)

4.  I got the gray color because it was cheaper.  It’s a horrible color for babies as it shows every slobbery mess he makes.  Half the time the whole front looks “wet” from just wearing my teething child in it.  I would go with black if I could chose the color again.

5.  The hip carry does not feel secure to me.

6. There is quite a bit of fabric on you and the baby and it can get cozy warm and sweaty in the summer.

Overall, the K’tan is flexible in what it offers and is worth having on hand, but probably won’t be comfortable to wear all of the time (at least it isn’t for me).

Here are some videos I made about how to tie the Baby K’tan and how to do all of the holds if you are interested.

HUG POSITION

Continue reading]]> Ok, here’s the dirty truth… Being a Mom is sometimes a disgusting job.  You have to deal with wiping poop off of little bums, cleaning pee out of your eye (if you have a boy), spit up out of your hair, and snot out of little tiny noses.  It’s a fact.  Somehow when it’s your kid who depends solely upon you, it’s not so gross, but the loving thing to do.

Our little sweetie was born stuffy and it kept getting worse.  It got to the point where my husband and I were genuinely getting worried that he could potentially stop breathing or not get enough air to develop normally.  It seemed like when his nose was really stuffed up, he wouldn’t automatically go to mouth breathing.  As if we needed ONE more thing to worry about with a newborn!  So here are some natural stuffy nose cures that I have found along with my personal review of how well they worked for us and our baby.

First we tried a bulb syringe.  I didn’t notice any change with just using this.  The mucus was too far up in the nasal canal.  Keep reading as it is necessary to have a bulb syringe in conjunction with other items to really get all that yucky stuff out.

I called the nurse at my doctor’s office to see if there was anything I could do to help him get cleared out a little.  She suggested nasal drops. They are supposed to loosen the mucus and let it flow out of the nostrils.  We tried and tried doing this religiously but nothing came out on its own.  When used in conjunction with the bulb syringe, we got some out – enough so he could breathe, but there was obviously still stuff stuck up there.

On to the next thing we tried!  I scoured Amazon reviews to see what was working for other Moms.  So many people had fantastic results with the Nosefrieda aspirator. You (the parent) suck on the clear tube while putting the blue tube in the child’s nose.  There is a filter so no “goo” can get in the parent’s mouth.  Everything is dishwasher safe.  Genius, right?  Well, I couldn’t get it to work for us.  I was terrified of sucking too hard and hurting the baby.  I ended up returning this device.

I called the nurse again and said my baby was still struggling with a stuffy nose.  She suggested a battery operated nasal aspirator for extreme cases. I knew several people who had a lot of success with these, so I bought one.  It sucks really hard and kind of takes the baby’s breath away.  It’s just for a second and you have control over how long it sucks, so that’s nice.  It worked the first time we used it, but I couldn’t get it to get anything out after that.  I will probably be returning it.

So, what’s a Mom to do?  I feel like we have tried everything and a couple things worked decently, but nothing was really a cure all.  And nothing worked consistently.  Here’s what we have come up with the works consistently and well.

I feel like every Mom should have this baby nose picker. We have one for keeping in our house and one for the diaper bag. It was invented by a Mom. It is such a simple thing, but so genius! It works like tweezers, but they are made of plastic so they don’t scrape your baby’s nose. They have a round ball at the end so you don’t poke them. And they work! You can reach up there with the boogie snatcher and you can pull out a whole bunch of “goo” that your fingers could never get because baby’s nasal passages are so small.

Here’s what finally worked for us.  First, tip baby’s head back.  Put a drop or two of Little Noses (or generic) saline in each nostril.  The baby sill sniff it up.  Wait a minute or two for it to work it’s magic.  Then use the bulb syringe to loosen the mucus on one nostril side.  Then use the boogie snatcher tweezers to get the loosened stuff out of the one side.  Then work on the second side.  It really is so simple and inexpensive.  We do this routine every morning with our now 3 month old baby and he stays clear almost all the time.  Knock on wood!

I will warn you… The baby may scream and hate doing this.  Mostly just because it’s scary for them and they don’t understand what’s going on.  It literally only takes a couple minutes and once they are cleared out they will feel better the rest of the day.  So it is definitely worth the sacrifice!

Continue reading]]> Today I met with a facebook friend of mine, her name is Shannon and she is the Utah County expert on baby wearing.  She offers classes as well as advice to many of us all the time. I asked her to help me review the most popular baby carriers and she was kind to oblige. She has the cutest 21 month old daughter who LOVES to go in Shannon’s various carriers.  Her daughter would dance around and giggle whenever she got one on, it was so adorable!

I personally wear my 4 month old baby almost every day and I learned a lot from her presentation.  Please see the videos below for more information on baby carriers.

Here’s links to the baby carriers mentioned:

Moby Stretchy Wrap (best for small babies up to 3 months, heavier babies make the fabric sag)
Pouch Sling (an essential purse or diaper bag item) but not very comfy for long term wear)
Ring Sling (also best for smaller babies, and then for mobile toddler… easy to adjust)
Ergo. She had a newer version of the Ergo, but I don’t see any differences in the one she had and this one, except the design.
Woven Wrap (does not stretch with wear.  Learning curve when it comes to tying it)
Mei Tai (a good combo of a wrap and a soft structured carrier)

I was able to try most of these carriers and I like the ring sling the best.  One thing I have learned, though, everyone is fiercely different and everyone is looking for different features in a baby carrier.  I personally feel like I need to have a few different kinds to fit my needs.  I have a boba, a peanut shell, and a k’tan (coming in the mail soon, so I haven’t used it exclusively yet).  I have also done reviews on other carriers here on my blog.

The following are videos of Shannon showing us how to use each specific carrier.  Wasn’t she nice to take time to do this?  If you would like to take her babywearing class, contact her here at the Baby Wearing Shop. She also sells baby carriers at these classes, so you can buy the one you like right there. Please thank her if you know her or post a comment.

I do want to extend a little bit of a warning.  Not to scare you, but for you to be aware.  There are some “user error” accidents with wrap type carriers.  If you want more details, please read the Consumer Reports review here. And make sure you read the instructions and safety procedures before wearing your child in any carrier.

For reviews on many different baby carriers and tips on baby wearing, take a look at our “Babies” playlist on Youtube.

Continue reading]]> Hands free baby carrying is a must at our house.  With 4 kids and a busy schedule, I need both hands free for cleaning up the house, preparing meals, and playing with my other kiddos.  My baby adores baby wearing and so do I because we can be close to each other while I get things done.

When I first had him, I tried out a bunch of different carriers and went to a babywearing class because I just couldn’t find one that was comfortable for me.  I am 5’3″ and about 120 pounds and many of the carriers were just too big for me.  I narrowed down my list to 6 that I liked best.  You will notice I left out the wrap carriers and ring slings.  I had one of those with a previous child and it was really hot to wear and I always felt like the baby was falling out (she wasn’t, I just felt that way).  There is too much “give” in the fabric and I personally prefer more structure.  There is a lot of user error with the wraps and Consumer Reports suggests not using them at all because it’s more likely your child will be injured because you might use it wrong or the fabric will stretch and give and make the carrier unsafe.  I know a lot of babywearing Moms will have my hide for saying this, but I think it’s a valid concern.

Here’s a list of my top 6in order from my favorite to least favorite.

Boba Organic

Pros:

• soft, organic fabric is gentle on baby’s skin
• distributes weight evenly so no one area gets sore
• has a detachable hood that is also size adjustable to protect baby from sun or over stimulation
• straps adjust easily while wearing
• shoulder strap adjusts up and down
• straps can be wrapped up and secured to be tidy
• machine washable
• 3 wearing positions (front facing in newborn, front facing in 12+ pounds – legs around belly, and back facing in)
• built in neck support for newborns (snaps), no infant insert needed.  Higher rise to support infant necks.
• accessories available (diaper bag that snaps on, carrying sack, etc)
• can be adjusted for different sizes and heights (i.e. men & women)
• the bottom of the carrier snaps up for infants who are shorter and keep their legs tucked up under their belly
• has foot straps for older babies (keeps hips in better alignment)
• storage pockets for phone/keys etc
• adjustable sides so baby can be pressed up against your chest or not, you control the distance

Cons:

• only 3 wearing positions (no hip carry)

• price ($160), non organic ($120)
• you can’t easily breastfeed in it
• it gets hot after wearing it for long periods of time, it is not made of mesh fabric

Baby K’tan Organic

Pros:

• lightweight and soft
• no straps to adjust
• you can breastfeed in it
• several different positions (facing in, facing out, on the hip,
• comes with waist strap for added support and a carrying bag (attached to waist strap)
• very compact and easy to carry around / fit in the diaper bag
• price ($60 organic, $50 non organic)
• gigantic warning label

Cons:

• learning curve: takes a while to learn how to wrap it correctly
• unsettling feeling that the baby might fall out (for me anyway) and that I wrapped it wrong
• fabric is stretchy so the shoulders tend to get sore
• not adjustable in terms of strap length: baby is pressed up against your chest (your baby may like this, but mine doesn’t)
• you may need a different size than your husband or other caregiver

Infantino Flip Front 2 Back

Pros:

• inexpensive ($30)
• comfortable for baby
• padded interior
• velcro bib inside is included
• shoulder strap adjusts up and down
• breathable mesh
• can be carried 3 ways (facing in, facing out, on your back facing in)
• machine Washable
• can be used with any size of person (adjustable)

Cons:

• straps are hard to adjust while wearing (but ok to adjust while not wearing)
• waist strap doesn’t give much support
• shoulders hurt after about an hour of carrying
• straps don’t have an elastic band to roll up and keep them tidy

Infantino Mei Tai
Pros:

• Cost ($32)
• Hybrid that falls between a wrap and a structured baby carrier
• Can by used with any size of person (adjustable)
• 3 ways to tie: facing in, hip hugging, backpack (baby facing in and on your back)
• comes with a hood to protect baby from sun and overstimulation
• machine washable

Cons:

• girly design that my husband wouldn’t be caught dead in
• it’s hard to get the straps tight enough to hold up the baby and not be digging into your shoulders
• It’s hard to untie things behind my back
• It has to be adjusted every time you put it on, you can’t just put the straps on a setting

Pros

• soft, organic material
• ample storage pouch for keys, wallet
• straps can be kept tidy and rolled up
• multiple position carry (front facing in, back facing in, hip)
• machine washable
• comes with a hood to protect baby from sun or overstimulation

Cons:

• price ($165)
• very hot to wear
• thick and bulky (feels like an overnight backpacking adventure when put on!)
• my baby hated the infant insert and I had a hard time getting him in the carrier with the insert on
• shoulder buckles that go on the top of your back are hard to move up and down

Note: Watch out for carriers that are considered “crotch danglers” (Baby B’jorn) and don’t have support or a strap around the parent’s waist.  These carriers are bad for babies leg and hip development and are not comfortable for Mom either.  Some people suggest never carrying baby facing out for this reason as well.

I have created a NEW POST with more baby carriers and new videos!  See the post here.

I hope these baby carrier reviews were helpful for you.  Please post a comment if you have any questions.