Archive for the 'Slings' Category
One of the best made and most popular baby slings on the market is made by Maya Wrap. They make a couple of different types of baby slings but the most popular by far is the Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Baby Ring Sling. They come in a variety of different colors but the most popular colors are Black, Olive Green and Bright Stripe they are hard to keep in stock.
According to the Maya Wrap website “For 12 years, Maya Wrap baby carriers have consistently been rated the #1 must-have essential for new parents. Here’s why:
- Maya Wrap baby slings are stylish, comfortable, and fully adjustable.
- Mom-recommended, they’re all you need to simplify your day. No more lugging strollers around, fiddling with buckles or snaps, trying to nurse discreetly, juggling a baby while helping an older child… just grab your Maya Wrap and get on with your life!
Join the ‘growing’ number of savvy parents and celebrities who have declared the Maya Wrap the “baby product you can’t live without“!”
I know that Mom and Dad’s alike just love this Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Ring Sling; it comes with an instructional DVD on how to use the ring sling and hold your baby in a number of different positions. The lightly padded shoulder helps lighten the weight of your baby; making it more comfortable to hold your baby for longer periods of time.
Babywearing has become a ‘growing’ trend that Moms and Dads enjoy in keeping their little ones close. Before it was a trend, Maya Wrap recognized the benefits of keeping your baby close in a baby sling during those first impressionable years! Here are some benefits of wearing your baby in a baby sling; this is research directly from the Maya Wrap website.
Less Crying - Babies who are carried cry less on average than those that are not. Research has shown that babies who are carried cry (on average) 43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours (1).
Smarter Babies - Babies spend more time in a “quiet, alert state” when carried - the ideal state for learning. When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, instead of the ceiling above his crib or people’s knees from a stroller. This extra stimulation benefits brain development.
Emotional Development - Babies are able to develop a sense of security and trust when they are carried. They are more likely to be securely attached to their care-giver/s (2) and often become independent at an earlier age (3)
Physical Development - By being close to your body’s rhythms, baby “gets in rhythm” much more quickly. Research has shown how this helps newborns (especially premature babies) to adapt to life outside the womb (4).
Helps with Post Partum Depression - Babies who are not held need more verbal interaction and eye contact, just to be reassured that you’re there. Moms who may suffer from Post Partum depression will find that carrying their baby is a great way to connect with her (and provide stimulation too) without the “burden” of having to interact (5). Of course your baby is “right there” to enjoy whenever you feel like snuggling, kissing or talking. This is by no means a cure or solution for Post Partum Depression, always seek counsel from your physician first.
Eases the strain - Carrying your baby in a sling eases the strain on baby’s spine and your back!”
Let the research show that Maya Wrap baby slings can benefit you and your baby. Maya Wrap being the most popular choice because they know that they are made well and comfortable for you and your baby!
1. Hunziker, U. A. and Barr, R, G. (1986). Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 77, 641-8.
2. Anisfeld, E., Casper, V., Nozyce, M. and Cunningham, N. (1990). Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Development, 61, 1617-1627.
3. Whiting, J. W. M. (1981). Environmental constraints on infant care practices. In R. H. Munroe, R. L. Munroe & B. B. Whiting (Eds.), Handbook of cross-cultural human development, New York: Garland STPM Press.
4. Ludington-Hoe SM, Swinth JY. (1996). Developmental aspects of kangaroo care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 25, 691-703.
5. Pelaez-Nogueras M, Field TM, Hossain Z, Pickens J. (1996). Depressed mothers’ touching increases infants’ positive affect and attention in still-face interactions. Child Development, 67, 1780-92.
(Credit: The Babywearer)
Organic material is important because your baby has a tender developing immune system and they need to be protected from harmful toxic pesticides that they use to treat the natural fibers. Many parents focus on buying organic clothes, but there are many other things that touch your baby’s skin such as a baby carrier.
Organic baby carriers or slings are super because you know that the material is safe when it touches your baby. Covering your baby with natural organic material is necessary to protect them from absorbing harmful toxins into their tender body. A unique baby item, like an organic baby sling, is not always easy to find. Shopping a unique baby boutique that would cater to the unique and safety of your baby is a place to start your search for the organic baby sling. Many average retail establishments are not looking to offer organic materials they usually provide the cheapest baby item but not always the safest item for your baby. An organic material is the only fabric that should be touching your baby’s skin.
Looking for baby clothing that is organic and soft to your babies touch is important for your unique baby. A newer material known as bamboo is one of the best naturally organic materials on the market. If you have not seen or heard of bamboo clothing you will be amazed to learn how the same bamboo that you use on your floor can be changed into a material that is as soft as silk.
Here are 6 reasons you should choose bamboo material for your baby.
A Unique Baby Boutique is a great way to find bamboo clothing that is different and unique for your baby. After touching this material you will only want to dress your baby in bamboo clothing, in fact you may want to find this material for yourself.
Unique baby items that help to make your life easier are such a help. Some ideas are not new they are just improved upon. I can remember having a grocery cart cover for my children but it was difficult to use and it did not look that great.
But today they have improved on the original idea of covering a grocery cart and/or high chair. The concept behind these covers is to protect your child from germs that they can pick up in public places. Now these GC/HC covers (Grocery Cart/High Chair Cover) attach so much better to the grocery cart and high chairs. They also come in a wide selection of colors and fabrics that you can be sure that one will suit your unique style.
Mom and Dad we all want to protect our children from picking up germs and getting sick, not only is your child miserable but you are too. What better way to keep your child from getting sick then to help them not be exposed to all those awful germs? Unique baby items are continuing to help improve and better our baby’s lives, look for a GC/HC cover to help keep your baby healthy.
Baby Wraps - Benefits of the Baby Sling for your Baby – Continued
Baby wraps are usually called wraparounds or wraparound slings, and they wrap around both mom and baby. These wraps are much different from the other two type of baby slings, it is usually 5 to 7 yards of material and wraps over both shoulders and around the body and then ties in front or back.
It is a very versatile wrap in that your baby can be in the front, on your hip, or on your back. Another benefit is that there is no limit in the amount of time the baby can stay in the wraps. There is no pressure on the baby because they are comfortably held close to your body. There is a little bit of a longer learning curve in learning how to use the baby wrap, but it is not difficult if you follow the directions with your wrap. Another draw back may be that your baby is snuggled close to your body it can get hot holding your baby in a warmer climate.
Baby Wraps are usually made out of two different types of material, stretch or woven. The stretchy wraps are generally made out of jersey or knit; it is easy to pop babies in and out of the stretchy wraps. Woven natural fibers such as 100% cotton tend to have a little less stretch which is beneficial as your child gets a little larger and heavier. Woven fabrics like homespun or hand woven cotton is by far the most commonly used material. These fabrics allowing the baby wrap to form more to the baby’s body therefore provides some give and diagonal stretch for comfort.
There are many different types of baby sling the ring sling, pouch sling and the baby wrap. If you are in the market for a baby sling these blogs over the last four days may help you narrow down the choices of which baby sling will work the best for you and your baby.
Pouch Sling - Benefits of the Baby Sling for your Baby – Continued
Pouch sling are often called “tube”, “pocket” or “ringless” slings, they are generally formed by a wide piece of fabric sewn into a tubular shape. There is also a seat that is sown into the fabric so that the baby sits into it properly. Sometimes these pouches are adjustable by zippers, buttons, Velcro and clips, these types of baby slings are usually called “hybrids”. Pouch slings are easy to slip over the head and it takes no time to learn how to use the pouch baby sling.
A properly fitted pouch sling is great for babies and children that need to be taken out of the sling often and put back into the sling. It is great for an older child that wants to be carried but is kind of heavy, and for babies of any size. The convenience is that as with a ring sling it does not need to be adjusted. Make sure when you order a pouch sling that you measure so it fits properly, that is one of the most important factors in having a pouch sling.
Some disadvantages are as with most one-shouldered slings, pouches are not suited for long wearing of heavy babies, the weight distribution can be asymmetrical and create back pain for you the mom or dad. As I stated earlier the better a pouch fits, the more evenly the weight is spread across the shoulder and back. The fabric that is used can also effect how comfortable it is to carry your child, look for a cross diagonal weave and fabric that is breathable. Sometimes as your baby grows bigger your child may sit lower on your hip, in which case a ring sling may be more useful for a longer period of time.
I am not going to tell you one baby sling is better then the other, but you need to see the advantages and disadvantages to decide for your self. Check back for tomorrow to learn more about the benefits of the Baby Wrap type baby sling.
Ring Sling - Benefits of the Baby Sling for your Baby – continued
Traditionally a baby sling and carrier were simply adaptations of whatever a culture normally used to carry anything heavy. Ring slings can be used anywhere from birth through the toddler years. They grew out of the original idea of carrying your baby and having your hands free. We know that babies are happiest when they are held; the concept of attachment parenting has grown out of this philosophy.
The Benefits of a ring sling are that they are easily adaptable. Once the ring sling is put on you can take it off very easily without having to rethread the loops. The loops (rings) work like a buckle and hold the baby in place by the weight placed in the baby sling. The baby ring sling can be loosened to allow the baby to nurse and the tail is long enough to cover for complete privacy, then when the baby is finished the baby sling can be easily adjusted. This has made the ring baby sling the first choice of parents with young babies, because when they are small they nurse frequently.
There are different types of ring slings, some are padded in the shoulder and others are not. Some “hybrid” ring slings have a seat sewn into the body more like a pouch sling. The ring slings are very similar to the Mexican ‘Rebozo’ the ring has replaced the tie. The fabrics that are used in a baby sling need to be a diagonal weave and should use a breathable fabric or handspun fabric that gives a loser weave so it is breathable.
There are not many disadvantages of the ring sling. If the baby ring sling is not made properly then the rings and the seams where they are attached could become unsown. If you buy a ring sling make sure they use rings manufactured for baby slings. Be careful to take care of your sling and make sure there are not tears or that the seams are becoming unraveled. These are uncommon problems but they are good to be aware of the possibility that these can happen on occasion
Overall, ring slings are very popular and for many good reasons. But you need to make sure that it is a good fit for you and your baby. Look for tomorrow’s blog where we talk more about baby slings - the pouch and the next day the Mia Tie style wrap.
Baby slings have been around for centuries in many different cultures. But it is only in about the last decade that they have started to become more popular in the United States.
Which baby sling is the best choice for you? There are many different types of baby slings, ring slings, pouch slings and there are even wraps that wrap around the body to hold your baby up against you. Over the next three days I am going to cover in more detail the benefits or advantages and the disadvantages of the three different types of baby slings. This is based on research I have studied in learning about each type of baby sling.
The Term “attachment parenting” was first introduced by the well known Dr Sears. In the baby market this is becoming the new buzz word. The attachment parenting idea has been around for years but the term now is quickly becoming a common place in the baby industry.
As baby slings have become more common in the market, the idea of attachment parenting has grown. Attachment parenting creates a bond between baby and parent that can shape them for the rest of their lives. Baby wearing and breastfeeding are two great ways to form this bond and are becoming more and more popular. Parents are told to hold their baby often in the first few weeks of life, which will help establish a strong bond between baby and caregiver or parent. A baby can thrive with the close bond that is formed through attachment parenting.
In fact, many parents as they develop their gift registry for baby items have put baby slings at the top of the list. Baby slings are a necessity when it comes to having a new baby and establishing the attachment parenting concept. If you want to establish a strong bond with your baby from birth, think about implementing the “attachment parenting” concept. Your baby may never know how much you care for them; they will just know that they feel secure and happy next to you.
Have you heard all the fuss about bamboo clothing? Bamboo is going to become the new cotton, but it is naturally organic or eco-friendly, unlike cotton.
This is a great material for baby clothing because bamboo material is luxuriously soft and silky to the touch like silk or cashmere, but washable. Bamboo is good for your baby; it wicks away moisture to keep skin dry, it’s breathable to keep baby comfy, naturally anti-bacterial to fight odors, naturally hypoallergenic for sensitive skin, and it gives a natural UV protection against the UV rays to protect their sensitive skin.. Bamboo is also good for the environment: it is a renewable resource, has eco-friendly harvesting and it is a 100% biodegradable fiber.
Bamboo material is made into many different types of eco-friendly baby items. Bamboo items include blankets, nursing covers, car seat covers, and clothing. Look for eco-friendly baby items like bamboo clothing and your baby will thank you because it is so soft.