Slingin' Saturday--Backpack Carriers

It's another Slingin' Saturday! This week, I'm giving the writing reins to a guest contributor, my sister-in-law, Sarah!

Since my daughter Eve was born nearly 18 months ago, I have been given two different child carriers from people who no longer have a need for them. One is a Kelty Elite and the other is a Tough Traveler. Both fit like backpacks and the child sits inside with legs dangling and head peering over Mommy or Daddy’s shoulder. My husband and I were eager to have one and we had our eyes on a Kelty. Kelty makes quality, durable camping and hiking supplies. It was for these purposes we wished to have a child carrier in the first place. As it turns out, both packs have come in very handy.

The Kelty is more of an upper-end model with an aluminum frame. It gives more support to the child, and it is more comfortable for the parent to wear as it has more padding and also spreads the child’s body weight evenly across the parent’s back, shoulders, and hips.

Furthermore, it has more “bells and whistles”: a detachable rain shield fitting over the child’s head, a compartment for hiking supplies such as snacks and water, and also adjustable straps that adjust to each child’s size to secure him properly in his seat. For this reason, the Kelty could accommodate a slightly younger child than the Tough Traveler. The drawback to the Kelty (and I hate to list any since I am overall so pleased with it) is that in the heat of the day, it can seem like just too much. On a stroll around the neighborhood on a hot day, all the padding and bulk can really make you (or at least me) sweat. It is designed more for a rugged hike where stability for the child and comfort for the parent is important.



The Tough Traveler is much more lightweight, though also made with an aluminum frame. Its design is more simple, not as strappy or padded as Kelty. And though there are some adjustments for both child and parent, the system is not nearly so complex. It is actually for this reason that I like the Tough Traveler. For everyday use, this child carrier works quite well. For walks through a mall or museum, strolls around the neighborhood or park, even for mowing the grass, it is sufficient. It is more “breathable” than the Kelty Elite. And though it is not as comfortable in the long run, I find that I actually use it more than Kelty because of its simple, lightweight design.

Eve enjoys being in either pack. She loves being close to her Daddy or Mommy and also being up high and seeing things from their perspective. The packs are comfortable enough that she can fall asleep in them.

And I don’t recall a time when she’s ever squirmed because she’s wanted out. The child carriers are ideal for when the parent needs to have a set of free hands, to push another child in a stroller, etc. But the child must be several months old before he is stable enough to somewhat sit up by himself. Each frame is made to hold up to 50 pounds.


Note from Sarah: Kelty no longer makes the Elite style of child carrier, though I was able to find it on Ebay for $50. Kelty’s current models are $120, $170 and $200 for the FC 1, FC 2, and FC 3 models respectively. The Tough Traveler has several models, ranging from $142 to $198.

Slingin' Saturday-- Rockin' Baby Sling

This edition of Slingin' Saturday features the Rockin' Baby Sling. Thanks to Lisa McDaniel and Natasha Walsh for their generous donation!

The Rockin' Baby Sling is a ring sling, something I was eager to try. However, having worn so many pocket slings, this was quite an adjustment. It was hard getting used to the excess fabric hanging down and threading the rings was a challenge, too. While this sling wasn't my favorite, it had some wonderful features.

• The fabric in the tail had a zipper pocket for tucking an extra diaper or the car keys.
  


• The sling was reversible making it more versatile (for those who like their sling to match their outfit as I do!).
  
  
• Because ring slings allow you to tighten the fabric around the baby, I was able to wear Benjamin upright against my chest even before he could support his own weight.
  
  
• Also because of the ability to loosen and tighten the fabric, these ring slings are one-size fits-all so I didn't have to worry about choosing the best size.

To order one for yourself, click here!

To read my review of the Rockin' Baby Pouch (the pocket pouch made by the same company), click here!

And don't forget to check back NEXT SATURDAY for my sling giveaway!!!

Slingin' Saturday-- Hefty Load

Even a cranky toddler can enjoy a ride in the sling while Mama cooks dinner!

Slingin' Saturday-- Down the Garden Path Mei Tai

This week for Slingin' Saturday, I am going to move away from slings and review another popular variety of baby carrier, the mei tai. A big thank you to Jodi at Down the Garden Path for the donation!

Having grown used to wearing Benjamin in a pocket sling, I didn't know what to expect from this type of carrier. I didn't know if I would like it...or if Ben would like it! I used a Snugli when Gavin was a baby and couldn't wear him for long without an aching back. I was afraid that since this looked similar, it would cause the same discomforts. I also thought it might be inconvenient to tie the straps while a crying baby was waiting to be carried.

My mei tai arrived in my mail the day I brought Ben home from the hospital! I had my first opportunity to try it the following week when I needed to give the three older kids a bath. I quickly scanned the directions included with the mei tai and discovered it was quite easy to tie. Benjamin only had to be put down for the first step but the rest of the tying was done with him in arms! Ben was so tiny that there was a lot of extra tie hanging down and I was bothered by the look. (I guess I'm even vain when it comes to by baby carrying look!) I got the idea to tie the straps in a pretty bow instead from another blog!

Jodi hand sews each mei tais she sells, and she does it quickly! After choosing from the available fabrics, she makes the mei tai in 10-14 days! I chose Mary fabric with navy lining and straps. If I get tired of the patterned fabric or it doesn't match what I'm wearing (vanity again!), I can reverse the mei tai and wear it with the navy fabric showing instead.

When Benjamin was several months old, we had a birthday party at our house. Ben was tired and I needed both arms to clean and prepare the food. (Unlike pocket slings which allow you the use of both hands but slightly restricts one shoulder, the mei tai allows you to reach up or our while baby is still securely against your body.) When the guest arrived, he was still content in the carrier and my back was not sore at all. I really liked how I could tuck his legs in comfortably (for him and me) and not having them dangle like they would in a Snugli.

This carrier should really grow with us. It can even be worn on the back as Ben grows and has more body support. I was impressed with the price. This hand-made mei tai with a carrying bag (super convenient!) retails for only $50! For anyone who has priced mei tais, you know this is quite a bargain. If you decide to order, make sure you let Jodi know you heard about her through this review!

The sling giveaway is almost here! Watch for it in February!

Slingin' Saturday-- Rockin' Baby Pouch

It's time for another Slingin' Saturday! To read my intro on baby wearing, click here!

Thanks to Lisa McDaniel & Natasha Walsh at Rockin’ Baby Sling in Los Angeles for the donation of this week's sling!

When Ben was four weeks old, Brian and I had to attend a funeral. We decided to leave the older kids with my mom, but my little nursling needed to go along. Knowing my casual/trendy slings wouldn't do, I decided to try the classy Rockin' Baby Pouch. The sleek cotton looked dressy but not showy. Unlike the pocket slings I've tried in the past, this pouch required no folding. Baby simply fits inside the pre-shaped pouch opening. Great for babywearing newbies!

The feature I loved the best? The Rockin' Baby Pouch is equipped with a set of zippers behind the shoulder to allow for adjustment depending on size. The S/M sling I have fits those 5'3" to 6' and 120 to 220 pounds. You can also adjust the size according to taste. For example, Ben likes to be held loosely, not pressed tightly against my body so I let out some of the fabric and we were good to go! Best of all, after you adjust, the zippers are covered by a ring of fabric to prevent them from digging into skin or distracting from the look.

I also love that this sling is reversible so if I have a more informal occasion to attend, I easily switch to this more "splashy" print!

Rockin' Baby Pouches retail for $82-- a little on the high end of slings I've seen but expected for the superior quality of the fabric and the added features.

Like this sling? Keep checking back for my sling giveaway in February!

Slingin' Saturday-- Hotslings

Welcome to another Slingin' Saturday! To read my intro on baby wearing, click here!

Thanks to Molly and Tickatoo for their generous sling donation!

This week I'm going to review the first non-ring sling I ever tried. When I wore Gavin and later, Maddie, I had a closed ring sling that I was given by my local La Leche League chapter. I also had a hand-me-down ring sling that my mom passed to me after my sister Bekah outgrew it. I wore Owen in those but never felt as though I had the right fit. I wanted something a little snugger. I did a google search one day for a fitted pocket sling and discovered Hotslings. It took a few minutes to decide on a size. Hotslings has a wide range of sizes, but since they are based on a combination of weight, height, bra size, etc., I wanted to be sure I was choosing the right fit. I ordered one and began using it as soon as it arrived on my doorstep.

Since Owen was no longer a newborn, I carried him in either a kangaroo carry (facing forward with legs crossed in front of him) or a hip carry. This sling allowed me to take all three kids out shopping or for a walk without worrying about a curious little one getting away from me. With Owen securely in the carrier, I was free to hold a little hand in each of my hands!

I was amazed at the comfort. Owen was a whopper baby-- 25 pounds at 9 months-- but yet I felt very little back or shoulder pain even when wearing him for extended periods of time. The sling certainly saved my tired arms since Owen was a clingy baby and enjoyed being carried most of the day. Despite its heavy (excuse the pun!) use, I found my Hotsling held up very well. If it got dirty, I washed it and hung it to dry, and then it was back in use.

Knowing I was expecting a fall baby this time around, I wanted to get a fleece sling for chilly errand-running days. Molly at Tickatoo donated an Oasis Fleece Baby Sling by Hotslings for Ben and me to try. I was immediately taken by the soft texture of the fabric. So cozy. I was afraid fleece might be too stretchy, but while it does give, the fabric is sturdy and durable. The pouch on a Hotsling is more shallow than some pocket-type slings so it took some getting used to, but with Ben tucked securely by my heart, he fell asleep quickly.

This fleece sling is so warm, I have no fear of Ben getting chilled out in the cool air. I did find that my fleece sling was cut a little smaller than my plain cotton one so choose a size bigger especially if you plan to wear it over a sweater or coat.

Hotslings range in price from about $35-$57. They even have a pool sling made of waterproof fabric with built-in UV protection.

Don't forget to keep checking back for my sling giveaway this winter where I'll be giving away one of the slings I review! Can't wait that long? Sign up for my shoe giveaway by Monday at midnight!

Slingin' Saturday-- Like Mama, Like Daughter

Maddie, like most little girls, wants to imitate her Mama. Since I frequently wore Owen in a sling and now I wear Ben, she wanted to have a sling of her own. Many of the companies that sell slings or other baby carriers also sell a child-sized version, but those were too pricey for my liking, not to mention she didn't want to wait long enough for me to order one. I decided to use what I had on hand to make her sling.

I used a piece of fleece since it is slightly stretchy and you don't have to hem the edges. I cut out a strip about 12 inches by 36 inches. I hand-sewed the two short ends together. After folding it in half long-ways (the same way you fold any pocket sling), it was ready to wear!

Slingin' Saturday-- ModMum Sling

It's another Slingin' Saturday! Coincidentally, this is International Babywearing Week! To read my intro on baby wearing, click here!

This week I'm going to review the ModMum baby sling, donated by Lisa at ModMum.

The ModMum sling is a pouch-style sling. You simply wear it over your head and one shoulder (like a messenger bag) and position your baby inside. There is no complicated folding or tying. After trying and loving several other slings of this variety, I was skeptical to try another brand. I figured since I loved the others so much, this one would be hard to get used to! I was wrong. This sling was so comfortable, I was hooked at once.

Just like with other pouch slings, Ben liked riding in a slightly upright position. The pouch was roomy enough that I could adjust him to his liking but secure enough that I never feared he would slip or fall out! Snuggled up to my body, I knew he was warm and comfortable, even outside in the fall weather. Once when we had to dash out in the rain, there was enough extra fabric to pull over his head until we got to (dry) safety. Though I've heard other moms rave about the convenience of nursing a baby in a sling, I've never had luck. Other slings held the baby much too tight against my body. But since this is a roomier sling, I gave nursing another go and succeeded! How great to put Ben in the sling to clean, take a break on the couch to nurse, and then return to my chore immediately without having to take him out or reposition him!

Choosing a size was easy. Sold in XS, S, M, L, or XL, sizing is based on weight and height of the wearer. I also love that this sling is reversible. I have the Taylor sling which is brown with colorful polka dots on one side and solid green on the other so almost every outfit I wear matches! I wore the sling out for walks, vacuuming, cooking dinner, and out to eat. There is really no end to the places you can wear your baby and since there is potential for getting the sling dirty, I was glad to know that since it is 100% cotton, it can be thrown in the washer and dryer to freshen it up.

The ModMum Reversible Sling retails for $54, plus shipping. Their other baby slings retail for between $38-$64.

Don't forget to keep checking back for my sling giveaway this winter where I'll be giving away one of the slings I review!

Slingin' Saturday-- The New Native Baby Carrier

Welcome to Slingin' Saturday! This is the first of my baby carrier reviews. In case you missed my intro on baby wearing, click here.

I decided to test The New Native Baby Carrier first. This carrier is a pocket pouch carrier. It is so easy to use-- simply slip it on over your head and one shoulder (like a messenger bag) and fit the baby down into the pocket. (There is a tacking stitch at the top of the carrier to aid in putting it on correctly and so the carrier cannot get unfolded.) There are multiple ways to hold your baby. For infants, it is best to cradle them so they get adequate head and neck support. (Ben prefered being cradled slightly upright.) As your baby grows, you can switch to a kangaroo hold in which your baby sits in the pocket facing out or a hip hold where the pocket supports him on your hip. All posititions allow you to have both hands free!

Benjamin and I both fell in love with this carrier right away! We started using it around the house in the first few days after we came home from the hospital. I put him in it to brush my teeth, get the older kids dressed, bake a cake, blow dry my hair, anything I needed to do while he was awake but I needed my hands. Often he fell asleep, lulled by my movement. At about two weeks, we made our first outing to Walmart and I did my shopping with him in the carrier. The same weekend, we took a walk in the woods and he snuggled in the pouch out of the wind and took a nap.

The New Native Carrier model that I have is black cotton and retails for $44 plus shipping. Sizing is easy. As opposed to other carriers that have complicated sizing methods, with The New Native Carrier, you simply choose a size based on what size t-shirt you wear! Everything about this carrier is easy. It can even be washed and dryed along with the rest of your laundry. I highly recommend this sling!

Don't forget to keep checking back for my sling giveaway this winter where I'll be giving away one of the slings I review!