Really want to make a new mom's day next Sunday? Forget flowers and perfume - just try taking that baby off her hands for more than a minute.
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Back when I was carrying my babies around, if you wanted an earth-friendly choice you could've gotten a really ugly hemp sling. If you wanted something earth-friendly in a structured carrier, well, you were completely out of luck.
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I'm all for babywearing, and not just because it keeps my baby secure and happy. Frankly, I'm more selfish than that, and slinging my baby frees up my hands so that I can do other things.
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Being able to use both hands while still holding my infant securely? That's pure genius no matter how much granola people think you eat.
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As an experienced baby-wearer, I have gone through a number of carriers trying to find one that is "just right."
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With all the love that I have professed for the pouch sling, it definitely has one downside: It's made to fit you and only you, which isn't so great when it's your spouse's turn to take the sleepy baby off your hands. So I was definitely intrigued by the Baby Bee sling from Honeywear which is truly one size fits all.
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I fully admit that after writing up the PortaMEe hip carrier here last year, I wanted one. I sooooo wanted one. Not because it was expensive (seriously) but because it was awesome.
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After trying on a massive number of slings, they are not all created equal. Sometimes that's a good thing - the sling I used for my summer daughter just didn't cut it when my January baby boy came along two years later.
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Kristen: The blanket we have from Ellabalou is a favorite of both my children. In fact, I should probably grab a second one and make my life incredibly easier.
Liz: Hooray for Martha of Blankets by Martha, who makes funky lovies with ribbon tags all over them that babies love--all handmade in the US from non-crappy fabrics.
I can't tell you how much the pouch sling saved my life during the first five months of my son's life-- especially when I wanted to nurse in public. But carrying him in it now at ten months is a bit of a struggle.
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After wandering around a conference for two straight days with my son in a sling, I realized a couple of things: 1. He's pretty darn heavy. 2. It didn't matter what I wore because the only thing anyone could see all weekend was my sling.
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We've heartily espoused the benefits of sling usage here at Cool Mom Picks, not only because we're sling users ourselves, but because we keep happening upon gorgeous ones that we just can't pass up.
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If you thought slings were just for the crunchy moms--well, first, you haven't been reading Cool Mom Picks very carefully. (We'll have a talk about that later.)
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Despite my irrational fear of fish touching me in the ocean (damn you, Spielberg!) I wanted to make sure my daughters fell in love with the water from the start.
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Unless you do a good amount of research or read Cool Mom Picks on a daily basis (as well you should), chances are you will only encounter the mainstream brands of baby carriers. But as you probably know, you pay a fairly hefty price with m
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Sometimes when we hear about a latest/greatest/hottest new kids product we try it out and it really isn't all that. (Snap, snap.) I know this is hard to believe--brace yourselves--but just because Courtney Cox-Arquette was given something for free doesn't necessarily make it awesome.
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I have a confession to make: Slings scare me. While the benefits are undisputed and the styles no longer just for the granola set, they've always seemed like the kind of thing I'd be destined to tie wrong and whoops!--out the baby would go
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With an infant and a rambunctious toddler to chase after, I quickly relearned the value of the sling. Basically, it's like my hoop earrings -- the essential accessory that I never leave home without. But considering I'm trying to keep some semblance of my own style, I'm still concerned with how it looks almost as much as how well it holds my baby.
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There is no shortage of moms writing in to Cool Mom Picks to recommend their favorite infant carriers. But when a new dad takes the time to rave about one, let's just say we're anxious to see what the deal... ... [More]
I've always appreciated the benefits of a baby sling. Although as someone with fluctuating weight combined with a lack of manual dexterity that keeps me from adjusting my own belt properly, let alone a ring on a sling, I have yet to find my perfect match.
Front carriers are great and all until your baby gets big enough to hold his or her head up. And then while you can flip them around, they still precariously dangle in what I sometimes fear is not the most comfortable position.
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If baby #2 is anything like baby #1, you will rarely see me without a tot in my arms. Combine that with the toil of chasing around a three-year-old, and my back just might not be able to hack it without heavy medication.
I met another like-minded mom at this indoor playground the other day. As she packed up to leave, she picked up her one-year-old, popped him into her ring sling, and away they went - her hands free with him comfortably... ... [More]
So you've seen the thousands of slings out there and basically, they're pretty much the same. Great in function but style? Not so much. Well, get ready to get lucky. Lucky-baby, that is.
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