The Sling Lady

I’m so excited to announce our very first baby carrier photo contest!

What do you love about babywearing? Send in your pictures that show us. Whether it’s the joy of being close, the convenience of getting great things done while carrying your child or simply the beauty of a child who feels safe and secure, we want to see!

The winner will will a $100 gift certificate to be used at Carry Me Away.  Entries will be judged on the creativity, beauty, photographic quality, and effectiveness in conveying what babywearing means to you.

1. The contest begins today and ends Wednesday, September 15, 2008 at 12 midnight, PST. Late entries cannot be considered.

2. Photos should emailed to info@carrymeaway.com. If you would like to mail in your photo, please contact us at info@carrymeaway for details.

3. If you have a blog, please link below, using the Mr. Linky.

4. You may submit as many photos as you like. However, more photos does not necessarily increase your chances of winning!

5. The winner will be notifed by email. The winner will be given a voucher code in the amount of $100 USD to be redeemed within 1 year at www.CarryMeAway.com

6. Images should be submitted in JPG (at high quality) or TIFF format. If you are having difficulty with these parameters, contact info@carrymeaway.com for help.

7. With the image, please submit the names of the people in the photo, the child(ren)’s first name(s), their age(s), the carrier(s) being used and a few sentences about why you love using your baby carrier(s). We love these stories, so please include them!

8. Entries must be submitted by the original photographer. Do not submit a photo taken by someone other than yourself. You must be the sole owner of the copyright of any image submitted. Your submission of the photo and entry form is your guarantee that you are the author and copyright holder of the photo.

9. By entering the contest, photographers agree that their submitted photograph becomes the property of Carry Me Away, and may be used for advertising, publicity, news releases, or any other purpose deemed by Carry Me Away, and possibly displayed on the www.CarryMeAway.com website without any fee or other form of compensation. They agree that Carry Me Away may make and retain copies of the photograph for archival and publicity purposes. Photos will be credited to the photographer named upon email entry.

10. Read the legalese here.

11. HAVE FUN!

Okay, so you’ve only got one or two handbags and you only want one or two baby carriers. You don’t care about your carrier matching your evening wear or being usable in the shower. You just want the minimum number of carriers that will allow you to comfortably and easily snuggle with your little one while going about your life.

Is is possible to have just one carrier that will last from newborn through toddlerhood? Absolutely. A woven wrap or a mei tai are my recommendations for the one carrier that will see you through the years from birth to 4. Both carriers can be worn in a variety of positions, can be used for breastfeeding and will be comfortable for short as well as longer outings, even as your child grows. The ERGO baby carrier is a good option for a single carrier also, although I find it a little awkward for newborn use.

So yes, you can use just one carrier, but in general, I find that most families wind up with at least two: one for quick, easy on/off carries and another for longer carries where the support of a two-shouldered carrier is key.

To help you find the perfect pair of carriers for your family, I’ve created an easy chart. Just choose one carrier from the right column and once carrier from the left, and you’ll be set as far as always having the right carrier for convenience, ease of use, and comfort for both you and your little one. Whether they will match your purple and yellow striped sweater, well, thats another issue altogether

Click on the links to read more about each carrier type.

Got questions? Don’t hesitate to contact me or leave a comment below.

New babywearers often ask me for recommendations for one carrier that can be used from birth to toddlerhood, that can be used in any situation for any length of time. They say they only want to buy one carrier, so it needs to last.

My answer? Baby carriers are like handbags. Yes, it’s entirely possible to own only one bag, which you use for every outing and any activity. But the chances are, you own at least one other handbag in addition to your daily purse (or diaper bag). Perhaps it’s an evening bag, that goes with your little black dress and is just big enough to hold your cell phone, lipstick and credit card. It might be a gym bag. Or a backpack for when you need to take a lot of gear and you want something big enough to hold all of it that won’t tire your shoulders out. Some of us own handbags in every possible shape and color, so we have the perfect bag for any outfit and any occasion.

Baby carriers are much the same way. It is entirely possible to own only one baby carrier and use it for every outing and occasion. For some people this is a pouch or ring sling, others prefer a two-shouldered carrier like a mei tai, buckle carrier or wrap. Which carrier is your go-to carrier varies so much from person to person, just like handbags do.

Say you start out with a pouch with your newborn. Pouches are easy to use and you like the simple, no-fuss aspect of them. This works great for you for the first several weeks, but you are finding that your little one needs to be held ALL THE TIME, and you are starting to get some soreness by the end of the day, especially as your little one gets heavier. So you get a Moby wrap, and it is heavenly! Super comfy and supportive and you can breastfeed in it hands free. Plus you can wear it for hours with no discomfort at all.

As your little one gets older and you move out of the honeymoon phase, you start getting antsy to get more things done. You’d like to be able to put him on your back, and plus, all the fabric of the Moby is driving you a little nuts in the parking lot at Target. So you get a Kozy carrier mei tai, so you can put little one in a high back carry as well as a front carry. The Kozy is super supportive and less futsy than the Moby.

As little one gets older and starts wanting to be up and down a lot, you go back to using your pouch more often, for the simple, fast hip carry it provides. Then you have a wedding to go to, your pouch doesn’t go with your dress, so you get a ring sling in a fabulous color to accessorize your outfit.

Then you take up hiking and don’t want the straps of your Kozy dragging on the ground, so you get an ERGO baby carrier. You love how fast it is to get on and off, and how it takes the weight off your shoulders and puts in on your hips.

And just like bags, it’s always nice to have a baby carrier just right for the beach and pool (water wrap or mesh pouch) and one that rolls up compactly that you can leave in the glove compartment just in case (Hotslings pouch). Not to mention one that doesn’t clash with your purple and yellow striped sweater!Coming soon: But seriously, how many carriers do I really need?

Dear SlingLady,

I’d like to buy a baby carrier for my friend’s daughter, who is due next month. We didn’t have all these options when my kids were small, and I’m a little confused about what to get her. I don’t really know her very well. Can you help?

- Marja, Washington DC

Dear Marja,

A baby carrier makes a wonderful (and often unique) shower gift! It’s certainly harder to buy for someone else, especially if you are not certain of their tastes and preferences (sometimes you may not even know their size!)

My sure-fire recommendation for a great baby carrier for a first-time caregiver of an infant is either the Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Pouch or the Pikkolo baby carrier. Both are easy to use, not too intimidating and have a look that appeals to a broad range of people.

The Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Pouch is my first choice since babies can cuddle in it from day one. It is sleek, simple in construction and its adjustability makes it easier to size than other pouches. A place to start: most women take a Medium (unless they are tall, larger or very thin/petite) and most men take a Large (unless they are under 5′11 and thin). I find the fleece to be the perfect material for a sling (fleece has just the right amount of stretch but is still supportive) but for warmer climates, the all-season material is a good alternative. Living in Napa, CA, I use the fleece for three seasons out of the year.

The Pikkolo is another great option for your situation. It is pricier but very appealing to those who are used to the mainstream appeal of other front packs with buckles. The Pikkolo can also be used from birth but, unlike other widely available front packs, it can also be used on the back and with older children. And it’s more ergonomically correct, both for the baby and the wearer. Plus, it comes in cute fabrics! The Pikkolo is my first choice if the mom you are giving this to has any back and shoulder problems.

And don’t forget, Carry Me Away (and most other retailers) offers a return/exchange policy good for 30 days after the birth of the baby. So the mom-to-be can always exchange her carrier for something more suitable.

Dear SlingLady:  We’ve had a heat wave and DS (8 months) and I are sweating to death in our fleece pouch!  Do you have any recommendations for a carrier that would be comfy for us in the sweaty, humid weather in DC?  

-Amber

Dear Amber:  Unfortunately, no one has yet invented a baby carrier with an air conditioner feature, but when they do, we’ll be the first ones to sign up. Until then, the bottom line is that wearing your baby is in hot weather is goin to be, well, hot! Ain’t no two ways about it.

That being said, I do have some tips for babywearing in the heat, sun and water.

Stay in the shade! This may seem obvious, but if you’re anything like we are, you may be stubbornly trying to go about your business without any regard for the weather. Summer is a good time to slow down, take it easy as much as you can, and stay in the shade whenever possible.

• Dress your baby lightly. Loose linen fabrics that cover the skin but are breathable and cool may help. If you will be inside/in the shade, you may want to consider just putting your baby in a diaper.
• Consider a carrier with UV protection built in, like the Moby Wrap with UV Protection in Sand or Turquoise or the Gypsy Mama Water Wrap.
• Consider coverage when choosing baby carriers for the warm weather. Ring slings can be used to provide additional coverage.
• Consider the fabric of the baby carrier you choose. Fabrics made specifically for warm weather, like mesh, are breathable and cool. 100% cotton is breathable and therefore also a good choice.
• Consider a back carry over a front carry, when possible. I’m not sure of the reason, exactly, but back carries always feel less hot.
• Check out our selection of Water Carriers for great options for the pool or beach!

Our favorite carriers for hot summer weather are:

• The Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Mesh Pouch (breathable, dries quickly, very light)
• The Gypsy Mama Water Wrap (dries quickly, has UV protection, great looking)
• ERGO baby carrier (less fabric to trap the heat in)
• Ellaroo Ring Slings (breathable, and you can use the tail for coverage
• Hotslings pouches (breathable, very minimal material)
• Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Breeze wraps - while wraps are hotter than other carriers due to the amount of fabric, the Bali Baby Breeze wraps are made from very thin gauze - super breathable and light!

What do you do to stay cool while wearing your baby? I’d love to know!