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Baby Carriers for Newborns: the Sling Lady’s sister weighs in!

Karin and Jai in Kangaroo Korner Mesh Sling

When my sister Karin told me she was pregnant with her first baby, I knew we were going to have some fun here on the Sling Lady blog.  Since Karin and her husband Gabriel were babywearing newbies when Jai was born (in May), I figured they’d be perfect testers for our carriers.  So after giving them a few weeks to get accustomed to parenting (with a KKAFP, of course), I shipped a big old box of pouches and ring slings to them to check out.  Here are Karin’s impressions.

Having the Sling Lady in the family meant I knew I was going to be baby-wearing early on.  I’d witnessed all the benefits of spending hands-free baby time with my sister’s kids.  Now I have a baby of my own (5 weeks as of this writing!) and I have had the pleasure of trying a fine sampling of  slings offered by Carry Me Away.

The first one I tried was the Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Fleece Pouch, the original pouch made by Kangaroo Korner.  From first touch out of the package, this pouch was soft, cozy, and cuddly, exactly what you want to wrap your newborn in; I also loved the Pistachio Green color.  The material stretched just enough to feel comfortable but snug enough that the baby felt well supported on my chest.   After a couple of trials I found myself adjusting the pouch to be much tighter that I’d originally thought: I was most comfortable with the baby high up on my chest and hugged in close to my body.   The attraction of the Fleece Pouch, its super snuggly material, is also its down-side: it is uncomfortably warm in hot weather.   It’s summer here in Philadelphia, which means hot and humid, and a short walk with this sling left me….pretty moist.

I turned from here to the Kangaroo Korner Adjustable All Season Stretch Pouch.  Its made from a combination of cotton, rayon, and spandex which makes it much cooler than the fleece in the summer heat and yet still gets just the right balance between stretchy comfort and firm support.  I sampled the Dark Brown color which was unobtrusive enough to match most of my outfits.  Which leads me to another point:  Think about YOUR wardrobe not your baby’s when choosing the color of your sling!  I tend to prefer solid, muted colors, including lots of earth tones; just because I’m now a mom doesn’t mean I want to wear floral or pastels!  Even if you do wear brighter colors, choose a color you wont mind wearing a lot unless you plan on getting more than one sling.  If you’re like me, the sling will become a daily necessity; that hot floral pattern might be nice occasionally, but every day?  Luckily, all the pouch lines include plenty of options to fit into whatever color scheme you prefer.

The Microfleece All-Season pouch, also from Kangaroo Korner, is a nice choice that lies in between the original fleece and the stretch material.  The fabric is thinner and lighter than the regular fleece, making it bearable on a warmer day, while still retaining  a nice coziness that is soft to the touch.  If you plan on buying just one pouch, this could be good choice for all four seasons, unless your summers are very hot and humid.

The number one pouch that I tried for the hot weather is the Kangaroo Korner Mesh Pouch.  When I first opened up the package,  I immediately thought of the material that basketball jerseys or gym short are made of.  What it lacks in stylishness, though, this pouch makes up for in functionality! It is extremely breathable, dries quickly, and is designed for using in the lake or pool, shower, or in very hot/humid weather.   I haven’t tried taking my baby in the water yet, but this pouch is a must if you’re going to be wearing your baby in full summer heat.

Next up was the cotton HotSlings pouch.  I found that both the #2 Fitted Pouch and the Adjustable Pouch hung uncomfortably low on my body with the baby ending up more around the naval than higher up on the chest (SlingLady’s note: Karin is thin and narrow-shouldered, and probably should have tried a size 1).  I did, however, appreciate the padded edges which kept the edges of the sling open when the babe was in the cradle-carry position, allowing for ample opportunity for me (and others) to admire his sweetness.  The HotSlings Pouches come in a whole array of creative colors and prints to choose from.  My earlier note regarding staying clear of loud colors/patterns still stands; that said, they have some very nice patterns; two favorites are the Hyde Park and Tokyo fabrics.

As much as I loved the pouches, there were certain benefits to the Maya Wrap Ring Sling that none of the pouches could match.  The ring sling was infinitely adjustable which meant I could get my little one at just the perfect place on my body, also making it the only one I tried that I could use really comfortably for nursing.   The woven cotton material  was also cool in the hot muggy weather.  And while I thought I wouldn’t like the long piece of fabric that hangs down, it came in handy as a cover cloth in the sun and looked quite classy hanging by the side as well.  That said, it  took a couple of days of wearing to learn to adjust the sling properly, and, even when I got the hang of it, it took a little more work than the oh-so-simple pouch.  The extra fabric also makes it bulkier, making it less convenient to throw in a bag.  In addition, while my husband loved the pouches, he refused to even try on the ring sling.

I’d love to end this piece with a conclusion of the #1 BEST carrier but alas, there are pros and cons to each.  All the pouches were easy to use and compact enough to bring along in a diaper bag.  I found the Kangaroo Korner pouches superior for their close, comfortable fit.  ( I would err on the smaller size if you’re choosing between two sizes).   All of the fabrics were comfortable and seemed durable; the choice between them depends on the weather and intended usage.  The ring sling was wonderful for its adjustability and breathability and unequaled for nursing, but slightly more difficult to use, bulkier, and definitely an assertive part of my outfit, while the pouches tended to blend in to what I was wearing.

I will definitely be using a combination of pouches and slings as the summer progresses.  I’m looking forward to trying some of the other carriers as my baby grows!

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