Thought:
The weather is too miserable to go for a walk. I wish I had a way of wearing Babby on my hip or back. He likes to be carried but it’s hard for me to get anything done around the house when he’s hanging out front like that.
Thought:
Maybe there are more ways to tie the Sleepy Wrap. Hip and back carries.
After a visit to Youtube:
Apparently there are! Must try some of these.
One very cranky baby and a lot of failed attempts later:
Hmm. This wrap seems too stretchy for these ties. It may be worn out, or naturally too stretchy. I wonder if there are used wraps on craigslist that might be a tighter material?
A visit to craigslist ensues:
Wow, these things resell for almost retail price! I don’t have 40 bucks to spend on another wrap. I like my wrap fine, but I want different carries. Also, I do wish I could have something super stylish, like this:
But that’s over 100 bucks. That’s a ridiculous amount of money when you think of the fact that most wraps are just long pieces of cloth. Maybe I could just buy cloth. Can I do that?
Google “make my own baby wrap”:
Apparently so! Wow, these sites claim I could buy fabric for my own wrap and get a new, less stretchy one for five bucks. I wonder if there are any fabric stores around here…
Google fabric stores in my area:
Hey, they have cloth prices online! Let’s see what a cotton jersey knit would cost… 15 dollars a yard?! At 5 yards of wrap, that’s pricier than my brand name wrap! WTF?
A phone call to my mother later:
Okay, my mother is going to check her local fabric store for more reasonable prices. I’ll have to send her these links about making your own wrap. Hey, here’s a new one. Rebozo. What’s a Rebozo?
After some Internet research:
…Rebozos look awesome! They’re like pashminas that also carry your baby! I like the bright colours. Stylish and useful! And they’re shorter than standard wraps. That would be good. I could get a non-stretchy fabric for a rebozo and keep my stretchy Sleepy Wrap and then I’d have two different kinds of carrier!
Thought:
I have a pashmina. I’m sure it’s too short, but I should check.
Thought:
Where IS my pashmina?
Thought:
Seriously, where the hell did it go? It should be with the scarves. Why is it not with the scarves?
…Perfect Husband came home to find me ransacking the coat closet and threatening to tear the house apart because I’ve misplaced my pashmina. He convinced me that he has not stolen it for his own nefarious purposes and that it will turn up.
If By Yes 
If there’s a thrift store near you, would a second-hand curtain panel or twin sheet folded in half be a possibility? If you just need something cheap for the time being and for light use, a sarong will work for some carries. as long as you inspect the fabric for damage.
I poked around http://www.thebabywearer.com anf found
http://www.boomersandechoes.com. Their carriers are expensive, but they have consignment goods as well. TBW forums has a section for selling and trading. Apperntly Ikea sells fabric. I did not know this. Am jealous of you having an Ikea. Also, http://www.wearyourbaby.com/ tends to focus on wraps an has instructions for using less-than-ideal items like sweatpants as a wrap in an emergency. What kind of emergency, I am not certain.
LOL
I didn’t think of Ikea. Maybe I’ll stop in there today. Gee, what CAN’T Ikea do??
Yeah, the Sleepy Wrap is pretty stretchy. I could send you the Moby I still have borrowed from Meg to try. It’s not so stretchy and may fit your needs. But you may want to start looking at soft-structured carriers, like the Ergo, Beco Butterfly or Gemini, or Babyhawk Oh Snap! now that Babby is heavier. Those will carry you through toddlerhood, and allow front, hip and back carries. Just a thought. 🙂
(I’ve never tried ring slings, beyond the crappy one I was given when Liam was born that I hated. They definitely look more “organic” than the ones with buckles, but I really adore my SSC’s. If you have a baby shop that sells carriers you can get to, I definitely recommend going and trying some different ones on with Babby in them. I thought I really wanted a Mei Tai, till I tried one on. It really hurt my weak arms trying to tie it on tightly, so obviously that was going to be useless. They recommended the Ergo to me, and though it looks a bit boring (and, dare I say, too Baby Bjorn-like) it was definitely super comfy and easy to use. I was sold. It’s gotten a ton of use. I’ve since picked up an Oh Snap! on sale, and love it too. It has a higher back than the Ergo, so even though the buckles aren’t as user-friendly for me, it’s more practical for older kids. And prettier!)
I’d love an Ergo, but they’re 100 bucks, even on craiglist!
I like how stretchy the Sleepy Wrap is generally, but it doesn’t seem to work as well as Babby gets heavier. I’ll play around and see.
Yup, they’re pricey. But worth every penny! (I’ve used mine as much or more than my stroller, but I paid more for that. Just to put it in perspective.) Mother’s Day gift, perhaps?
Possibly!
Heh. I chortled through this whole post. My mind works just this way, too, only mine is compounded by mega absent-mindedness. By the time I got to tangent #4, there is NO WAY I’d remember where it all started! It’s sad, really… but I’m rarely bored!!
Seriously, get an ergo or beco. My son is 2 1/2 and I still use my ergo. Plus, if it’s worth that much on craigslist, you can resell it when you’re done, right?
(If you want to try other things, I have some of the heavy-duty plastic rings that they suggest to use in the “make your own sling” articles, and I’d be happy to just give them to you. I’m in Vancouver.)
Ergo is definitely on the to-buy-some-day list, but I like the style of a pretty wrap and I am lured by the cheapness of making my own!
The Ergo is great for older babies. We did a 12 hour train ride to NY and the Ergo was magical snowsuit happy fun napping place. I put Alex on my back to do the grocery shopping so I can push the cart (I have the groceries delivered).
Check Parenting By Nature. They seem to have the best prices and a good selection of carriers.
and my thought process is very similar. I clean the house the same way so I get 1/4 of 20 things done.
I’m glad I’m not alone!
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