Journal Entry

How to make a baby wrap

Baby wearing has been gaining popularity over the past several years, and for good reason. Keeping your baby snug and close provides all kinds of benefits for both mom (or dad) and baby. Whether you wrap or sling, both you and baby will be comfortable
There are many choices of wraps and slings available, and it may be intimidating to try to choose. Some may work great for newborns, some are better for older babies, but there are many that wok well for both.

Wraps

A wrap is basically one long strip of fabric that is crisscrossed around the body and tied, creating a pocket in front to tuck baby in. A popular brand in this style is the Moby wrap, see mobywrap.com .While the design of a wrap is very simple, getting the hang of using a wrap can take a little practice. The following is a great video that demonstrates the use of a wrap: http://www.youtube.com

Slings

Slings are also fairly simple in construction, but instead of wrapping all around the body like a wrap, they are worn across the body like a sash. Baby can ride lying down as a newborn, or sitting as a larger baby, or can even be supported on the hip into toddler-hood.
Different styles of slings : A ring sling positions the ends of the sling loop through a set of rings over one shoulder. allowing for some adjustment of the pouch size. I had a NoJo sling with my first baby, http://www.amazon.com , and it was a lifesaver for my sanity as a new mommy.
Pouch slings are very simple. They are just a piece of fabric sewn into a loop, folded in half and worn as a sling. With my second child, I used a Gorgeousbaby sling: http://www.gorgeousbaby.ca , and found it slightly easier to use than the ring style and just as effective. The Gorgeousbaby site also has some useful information about how to use a sling for babies of different ages.
Asian style slings use a rectangular section of fabric to create a pouch, with wide straps attached that wrap around the body and tie in place. One of the key differences between the Asian style and other slings is that the Asian slings can be wrapped to carry baby either in front or in back. You can see how they work here: http://www.betterforbabies.com Because most wraps and slings are so simple in design and don’t require much sewing skill (or any, in some cases), they can be made at home. Two handy sites with free wrap and sling patterns are:

1. http://www.mammasmilk.com . This site also has baby carriers for sale if you decide making your own isn’t for you.
2. http://www.mamatoto.org . This site has instructions for making baby wraps, but lacks much information on how to use them.

While it may take a little bit of practice to get used to using whatever style of wrap or sling you choose, you’ll find the rewards of having your baby happy and close well worth the small effort.