Cloth Diapering: Wipes Solution & Diaper Cream Tutorial

So, this is sort of a random post among my babywearing series, but since I was making some of these, I decided I might as well do a post on it.

In addition to babywearing, we cloth diaper. I finally convinced Brett last week to switch to cloth wipes as well. Why not, since we're already doing laundry? As I become more conscious of the chemicals present in so much of the stuff we use on our kids, I also become more determined to get rid of those chemicals! Using cloth wipes is a perfect way to get a few more chemicals out of the house.

Double-layered fleece wipes. There are 164 wipes.

Babywearing: Older Babies vs. Younger Babies

One of the main things I hear from moms about babywearing is this: "Oh, I used to wear my baby in the Moby, but then they just got too big/heavy/etc." Yup. It happens. :) Thankfully, babywearing has something for everyone! In this post, I'm going to briefly go over what I think works best for the younger babies, and what works best for older babies. Obviously, this isn't a comprehensive guide, but it's a start!

Important note: for clarification, a "younger" baby to me is a baby no more than 15-17lbs who may or may not still be working on head/neck control and needs additional support. An "older" baby is typically over 17 lbs and does not need assistance to support the head.

The Cursed "Crotch Dangler"

I said I would dedicate a post to this, and here we are. Crotch danglers. Baby Bjorns, Snugglis, and Infantinos are the most common. This is one of my soap-box issues. There are 4 main reasons why I really hate these carriers: 1) overstimulation of baby, 2) possible damage to the normal development of baby's hips & spine, 3) uncomfortable for parent, and 4) limit of uses.

Let's explore those a bit more, shall we?

Babywearing: Pouches

At last, the final post in this series on carriers! I saved this one for last because, to be honest, I'm the least familiar with it. This is the only type of carrier I do not own, nor have I ever used one. But I DO know that many women love them and swear by them! I use the terms pouch and pouch sling interchangeably, because it is a sling, but it's also a pouch. So! What's a pouch sling?

Babywearing: Ring Slings

Slings are different than the carriers I've already covered. The main difference is that the sling is worn over only one shoulder. A ring sling is a long piece of cloth that is threaded through a pair of rings, which you use to adjust the size of the sling. They come in a variety of fabrics, colors, and patterns. You can have them padded or unpadded (I prefer unpadded, as it's much easier to adjust an unpadded sling). They're also pretty customizable, because you can add pretty fabric to the tail, or a pocket, or a zippered pocket.

Peanut as a tiny girl cuddling in the ring sling. Note that the sling had slipped off my shoulder, so this is not actually being worn quite right.

Babywearing: Mei Tais

No, this post is not about adult beverages. Mei Tai is pronounced like this: may tie. Don't ask me where the name came from, because I just don't know. But I adore Mei Tais. (Starting to notice a pattern here?) A mei tai is sort of the step between a wrap and an SSC. It has a square body, sort of like an SSC, but it has long ties instead of buckles. Like this:

Me and an 8-month-old Peanut doing a front carry with our BabyHawk Mei Tai

Babywearing: Soft Structured Carriers (SSCs)

This is the newest type of carrier that I've tried, since I recently purchased on on a swap board. I had heard great, raving reviews of these, and I've been wanting one for so long! So, ta da! Here it is, my Ergo!

My devastatingly handsome husband, Brett, wearing our 14-month old Squishy.