A newborn essential (Moby Wrap Baby Carrier)

Member Name: historywitch

Product:	Moby Wrap Baby Carrier
Date:	29/10/09 (78 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Promotes bonding, allows you to get on, good for the baby, cheap. convenient

Disadvantages: Have to learn how to use it

With my daughter I bought a pushchair without thinking about it and she was in it from the very beginning. We bought a Tomy sling but I could never work out how to put it on and my husband found it uncomfortable after a month or so. It took two of us to get her in it and the faff meant it was abandoned almost unused. This time around with an extremely active four year old and a house that is not suited for a pushchair I decided to look into slings a bit more and ended up buying this sling for £38.

What is a Moby wrap sling?

Just a long shaped piece of stretchy cotton material that comes in a variety of bright colours - mine is a pretty mid-blue. It arrived all rolled up in a small cotton bag with a very useful instruction leaflet detailing all the different holds which include a back carry (for older children), hip carry, newborn pouch or cradle carries and a front carry where they can face outwards or inwards. Once unrolled it is an intimidating 5 metres long and needs to be folded in half along the length, tricky at first but after a while very easy to do - it took me a few pre-baby practices and a few days once he was actually born. You wind the length of the material around your body and tie it at the front; once this is done you can put the baby in a number of different ways according to their size and your personal preference. Once they are in you pick up your handbag/other child/shopping and off you go. I can tie mine on first thing in the morning and pop him in and out throughout the day as required without removing the sling inbetween; it takes just seconds to get him in and out and the sling doesn't interfere with any of the household jobs or get in my way at all, even with his 11 lbs in it!

Doesn't it hurt your back or the baby?

No, the sling is designed to spread the weight across your whole upper body, I can wear him for a whole day, going up and down stairs etc without noticing anything other than a very slight ache between my shoulderblades. Because he is strapped tightly to me (and my centre of gravity) he cannot lean backwards or throw himself around too much, but he can also see everything which keeps him very occupied and less frustrated. The Tomy sling dangles all of the weight off the shoulders which can be very painful after an hour or so. In addition the Tomy sling is not good for the baby's hips and pelvis as they are basically supporting the whole weight of the body, the Moby wrap sling supports the pelvis and promotes healthy hip development. As a newborn the baby stays in the 'froggy position' which they assume naturally having been scrunched up in the womb, once they are older the sling forms their legs into a 'straddle position' which is recommended for hip dysplasia and is very comfortable for them. The upright position is recommended for babies with reflux and being close to a parent is soothing for a colicky baby; in addition skin-to-skin contact is recommended for all newborns but especially for premature babies as it helps to regulate their breathing/temperature control. If that isn't enough then the Moby sling can increase head control by strengthening neck muscles (as it is like 'Tummy time' all the time) and reduces 'flat head syndrome' caused by babies lying on their back all the time in cots/bouncers/car seats etc. Phew, not bad!

What if you fall?

Then you will usually have both hands free to save yourself from falling heavily and the baby will be tightly strapped to you, which will be safer than if you were just carrying them in your arms. Your natural instinct is always to protect the baby.


Won't it make my baby clingy?

In my opinion either a baby is clingy or it isn't just as a fact of nature. If you have a clingy baby then this is great for satisfying this need without having to hold them all the time, if not then surely it can just increase their confidence. My son astounded us by being able to get to sleep completely by himself from 4 weeks, just put him down and he dozes off by himself. In my opinion this is because his need for contact is well satisfied, he is confident that we are there and he is happy to be left. Just my opinion though!

Any other positives?

+From a vanity point of view it covers up all of my lumps and bumps when I wear it, very kind to my postnatal body!
+It can be used as a blanket/sunshade/impromptu highchair if needed (tie the baby to the chair!)
+Easy to wash, bung in the machine on a cold wash.
+You can carry children from birth to 35 lbs (apparently as I haven't tried it myself, but I am carrying my 11 lb son without effort)
+Fits different size people without adjusting buckles or straps. Fits up to a size 18-20
+Promotes bonding
+Improves milk supply if breastfeeding. Apparently you can breastfeed whilst wearing the wrap.
+Comes in lots of bright colours
+I find my son sleeps longer in it than he does anywhere else.
+They get eye contact with you and other people. Also improves communication as you can talk to them/they can listen to your conversation/other people talk to them.
+People talk to you much more, it's a great conversation starter
+Often you see parents carrying their baby and pushing their pushchair, this cuts out the middle man, saving your back and freeing your hands.
+Cost per use is miniscule, especially compared to a more expensive pushchair
+Because they are wrapped in three layers of material they and you need fewer warm clothes- I haven't needed a coat all yet.
+You can manage steps, rough ground, narrow pavements, narrow shop aisles/doorways and public transport without hassle. I took my two children to London when he was three weeks old and we had no problems with the bus, tube or museum stairs and my daughter got to go on the huge escalator at the Geological Museum which would have been impossible with a pushchair.
+You have to check if your baby is breathing/sleeping/hungry/tired/hot/cold/dropped their dummy much less.
+You can wear it with nothing on underneath around the house and still look 'decent'
+You always have two hands free!

OK! Wow, sounds like a wonder product. Any negatives?

- You have to learn how to put it on. It took me three goes to be completely confident.
- The ends drag on the floor/in the mud when you put it on when out, obviously if you put it on before you go out this is not a problem.
-People talk to you all the time about it! Sometimes people express negative opinions about clinginess/heat/suffocation, which I just ignore.
-Can get a bit warm wearing it, but there are lighter weight wraps than the Moby.
- You are limited to buying only what you can carry with no pushchair to sling it under/hang it off. I solved this problem with a granny trolley which I use to shop in town.
-Because it is stretchy it needs the occasional gentle readjustment every few hours.
-The logistics of getting to a purse etc takes some getting used to. I have a rucksack on my back and have to swing it off to get my purse out, but I am planning to get a small handbag to solve this problem.
-When it comes to bending etc you have to be a little more agile. Again not a problem for me even postnatally.
- Being where they are means they have unlimited access to things they can pull, grab, poke and scratch e.g hair, glasses, noses etc
-You cant cook etc whilst wearing it but that's common sense!

For me the Moby wrap sling was the best thing I bought for my newborn and I only wish I had had it for my daughter as well. I really could eulogise about it all day.

You can also buy the more expensive Moby D which has an extra front panel for 'contrast and support' but is £11 more expensive. I find the basic wrap suits us just fine though. There are lots of other brands of sling as well, woven, lightweight, fleece, pouch, ring, mei-tei etc in case the Moby wrap isn't quite to your taste or needs.

Moby website (American):
http://www.mobywrap.com/

This shows some of the different holds:
http://www.bigmamaslings.co.uk/zen-cart/moby-wrap -sling-p-346.html

More information on slings etc:
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t051100.asp#T051 103

Summary: A must buy for a new baby