Stephanie over at Adventures in Babywearing asked for readers to show off their babywearing stash. Babywearing isn’t something I really have written about, but it is now a part of my life. Since I wanted to show off my stash, I thought I would share a little bit about my journey to calling myself a proud babywearer.

I remember an afternoon, well before Fuller was thought of, when I was at a restaurant and saw a woman carrying her infant in a sling. And I clearly remember thinking, “That looks awful. I would never carry my baby like that.” At the time, I was only familiar with the widely popular Baby Bjorn type carrier. And I thought, of course that was the style of carrier I would have.

When Fuller made his arrival, I did have a Baby Bjorn, loaned from my sister-in-law. And we loved carrying Fuller in it. He would immediately fall asleep in it and it was easier for me to carry him in it than schlep the car seat into grocery stores and such.

I had no idea there were “issues” with that kind of carrier until I saw this part of this episode of ER:

Really? Some sancti-mommy was lecturing a doctor about her baby carrier? I was floored.

We had to return the bjorn when Olivia came along and when I was pregnant with Tebow I was soooooo excited to find a bjorn carrier at a consignment sale for only $15. And for the first month of Tebow’s life, he was fine with it.

And then, entering into month two and he was no longer fine. I have no idea why, but he cried and cried when I put him in it. And he was so fussy in the evenings, I couldn’t do anything because I was holding him. so, I started researching other babywearing options.

I found Babywearing.com which is run by some local blog friends of mine. I scoured the forums and saw there was so much more out there than the sling I had scorned so many years before. I then sent an email out to my moms group asking to borrow any and every babywearing item they had. I had slings, a snuggli, and and Ergo all to try. Tebow was so little at the time, he slipped into the sling easily and was comfortable the entire weekend we were visiting my sister.

But then, soon after that weekend, Tebow was no longer comfortable and I was grasping at straws. I learned the sling I was borrowing was a medium (I am not a medium gal) and returned all borrowed items (except the Ergo). My BFF Esther had a Maya Wrap that was larger, so we traded. She got the Baby Bjorn and I got her Maya Wrap. But Esther also had something else. Something magical.

She had a Moby Wrap.

I watched many videos online on how to tie a wrap. I was able to put Esther’s on the first time I picked it up. And Tebow was comfy cozy. I borrowed hers until I had my own. I ordered a Tie One On from Lovey Duds and fell in love with it. I ordered a “pretty” one so I could wear it at my sister’s wedding.

Apparently the baby wrap and Sarah-Ginny’s Ergo made quite the impression on our new niece Lisa and she made her own.

Then I decided I needed something more utilitarian so I ordered a Moby Wrap from Fox Den Lane (which is also run by my local blog friends- so I was supporting something local!). It is orange. Which is what you really should come to expect from me. Considering orange is my signature color.

I love wearing it, Tebow loves being in it, and I take it everywhere. The picture above is my first picture of me with it, since I’m usually the one behind the camera.

I do plan on getting an Ergo, but I have issues with their color selection. So I’m haunting ebay until the one I want is available. My sister has one she loves and I am mailing my niece (her daughter) a matching baby carrier on Monday (early birthday present).

The Moby Wrap, the Maya Wrap, the Tie One On- they are all really neat pieces of baby gear. To some people they might be just convenience items for carrying around your child. But there are benefits to babywearing that I really think have helped with bonding and development, so I’m very happy to wear Tebow when we go out. And I’m very happy to call myself a babywearer.

So that’s my babywearing journey, and if you stuck around this long, thanks! Check out the other baby wearing stashes on Stephanie’s blog.

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