Babywearing coat

I have an Instagram account called @slingaholic_mama and some of the lovely mamas there asked about my babywearing coat. I have a limited budget for all things, so I sadly could not afford $420 for the GORGEOUS Moa Po Mama Parka that I covet. It's extremely cold where I live in Canada, so I needed a more budget-friendly solution.

I used to live in Japan, as those who have read my old Reversible Destiny Baby blog will know. While there I heard about Rakuten online, and that's where I discovered the awesome mama coat pictured below. It's only $80! Check Rakuten out for yourself!

Infantino sling recall - How to get a free sling!

Much fuss is made over whether you have the "right" sling for your baby. The truth is, you can safely carry your baby in anything from a $16 crib sheet to an $800 ObiMama mei tai. There is something for every taste and budget in between, which is why it's so fun to look at slings!

The only thing you CANNOT safely carry your baby in is a recalled sling. The most dangerous of the recalled slings is the Infantino bag sling. These slings push baby's chin down onto their chest, which compresses their airways and doesn't let them breathe properly. If baby can't breathe... well, the worst happens.

Thankfully Infantino gives parents great incentive not to use their dangerous sling. If your sling is one of the recalled ones, you can send away for a free replacement. Here's a series of photos to show you how. Which sling would you choose?

Slingshot #1

I'm always curious to see what people in my city use to carry their babies/children in. We live in a huge city, so carriers are a common sight in the subway and downtown.

I don't often see structured backpacks like this for daily downtown use. I have also never seen this brand before. I wonder what it is?! Does anyone know?

Facebook window shopping!

I belong to quite a few babywearing groups on Facebook. It's a great way to "window shop"! I could never afford any of the wraps, carriers or slings, but it's definitely fun to look!

Today I saw this gorgeous Natibaby wrap. It's my exact favourite shade of green, and it reminds me of how my father taught me to telephone the fairies using a dried leaf.

Preaching babywearing...

I belong to a few message boards about slings, and one pet peeve is how new members are often told NEVER to use Baby Bjorn or similar type slings. There are downsides to that style of sling, but they aren't dangerous for your baby. Whenever I see other slingaholics getting all het up about Baby Bjorns I smile a little and imagine them preaching on an old-fashioned soap box!

I am a teacher, and today I found myself... not on a soapbox, but definitely more enthusiastic about babywearing than I needed to be with a group of unmarried, childless young students! We were talking about the personal cost of sports, and because I actively avoid all sports I gave hiking as an example. Naturally, carrying my son on my back came up. Naturally...

For your viewing pleasure, how I showed my class my hiking-with-baby style!

Weirdest sling I've seen in a long time!

My husband and I speak Japanese, and our little boy is learning snippets. While we were living in Japan we bought picture books to read to him, and we sometimes play Japanese kids shows on YouTube for him.

We also like to keep up our Japanese by watching movies. Last night I had some work to do (the busy life of a teacher!), so my husband watched a movie called "Moteki" on his laptop next to me. Out of the corner of my eye I saw a lady wearing her baby in the strangest sling! Not quite pouch, not quite ring sling... And what on earth is that carry? I'm not sure my 3 month old would have stood for having his face covered like that. Is it even safe...???

I asked my husband to screen-shot the scene for your sling-viewing pleasure.

The magic of Kijiji

I use an iPhone, and because I am a busy mother I am using the Blogger app to write this post. I have lots of apps related to baby stuff (check out Baby Log, The Wonder Weeks, and Baby Buzz!) and I also have a wonderful app called Kijiji.

Kijiji is very similar to Craigslist, but it's the Canadian version. Because I have the Kijiji app, I can check slings for sale daily! Of course I never buy any of them (except for that Sakura Bloom Pure over summer... and my brown Maya Wrap...!!!) but it's very fun to look and dream every day!

Buy all the slings!!!!!!!!!!!! That's what I would do if I won the lotto.

Throwback Thursday - An Ergo story...

Two months after my son was born we went to live in Japan for my husband's research. It was February 2011, and soon after we arrived the Tohoku Earthquake struck. The whole story is documented in my previous blog, Reversible Destiny Baby. Take a look if ever you will be travelling overseas with a baby and want some tips! Or just if you'd like to hear some pretty awesome stories about Japan...

We had to go back to Japan later that year so that my husband could finish his research, and while we were there I bought a beautiful Petunia Pickle Bottom Ergo. It was gorgeous, and I was so excited to use it with my then 11 month old. However, it soon destroyed my back, and I was stuck in bed for four days! My husband had left for a conference overseas when the pain began, and I panicked. We had no family in Japan, and I didn't feel I had anyone I could call on for help.

We were living in university accomodation while my husband did research for his thesis, and I was able to ask the ladies at the front desk for help. They rang a chiropractor for me, and sent me off in a taxi. Because I was so panicked, I let them keep my baby. We were still nursing, and it was the first time I'd left him with anyone in his life. I cried for three whole hours while we were apart! I got back from the chiropractor, only to discover that the office ladies had sent my little baby to a temporary daycare by car, with a woman who did not own a carseat... I waited nervously in my quiet apartment hoping and hoping that he would make it home without incident!

My son got home, happy as a clam, and had even taken a nap with the daycare ladies. I had been chatting with an acquaintance while I waited for my son to make his dangerous car ride home, and she kindly offered to come help for the rest of the afternoon. Once she arrived she quickly realised I was unable to take care of my baby alone, and offered to have me stay at her house until my husband got back from overseas. I don't think I've ever been so grateful to anyone in all my life. I still feel I have not repaid the favour!

My husband got home just as I was beginning to be able to walk straight, so I don't think he ever fully realised what a scary experience it all was for me. This is why, if ever someone asks about Ergo I say "Lots of people love them, but I can't recommend them!"

After such a sad story, here are a couple of cute photos of us in our Ergo, before all the kerfuffle.

 

Tula wrap conversion release

Oh. My. Goodness.

My name means "tree", so I am a huge fan of the Natibaby Linden wraps and Oscha Tree of Life wraps. My very favourite structured carrier for toddlers is a Tula (more on that at my other blog, Reversible Destiny Baby) and this new release of wrap conversion Tulas combines both my loves!

...If only I wouldn't have to sell all four limbs and my firstborn child to afford one!!!

Get that lady a Tula!

I often randomly peruse babywearing related photos on Instagram and Google images. Today I came across this sweet photo of actress Selma Blair and her then 18 month old "hiking". (Ugg boots are house slippers where I'm from. Wherever you're wearing uggs, you're NOT hiking!)

All I could think was, "Get that lady a Tula!". Soft structured carriers let you keep your centre of balance better when your child is on your back, and Tulas come in lots of cute prints to match Selma's uggs. A way better choice! Quick, someone tell her PR rep!

Don't get me wrong. Hiking carriers can be great. I went hiking with my then 8 month old in Hawaii wearing a Beco Gemini. My friend had his 10 month old in a hiking backpack. He was able to set his baby down on the muddy ground pack and all (they look kind of like a highchair when free-standing) and feed baby a snack, whereas I had to keep my baby on my lap/in arms at all times. I can definitely see the value of having baby in a free-standing chair during hikes. If you're just grabbing a latte in the city though, a clunky big hiking carrier is not needed!

PS. I googled some more, and Selma is using a Kokopax framed carrier in these photos. The comments on their page look more like things you'd see on the Tula Love page on Facebook!