Oops! Forgot to say who’s who: from l-r, Eleanor, Tobias, Callista.
For various reasons, I decided to forgo that whole read-parenting/babycare-books step that seems to be so pushed. Millions of folks have happy, healthy children without cracking open a book, and the keywords and catchphrases seem to muddle the already confusing task of parenting. Why muck it up with advice from 8 bajillion different experts, especially when babies are dynamic and can act so differently from day to day.
But that all-too-common Mama Doubt is starting to set in, and I wonder if I’m missing some valuable tidbit hidden between the covers of Popular Parenting Book o’ The Day.
Is it possible as a mom – maybe more specifically as a first-time mom – to make it through without advice from books? Without following somebody’s method?
I feel like we’re doing pretty A-OK, but I always wonder if, when things hiccup, I’m missing some essential piece of the puzzle. Does our routine go in the right order? Are they ready to drop a nap? Do they nap too many times?
Guh.
I’m following my babies’ leads, but what parts of baby/parenthood should be led by the baby and which parts should be led by the parent?
SO MANY QUESTIONS. I have time to ask the questions, but I don’t feel I have time to seek the answers. And so I keep trying things, hoping my attempts are good enough. I’m not looking for perfection. I’m just looking for good enough.
I just hope I’m not missing it because I’m too stubborn/busy/tired/confused/overwhelmed to pick out/up a book.
Remember my lamentations about wearing my trio? Well, I’ve gotten better at wearing them.
Just like I said, I didn’t give up.
And just like you said, it got easier.
Or I made it easier.
My trio just love being worn so much that I didn’t have the heart to quit. Some naps turn unsuccessful, and if I strap them into some device that allows them to snuggle and me to be up and doing things – it’s a huge win for everyone.
The begin of my rise against Babywearing Turmoil came when I met the gorgeous Mandy (who writes TempestBeauty) for coffee one night … was it last week? The week before? Hell, I don’t even know.
ANYHOW.
I walked in, and she was wearing her sweet Ruby girl in a Sleepy Wrap. Huh. Never heard of that one. But my instant thought was, “WOW. Ruby looks COMFY!” Talking with Mandy, I found out it’s made of a stretchy jersey knit, making it super comfy but also rather droopy after some wearing.
Interesting.
Then Mandy demonstrated how she wears Ruby in the Ergo, a toy I have but hadn’t broken out yet. Folks, it was awesomesauce. It looked so easy, and Ruby again looked super comfy.
So I left our coffee date that night re-energized about babywearing. Mandy, thank you for that. The next day, I strapped Toby into the Ergo. I’m pretty sure I heard a chorus of angels. That thing is a dream. It’ll be even better the more the babies grow into it. And readers, guess what. Rob’s even worn fussy babies in it a couple times now. Woop!
I didn’t stop there, though. I wanted something like Mandy’s Sleepy Wrap, but I didn’t want to spend the money on one – even a used one I found for $20 on Craigslist. If it was just jersey cotton, I thought, I can surely make one.
And so off to Google I went. Apparently jersey cotton doesn’t fray, and the dimensions for the Sleepy Wrap were small enough to allow not one but two extra wraps to be cut from the width of a fabric bolt. And holy crap. Hobby Lobby had jersey cotton on sale for $3.99 a yard. Woop woop!
My mom and I packed the babies into my car and went off in search of my new, homemade wrap material. $20 later (yes, the same price as the Craigslist Sleepy Wrap, but now I have 3), I was washing and hanging my lime green project.
I bought 5 yards of jersey cotton. Hobby Lobby had a whole rack of prints and solids to choose from, but I ended up with solid lime. I may make more later – who knows?
Once washed and dried, we stretched out the fabric to its full length and measured – 67 inches, enough for two 20″ wraps and one 27″ wrap (SWs are 20″, and other wraps can go up to 35″). Some patient snip, snip, snipping and remeasuring along the way, and dunzo! Three new wraps!
We attached buttons at the halfway point where manufactured wraps normally have tags attached as a guide showing you where to start wrapping, but I honestly don’t need the buttons. I always have to shake out the fabric before wrapping to get it all flat, so I usually just find the middle while I’m holding it and start there.
I love the 20″ wraps more than the 27″ one. They’re nice and light. I think my biggest issue with the Moby was its bulk – I just always felt tangled in masses of fabric. Five yards is also shorter than the Moby, which means less wrap around, which is also nice. The fabric isn’t nearly as stretchy as Mandy’s Sleepy Wrap, but it does have more give than the Moby.
The best part? My trio love it. Here’s Eleanor (can you spy her?) wrapped up with me, doing Kangaroo Care/skin-to-skin last night.
Toby’s snuggled in the wrap as I write this.
Babywearing, I heart you. I especially heart you when you’re super inexpensive.
Congratulations to No. 80, Laura! I’ve sent you an e-mail, and I hope you enjoy having your hands free to entertain Kid 1 while pumping for Baby 2!
Thanks again to PumpEase for sponsoring this giveaway. Even if you didn’t win, believe me when I say this bra is worth every cent.
We have yet another awesome March for Babies fundraising event taking place. My friend Crystal is hosting a Thirty-One party and is donating her commission to our March for Babies team.
We are incredibly blessed to have so many people wanting to help through various avenues. Those of you who have given, those who are raising money, those who are making and or selling goods in our honor – you’re all amazing!
Maybe you haven’t seen something that fits your fancy. You should check out our Thirty-One party and all the bags, purses and gifts available. There are a ridiculous number of cute bags, for real – some for specific purposes and some for every purpose. I kinda love bags. It’s sad.
Be sure to check out the products and consider buying something. Some of your money will go toward your awesome new toy while some will go to help babies. Sweet deal, right?
Thank you, Crystal!
