Babywearing Deconstructed!
Pros:
Comfortable, versatile, soft, portable, doesn't splay baby's legs, can be used for twins, discreet breastfeeding
Cons:
Takes longer to put baby in than a ring sling
The Bottom Line:
Most comfortable carrier, best baby carrier for wearing baby for long periods, offers the most versatile number of holds, best carrier for twins, and is great for discreet breastfeeding.
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Overall Rating:
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Author's Review
When my first child was born in 2002, I selected a baby carrier from Babies R Us--you know, the kind that has snaps, buttons, buckles, splays your child's legs apart, and takes its toll on Mom's back? Thankfully, I discovered ring slings when I had my second child. I thought these were as simple as you could get--a piece of fabric with a ring on one end. Right? Nope!
The Moby Wrap is babywearing as deconstructed, or basic, as you can get! In fact, while wearing my baby in my Moby Wrap at the grocery store one day, an inquisitive mom complimented me on it and told me that she actually had a friend who 'ties' her baby to herself with a piece of fabric. I laughed and said, "Yep, that's a Moby Wrap," and basically that is exactly what it is: a very long and wide piece of fabric that you use to tie your baby to you by wrapping it in various ways (there are very clear instructions with pictures on how to do this that come with the Moby Wrap).
Although I prefer ring slings for quick trips into the post office because they are so speedy to slip baby in and out of, I noticed the Moby makes a world of difference in my comfort level when I am chasing my other kids around the park, through corn mazes, at longish school programs, and even at the grocery store. The reason being that the Moby goes across both of your shoulders and is spread out across your back, so baby is not pulling down on your back (as with standard carriers) or on just one shoulder (as wit ring slings).
There are so many ways to wear the Moby, with varying methods of supporting babies' heads, that any mom and baby can find a comfortable hold. Just a tip: if you try to put a newborn into the newborn hold (the one you see in most pictures of moms wearing their babies in a Moby Wrap) and he or she seems not to like it, try releasing his or her legs--the Moby instructions suggest tucking newborns legs into the wrap, but all of my babies have preferred having their legs free, even as newborns.
Although the wrapping process may look tricky, Moby's step-by-step pictorial guidebook makes it simple. It is definitely the most versatile carrier out there, allowing moms a lot of flexibility of carrying styles and the ability to carry a newborn up to a 35-pound toddler--and it won't take its toll on mom's back or shoulders!
babySNAZZ
