March 9th, 2010
Lisa from Santa Fe recently contacted us about the differences between the Moby Wrap and the Moby D Wrap. ”I have heard wonderful things about the Moby, but like the look of the Moby D, especially the woven chocolate stripe baby wrap. What is the difference beyond appearance?”
Well there are several differences between the two. While the fabric of a Moby Wrap is made from 100% cotton, the center panel of the Moby D Wrap is made from silk, fleece, a spandex blend, or hand woven cotton. Each type of fabric provides something different. The woven cotton and silk panel create a piece of non stretchy fabric that provides extra support, the spandex blend allows a little more stretch for easier positioning, and the fleece provides extra warmth. All of them enhance the beauty of the baby wrap.
The Moby D Wrap is also shorter than the Moby Wrap by 1/2 meter. So if you are a plus sized person, we recommend sticking with the Moby Wrap. The Moby Wrap also ties in the front or back while the Moby D has two different length ends so that it ties on your side. The seams are also finished differently, with the Moby d Wrap edges seamed instead of being over-locked. This helps ensure the Moby d Wrap will hold its shape after long periods of use.
Popularity: 1% [?]
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Moby wraps, Wraps | No Comments »
February 27th, 2010
We recently heard from Erin who is trying to decide between an Ergo Baby Carrier and a Beco Baby Carrier. We think thy are both great baby carriers, but here are some of the main differences beyond appearance.
The Ergo body panel is shorter. Some people prefer this so that younger babies 6-12 months can put their arms outside the carrier for freedom of movement. Other people feel that the panel is too short for toddlers resulting in not enough back support for them. However we still use our Ergo for our 3 year old daughter on hikes. I don’t really feel like she needs any more support and she feels secure.
The Beco Baby Carrier also has a panel inside the carrier. This makes it very easy to get your baby securely on your back. Some people that are already comfortable with back carries feel this is an unnecessary step.
However I think that whichever carrier you choose it is very easy to learn the methods for each one. Meaning the extra step of the Beco is not really that cumbersome once you learn how to do it. At the same time the back carry is not really that difficult to learn with the Ergo either.
What features of the Ergo Baby Carrier or the Beco Baby Carrier do you like best? Let us know which one suits your needs best!
Popularity: 2% [?]
Posted in Beco Baby Carrier, Ergo Baby Carriers, Uncategorized | No Comments »
February 24th, 2010
Stephanie from Marietta, GA emailed recently about her Moby Wrap. “Help! I just can’t seem to get the hang of the Moby Wrap. It just seems too loose and my baby is not secure. What am I doing wrong?”
Moby Wraps are our favorite way to wear young babies, because you can get such a good tight fit. Babies are held high on your chest, and with the proper fit you can secure a young babies head and go hands free. There is only one tying method for all front carries, which also makes this a great beginners baby wrap.
So lets take a look at how to get your Moby Wrap to fit properly. There is a really good Moby Wrap photo instruction booklet that shows step by step how to tie your Moby Wrap. Step 5 is the most important for getting the correct tightness of the wrap.
After you cross the end pieces in the front in Step 5, pull the fabric tight as you bring the ends behind your back. The more slack and the lower on your body that you cross the straps determines how loose your Moby Wrap will be. The amount of slack you need also varies depending on the type of carry you are doing. This step also determines how well you can secure your babies head in various carries such as the hug hold and the kangaroo hold.
Now that you know what to look for, give it a try while paying close attention to this step. Once your baby is in, check the fit, and see if you need to make any changes. Once you master this wrapping your baby will seem like a breeze.
For newborns and young babies, you really don’t need much slack at all. It may seem tight at first when you put your baby in, but stretchy baby wraps will give a little bit after wearing for a short period. Stretchy baby wraps are really easy to learn and we prefer them for young babies.
If you really fall in love with using a baby wrap, eventually you will want to move on to a woven baby wrap. They are more supportive for older heavier babies and more secure for back carries.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Tags: baby, baby wrap, baby wraps, babywearing, moby wrap, Moby wraps, stretchy baby wrap, woven baby wrap
Posted in Moby wraps | No Comments »
February 23rd, 2010
Miller from Charlotte, NC emailed with the following question about baby carriers for tall dads. “I borrowed an Ergo Baby Carrier from a friend the other day, and I have to say I am a little disappointed. My husband is 6′4″ and my son can’t see anything when 0on his back. I had heard such great things about this baby carrier. I am worried my husband will give up on trying to use a baby carrier because he thinks he is too tall. Are we doing something wrong?”
Most soft structured baby carriers will not allow a baby to see over the wearer’s shoulders. This is because they are designed to distribute the weight across your entire back. For tall people it may seem as if the baby is riding down really low and smashed against their back. You can have your husband tighten the waistband higher on his body. Your baby may not be able to see over dad’s shoulder, but will still be happy to be carried!
Most dads we know are most comfortable with buckle baby carriers such as the Ergo Baby Carrier, Oh Snap Baby Carrier, or the Beco Baby Carrier. However if your husband is a little more adventurous, he might like a baby wrap or mei tai. They are great for fuller body frames as well, and both can be adjusted and tied higher on the body.
Do have babywearing questions? Email us at info(at)lastellablu.com or leave your question in the comments below.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Baby Carriers | 1 Comment »
February 21st, 2010
Sharon from Philadelphia recently emailed with this question. I have an organic Sienna Sunset Ergo Baby Carrier, which I absolutely love. However there is one ring on the right shoulder. What is this for? Is the baby carrier missing something, or is this for some kind of accessory that I do not have?
Well Sharon, you are pretty close. The Ergo Baby Carrier D Ring is used to secure toys, pacifiers, or anything else for your little one to play with. I used to clip on my little girls favorite wooden teether. She was completely at ease on my back with her favorite soothing toy. I have also heard you can use it to hang your baby carrier on a hook or a coat rack while storing.
For those of you with the older Ergo Baby Carrier model with multiple d rings, they were previously used to secure the sleeping hood. FYI, this is the same Ergo model that did not have the chest straps permanently secured to the shoulder straps.
What do you use your Ergo Baby Carrier D Ring for? Let us know we would love to hear from you.
Popularity: 3% [?]
Tags: baby, baby carrier, Baby Carriers, babywearing, ergo baby carrier, Ergo Baby Carriers, Parenting, toddler
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Ergo Baby Carriers | No Comments »
February 18th, 2010
Julie from Atlanta recently contacted us for help finding a baby carrier. She has a bad back. With her baby at 3 months old and 16 lbs, she already has a hard time carrying him. She currently has a Baby Bjorn baby carrier, but finds that it is really uncomfortable. So what should she choose?
There are a couple of baby carriers that would probably work for Julie, but our first choice is a woven baby wrap, such as those by Ellaroo. Baby wraps are very versatile and can be worn on your front, back, or hip. Stretchy wraps are more affordable, but for back carrying or using past 6 months a woven wrap is more supportive. They are a great choice for bad backs, and will provide the most comfort while babywearing. You can even tie your wrap around the area where your back aches for extra support.
Our second choice is a soft structured baby carrier. They are easy to use and secure with buckles or clips. They generally have padded shoulder straps and a waist belt for lumbar support. All soft structured carriers fit slightly different, but our two favorite are the Ergo Baby Carrier or the Beco Baby Carrier.
Whatever baby carrier you use, it is important to remember to carry your baby high on your body. If you are carrying your baby too low it will hurt your back. It is also a good idea to start carrying your baby on your back as soon as they are developmentally ready. I started wearing my son on my back around 6 months, but you may be able to slightly earlier depending upon the baby carrier you choose and the options for securing your babies head while sleeping.
Do you need help choosing a baby carrier? Email us or leave a comment below. We would be glad to help you choose the perfect baby carrier
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: aching back, babies, baby, baby carrier, Baby Carriers, baby wraps, bad back, Beco Baby Carrier, best baby carrier, best baby carriers, ergo baby carrier, woven baby wrap
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Baby Carriers, EllaRoo, How to Choose, Wraps | No Comments »
February 16th, 2010
Rachelle from Louisiana emailed with this question, “My sister is having a baby soon and I would love to get her a baby carrier as a gift. She is interested in a Baby Bjorn, but I know there are way better baby carriers out there. She also needs something that is easy to use, because I do not think she would like anything like a baby wrap. We live in Louisiana, so anything that is breathable would be great. It is always hot and humid here!”
For somebody who is not yet committed to babywearing or interested in learning a baby wrap, my first choice would be a soft structured baby carriers. They are very easy to learn and somewhat similar in appearance to a Baby Bjorn. While soft structured baby carriers such as the Beco Baby Carrier or Ergo Baby Carrier look similar to the Bjorn, they keep baby in a seated position rather than hanging by their crotch. This is much better for babies developing spine and sacrum. Ergo Baby has a carrier made from a lighter weight fabric for better breathability. The Sport Ergo Baby Carrier also has a vented panel in the body of the baby carrier for extra air flow.
Pouches are another good choice for those not experienced with babywearing. They are a simple tube of fabric that you slip over your shoulder and place your baby in between the layers of fabric. They are small, compact, and easy to transport. The Hotslings Adjustable Pouch is a good choice for a gift because you do not have to know your sisters exact size. However, pouches do have some limitations. A pouch will not be as comfortable when wearing for longer periods of time or with heavier babies. It is also very important to get proper positioning when wearing a baby in the cradle position to prevent a baby
Popularity: 5% [?]
Tags: babies, baby, baby carrier, baby carrier gifts, Baby Carriers, baby gifts, babywearing, Ergo Baby, ergo baby carrier, Ergo Baby Carriers, Hotsling, Hotslings, sport ergo baby carrier
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Baby Carriers, Ergo Baby Carriers, Hotslings, How to Choose | No Comments »
February 14th, 2010
We frequently get emails from parents looking for a baby carrier where their baby can face forward. Recently Jennifer from Seattle emailed and wanted to know if this is possible with the Ergo Baby Carrier.
Parents that are interested in a forward facing carrier should consider why they want one. Is it because the parents assume a baby will want to see what is going on around them just as an adult does, or will a baby truly enjoy facing outward? Babies benefit from being able to make eye contact with their parent, watch their facial expressions, and social interactions. Babies that are forward facing cannot do these things.
Babies that are forward facing can also easily become overstimulated. A babies senses are raised and very aware. So much is new to them, and they still have a whole world to discover. What would seem to be a normal situation for us can actually become too much stimuli for them. Babies in forward facing carriers are unable to turn away from a busy environment and find the calming comfort of their parents face.
A baby can also sleep much easier by resting their head on your chest. A baby facing forward cannot find a stable position for their head, and their head will bob around limiting the quality of their sleep. So we cannot in good conscious recommend forward facing baby carriers. High quality baby carriers such as the Ergo Baby Carrier, Beco Baby Carrier, and BabyHawk do not support the forward facing position.
An alternative to wearing your baby facing out is using the hip carry which can be done with both the Ergo Baby Carrier, BabyHawk, and all baby slings. This is not as supportive as a two shouldered carry, but allows your baby a wider range of movement to observe the environment while still providing them the ability to turn away and find comfort from you.
Popularity: 6% [?]
Tags: babies, baby, baby carrier, Baby Carriers, baby sling, Baby Slings, babywearing, Chocolate Ergo Baby Carrier, Ergo Baby, ergo baby carrier, Ergo Baby Carriers
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Baby Carriers, Baby Slings, Ergo Baby Carriers, Frequently Asked Questions, How to Choose | No Comments »
February 9th, 2010
Yulonda recently emailed us about the fit of her Hotsling. She was concerned that she bought a size too large. She wanted to know if she washed it in hot water it would shrink to the correct size.
Since pouch sizing is very important we don’t recommend washing a baby sling to shrink it to the correct sizing. It my not shrink enough or even worse too much. If you already have a sling and want to find out if it is a good fit check out the figure below. Your sling should hang to just below your navel area. If it drapes all the way to your hips and swings as you walk, it is definitely too big and swing as you walk. A pouch will be the most comfortable when it rides high and snug on your body.
If you are still trying to determine your sizing see the chart below.
If you feel that you are in between Hotslings sizes, the new Hotslings Adjustable Pouch is great option. It adjusts with two buckles that are placed near the top of the shoulder. Simply pull on the straps to tighten the sling. The versatility of the adjustable sling allows it to be used for multiple care givers, allows nursing on the go, and accommodates postpartum body changes. It can even be adjusted while wearing your baby. Pretty cool.
Visit La Stella Blu to learn more and see all of our Hotslings.
Popularity: 4% [?]
Tags: adjustable pouch, baby sling, Baby Slings, Hotsling, Hotslings
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Baby Slings, Hotslings, Uncategorized | No Comments »
February 8th, 2010
Clara from Maryland just sent us an email with this question:
“Now that my son is 7 months old I absolutely love my Ergo, especially now that I don’t have to use the insert, but I have just one problem. I still struggle clicking the chest buckle closed when wearing him on my front. Is there anything I can do to make it a little easier.”
Well I have to agree that sometimes I feel like a contortionist while trying to close the chest strap of the Ergo Baby Carrier. Here is what I do to make it easier. I loosen the chest strap almost entirely. Then I hold my son to my chest while I pull the shoulder straps on. When I reach over my shoulder to grab the chest strap, I use one hand to click it into place. Having extra slack on the chest strap is what does the trick. Once it is clicked in place, tighten as much as you need to keep your baby snug and secure to your chest.
As always we love to hear from you, so send us a question at info@lastellablu.com or leave a comment below. Happy babywearing!
Popularity: 5% [?]
Tags: baby, baby carrier, Baby Carriers, Baby Slings, babywearing, ergo baby carrier, wearing instructions
Posted in Ask Us a Question, Ergo Baby Carriers, Wearing Tips | No Comments »