Posts Tagged ‘babies’
Thursday, 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 »
Tuesday, 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 »
Sunday, 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 »
Monday, August 17th, 2009
Are you buying a gift for a baby shower and not sure what to get the new mom? Trying to find the perfect baby gift can be daunting. A baby carrier or baby sling is the perfect gift. It is the one piece of baby gear that will get used daily. It is the perfect gift that allows parents to get on with their lives while keeping their precious baby close and secure.
With that said there are so many types of baby carriers to choose from. Plus if you are considering a baby sling you may not know what size to buy. So that leaves you with the perfect option, a gift certificate. This allows parents to pick out exactly what they need. So check out our new gift certificates available at La Stella Blu. You can choose any dollar amount and we offer a 60 day return policy on all of our baby carriers.
Popularity: 17% [?]
Tags: babies, baby, gift certificate, mom, parents, toddler
Posted in How to Choose | No Comments »
Monday, August 10th, 2009
Swaddling your baby is a great tool for calming young babies. Once you swaddle you will be amazed at how it helps your baby settle when overstimulated and sleep longer. Below is a quick run down on the technique. Check out our Moby Wrap swaddle blankets for a great selection of organic and regular fabrics.
- Lay your blanket on a flat surface such as a bed or the floor.
- Fold down the top corner approximately 3-5 inches.
- Lay your baby on top of the blanket so that their neck rests at the top of the folded corner.
- Place your babies left arm straight down their side. Grab the left corner of the blanket and pull across your babies’ body. Tightly tuck the corner under the right side of your baby.
- Pull the bottom corner up across your baby and tuck it inside the blanket near their chest.
- Place your babies right arm straight down their side. You may have to hold it in place as you pull the right corner of the blanket across your baby.
- Pull the corner very tightly as you wrap the blanket all the way around your babies back. You may have enough fabric left to pull around to the front and tuck the end in. If this last corner is not wrapped tight enough, your baby will be able to free their hands.
Popularity: 22% [?]
Tags: babies, baby, blankets, cosleeping, moby wrap, Parenting, sleep, swaddle blanket, toddler
Posted in Moby wraps, Parenting | No Comments »
Sunday, July 12th, 2009
If your wee one refuses to eat anything that is green or remotely looks like a vegetable you are not alone. Many toddlers refuse to even try eating something new based on its color, texture, or smell.
Several months ago I stumbled on a cookbook by Jessica Seinfeld called Deceptively Delicious. She recommends pureeing vegetables and adding them to foods that you know your child will eat. Scrambled eggs with pureed cauliflower, chicken noodle soup with pureed sweet potato, and pink pancakes with pureed beets have become staples around our house. You cannot even taste the added vegetables.
I started following recipes in the cookbook, but now I simply add the pureed veggies to whatever I am cooking. Once you are ready to experiment on your own start small with proportions and add the vegetables to similar colored dishes. I make the purees monthly and freeze the extra portions until I am ready to use them.
Tricking your toddler into eating their veggies is a short term solution that can offer you peace of mind. However, remember to keep offering wholesome choices to your toddler. Most experts agree that it can take up to 20 times or more of offering a food before your baby or toddler tries it.
Popularity: 11% [?]
Tags: babies, baby, food, Parenting, picky eater, toddler
Posted in Parenting | No Comments »