Newborn Babywearing
When Josiah was a newborn, I wore him in a ring sling, the first baby carrier I ever made and have made many, many more since. I liked it okay then, but better when he was bigger. It wasn’t very comfortable for long periods of time for newborn sleeping.
Since then, I have found the most perfect baby carrier for newborns - the knock-off Moby Wrap. Doesn’t she look cozy in it? This makes caring for a newborn so much easier, especially since we are out of the house so much and at home I am doing things with Josiah. Annalise falls asleep within minutes of being in it and her weight is evenly distributed over my entire back. No straps digging in your shoulders like with a Baby Bjorn, and no one-sided pain like with a sling (though I think both are useful at times, just not when a newborn needs to be worn so often). The only downside of it is that there is a bit of a learning curve in learning to put it on correctly, but with some practice, it is really quite simple.
Here are some easy instructions for how to make your own wrap:
Purchase 5 yards of thin, lightweight fabric with a slight stretch to it. You can get knit fabric, cotton jersey or cotton gauze in whatever color or print you want. A little stretch is all you need - too much stretch and it can get too lose fast. I have one that is more stretchy, and no matter how tightly I put it on, Annalise sags lower and lower, especially if I’m up and down off the ground with Josiah.
Take your five yards of fabric and cut it into widths of 20-23 inches, depending on the width of your fabric. If your fabric is 45 inches wide, cut it in half, making two wraps, five yards long. If it is 60 inches (the $1/yard fabric at Walmart usually is), cut it into thirds and you’ll have three wraps. Get it?
That’s all. No sewing, no hemming, nothing. Knit fabrics roll up on the edge and don’t fray.
You can learn how to wrap it and wear it in all kinds of ways here. Your wrap won’t have a tag in the middle, but a very savvy friend of mine embroidered a little design in the middle of hers so she’d find it easily. Brilliant.
If your local Walmart has a fabric section, be sure to check their $1/yard bin–they often have thin fabrics with some stretch and you can make 3 wraps for $5. So find a friend and go make some wraps together!
July 7th, 2008 at 10:03 pm
Hooray! I love all your wraps and slings and carriers. They are fabulous. I am loving carrying Kennedy in a sling, esp. since I have the pregnant tummy and can’t wear her on my front anymore.
Annalise is so pretty, even just looking at the side of her face!
July 7th, 2008 at 10:10 pm
You know I am going to have to bring some fabric with me to Austin to learn how to do this don’t you?? I can’t wait!
July 12th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
Hi Rachel,
I see your family is doing very well. We love, love, love the homemade version of the Moby wrap. My little one loves to be bundled up and swaddled as she was still in the womb, but she is already 3 months old. And yet, she is so accustomed to falling asleep within seconds when I put her in my wrap, too. It’s quite amazing and I wished I only had one with my first daughter; because then, I only used a ring sling as well. Good to see many moms loving the wrap and other inexpensive methods of child-rearing. In today times, it’s much easier to make it yourself and not be trapped into paying way too much in the baby business. My blessings go out to you and your adorable family. Take care.