Baby Carrier Review Pt. 2

In 2015 I did a baby carrier review of every carrier I had used up until that point. Well, I'm still obsessed and have tried a few more since then so it's time for an update!

nursing in the wrap!

Solly Baby Wrap
I mentioned this one in my last post, but since I used it so much with Riah, it merits its own section. After getting dressed, I would just wrap it to have it ready. And just wore it like that for basically 3 months straight. It was perfect for us. My mom got me this pretty orange one too! These photos were made for Lactation Link. It was great for nursing too. By 3 or 4 months, she wasn't loving being in the wrap anymore. We switched to the Ergobaby 360 with her facing out and she was so happy about that! She had a phase where she really only wanted to face out. When she was old enough to ride on my back, she liked that too.

Ergobaby Performance Ventus
This is probably my favorite carrier. We have had it for about 2 years and I don't see me passing it along at any point. I love the tall panel, it allows it to be used well into toddlerhood. The mesh is of course great for summer and really anytime because let's face it, two bodies being pressed together and it gets hot any time of year! I highly recommend this one. But it's probably best once baby is a bit taller since the panel is so tall. You can, of course, use it from birth with an insert. I reach for this one the most.

Ergobaby Adapt
I borrowed this one from my local Babywearing International Group when Riah was a few months old. I really, really like this one. If you are going to get an Ergo, get this one. You can use it from birth without an insert. That makes such a difference! One less thing to carry around and much less hot. I was sad to have to give that one back when my month was up. It's very similar to the Original Ergo in all other ways and I definitely recommend it. These photos were made for Lactation Link too.

Fidella Ring Sling
I really wanted to like this! With 3 kids, all the buckles and straps of a SSC (soft structured carrier) was getting to be a bit much, I wanted something I could put Riah in really quickly. So I borrowed a super nice one from my BWI group again and I just didn't love it. Even though she was only a few weeks old and super light, it was still achey on that one shoulder. Sad. Some people really love ring slings though. That's why it's so nice to be able to try them out before you buy! Everyone is so different.

K'tan
This is a great wrap for little babies and for moms who are overwhelmed with all the wrapping needed for a Solly or Moby. My sister passed her's down to me and I use it as a back-up and love recommending it. Wish I had a photo to share!

Fidella Fly Tai
After Riah grew out of my Solly Baby, I really wanted a pretty wrap again! I have been drooling over the Fly Tai for awhile and when they came out with this print, I snatched it up fast! Tying the ends in pretty ways was fun for a time but it's just not me. It really only made sense for me to tie it at home because I didn't want the long tails getting dirty out and about. And what's a pretty wrap if no one can see it? ;) Aaaaand I don't find it particularly comfy. I find myself unwrapping it and grabbing the Ventus. I could use some more practice with it. I think I will give it another chance. Also, the hood is really short. Bridger has to help me with it when Riah is on my back. I keep this one in hopes of another and final Parr baby :) And we have used it as a hammock under the kitchen table:)

Tula (Standard size)
I saw this one on a local classified listing and I just bought it kind of on a whim! Everyone says if you love Ergo and try a Tula, you will never go back to Ergo. I haven't been convinced of that yet. The straps are a bit wider and puffier but I really haven't noticed a huge difference. I still switch between this one and my Ventus the most. Also, the hood is really short. Bridger has to help me with it when Riah is on my back. I'm noticing a pattern here! I think Tula's new Free to Grow has a better hood. But Ergo has the best hoods! Nate pictured here with the Tula too but he prefers the Ergobaby Performance too.

Wish List:
The good news is I got everything I listed on my wish list last time...so maybe that will happen again ;) Riah is old enough now that I really don't need anymore but...

It would be great to have a soft-structured carrier that is really floppy and soft...like a wrap conversion! Not sure which one yet though...

And I still think they are beautiful, but my experience with the Fly Tai has taught me that I'm not one for a woven...yet! ;) But really, I need quick ups and the wovens just seem like too much work for me! However, I am really drooling over these traditional African wraps that Ms. Wright is selling.

Okay, last one. I have no use for them since I don't like wovens or ring slings, but Kantha Bae wraps just have me drooling all the time. Maybe I'll save up for one of her quilts!

Baby Gear with the 3rd Baby

Collecting our favorite baby gear into a post has been a fun tradition for me, so here goes round 3. As you can imagine, we have gone through quite a bit of gear and have learned a lot along the waythe past 4, (almost 5!) years. You can read my posts on Baby Gear with the 1st Baby and Baby Gear with the 2nd Baby.)

Quality first

First tip is to buy something that will last. Especially if you are planning on more than 1-2 kids. I'm also a big proponent of buying gear that is not only useful, but nice to look at. And less is always more. There are some things that kids grow out of so fast, it's not even worth buying. If you feel like you really need it, borrow or buy used. Bumbo seats, swings and activity chairs fit well into this category.

Necessities

• Car seat-- convertible only. Carseats are for cars, I don't understand infant carseats. We got one with Bridger and we took it out once for church and we swore we would never do it again. So cumbersome! Just hold your baby. I understand wanting to take it out while baby is sleeping but most experts recommend taking baby out once you get home anyway. A good convertible will last you from newborn to 5 years old. More money in your pocket.
• Carrier or 2 (or 5 ;). I did a whole baby carrier review a while back. I should do another sometime soon!
• Baby comfy nose--probably the best baby product you can get other than a carrier. The amount of snot you can get it is draw-dropping and the icky factor is completely zeroed out when your sick baby is able to stay latched because their nose is clear.
• Puj (travel size). Had the normal size with Bridger and got rid of it when he outgrew it because it was bulky to store. The travel size is much better!
• Crib side-car. (Crib attached to parent bed).
• Stroller--still love (and miss) our Chicco Liteway. If we had more space, I would have kept it. We have the City Select now. It is definitely an investment at the retail price of $750. But I paid $450 for our’s, including the 2nd seat. There are so many sales all year round, don't pay more than $500 for it. But I think there are so many kinds of strollers, it's all about your personal taste and where you'll be using it the most often. I just love that all 3 can be in the stroller if I need to move fast. (You'll need the ride board to fit 3 kids.) I actually haven't used it in months...maybe because we aren't out and about as much in the winter. But our boys are so big now they don't want to be pushed so much.
• High chair: IKEA. Got our’s for $1 at a yard sale. Score!
• Bamboobies: the best nursing pads, period. I wrote all about nursing pads for Lactation Link recently.
• Diapering: still using Amazon Subscribe & Save for Luvs. Still use a travel changing pad on the bedroom floor. So proud of myself for never buying a big changing table or pad! Just one more thing they can't fall out of.
• Silicone bibs w/ pockets. Trust me. Get them.

real life right here. high chair in the bathroom so i can shower :)

Nice to have

• Bumbo. Got one for $10 at a yard sale for Colden and saved it for Riah. It's really only used for a couple months. But it's fun to help them feel big and sitting up.

Things we haven't used

• Activity chair etc. Borrowed or bought one used for Colden and Bridger but we didn't get one for Riah. There were definitely times I wished for something to put her in, but then I just put her in the wrap and that moment passed. She was quickly sitting up and crawling around on her own.
• Swing: only used for a few months with Bridger. Didn't use for Colden or Riah.

Wish we would have gotten…

• Cloth diapers. I really wish we would have bitten the bullet and just done cloth diapers. We gave it a half-hearted shot with Bridger. But we didn't have a diaper sprayer, so my hands were in a lot of poop. And Nate was NOT interested in going along with my hippy-ways so it didn't work out. But every month I see our big box of diapers delivered...I die a little inside (and so does the earth!). And 3 kids and $2000 later...I definitely have regrets.
• Diaper Genie: Maybe it's all the diapers, maybe it's the potty training, maybe it's the old house...but our house smell leaves something to be desired. We do put poopy diapers outside ASAP.  Maybe a diaper genie would have helped...maybe not.

What babies really need

Babies don't really need much stuff. What families really need is education and support. Education on how to breastfeed and support to bond with their baby as long as needed. I wrote about this more in-depth a while ago, "Looking Past the Baby Registry." What were your baby necessities? Things you wish you would have had?

Best of the birth world this week!

Some of you may have heard that I participated in nurse-in at Hobby Lobby in Orem, Utah recently to encourage their staff to have a more proactive policy that supports breastfeeding mothers. Here is the Daily Herald article. And here is what Target has been doing lately in regards to the same issue.

Amazing shot of mom and dad catching baby.

I loved this. "Read your baby, not the books."

The day a friend corrected me. Makes me want to turn Bridger back around to rear-facing.

Women are the stewards over birth. This article highlights some of my favorite parts of The Gift of Giving Life.

I love Every Mother Counts 10 times more since they announced their new series on childbirth in America.

I usually don't like Baby Center, but these photos of how your baby fits in your womb are pretty rad!

Such a beautiful story and what a sweet dad doing skin to skin with babies in the OR!

P.S. Colden and I are using the Ergobaby Ventus in the photo above. We love it!! Sold my Original and Performance to get it...super worth it!

5 ways to get a good deal on a baby carrier

As I have discussed before, a good carrier can be a real game-changer for families. But often the problem is the price. Parents find the carrier section at Target and see the lovely Ergobabys for $140+ next to Eddie Bauer carriers for $70. They serve the same purpose, right? They do the same thing, right? Let's just get the cheaper one! Great idea in the short run for sure! It's nice to have extra cash! But in the long run, you might be wishing you had spent a little more. Like lots of other things in life...you get what you pay for. So planning ahead, setting aside a little money here and there or selling some of your lightly used baby gear are all great ideas to get the carrier you want. With that said, there are a few ways I have found that help you save a few bucks while also getting a good carrier.

First off, do your research. Pick out your top 2 or 3 carriers. Try them on, maybe borrow one for a few days and decide if you are ready to invest. When you are, here are some good ways to buy and save money...

Local babywearing groups
Check Facebook and Babywearing International to see if there is a babywearing group near you. They have educated volunteers who will help you find what you want/need and then will turn around and help you learn how to use it! Most also have a lending library where you can borrow a carrier for a small fee for a few weeks to try it out before you buy. And local moms will post within the group carriers they are willing to sell/trade. Which leads me to...

Buy used
At least 5 of the carriers I have owned were used! Good for my wallet and the environment. :) Be careful when buying used so that you know you are getting an authentic carrier. Counterfeits can be less quality and unsafe. That's why I like buying directly from other moms via our local babywearing group. If you don't have a group close by, the Facebook group Babywearing on a Budget (search on FB) is a good resource for used carriers listed under $100.

Amazon.com
Check Amazon for your carrier. This might take some patience. I have been pining after the Ergobaby Ventus for a couple months until it went down from $140 to $110 on Amazon. **But be sure you are buying from a legit seller. Ergos are the most commonly counterfeited carriers. Make sure it is by Ergobaby and sold/shipped/fulfilled by Amazon.

In-store coupons
You can get Buy Buy Baby's 20% off coupon super easily. (Sign up for texts or emails). They sell lots of great carriers like Lillebaby, K'tan, Boba, Ergobaby and more. This is how I got my Lillebaby. Other baby retailers have similar deals. Often Target will have a gift card deal for their carriers. (Ex: Buy this product and get $30 in Target gift cards.)

Make your own
My only experience making carriers has been the water wrap and ring sling. So I'll just list some resources that might be helpful: Several moms in our local group have sewn a soft-structured carrier using this pattern. So rad if you are a good seamstress! This is a good round-up of various DIY carriers. My best suggestion for making your own is talk to someone who has already made one, so get involved in your local babywearing group :)

Have you ever made your own carrier? 
How have you saved money when buying a baby carrier?

Baby Carrier Review

I love babywearing! I talked about this briefly in my latest post about baby gear but it merits its own post! I wore Bridger when he was really little and on lots on hikes in our big hiking carrier. But I knew I wanted something a little more functional for when Colden was born. You can't bring a stroller everywhere, it's just not practical.  I remember being pregnant with him and watching other moms who had more than one kid. How were they going about their day? I started noticing moms who wore a baby on their back and thought, that's what I need! I bought an Ergo and here we are a full year+ later and I'm obsessed! It began as a practical way to carry a baby, but has evolved into a lifestyle. I love having my babies close. I'm more aware of their needs and I bet our bond is even better because of it!

I have so many carriers, it's getting a little crazy. (Before you get all judgey, not all of the carriers listed here are still in my possession ;). I'm not an expert (yet ;) but I have just enough experience that I feel like I can give a simple review of each one I have or have had. It's hard to say which is my favorite as they all have various strengths and weaknesses and are useful for different events/seasons/moods. But I'll explain what I like and don't like about each of them. I'll start from the beginning...

Pouch Slings

Sevenslings: This is the first carrier I ever used, thanks to my sister Mandi. They are cheap and easy to come by so they are good first option. We used it a lot around the house when Bridger was tiny. I don't recommend it for extended use because babies grow out of them super fast, you have to keep buying up a size. But I keep mine in the diaper bag for when I'm in a pinch!

Stretchy Wraps

Stretchy wraps are great for the newborn period and the first few months. They keep baby close and feeling swaddled next to you. You can discreetly nurse easily in these (and most other carriers too with practice :). I think everyone should get one! They are reasonably priced and a lifesaver for new parents! While you can wear them as long as it is comfortable for you and your baby, you'll get the most use out of it in the first 6 months of baby's life. These only do front carries. And facing out carries are not ergonomic for baby and not comfortable for you.

Moby Wrap: (Pictured above). We used this often with Bridger (and Colden's first few weeks too). These are really accessible and under $50. You can find instructions for them pretty easily. Mine seemed to get saggy really fast. They are also realllly long and heavy. This can make them cumbersome and HOT. I sold mine to help pay for a new carrier. But lots of moms like this one for newborn twins.

Sollybaby Wrap: I haven't used this one much but hear so many good things about it that I bought one to keep on hand for future Parr babies. (My sister Mitzi is pictured below using it with her newest little guy!) It's a very lightweight material and thus a breeze to put on and wear. If you go this route, definitely follow Elle (the owner and creator) on Instagram @sollybabywrap as she has awesome tips every Tuesday.

Soft-Structured Carriers aka Buckle Carriers

Me and my awesome older sisters!
Me+Colden using the Ergobaby Performance; Mandi+Rane using the Ergobaby Original and Mitzi+Rhys using the Lillebaby Airflow.

Ergobaby Original: (pictured below) I was tired of wrapping Colden in the Moby so I grabbed this on sale for $90 at Target when he was still tiny. So glad I did because it changed our lives! Exaggerations aside, it really is so easy to use and has made being a mama of two so much easier. I can run after Bridger and care for the baby at the same time. (And hike in Zions!) I love that it has a pocket! The Original has nice puffy straps, but does get hot on warm days.

Ergobaby 360: (pictured below) I was having some trouble with the Original straps falling off my shoulders while wearing Colden on front (no issues as he got older and heavier and switched to my back) and a friend suggested the Ergo 360 since it has slimmer straps. I bought it gently used from a local mom and liked that it allows baby to face out ergonomically. However, I haven't used that option very much because it is not as comfortable for me. After around 6 months, he was able to see over the straps while facing in and when on my back so he had plenty to see :) I do love the wide waist belt of this one, it's super supportive and great for long-term wearing. I also like the firm seat. I find it easier to put Colden on my back when using this one. Miss not having a pocket on this one. We use this one for Bridger when he is tired on a hike or needing some extra love since it seems to be more comfortable for big kids.

Ergobaby Performance: (Pictured above with my sisters and below.) This one is great warm weather as it is made of 3-D mesh. It is just as supportive as the other Ergo models, but allows for more air movement. I love the structured straps and the sliding chest buckle. It makes adjustments so much easier than the other models mentioned. And it does have a pocket. This is my go-to carrier the last couple of months (summertime).

Lillebaby Complete Airflow: I bought this one as a summer carrier last year due to the fact that it is made out of mesh! Unfortunately, it was too big for me. You can see in the photo above that Colden is too low, even though I had the straps as tight as possible (babies should be at a kissable height). The straps are just too long with someone with my frame. Super comfy carrier though! It also has a facing out option. It even fits newborns to toddlers with no need for an extra insert. It is an AWESOME carrier. Just too big for me :(

 Mei tai carriers

 (pronounced may-tie)

This is a great carrier for moms on a budget! It's basically a soft-structured carrier that you tie instead of buckle. They sell at Walmart and Target for under $30. And if you go a few posts back, you can learn how to get an (almost) free one.

Woven wraps

These take some practice to use but are gorgeous!! They are super efficient as they can hold a tiny newborn up to a toddler. These are super popular in Western Europe and are really gaining traction here in the U.S. too. They can get expensive fast but there are a few companies that sell them for around $100-150. And these really hold their value so many moms easily re-sell them on babywearing buy/sell/trade pages on Facebook. I tried a Didymos wrap (pictured above) a few months ago but couldn't get the hang of it with Colden being so big and squirmy. I traded it for my Ergobaby Performance. I'll definitely try a woven with the next baby though!

Water ring sling or water wrap

A must-have if you are spending any time in the water with a little one! Super easy to make, see my post on how to make your own (just added a list on where to buy too!).

Carriers on my wish list...

Ergobaby Ventus. Like the Ergobaby Performance, just better! More mesh, wider belt and a taller panel. No pocket though :(. I tried one on at a babywearers meet-up and loved it! Saving up right now!

Wrap conversion mei tai. I think woven wraps are gorgeous! I just couldn't figure it out with Colden! A WCMT is the best of both worlds. They are made from a woven wrap into a mei tai so you get the functionality of a mei tai with the pretty ties of a woven. Drooling.

Visit my Carry All the Babies board for lots of babywearing goodness!

What carriers do you like? Any that I did not mention? Let me know in the comments!

How to get an (almost) free baby carrier

Have you ever seen one of these carriers? They were recalled in 2010 due to risk of suffocation...which makes sense seeing as this carrier is basically like putting your baby in a duffel bag around your hip! Anyway...they are still doing the replacement program. I found one at the thrift store and bought it for $4.99 to see how the program worked. Here is my experience...

1. The instructions are found here.
2. Cut out the logo and put it in an envelope.
   
3. Throw away the rest of the carrier.
4. Print out the prepaid label. 
   
5. Send it out. 
6. Get a free mei tai! (Infantino actually calls this a "Wrap and Tie" carrier. Mine only took about two weeks to arrive! :)

Photo by Bridger :)

I like to recommend mei tais to new moms because they are safe, easy to use, comfortable for mom and baby and cheap. (The Infantino brands retails for $30 or less). I think I'll keep mine in the car as an extra carrier or maybe in our 72 hour emergency kit! So, if you ever see one of the old Infantino sling carriers pictured up top at a yard sale or thrift store, grab it and turn it in for a pretty sweet new carrier :)

More reading:

How to use a mei tai with a newborn.

How to put a baby on your back with a mei tai.

Looking past the baby registry

This topic has been on my mind so much lately! Let's see if I can get my thoughts out coherently...

As a society, we are so focused on products. What to buy next. What to buy that will make our lives more convenient. What to buy to make our neighbors jealous. What to buy to make our lives easier. And companies LOVE this. American consumerism is building markets. Just look at Target. They make millions just from their baby registry. And that is just what I want to write about in this post...

The baby shower is a beautiful American tradition. Perhaps it could be described as a rite of passage. Family and friends surround a new mother, celebrating the gift of life and giving gifts to show her their love and support. I love baby showers. I love partaking in the excitement and anticipation of welcoming a new life to earth. We eat good food, play silly games and give advice to the new mother. She opens gifts and we ooh and ahh over the softest blanket and the tiniest shoes. At the showers I was given, I felt so loved and lifted up! I have such kind and loving family who have given me such thoughtful gifts at showers!

Companies like Target love baby showers too. They love them so much that they even give you a gift when you make a baby registry with them. They want you to make a registry so well-meaning family and friends will buy their products. We let companies like Target tell us what we need to buy (I'm looking at you, $500 stroller) when having a baby rather than relying on our own intuition and common sense. The media and baby registries lead us to believe that we have to have a pristine and perfectly organized and stocked nursery before the baby arrives. I am here to tell you otherwise!

Do you have boobs?
Good. Your baby will be able to survive and thrive for at least 6 months on breastmilk alone. 

Do you have diapers?
Grab a few packs of newborns before the baby arrives and when you run out, your husband can go to the store for more. Gasp.

Do you have a baby carrier?
Not yet? I'm working on a review of my favorites but in the meantime, look for a local babywearing group to try on a few before you buy. (Edit: Here are all my posts about babywearing.)

Those are all the things you need for a baby my friends! (Along with baby clothes because who does not like tiny baby clothes?!) What you really need for a baby is a little harder to put on a baby registry but is a billion times more important.

Parents want to prepare for their new baby and often we look to the baby registry first. I'm here to help you look past the fancy swing, the shiny bouncer and special infant tub. There is more to preparing for a new baby than a list of products. Parents have raised successful children for millennia without any gadgets at all! What they had instead was a village of support...

While we don't live in villages anymore or often close to our families, there is a growing group of professionals who fill this gap with love and passion for what they do.

What would really help new families is SUPPORT and EDUCATION. These are investments in the birth of your child. A moment that only happens once but will affect your family, and often, the mental health of the mother, for years. Childbirth education, doula support, lactation support and postpartum support are not luxuries but important services that empower families. Your birth experience matters. Your postpartum experience matters.

Remember that all of these services are given by professionals. Paying well ensures that you are hiring an experienced and educated professional. As with so many other things in life, you get what you pay for. 

Childbirth education
A quality childbirth education class series (usually NOT at a hospital, in my personal experience) is a wonderful investment in your birth! You'll learn what to expect in the days and weeks leading up to your birth, how to handle labor pain, how to release fears related to birth, learn what options you have during birth and how to make those decisions before labor begins, and to create confidence in yourself and your ability to birth! If you think, "I'm going to have an epidural, I don't need this", think again! Prices range from $200-500.

Doula Support
A doula will reinforce what you have learned during your childbirth classes. She will support you in your birth choices. She will make you feel comfortable and ensure that your partner feels involved.  Your midwife, OB and nurses have several patients to juggle at the same time you are birthing. You and only you are your doula's focus for the entirety of your birth. Priceless support! Again, if you think, "I'm going to have an epidural, I don't need a doula", think again! $400-$1500.

Lactation Education & Support
While many moms begin breastfeeding without any problems, many have trouble at the start. Quality lactation support can save you thousands of dollars in formula (and weeks of pain!). A private in-home lactation consultant visit is around $150. Visits with a lactation consultant in a clinic are about $50. Better yet, take a class and be prepared BEFORE baby comes. Lactation Link has online classes that can be viewed from anywhere.

Postpartum Support
A postpartum doula supports the new family in many ways: preparing meals, caring for older children, helping mom find resources for postpartum mood disorders, cleaning the house, doing errands or laundry...whatever you need. This can be a marvelous gift if the new family lives far from their families. Prices are usually by hour, $20+/hour. Other ideas for postpartum are listed in these important articles: How to Love a New Mother , After the Birth, What a Family Needs and Take Back Postpartum.

*****
All of these kinds of support are things we have replaced with gadgets and the make-it-on-our-own attitudes. New mama! I am talking to you! You do not have to do this on your own. You deserve help. Make whatever changes you need in your lifestyle now to prepare to have these support measures in place when you bring your new baby to earth. I have been blessed to have support through countless meals, grocery trips, gas in the car, the house cleaned and toddler taken care of after I gave birth. I want other moms to know that they can also have this kind of support and more! And let's work to make baby showers a chance for families to help mom pay for these services as well as a time to shower the baby with adorable clothes and a time to educate mom on being a new mom. That is what I loved about mine....

baby hiking boots!

My big sister Mandi lent me her baby and sling to teach me how to babywear. 

My big sisters teaching me how to swaddle!

Also read: Why Your Birth is More Important Than Your Bugaboo.
When you're pregnant, there are more useful things to do than flipping through a catalogue.

 Up next: I'm Poor! How do I pay for a doula?

DIY Mesh/Water Baby Carriers

I've gotten really excited about babywearing with Colden! Having my hands free with two is amazing! I wear Colden all the time in our Ergo carrier: around the house, on walks, grocery shopping etc. (I use the Moby for back-up but mine gets really saggy.) He falls asleep so quickly while I'm wearing him. Which is super convenient at church. He even nurses sometimes too. (In case you're wondering, I haven't had much luck with this discreetly in public but once I feel really comfortable with it at home, I'll give it a shot!)

With summer here, I knew wearing him would be ideal while chasing Bridger around the rec center pool and splash pads. But using the Ergo or Moby didn't seem practical. I started researching water carriers and joined a local babywearing group on Facebook. I found that DIY mesh carriers were the answer! Since I had so much trouble finding tutorials or tips on how to make these, I'm sharing now about how and what I did to make my own in case anyone wants to make some of their own!

Mesh Ring Sling 
Materials
Sewing machine
scissors
ballpoint needle (trust me, you'll need this needle. I broke 2 normal needles until I used a ballpoint!)
2.5-3 yards of athletic mesh (aka football jersey mesh)
thread to match
one pair of nylon rings in small (from slingrings.com)

I'm not an expert, so I'm not making a tutorial. But here is what I know: I used this video tutorial. I had to re-do the pleats 4 times and then un-picked 2 full seams. Super annoying with mesh! I later learned after meeting another mom who has made several, that you can make these using the "gathered method" and it's 20 billion times easier. Here is a decent tutorial, but basically all you do is pull the end of your fabric through both rings and then fold it back on itself 4+ inches from the rings. Then sew 2-3 straight lines (I would use a zigzag stitch).

My thoughts on the ring sling: I don't love it. Even with a 1 month old, it's uncomfortable and digs into my shoulder.  I find it hard to get Colden sitting comfortably in it.  I've thought about selling it or giving it away but it is nice to have an extra carrier around. And it's so pretty! Watch several good video tutorials on how to wear ring slings if you go this route, they can be tricky.

One thing I really like about this carrier is that I can bunch the tail under the top rail for head support. 

After seeing some moms at a babywearing meet-up with DIY mesh wraps, I decided to give one a try. So glad I did! So much easier to make and a breeze to use.

Mesh Wrap or Water Wrap (my favorite!)
Materials
5-5.5 yards or athletic mesh (same athletic mesh as the RS, should be ~60 inches wide)
Scissors
3-4 inches of ribbon
thread

Directions:

1. So you have a choice here,  you could make 2 or 3 wraps. If you make two, you will cut your fabric in half longways to make two wraps that are 30 inches wide and 5 yards long. If you want three, you'll cut twice to make 3 wraps that are 20 inches wide and 5 yards long. I made 3 and find that 20 inches is just fine.
2. Now find the middle of your wrap. Take your ribbon and sew it on to remind you where the middle is when you go to wrap it. All done! Now you have 1 or 2 extra to keep on hand or to give to a friend!

You wrap this the way you would a Moby. They have several helpful wrapping tutorial videos. I actually bought the end of the bolt and only was able to get 4 yards and 20 inches. With my body type, this works fine. I just tie around behind instead of in the front.

Well I hope this helps anyone looking for a way to babywear in the water! Let me know if you have any questions!

Update: For those of you who do not want to spend the time to make a water wrap, here are several companies who make them: Beachfront Baby Carriers, Stekki Bebe, Wrapsody, Splash Magic Wraps.

Zions

Some photos from Zion National Park when my sister Kenzey and I (and Colden!) visited a few weeks ago. (more on the family blog). We camped at Zion River Resort. The nicest campground I've ever seen!

We were pretty pressed for time, so really we only did two hikes in the two days we were there. On the first day, after strapping Colden into the Ergo, we went for a ways down the Narrows with about a bajillion other people. Pretty amazing stuff! On this adventure, I converted Kenzey to the Gospel of Hiking Poles. They saved us so much grief! The cliffs all around were breathtaking. It was getting dark so we headed back after a mile or so. We didn't get a ton of great photos because I was afraid to take out the big camera.

Kenzey started out slower than a grandma but quickly found her stride and was an excellent hiking companion!

Colden slept practically the whole time he was in the Ergo. Such a good baby! We stopped occasionally for "adventure nursing." ;) I don't really feel like he slowed us down much at all besides when he needed to eat. So many people we passed commented on the fact that I was carrying him on a hike. Well people, it wasn't my first rodeo. We ran into another mom babywearing with the same Ergo as me and we had a great bonding moment :)

The next day we hiked to the Upper Emerald Pools, passing by the Lower and Middle on the way up. This was a gorgeous hike!

Middle Emerald Pool

Upper Emerald Pools

Middle Emerald Pool

Lower Emerald Pool

Lower Emerald Pool

The 3 Patriarchs

We drove through the tunnel and then headed home after a fun two days! This was great introductory trip to Zions. There is definitely lots more to see and do. One day when the kids are older, we will do some more backcountry, technical hikes!