Our first Ring Sling

McKenna and I are officially entering the wonderful world of Babywearing.

Up until a few weeks ago we loved our Boba.

While it says it is safe or up to 35 lbs, anyone you ask will tell you it's pretty much useless after about 12-15 pounds. Not only is the fabric SUPER hot, it is super stretchy and therefore saggy as baby gets bigger. Trying to get anything accomplished is difficult because you feel like you need to keep at least one hand on baby at all times.

I had been watching my friend Sarah get into and enjoy babywearing, and her little man always looked so happy. So I knew babywearing would not be over for us with the death of our Boba. 

I spent weeks and weeks researching carriers and stalking the Babywearing Swap before deciding to start with one of the simplest type of carriers: a Ring Sling. You see, babywearing isn't just a thing you do, it's an entire community of Mamas (and some Papas) that buy, sell, and trade with one another and offer incredible support and passion for this "art". I was intimidated by the process at first, but over time felt comfortable enough to make my first purchase. Buying used (aka previously loved) is actually considered more desirable than buying a new carrier because it becomes broken in, making it softer and easier to use.

I had made a few inquiries about a couple of slings, but none that seemed worth the investment until my friend Sarah brought a perfect starter to my attention. While babywearing isn't the cheapest practice in the world, carriers pretty much hold their value! It's a strange concept, I know. But this realization made purchasing a "piece of fabric" at more than $100 much easier to digest.

We ended up with a Girasol Double Rainbow Azul weft wrap conversion ring sling from a Momma somewhere in the Midwest.  It is beautiful and soft and cushy!

And while I was told there was a slight learning curve, I had watched several Youtube videos before it even arrived so McKenna and I were babywearing in no time and loving it.

The more you practice, the easier it gets. After a few days I was popping her in and out of the sling running errands around town.  And she was the most content baby you could imagine.

 

As soon as we were getting more things accomplished around the house, I was already back on the Swap looking for our introduction into woven wraps. 

 

And this is where the addiction begins....