Christy P is writing about her favorite slings here.
Many people ask my about babywearing, and I have helped a lot of moms and a few dads learn to wear their babies. The most frequent question is "Which carrier should I get?" To which I must reply, "Different tools for different jobs, my friend. In our house we have several."
I am continually bemused by the notion that a family should have only one baby carrier, or maybe one for Mom and one for Dad. Especially considering that it's apparently completely normal to buy things like
- wipe warmers ($22)
- Pack 'n' Plays ($57)
- expensive car seats (Britax minus Graco equals $100 or more upcharge)
- baby "gyms" ($48)
- full-size strollers ($80 minimum, goes up to $500 or more just at Babies R Us)
- shopping cart seats ($30)
- "stationary entertainers" ($100)
And also considering that it's pretty easy to pick up a lot of those sorts of things for free from people who used to have babies.
A new Maya Wrap costs $55 or so. I found a couple of places selling them today for $35. An Ellaroo wrap will set you back about $100. Basic fleece pouch slings, $25 to $35 (and my favorite, the Kangaroo Korner one, is about $70).
Let's put this in context. Even the "best" baby slings cost in the same range as a piece of clothing for Mom — a nice blouse, for instance, or a warm sweater, or a good bra. Many slings cost less. They can also be made, even without sewing a single stitch (though sewing skills will expand the variety of possible homemade slings). I understand the need to prioritize spending, but if it's sensible for a woman to have more than one "nice" blouse or more than one "good" bra, or more than one bag for crying out loud, then it's also sensible for her to have more than one baby sling. Three is perfectly reasonable. Five or six is not crazy.
I'd rather have the slings than the bags. And hey, I like bags.
I think it would help overcome this fear of slings if we stop thinking of the sling as "gear" (which is optional and lifestyle-dependent — many women don't think of themselves as the "sling type") and start thinking of it as "clothing" (which is necessary — everyone is a "clothes" type). If it can be trendy to carry tiny dogs around in your purse, perhaps someday it will be trendy to carry your baby around on your hip.
If you like the idea of having several slings but are worried about affording them, here's my advice: When you are pregnant, find your crunchiest friend and drop hints until she throws you a sling-themed baby shower.
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