Stretch Wrap Comparison

There are lots of stretch wraps out there, and lots of opinions about them, but what are the facts?  Here's a comparison of some of the stretch wraps available.

My 4 month old and I tested out a Sleepy Wrap, Moby, Anaju and a Wrapsody Stretch Hybrid.  My daughter was about 14.5 lbs when we did the comparison.  We tested them all during a 4 day period so she wouldn't be a different age or weight in order to make it a fair comparison.  We took before pictures with the wrap on, but without baby, then a photo when I put her in the wrap and one after wearing her for an hour or more.  I apologize for the leaning baby.  I know it makes it harder to compare her position before and after, but she likes to lean! :)  Guess the view must be better that way.


Anaju
Time worn: 1 hour 5 minutes

The Anaju wrap is made out of a bamboo jersey.  It is super soft, thin, and light with moderate stretchiness.  Noticed only a slight settling of the baby in the wrap over the time worn.

Moby
Time worn: 2 hours

Moby's are a pretty common brand.  I have heard many describe the Moby as "saggy", but I found there was no significant sag even after wearing my baby for 2 hours in the Moby.  I did realize I had tied it too loose in the first photo and had tied it slightly tighter before putting my baby in the wrap (middle photo).  Overall, the Moby was comfortable with only a slight settling of my baby while I wore her.

Sleepy Wrap (now Boba Wrap)
Time worn: 1 hour 5 minutes

First, let me start out by saying that Sleepy Wraps (re-branded Boba Wrap) are VERY stretchy!  They are by far the stretchiest stretch wrap I have used.  Because of that, I have to wrap super tight when using the Sleepy Wrap.  Note how long the tails are even though the Sleepy Wrap is shorter than the Moby and the same length as the Anaju, that will give you a good point of reference for how tightly it is wrapped.

Now, I took 4 photos this time because 20 minutes in, I noticed that my baby was significantly lower in the wrap.  So I took a photo so I would be able to see if there would be any further sagging after the initial settling I was noticing.  In fact, my baby dropped much lower after an hour had passed.  I think I probably could have avoided any sagging if I had wrapped a little tighter, but I had thought it was tight enough.

So if you're using a Sleepy Wrap, make sure you wrap very tightly.  The first time I used one, my baby was only 9 lbs and tiny and she still sagged way down because I didn't have it tight enough.  So make sure you wrap tight enough to be secure and safe with the amount of stretch it has.

Wrapsody Stretch Hybrid
Time worn: 1 hour

The Wrapsody is a stretch hybrid and not a true stretch wrap since it only really stretches width wise and not length wise.  It's nice and thin, but still supportive.  It can be used with much older and heavier babies than a standard stretch wrap can.  It can also be used to do a variety of carries, including back carries which are NOT recommended with standard stretch wraps.


How they line up

Because of the varied stretchiness of these wraps, I don't trust my ability to measure accurately and fairly.  So instead, I placed these wraps side by side so you can see how the length compares.  The Anaju is slightly shorter than the Sleepy Wrap, with the Moby and Wrapsody about the same length.

Width comparison

Like before, I felt the most accurate way to compare the width of the wraps was to stack them.  The Wrapsody was the widest with the Anaju and Moby being the same length.  The Sleey Wrap was the narrowest of the group.


Weighing your options
I threw all of these wraps on my postal scale to see which was the lightest in weight.  Now I am sure the actual weight of a brand of wrap may vary since every wrap may not be cut to the exact same size.  But this will give you a good way to compare between brands.

Sleepy Wrap (aka Boba Wrap)- 1 lb 3.2 oz
Anaju - 1 lb 6 oz
Wrapsody Stretch - 1 lb 6 oz
Moby - 1 lb 10.6 oz

Now the Anaju and Wrapsody weighed the same amount, but you also need to consider the amount of fabric.  The Wrapsody has significantly more fabric than the Anaju when you consider the fact that it is both wider and longer than the Anaju.  So even though the Anaju and Wrapsody weigh the same, the Wrapsody is technically lighter inch for inch.  Similarly, the Sleepy Wrap came in as the lightest, but this is not surprising considering it is so much narrower than all the others.  So it is not necessarily the lightest wrap overall, in fact, it is one of the heaviest in my opinion.


Thick or thin
There is no good way for me to measure thickness, so I am going to have to resort to describing the feel as best I can.  This is very subjective and totally my opinion.  I'll list them in the order I think is thinnest to thickest.

Wrapsody:  Feels very thin to me, like a very thin, cool t-shirt.

Anaju:  Slightly thicker than the Wrapsody, but still thin, light, and breathable like a standard t-shirt or jersey knit sheets.

Moby:  Much denser than the previous wraps.  Has a tightness in the fibers of the fabric than make it feel heavier and warmer, like a thick t-shirt material.

Sleepy Wrap (aka Boba Wrap):  Reminds me of super light stretchy sweatpants.  Feels kind of on the thick side, but the stretchiness and looseness of the threads almost makes it feel like it could be airier than the Moby.


My recommendations
After trying these wraps out, there are certain situations where I would recommend one over the other.  Here are a couple I thought people might be interested in.

Summer babywearing:
Any of these can be used in summer time, but some are going to be hotter than others.  I think Moby would be the hottest, but I also used one of the UV Mobys all summer when my 2nd was a baby and we both did fine.  We were hot, but that's unavoidable when it's 90+ degress out and you're in the sun.  But I think the Wrapsody Stretch and Anaju would be much better for summer babywearing.  The Moby and Sleey Wrap would be hotter than the others, so I would avoid those if possible.

Age & Weight:
Most brands say they can be used up to 18 months, but you are not likely to find an experienced babywearer say that.  That being said, they aren't exactly lying.  I have a friend that used a Moby until her daughter was well over a year and it worked well enough for them.  But you are going to find that stretch wraps are not as supportive as baby grows and becomes more wiggly, so generally we recommend you find another carrier once your baby is older.

So how long would I use these wraps?  This is very subjective depending on the weight of your baby and how comfortable you are wearing them in that wrap, but here's my opinion.

Sleepy Wrap (aka Boba Wrap): 2-3 months since it is SO stretchy
Anaju:  around 4-6 months, depending on the weight of your baby
Moby:  6 months since they aren't as stretchy as an Anaju or Sleepy Wrap
Wrapsody: easily 12+ months.  I'm not sure at what weight I would start to find this wrap less comfortable, but it is definitely supportive enough to use well past a year.

Again, I am not saying that these wraps can not be used past these ages, just that it might not be the ideal carrier after a certain point and I would not recommend them past that point.  I believe most would still be safe to keep using if wrapped correctly, though I do have concerns about the Sleepy Wrap.  In my opinion, I think the Sleepy Wrap is too narrow and way too stretchy to be used for 18 months.



Did I leave anything out?!  Let me know if you have any questions!

More price increases

The cotton shortage strikes again and cotton pricing continue to affect the babywearing industry.  Also, an increase in shipping costs and the expense of meeting CPSC standards have both contributed to the price increases across the industry.

Cotton shortages have caused the price of cotton to almost double and the companies that make baby carriers are being directly affected by the increase in the cost of materials.  It remains to be seen if other companies will also be affected by this shortage, but it is likely we will see the price of more carriers go up as time goes by.

See this article for more information on the cotton shortage.

We have already seen price increases from Hoppediz and Wrapsody, as well as some of the smaller WAHM based companies.  Now Maya Wrap has announced a price increase that will go into effect April 18th.  At this time, the price increase does not look to be too significant, which is good news, though I do not know what the new retail pricing will be yet.

On a side note, they are also discontinuing some of their fabrics.  Aqua Stripe (9), Pink Stripe (11), Red (13), Periwinkle Blue (16), Light Orchid (19), Pool (38), Blue Majesty (53), Orchid/Pink Fusion (71), and Pool/Cool Waters (73) will not be restocked once these colors are gone.

We'll keep you posted of any more price increases as they are announced.

Ring Sling: photo tutorial

Using your ring sling can seem really confusing in the beginning.  Thankfully, Erin from Wrapstar Baby Carriers has made this great step-by-step tutorial on how to thread and use a ring sling and has given us permission to re-post it for you!

 

Thanks Erin!  To find out more about Wrapstar and their products, visit their blog or store.

Regulating Baby Carriers

People have been asking questions about the new regulations to the babywearing industry that are greatly affecting small, work at home based companies, so I thought I would explain some of these new regulations to help people understand what is going on.

The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) has put into place many regulations that are affecting the babywering industry.  These are aimed at making these products safer and easier to track in the event of a recall.

Everyone agrees that having standards to make sure babywearing products are safe is a good idea and even necessary for the future of the industry.  But unfortunately, these measures can be expensive to implement and hard for a small business to comply with.  For example, a small stay at home mom that makes ring slings is now required to put special tags and labels on all her products as well as attach product registration cards and have on-line registration available.  The rings they use will also have to be tested and proven to be lead free and soon they will also have to stress test their slings in each position the directions say they can be used.

The costs of complying add up very quickly and are simply too expensive for most small businesses.  Plus, these regulations will make it much harder for new businesses to start up since the costs are so much higher.  The babywearing community has always been full of many small, stay at home based businesses that provide a wide variety of carriers.  But these new regulations will probably lead to a lot less diversity in the babywearing industry since the number of businesses that can afford to comply will be limited to larger businesses that can absorb the costs.

The Baby Carrier Industry Alliance (BCIA) is doing what they can to help.  When ever possible, they are trying to provide cost saving services to small businesses so they don't have to incur the whole expense themselves.  But unfortunately, this still isn't enough to allow many of the smaller businesses to stay profitable.  Sadly, the days of the small, stay at home moms sewing baby carriers in their spare time looks like it will soon be coming to an end.

Disclaimer:  I only stated the regulations to the best of my understanding.  There may be more regulations already in affect and due to come into affect that I am not aware of.

2011 Guide to Summer Baby Carriers

It's time to start thinking about summer babywearing and finding the right summer carrier for you and your little ones.  Summer is hot and wearing a little one in summer is going to be hot too.  But fortunately, there are some options to help keep you and your baby a little more comfortable while babywearing in the heat.

First you need to think about what your needs are.  If you have a little baby or a toddler that you only wear for short periods of time, a ring sling might be the best option.  If you plan to do a lot of babywearing this summer, than you are going to want the comfort of a two shoulder carrier like a mei tai or soft structured carrier (aka buckle carrier).  Here's a run down on the different styles and some of the brands that might work well for you.

Ring Slings

Ring slings are great for summer.  They don't have as much fabric touching you and your baby as some carriers and they are great for quick carries when a busy toddler wants to be held for a few minutes and then wants down again.  But ring slings are a one shoulder carrier and unless you are used to it, prolonged wearing with a ring sling can get uncomfortable since your child's weight will mostly be on one shoulder.

Ring slings like Maya Wraps and our Hoppediz ring sling conversions by Kalea Baby are made with a single layer of woven material that is very breathable. Silk is also a very cool fabric to use in summer, which makes our double layer Dupioni silk slings by SweetPea Ring Slings another good option for summer. You can also find ring slings made from linen or solarveil fabric that are perfect for summer. But realistically, most ring slings are going to be fairly cool simply due to the lack of fabric.

Wraps
For the wrappers out there, you don't have to stop wrapping just because it's summer.  There are a lot of great wraps out there that are lighter and better in the heat.  Wraps can be a great option for summer since there are so many different ways to use them.  You can find lots of different ways to wrap using The Babywearer's extensive wrap instructions links page or by purchasing wrap instruction media like the Wrapsody DVD or Hoppediz instruction booklet.

So if you are looking for a woven, Hoppediz makes a Hopp Light that is very nice for summer. It is extremely thin and soft and reminds people of a very expensive cotton sheet. Amazonas Classic wraps are also woven wraps that are very light and breathable. The weave on these still feels like a woven without being thick and hot. Vatanai and Didymos linens are other brands of lighter woven wraps that people recommend for warmer weather.

Gauze wraps, like the Wrapsody Bali Breeze, are very light and airy. You have to be more careful when wrapping a gauze wrap to avoid pressure points, but these wraps are very cool and lighter than a woven.

Wrapsody also makes a stretch wrap that is kind of a hybrid wrap.  It's not as stretchy as a standard stretch wrap and can be used comfortably with older, heavier babies.  The wraps are thinner than other stretch wraps, making them much lighter and cooler.  You can also safely use this wrap to do other carries that are not safe to do in a traditional stretch wrap.

If you just absolutely love stretch wraps though, or have a tiny baby you want to snuggle this summer, check out one made with a bamboo blend since bamboo tends to be a cooler fabric.  The Anaju stretch wraps by 3TD are made of 70% organically grown viscose of bamboo and 30% organic cotton. These wraps are amazingly soft and light. Lovey Duds also makes a bamboo stretch wrap and you can even make your own by purchasing a bamboo jersey at the fabric store.  Moby wraps aren't bamboo, but they do have some that offers extra UV protection.

Mei Tais and Soft Structured Carriers

Mei Tais and soft structured carriers (buckle carriers) can be another good option for summer babywearing.  If you wear your little one a lot and for long periods of time, you will want the support of a two shoulder carrier like these.

When looking for a Mei Tai or soft structured carrier, try to avoid anything made with heavy materials or lots of layers. Thinner, narrower bodied carriers are going to allow more air around you and baby and help keep you both cooler. Action Baby Carrier, AngelPack, Olives & Applesauce and Baby Hawk are some of my favorite carriers, but there really are too many to list! You can also look for Mei Tais made from solarveil fabric, which are breathable and can be used as water carriers, but can be very hard to find since solarveil is no longer being manufactured.

Water Carriers

A water carrier can be a really useful thing to own, especially in summer. These can be worn in the ocean or pool, as well as the shower. Many also provide some sun protection, but protection can vary. Water carriers can be found in a variety of styles, including stretch wraps, ring slings, and Mei Tais. Wrapsody makes a stretch wrap water carrier with a UPF rating for 45. TaylorMade makes mesh ring slings. Solarveil Mei Tais are harder to find, but they are out there, especially if you look for people selling used carriers.

Final thought
Summer is hot and having your baby touch you is never going to be cool.  That being said, a little sweat never hurt anyone and it's worth the added convenience and snuggles you get in exchange!  So find a carrier that makes you more comfortable and enjoy your summer!

Have a tip you'd like to share?  Contact us, we'd love to hear it!

Babywearing Art

I know I have already posted about the amazing paintings by Katie M Berggren, but I couldn't help myself from posting some of her beautiful paintings centered around babywearing!  Hope you enjoy them!

Wrap by Katie M Berggren

Deep As A River by Katie M Berggren

Elemental by Katie M Berggren

Mid-Summer Day by Katie M Berggren

Perhaps by Katie M Berggren

Pieces of Me by Katie M Berggren

Wrap 2 by Katie M Berggren

Too see more of Katie's beautiful work or purchase one of her amazing prints, visit her website.  We are also doing a special giveaway and promotion.  Find out more on our blog.

Special Giveaway

We have our winners!  Thank you so much to everyone that participated.  The winners have been contacted and notified.  And a special thanks to Katie Berggren for participating in our giveaway!  Keep checking back for more giveaways or join our mailing list to make sure you don't miss any.

We are excited to announce a very special giveaway.  Artist Katie M Berggren has agreed to give away some of her beautiful prints to two lucky winners!  She has also let us use this stunning painting to make some amazing babywearing magnets that we will also be giving away!  I love this painting of a mother carrying her child in a ring sling!

We will select 5 winners.  Two people will win a 8x10 print from Katie M Berggren and 3 winners will receive one of our special magnets!

Here's how to enter:

• Visit Katie's website and select "Shop Online" to see the amazing prints she has available.  Come back here and leave us a comment with your favorite one.  Do the same on our Facebook page to receive another entry.
• To get additional entries, spread the word!  For each person you send, you will get one entry.  Make sure they post who sent them so that you get credit!  They may also enter if they'd like by doing the above steps. 

Don't forget to leave your e-mail so we can contact you!

The giveaway will run through the 17th and the winners will be announced the morning of Tuesday, Jan 18th!

These magnets are not available for purchase, but this won't be your only chance to receive one of these pieces of art!  For a limited time, we will be giving away a free magnet with the purchase of every baby carrier from Zerberts!  Supplies are limited and this promotion will end when they are gone.  At 2 1/2 by 3 1/2 inches, these magnets really are a wonderful little piece of art for your fridge!