The Ergo Baby Carrier

I have been waiting awhile to write my review on the Ergo, because I wanted to really make sure that I adequately explain just how amazing it is. I cannot imagine a better carrier because there isn't anything about the Ergo that I don't like. I do like my sling, but to me that's a different product and it serves a different purpose. The Ergo is a structured carrier, but it's soft... no inner metal skeleton like those massive hiking backpacks.

Let's start with the basic construction features. It has a wide, adjustable waist belt that clips (around the parent) and offers an elastic back-up around the clip for added safety (waist extenders are available but sold separately). The opposite side of the waist belt, that baby rests on, is firm and padded... very supportive, especially in the back carry position. The genius in the design of this carrier is that the weight of the baby or child isn't digging into your shoulders; it's all in the waist, and the straps are really just there to anchor the baby to your body. Starting from the waistband, a wide, flat piece of canvas holds the baby against you (and also has a small zippered pocket for wallet, keys, etc). What I love about this carrier, as compared to something like the Baby Bjorn, is that the baby is supported by their full bum and thighs, not just suspended by the crotch (yeah, cause that's comfortable!). It seems more companies are starting to realize this is a better way to carry, with the child's weight distributed more evenly. At the top of the canvas piece is an adjustable sleeping hood (love it) that can be tucked away into the pocket when not in use, and two large padded straps that go over the parent's shoulders. The shoulder straps have a small clip strap between them (that does up on your chest or back, depending on which carry you're doing) so that they don't slide off and you're completely hands-free. The strap adjustments are easily reached by each hand individually (just pull on the hanging small straps to tighten). All of the small adjuster straps feature little velcro tabs for tucking extra lengths of strap up and out of the way. Little details like that really show me this company is thinking and considerate of what the parents want and need.

Your baby can be worn on your front, back or side. I've never tried the side carry because I've been completely happy with the back and front options, and you do have to undo and rearrange some of the straps. I'm too lazy for something like that. The one complaint some people have about the Ergo is that you can't wear the baby facing out. The doctor who helped design the Ergo has this to say: "Infants in outward-facing orientations can’t turn away from surrounding stimuli. They can't turn inward toward a parent's body if stimuli become overwhelming. In this position the baby cannot make eye contact with his or her parent to evaluate facial expressions, social cues, and so forth to make assessment of the situation. Only choose a baby carrier that allows your child to face you ... never out. There are too many events going on around your baby. A baby has no way to exclude himself from the environment by turning his head away and towards you. Healthy sleep is difficult for a baby who is facing outward. I am not a supporter of the outward facing method of carrying a child." I think this makes a lot of sense. As far as getting the baby into and out of the carrier by yourself, the front carry is definitely easier than the back, but I've done both successfully. When you buy an Ergo it comes with an instructional DVD that shows you all of these things.

Some other features: The weight recommendation is 40lbs but it has been tested for up to 90lbs. Several accessories are available, including a weather shield, infant insert (for babies younger than 3 months), attachable pouch or backpack, and sucking pads (hilarious but really useful, because anyone who has worn a baby in an Ergo knows that the straps get lots of sucking action!). The carrier itself is available in several different colour combinations, and a fully organic cotton carrier is also available. The current cost is about $120, which makes it a pricier option, but I really believe it's worth every penny. I've used mine so much that I never question whether or not it has paid off.

If I had to come up with a complaint, the only thing I don't like is how the waist strap smooshes into my post-pregnancy belly flab when I'm carrying a baby on my back. But really, that's not the company's fault now is it?

Purchased from milkface. Available at many specialty baby boutiques. Official Website.

The Miracle Blanket

Some babies don't need to be swaddled. Those that do? Need straitjackets.

A newborn of just a handful of days old probably can't wrestle itself out of one of those postage-stamp-sized receiving blankets, if you can do a good job of wrapping it close and tucking it well (the baby burrito is quite an art, I have learned). However, as the days pass by and those fists get moodier and jerking, startled arm movements wake your baby again and again, you need something bigger or better. Maybe you scored an oversized blanket or two. Great! But those curious little fingers still manage to work their way out by the end of naptime. Some babies are fine if that happens; some, like my daughter, won't sleep for more than 30 consecutive minutes if they happen to be startled awake or are able to move their arms. For awhile I would do a double-receiving blanket swaddle... the first one I used solely to pin her arms down in, and the second one was to keep the first one in place. I heard rumours of a "miracle" swaddling blanket, and I needed to know more.

If you have a light sleeper, this blanket truly is the miracle it claims to be. Now that we are told to always put babies to sleep on their backs, poor sleepers are common; they don't feel secure with their arms free in open air. This blanket has it all: 100% cotton; inner arm flaps that tuck under baby's back to secure them in place; a footbag; and an overwrap that goes around the baby twice to prevent loosening and provide a snug, custom cocoon fit (one size fits all). I used this blanket for every nap and nighttime from the time my daughter was about 3 months old (would have used it sooner, if I had it earlier) until 5 or 6 months. She always really fought sleep, so having her swaddled was a HUGE help in getting her to settle down and give in. I used to panic when it was in the laundry... it couldn't dry fast enough!

One warning I will give: don't wrap the baby's arms in the flaps and outer wrap without using the footbag. I did this once and when I checked on her through the night, she had been able to shimmy the blanket up much closer to her face, almost up over her mouth. The footbag keeps it from travelling up to an unsafe area on your baby.

During my second pregnancy, I sorted through all my bins of baby items and lovingly brought the blanket out and washed it, ready for round 2. My second child? A fabulous sleeper with no need for swaddling. Go figure.

Available here in several lovely colours. Watch the little video to see how it works!

Safety 1st Crystal Clear Monitor

We forgot our regular monitor (one of those $100 Fisher-Price ones) at home when we went to visit friends for the weekend. We went to Wal-Mart to pick up the cheapest monitor we could find just to get us through the weekend and then keep in the trunk for whenever we go places.
The Safety 1st Crystal Clear Monitor cost us $20.
It actually is crystal clear!! I could not believe it, it is so clear that you can hear the hum of the furnace through it! There is no feedback either - no annoying hum that all monitors seem to have!

The receiver can be plugged in or has room for a 9-volt battery so you can take it with you when there are no plugs available. Not sure if plugging it back in will recharge the battery or not. It has 2 channels and a great volume control.

For $20 I seriously could not recommend a better monitor.

Sugar Peas wool diaper cover

I'm pretty sad I only have one of these! I should have bought more at the time (2 years ago) because I've found they aren't quite the same anymore. I have one in a bigger size that isn't the same texture of wool. This brown one seems to be felted better.

A brief background on wool covers (since they aren't as widely used with the cloth diapers as the polyurethane laminate are): wool is breathable and naturally anti-microbial. It doesn't need to be washed often (or even rinsed, unless it gets poop directly on it), but when you do wash it you have to use a special wash, such as Woolite or Eucalan. It also needs to be periodically lanolized , but only if you sense they are feeling more damp than usual. A wool cover, when it has a soaked diaper inside of it, feels somewhat humid to the touch; however, it's working hard to evaporate the moisture into the air. They are fantastic for overnight.

So, this particular wool cover is just a really nice fit (on my babies, anyways...). The shape is great, good snug fit around the legs, and a nice high waist panel. A friend of mine did have trouble with the leg gusset thread coming undone, but she took them back for replacement and was only able to get a refund... however, she loved them so much that now she wishes she'd kept them and fixed them herself!

Purchased at The Extraordinary Baby Shoppe.