A few baby wearing tips

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The Beauty Spot

bbwIt’s funny, I almost never wore David when he was a baby. When we flew together, I’d throw him in the Ergo Performance, but he never seemed to really settle into the Solly Wrap that I had when he was born. I’m sure, now, that it was because I was uncomfortable and wasn’t confident in my tying ability. I didn’t really give it a decent try. And, too, I didn’t really need to wear him. It was just the two of us, so carrying him around worked fine!

My experience with Luke has been entirely different. I wear him in the Solly wrap multiple times a day. He loves it, I love it, everyone loves it. David will even hands me the “tails” when he tries to help me. Wearing Luke has not only been wonderful because it allows my hands to be free while also keeping him happy and content, but I find that I really love the physical touch from him as well. It makes me want to go back and wear David just for the sake of having him close.

I’ve received a few questions about baby wearing and specifically about the Solly wrap through Instagram, so I thought I’d round them up here and provide my answers!

Ultimately, a baby wearing pro like Kacia or even Elle would be much better fit for this post, but I thought I’d share my perspective as kind of a new baby wear-er with two boys rather close in age. Kacia actually is a fan of the woven wraps (no stretch) so if you have questions about that, I’d recommend looking toward her blog.

1. Why the Solly Baby wrap? — Well, at this point I think it’s my favorite just because I’m so used to it. Like I said, Kacia loves her woven wraps, but I couldn’t ever get the hang of it. Since I started and learned how to work the Solly, I’m sure I’ll stay loyal to that wrap because it’s so easy now.

2. Is the wrapping super complicated? I cannot figure it out! — I totally understand that feeling. I just watched Elle’s video over and over and stood in front of a mirror to practice a few times. Then, it took about a week of trying different tightness levels with Luke to determine how he fits best. And then every time has just been easy from there on out. I always focus on the first part that wraps about my stomach being the most tight, and sometimes leave a little give in the shoulders so I can slip his head in.

3. Is it hot when you wear Luke in the wrap? — Yes. It’s hot because you have your baby so close to you, and it’s hot because there’s extra fabric on you! The Solly wrap is made from a breathable fabric, but it’ll still kick your body temperature up a bit. I find it much cooler to wear than the Ergo Performance.

4. Do you feel like he’s secure? — Yes, I do. At his age he still needs a fair amount of neck support, so anytime I know I’m going to be bending over forward, or if Luke falls asleep, I’ll make sure his head is tucked in one of the straps (like the top left photo).

5. Does it hurt your back? — I remember my back hurting when I tried it with David but I think it was because I tied it too loose and he was hanging a little bit. So with Luke, I always err on the side of slightly more snug so the weight is more evenly displaced. And the more spread out the shoulder straps are, the better!

A few other random tips from my few months of experience:

-Since the baby will be warm and snug against you in the wrap, make sure you don’t over-dress him or her. I do always make sure to put socks on Luke (but he usually doesn’t wear pants) because inevitably I’ll be doing dishes with him in the wrap and his toes will touch the cold countertop!

-Think for a second about what you are wearing that day. It’s so hot where I live right now that it’s just soft cotton t-shirts pretty much every day. Prior to summer, I learned that zip up hoodies weren’t great for wearing Luke. His head would rest right against the zipper, so I stopped wearing those if I knew I was going to wear him in the wrap.

-Put the wrap on before you leave the house if you know you are going to wear it out. The wrap is long, and the tails will drag on the ground AS you are tying it, but not after it’s tied. So, in order to avoid dragging the tails on the parking lot, pre-tie that thing so you are ready to go when you get to the store (or wherever you are going).

-If you think you tied to too loose, start over from the very beginning. For some reason making little adjustments to tightness once it’s already tied is hard.

I hope this answers some questions and if you have any more just leave them in the comments below!

(hey! Solly Baby Wrap is kindly giving away TWO wraps over on Instagram! Click here to go enter!)

 

The Solly Baby Wrap was gifted to me awhile ago under zero obligation to write a post or anything. I simply wrote this to provide some tips and be a resource to new baby-wearers. I wasn’t paid for this post. 

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Mindy Backes says · 07.08.15

I loved my Solly wrap! I didn’t wear my guy every day because I only had the one as well and he was a pretty happy guy but I especially liked it for grocery shopping! The stupid car seat took up all the cart! And due to some complications beyond our control, he had a bit of a flat spot on his head so I wore him when I could to keep him off of that spot. I always put it on before we left the house as well, that’s a great tip! I could probably use it now but since he’s crawling and almost walking, he doesn’t want much to do with anything being still, lol! And I usually opt for the Ergo (even though it’s a bit large for my short frame) because it’s faster to contain him, lol!

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Catherine says · 07.08.15

I love the print on your wrap, and it’s wonderful you’re able to wear Luke! I got a Solly Wrap and my baby hates being worn. I’ve tried the K’Tan, Ergo, Solly Wrap, and another one that my doula loaned me (I don’t know the name), and he gets so mad and pushes away from me whenever I attempt to put him in any of them. It worked when he was a newborn (shortly after birth when he would be sleeping all the time), but once he hit one month, he would squirm and grunt, and now he won’t tolerate it at all. And I’m sure I’m wearing him correctly when I try. He loves being held on my hip though! My doula tried to help figure out why he doesn’t like it, but we just don’t know. :-/

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Lauren says · 07.09.15

My guy was exactly the same. He HATED being up against my chest. So I never wore him, that is until I got the Ergo 360 and he could face out. Now he loves it! He can look out and I can get stuff done!

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rachel says · 07.08.15

I’m really curious if your or anyone’s husbands wear the baby/wrap.

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Jenny says · 07.08.15

My husband did. I would not say he loved it but when around the house he would. I think the hesitation on his part was the set up part. He would always look bewildered by it. I definitely wore it more frequently and loved it. I also didn’t wear my first baby much, I had a jeep carrier. We would use it on trips but I found the solly to be very useful. I carried her in it for the first couple of months when she wasn’t mobile.

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Nicole says · 07.08.15

Yes, my husband did! Baby-wearing was the absolutely best thing for keeping our son content (he had bad reflux), so hubby was happy to do it to keep the peace 😉 We used a Moby wrap.

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Laura says · 07.20.15

Yes, my hubby wears our baby girl all the time. She is almost 10 months old and she still falls asleep with him in the Solly when we are out. It makes him feel more confident about taking care of her. I think its important too that men wear babies because it gives boys and men an example that taking care of babies is everyones responsibility.

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Leigh Ann says · 07.08.15

Thanks for the review! I love the the Solly Wrap is more breathable than something like the Moby. Woven wraps are good for heavier babies. The stretchy Solly Wrap will quickly give up the ghost when Luke gets a little heavier. I never bothered graduating the woven wraps though…like you said, fabric everywhere. Once my son was ready for a buckle carrier, I never looked back. Love my Tula so much more than my Ergo 🙂

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Caileigh says · 07.08.15

Hi! I am due with my first baby in 4 weeks and I plan on baby wearing A LOT! Pending that little man likes it. Who wouldn’t want to be cocooned in a 24/7 snuggle fest (I know I would)?! I was wondering what diaper bag you use when you’re out and about with Luke in his Solly? I have been debating on whether a backpack style or a tote would work best. Thanks so much! I love your blog!!

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Ashley Brooks says · 07.08.15

I wish I’d gotten the hang of my Solly wrap like you have! I liked using it here and there while my daughter was an infant because she liked being held so much, but she was also squirmy, and it always seemed to get too loose after 30 minutes no matter how tight I tied it. Once she hit four months, it was just uncomfortable for me to wear her. I’ll for sure be trying again whenever baby #2 comes along!

I’ve liked the Tula much better than any wrap carriers I tried (though I think the Solly is definitely better for little little babies!). I’ve been using the Tula to take my daughter grocery shopping ever since she was 6 months. She’s nearly a year now, and she still loves it . . . plus I love that it’s easy to get on and always feels secure!

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Megan says · 07.11.15

I’m having this same problem!! My big chunk of a 99th percentile daughter is over 17 lbs at 4 months now and I cannot get mine tight enough (although I do have the Moby but they seem very similar). My girlfriend whose baby is a couple months older has the same problem. I’m thinking about looking into Ergos or something now because I really need to be able to wear her so her 17 month old brother can sit in the shopping cart. I did love wearing her when she was tiny though!!

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Nicolena says · 10.01.15

I love using my wrap when my babies are little but once they get heftier my ego worked much better, especially wearing him on my back! So much easier to get things done that way. I wore my oldest in the who until he was 18 months.

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Cynthia says · 07.08.15

This post reminds me of all the baby wearing I did with my #2 and #3… Makes me want a #4.

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Jenna Mincy says · 07.08.15

Hello!!! I want to enter your giveaway, but I don’t have instagram! Can I enter it in a comment here? I subscribed to their blog 🙂 Anyway, I would choose the Natural and Grey Stripe.

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Jenna Mincy says · 07.08.15

and followed them on pinterest 🙂

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Amber says · 07.08.15

I loved wearing both my girls. My first was 2 months early, and really enjoyed the snug fit of the Moby. It sounds like the moby and solly are similiar maybe. I agree with a PP that it was most handy in the grocery store or Costco where I needed my cart space. It also helped keep away unwanted touches by well-meaning strangers.
I stopped wearing both kids around a year old or so. But, I keep the wrap in the closest of the toddler. I know it sounds weird, but that’s part of my plan to get her out if the house ever caught fire and we had to jump from the second floor.

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Stefanie says · 07.08.15

I think it’s great that you babywear! I wore my middle child in a variety of carriers. My favorite was the SSC. I never did get the hang of the ringsling, ha! With my 3rd baby I used the Boba Wrap and I LOVED it! After he got good head control I moved on to the Ergo. Plus, like you said, wraps gets hot! Enjoy the snuggles!

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Kristin S says · 07.08.15

As if I already didn’t want to have a bazillion babies, this post makes me want them even more! You and Kacia rock the wraps and don’t look crunchy doing it.

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sharon / theprincipledtype.blogspot.com says · 07.08.15

oh, sweet sweet sweetness

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Evelina says · 07.08.15

So many people rave about the Solly Wrap! It seems like everyone loves it. I am excited to maybe try it when we have a baby.

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Tracy Corbin says · 07.08.15

I loved my DIY wrap when my daughter was tiny. Now that she weighs 25ish pounds, I LOVE my Tula. Much more comfortable than the ergo and has a larger pocket so squirt can’t escape. 🙂

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Jenny says · 07.08.15

I’ve been seeing these wraps more and more online, and I think they’re so comfortable looking, for mom and baby. But especially the baby, I mean it must feel like a hammock of sorts. I like the striped wrap that you have here!
xx
Jenny // Mish Mosh Makeup

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Megan says · 07.09.15

Now you need the stekki Bebe for your pool!! It’s an aqua wrap the solly idea in a water proof, uv protected fabric. I have babies a the same age of yours and it’s been a summer lifesaver!!

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Stacy says · 07.09.15

Hi Kate! I have noticed that when I wrap up my little one, he is tight at first but then slowly gets looser as I wear him. Have you experienced this? Thank you for your amazing blog and insight!
Stacy

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Laura says · 07.20.15

Tight stronger the double knot

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Lauren says · 07.09.15

I just got a used Solly, and I’m so excited to try it! I’m due in October with my first – hoping the baby enjoys it because I love the idea of having them close and being hands free!

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Laura says · 07.09.15

I have the Solly and like the thinner fabric, but I just wish it had more stretch. My favorite wrap is the Boba wrap, it’s a soft jersey material with lots of stretch, so if you happen to tie it too tight, you can just stretch it out a little and it’s perfect. It’s just a little warm for the summer though, but the Solly is a bit too rigid for me. I also love the Boba carrier (I have the 3G) once my babies get bigger. So much easier and more comfy. I don’t see how people wear 20-lb babies in a wrap!

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Amanda says · 08.06.15

You can wear a wrap with a zip up hoodie…just tie the wrap on over your shirt THEN put the hoodie on. No need to zip up because you have a warm baby strapped to the front of you. For those that say ot stretches out, you just need to wrap it tighter than you think you need at first. Baby will loosen it a little as she settles in. Also, throw it in the washer and dryer to regain some stretch. My tag says hang dry but it got so stretched out over the first week. I emailed the company and they said it is ok to put it in the dryer.u

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LindaLibraLoca says · 10.23.15

I carried my daughter a lot when she was still a newborn, I just loved having my hands free and not having to worry about the pram wherever I went.

Linda, Libra, Loca: Beauty, Baby and Backpacking

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