After hearing me gush about the Moby wrap on Facebook and the ole blog, my friend Erin asked me to elaborate on the pros and cons for this baby carrier. This was my most essential, beloved item of baby gear in the first eight months or so. I think I will find it even more essential with the next baby since I would imagine you really need your hands free at that point! That said, I have found that baby carriers are a very individual preference. People love what they love, and I think it all depends on your activities, body type, and priorities. For me, the Moby wrap was the perfect combo of comfort and function.
PRO: I found the Moby to be very comfortable. It is basically a super long band of stretchy cotton. When wrapped, it forms wide bands on your shoulders that don't cut in, and nice tight support around the waist. Personally, the Baby Bjorn killed my back. Its absence of lower back support put added pressure on my shoulders, making it really difficult to wear for anything but quick trips. (Jonathan, however, used the Bjorn a ton because...let's face it...a dude wrapping himself in a massive piece of fabric just doesn't do much for the manhood). I've heard great things about the Ergo carrier, so for the next baby we might get one of those too. I like having a wrap/sling option and a backpack option.
PRO: My little kangaroo loved it. During those early months where just about every newborn experiences daily bouts of fussiness/crying/screaming, the Moby wrap saved my sanity. I could put my little joey in the pouch and he would be completely content, often falling right to sleep. Who wouldn't love being snug as a bug right up against your mama's chest? I once even chased my runaway dog around the neighborhood while carrying a three-week old Riggins in the Moby and he could have cared less! Riggins made it happily through many a trip through the grocery store, just content to ride along (he never cared for riding around in his infant carrier). And with the Moby he can ride facing out or in, so as he got older he enjoyed looking out too.
PRO: Ease of use. The Moby can be worn several ways, and each way begins with the same basic wrap around your body. Once you master that, it is a breeze to wear. I would wrap myself before leaving the house, and then once we arrived at our destination I would just slip him in and go. When it's time to get back in the car, just lift baby out...you're still wrapped up and ready to pop them back in when you get to your next destination. I loved this when running multiple errands in a row.
CON: Ease of use. As I mentioned above, the Moby is just one long piece of fabric. It can be a bit intimidating to pull it out of the pouch and figure out how to use it. Initially, it helps to have a buddy to help you manage until you get comfortable. It also takes a bit of practice to figure out how to get it to fit you most comfortably. For me, the key was to pull everything really tight, and I liked to wrap the tails around my waist twice for extra support in the lower back. Once you master the wrap, it really is easy to use. Promise! (See? Would I have flown by myself with a baby and only a Moby wrap...no stroller...if this thing weren't awesome?)
CON: Weight limit. The main reason I haven't used the Moby as much over the past few months is that Riggins became able to ride in the shopping cart and he LOVES that. But, even though the Moby can be used up to 30 pounds or something like that, the bigger Riggs grew, the more I found myself adjusting the Moby. At the end of the day, it is cotton, and cotton stretches. So it just didn't feel quite as supportive or comfortable when I felt like my kid was dangling close to my knees at the end of a Target run! (I'm exaggerating, but you get what I mean, right?). Even though I am not using it as often, I still feel like I totally got my money's worth (or technically, the money of the lovely friend who gave it to me!)
CON: Temperature. This didn't bother me, which is saying a lot considering that I had a baby in April before a HOT Memphis summer. But I know some people are reluctant to wrap themselves in another layer of fabric when the postpartum hormones already have them sweating. I found the fabric to be very breathable, and if I knew I would be wearing it I just wore something a bit lighter up top...a tank top, sun dress, etc.
I would recommend finding a buddy who has any carrier you are thinking about purchasing and taking it for a test run! But everyone I know who has a Moby has really enjoyed it (if you disagree, feel free to leave specific reasons why in the comment section...a true consumer report!).
Beyond all of the form and function, my favorite thing about the Moby is the sweet times of bonding it created between my boy and me. There is nothing like kissing a sweet head of peach fuzz, feeling warm baby breath against your chest, or seeing that little head tilt back to look you full in the face.
And now I might just have to go wake that critter up to sniff his head one more time... :)
9 comments:
Yay, thank you thank you! This was so helpful. I knew you loved it, but I had wondered about the ease of use and temperature issues, too. Glad to know those were no biggie! Plus, this kiddo will come fall/winter, so the temps probably won't be an issue.
One laaaaast Moby question: are there different types/styles that do different functions? Their website was a little confusing. Couldn't tell if there were just different types/colors of fabric or if they actually did different things.
Thanks so much for writing this all out! I appreciate it!
My sister-in-law's sister (okay, that's confusing ... I should just say "my friend from college") used her Moby all the time and loved it! She let me borrow it after Cub was born, but by then we were used to the Bjorn and liking it so we just went with that. But I've heard awesome things about the Moby, plus it looks so cute and chic! Good report!
I have yet to use mine with Austen, but plan to soon. I am intimidated by all the fabric, so I should probably practice here at home a bit. Thanks for all the details!
All I had was a sling from Target, used very little, but it was nice. I have heard good things about the Moby too. A mom blog I read highly recommends the Ergo carrier. She even makes drool pads to put on straps that I guess baby likes to gnaw on.
http://www.lubirdbaby.com/2011/03/my-list-of-baby-essentials.html
thanks for sharing!
I'll definitely need something for baby no. 2!
I have a knock off moby wrap that I got off of etsy. I loved it when Tucker was really small, but he grew so fast that it soon got uncomfortable. It seemed like it was a small/light baby kinda thing. But it did feel secure and that was my biggest concern beforehand.
Oh how I wish we could have figured out/loved a wrap as you did! ESPECIALLY now and managing the dang Subway steps 10 times a day. We may have to try the Moby when the next peanut comes. :)
We have a sling and the Ergo. I even gave the good ol' Ergo a try just yesterday again as a backpack. We just can't figure it out. And I will say winter coats make the Ergo that much more complicated for us. And by the time we're out the door (no matter the temp outside) we're both sweating miserably. Everyone else I talk to loves the Ergo. And my father the Chiropractor recommends the Ergo and not the Bjorn for both the baby's hips and mama's low back support. Let us know how you do with Moby Erin! :)
I have to agree with you. I love my Moby wrap! It looked intimidating at first, but like you said, it is very easy to use once you get the hang of it.
Because I am very petite (short!), a lot of other carriers didn't fit me right. I loved that I could adjust the Moby just the way I wanted it. I'm sure this is helpful no matter what size, shape, etc. someone may be.
Was given an olive green one at the shower, and I hope I'll be able to use it with Rhet! You better believe I'll be asking you how to use it. Good report, friend. :)
Hope you don't mind a comment from a stranger. ;) I work with Meredith and so her post pointed me to your blog.
I'm so glad to see your thoughts on the Moby. I'm expecting my first in about 3ish weeks and have a Bjorn (which my husband says he'll refuse to wear) and a Moby. I'm looking forward more to the Moby but to be honest I'm so intimidated by it that I still haven't unwrapped it from the packaging. You've definitely given me a little more courage and a lot to look forward to.
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