The Paisley Womb
I have heard from lots of people (including a lot of you out in Internet Land) that the baby sling is the greatest invention since the remote control. And being a big fan of the remote control, I figured I should check out anything that boasted to be better. So, this week, I mosied on over to Babies R Us and Target and picked up two different baby slings to test out. I was very scientific about choosing the two slings. I chose based on which sling was the prettiest. Duh!
The first sling I tried was the Amy Coe version at Babies R Us ($50).
Next, I drove over to Target and picked up their Munchkin brand sling ($30).
Turns out, I had the same results with both slings. And it wasn’t good…
First, I had trouble figuring out how to put it on. Despite the DVD instructions, the written instructions, the coaching from Chris, and my own common sense. Despite ALL OF THIS, I still had problems.
I should have been prepared for problems though. When you open a package that contains a strip of fabric with a “Fall Hazard” sewed into it. I should have known what was coming.
Poor Bean. He can’t read. He didn’t know what to expect. He’s all happy. Just hanging out on mom and dad’s bed.
And then his mom starts wrapping herself in some weird fabric.
Wait a minute…
Something’s not quite right…
“Hey, Mom,” said the Beanie. “I don’t think you’re doing that right.”
“You’re right, Beanie,” I said. “Time to double check with the instructions…”
Hmm….
Oh, wait. I think I’m getting there… Yeah. This looks better.
“You look silly, Mom,” said Beanie.
“You think I look silly?” I say. “I’m getting ready to shove you in here. Let’s not be so judgy.”
“Dad,” says Beanie. “Why are you just standing there? Help me! Save me!”
“Really, Dad,” says Beanie. “Mom’s lost her mind.”
“There,” I tell the Beanie. “Look how cozy it is.”
“What the hell, Mom?” asks Beanie.
So, I pour the Bean out of the sling.
And I switched over to the Munchkin sling. It was actually a lot easier to get on. So, that was nice.
Yeah, that was nice for about 10 seconds.
“Mooooooom!” screamed the Bean. “What’s happening?!? Why am I back in the womb?!?!? Why am I back in a paisley womb?!?!? Take me out! Take me out!”
So, I dumped the Bean out of the sling.
“Thanks, Mom,” said Beanie. “Please don’t make me go in that paisley womb again.”
“Okay, Beanie,” I said. “Now let’s go get pedicures.”
“Okay,” he said.
30 Comments
mom of one
go for the bjorn.. or cheaper version.. much better.. much easier.. and if you plan on going out to the store (target).. they are much easier.. i used mine on our first flight when Zoey was 8 weeks old and it was heaven she slept the whole time! through two flights and a lay over!
Sarah @ BecomingSarah.com
LOL!
When the last baby in our extended family was born, the parents had about five million slings and carriers. It took me a few months to get the hang of them, especially the wraps. I had to have someone else get the wrap ready and dump the kiddo in. (Still do). (I now own a wrap of my own; we’ll see if I’m ever able to prepare it myself lol).
That said, once I got the hang of it, it was soooo cool. My back hurt less than carrying the bambino around with my arms, which I assume has something to do with weight distribution, and it was alot less bulky than a stroller gig. Of course, there was the big downside too: babies are tiny little furnaces. Wearing that kid in a sling during the summer always produced a sweat streak across my chest, which is the most bizarre thing in the world. Who knew?
Erin
My first was a big fan of the front pack – LOVED it. And he HATED the sling. I feel ya!
My second LOVED the sling (Peanut Shell) for the first several weeks – saved my life. Then he took to the front pack as well. Thank goodness.
But they are super confusing!
Sue V.
I too tried the baby sling – way back with my first child – the year 2000 – I was too much for me. I tried several different front packs. Some were uncomfortable for me, some uncomfortable for baby, some way to complicated to put on and/or take off. Then a friend let me borrow her Baby Bjorn…my daughter loved it, I loved it. I went out and bought my own. I continued to use it for my next 3 children. I finally retired it in 2007. It is well worth the money. Good luck with all the trials – love the photos!
Sue V.
2nd line should have read “It was too much for me” or maybe not, as I am often too much for myself.
Sandy
what a potty mouth on that baby…you need to wash beanie’s mouth out with soap! 😉
Beth
Go for a ring sling type. I’ve heard they great.
Liz
Hey there!
The Amy Coe one will be a lot more secure and comfortable if you slide it down so it covers your shoulder and the top part of your arm, not up high like a purse.
You look beautiful in them both! Bean is getting so big and adorable!
Christina Rhoades
The Bean is so cute! Do you think you wil use the slings? He may not have been in the mood for it or something. Will you try it again?
Jenn
He is so adorable!
Heather
oh my gosh i did the exact some thing…i have the black and white one and it always seemed like there wasn’t enough room in there for kate when she was little. when they get a bit older it is easier to put them in a difference position.
Lesley
Don’t know if you’ve given up on the sling entirely, but in case you haven’t, this article seems to be helpful. It’s a comparison of different slings: http://scribe.doublex.com/section/kids-parenting/finding-best-baby-sling
Beth @ Red and Honey
My own bean hated the sling the first few times I put him in it, but then he got used to it. Then he loved it, and it was a LIFESAVER for me the first 6 months of his life. And I mean lifesaver. Seriously. The miracle sling, that’s what we called it. Except it started to really hurt my shoulder as he got bigger and I would wear him for hours at a time.
Then I tried the Snugli (cheaper version of the Baby Bjorn) and the Baby Bjorn itself, which was more comfy than the Snugli, but still my back would ache after a half hour or so.
Then I tried the Ergo carrier, which totally rocked my world. I have fibromyalgia, and it doesn’t hurt my back at all to use. It’s amazing. I could sell the darn things I love them so much! They are a little expensive, but TOTALLY worth it.
There’s my 2 cents!
kay
i think the bean is to cool for a sling, it covers up his cute face and his massive amount of hair!
Candice
I LOVE the pic right about the “what the hell, mom” quotation.
My nephew haaaated the sling from day one, as well. My sister built up her arms by just carrying him around as is or in his car seat until he was too big for it.
Mindee@ourfrontdoor
Now THAT was funny.
I never could get the hang of those things either. I gave up and developed a really strong arm instead.
Donna
Too funny! I had heard similar stories so I got the babyb bjorn carrier. Liked other than my back hurt after carrying my daughter for a while, and this is probably b/c I did not read the instructions.
Your son is too cute!
Hilary
God bless you for even trying the sling. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I had absolutely no hippie-chick, earth-mother instincts that I believe one must possess in order to use a baby sling. Mine wouldn’t even tolerate the Baby Bjorn. It was stroller, car seat or baby carrier.
Sathya
OMG I did the same thing! Hilarious! Eventually I got the Babybjorn, we use it all the time and its great.
Lori
I can’t do the slings. I am just too paranoid that my wiggly baby is just going to jump out of there at any second.
We have a generic version of a babybjorn that someone got us as a gift and only Aaron has luck with it. I put in on and put baby in there and he screams his head off.
Sarah
Hilarious! I never liked using a sling with any of my three kids — it felt like being pregnant all over again and really, who wants that?!?!
KP
Who cares about the sling?!?!?! I can’t even think about it after seeing how adorable Michael is! I might need to start seeing a picture (or ten) a day (hint, hint).
Miss M!
I was scared to put the baby in that young, because I was sure he would smother. However, once he was a bit bigger and I could sit him up facing forward, it was AWESOME.
Heather
I feel your pain. I tried three different slings and I don’t know if it was just I couldn’t feel comfortable using them (felt like Baby was going to FALL OUT unless I held them with my arms while in sling which KIND of defeats purpose of said sling, right?) or what but I couldn’t ever get them to work despite all my wanting to… Wanted to ‘wear my baby’ and all that jazz but it never worked… So, I sold ’em on Ebay and got most of my money back and all was well… Just held my babes in my arms and that was that…
Hugs
H
Rachel
My son hated the pouch and had the SAME reaction.
My favorites: Catbird Baby (PRETTY carriers!!!) and Ergo (can carry an elephant and not notice).
Emily
Too Funny!!
Marla
His hair is so dang cute.
Linda Y.
My Nick hated the sling, and my back did too. We used the Moby when he was little which was great! We used the Snugli all winter and now that he’s big enough, the Ergo. When I have Nick on my back in the Ergo, I barely feel his 22 lbs (but I can feel him yanking on my long hair). Good luck on the carrier search. If you want to try out my Moby, let me know and I’ll come by and help.
The Rambling Ewe
I have to give another plug for the Ergo. It’s really fantastic. I can carry all three of my children (one at a time, of course), from the 16-month-old up to the nearly 5-year-old, without trouble. The oldest is getting pretty heavy for me, but the Ergo has no problem with him at all! It also has an Infant Insert, for the really little ones, but I must confess I wasn’t so crazy about that. I use a Maya Wrap-type ring sling ’til my monkeys hit about ten pounds. The my shoulder starts seizing up and I begin to get migraines from the sling, so I switch to the Ergo. I wore my Ergo with my middle monkey (my clingy child) every single day, from when she was just a few weeks old, ’til I couldn’t buckle it ’round my belly because of Monkey #3. I love my Ergo!
Christina
Oh my gosh, that is so hilarious…and Beanie is too funny!
I hated slings…I never could figure them out, so I just went with the baby bjorn and my kids loved it, they hung out there all day. I would stuff my 16 month old son in that thing and head to the grocery store-everyone was happy including the little ladies who could see him smiling and waving.
Thank you for sharing this experience in pictures along with commentary. I laughed out loud. His expressions are priceless.