Baby Carriers & Slings

When a parent wears their baby in a sling or carrier, both the parent and the baby quickly learn to read each other's cues. Dads get a new role that's more fun than just diapering: baby slings and carriers provide a way to comfort your baby or help her drift off to sleep. Wearing your baby helps harmonize your infant's systems, because they mirror the caregivers movement, breathing, and heartbeat. These rhythms reflect the womb experience, easing the transition into the outside world. Wearing baby in a sling or carrier is the best way to nurse on the go. Busy mothers can give their child the best nutrition possible, anywhere. You have the freedom to do virtually anything while you give your child what they need: You!

Babies really take to slings and carriers because of the closeness, security and comfort they provide. Within a few days, you and your baby will work together to discover how baby wearing works best for the two of you. As you can imagine, each caregiver/child pair finds a different comfort. One thing is common too all: a deeper bond between caregiver and child.

Some of the benefits of slinging your baby are:

• A continuous daily relationship with one primary caregiver (usually the mother) results in the most intelligent nurture of a young child. Extended family members also provide a constant and assuring presence.
• A baby held in-arms, or worn in a sling or carrier, moves as a unit with the parent. The adult's hands are free to care for older children and perform other tasks. Baby can calmly indicate when to be put down instead of crying to be picked up.
• A baby whose cries are responded to promptly learns to trust. When children are accustomed to being comforted by people, not things, family relationships tend to remain simple.
• Children integrated into the daily life of family and community have a tremendous educational advantage. Babies in-arms are mostly in a quiet alert state of consciousness, observing their surroundings from a secure perch. Older children learn lessons that are relevant and essential to their well-being.
• Both parents and babies get their needs met by unhurried communication and humane interactions. The respect shown to small children by parents will reflect back on them in later years.

About Maya Wrap

Maya Wrap is proud to be celebrating 10 years of keeping you and your baby growing together! We are passionate about the products we sell and our mission is to create safe and innovative products that simplify your life and let you focus on what is most important- your baby.

The idea for Maya Wrap came 15 years ago when Susan Gmeiner, Owner and CEO, as a first time mom, was experiencing the joys and struggles that come with trying to get things done. She experimented with several different carriers, looking for the perfect solution for keeping her baby content and close. She tried a front carrier which quickly grew useless as her baby grew in weight and size. After trying a handmade ring sling from a friend, she realized that a ring sling would allow her to hold her baby in several positions, ease the strain on her back, keep her baby quiet and content, and allow her to bond and grow with her child. She set out to create her own pattern for a ring sling, and it was an instant success with neighbors and friends.

Maya Wrap, Inc. was officially born in 1996. Maya Wrap has grown to become the gold standard in ring slings and carriers today. The innovative product offerings continue to grow, now including MamaBaby Slings and Maya Ties. Maya Wrap products are used by celebrities and savvy parents worldwide.

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Maya Wrap Product Features:

• Cool: All of our baby carriers are 100% cotton and are comfortable in hot weather. Our fabrics look the same on both sides, eliminating the need for sewing two fabrics together to hide the wrong side of a fabric. One layer of fabric is cooler than two layers and allows for better air flow to help keep your baby from becoming over-heated.


• No Bulk: Our carriers (except the Lightly Padded Sling) have no padding. The Lightly Padded Sling has a small amount of padding in the shoulder. This means all of our carriers are not bulky. They fit easily into your diaper bag or purse when you are on the go. The Maya Tie uses slightly more fabric but will still fit nicely into a larger diaper bag or backpack.


• Comfortable: Our Slings distribute baby�s weight across your back for a comfortable, secure fit. Wearing two MamaBaby slings allows you to distribute baby�s weight over both shoulders for extra comfort. The Maya Tie distributes baby�s weight over both shoulders and your hips for ultimate comfort. It is excellent for heavier children or babywearing for long periods of time. Unlike other woven cottons, our hand-loomed fabrics "give" for a more comfortable fit while still being supportive.


• Versatile: All of our baby carriers are usable in a variety of positions for newborns and toddlers. Our slings grow with your baby over time. Wearing two MamaBaby slings makes it possible to wear your newborn in a high �burp� position. The Maya Tie can also be used for a very comfortable and secure back carry.


• Adjustable: All of our products come in a range of sizes and are fully-adjustable, ensuring a perfect and secure fit every time! Our carriers can be tightened over a wide range. Frequently both parents can share one carrier even if they are different sizes.


• Discreet: You can breastfeed in all of our baby carriers. For those who prefer to breastfeed discreetly, the tails of our slings can be used as a cover up. When selecting a sling, if nursing coverage is not important to you, you may prefer to select a size smaller. The smaller size will have a shorter fabric tail past the rings.

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Caring For your Maya Sling Wrap

- About Maya Wrap Fabrics
Maya Wrap Baby Carriers are sewn from 100% cotton, hand loomed fabric with the exception of our MamaBaby slings which are made of 100% ultra-soft cotton interlock.

- Caring for your Maya Wrap fabric
All Maya Wrap products are machine washable in cold water and should be line dried. Do NOT bleach. No thread is guaranteed colorfast. Your Maya Wrap has been pre-washed so the excess dye is rinsed out, however, we recommend that you perform a color test on your Maya Wrap material before using it by pressing a moist white cloth or cotton ball against it, the white cloth or cotton ball should not turn color.

- About Maya Wrap Dyes
The dyes used to make Maya Wrap Baby Carriers do not contain any copper, nickel, lead, mercury, cadmium, cobalt, aluminum, arsenic, chromium or any other poisonous substance.

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There are lots of different ways to carry your baby; this article from about.com can bring to light a few things to keep in mind when choosing the right baby carrier

Before You Choose a Baby Carrier

From simple tied-on slings to structured backpack carriers, there is a baby carrier to fit nearly any parent and any lifestyle. Find out which baby carriers will work best for you based on your budget, how you prefer to carry your baby and whether or not you'll share your baby carrier with others.

Find Your Balance
The first decision that needs to be made when buying a baby carrier is whether you will feel comfortable for the baby's weight to be balanced over both shoulders or over one shoulder. Parents with back or hip problemsmay be more comfortable with a backpack or frontpack carrier to evenly distribute the baby's weight. Most parents like the flexibility that a one shoulder carrier offers so you don't have to count them out, unless for physical reasons.

Who Will Use the Baby Carrier?
Obviously, it's important to choose a baby carrier that will fit the baby who will ride in it, whether it's a tiny, newborns-only pouch or an adjustable carrier that will last through toddlerhood. It's also important to consider which adults will be using the baby carrier, because sizing is important for parents, too. While some slings and carriers are adjustable for many sizes, others come in small/medium/large sizes, which could be challenging if two parents of very different body shapes will share a baby carrier. You may need to look for an adjustable carrier or buy a different one for each parent.

Padded Vs. Unpadded Baby Carriers
Baby carriers are found with padded straps, padded seats, and padded back supports, or with little to no padding at all. What works for you may not work for someone else. It is completely up to the person who is wearing the baby carrier to decide what level of padding is needed. Padding may add comfort but it can add to the level of warmth when carrying your little package. Extra warmth is nice in colder climtates but the padding can also add extra bulk which may make the carrier more uncomfortable. Again, it depends on the person wearing the carrier. Padding can also add to storing the carrier and may be harder to stash in a diaper bag. Padding does add extra comfort and does have an advantage when you are carrying a larger infant.

Where Will You Use the Baby Carrier?
If you will be using your carrier in the warm and cold weather and only want to purchase one type you should look for a front wearing baby carrier with ventilation as well as something that you could purchase a winter liner. If you are looking into slings then maybe purchase two different types- one with light cotton for the summer and one with a heavier fabric such as fleece for the winter months. If you are needing a baby carrier to wear in a rainy climate or at the pool, look for one that has waterproof fabric or quick dry mesh to keep the carrier dry. For traveling, you may want to purchase a compact, framelss carrier that will fit easily into your suitcase or diaper bag.

Baby Carriers for Any Budget
A small baby gear budget does not mean you can not have a great baby carrier. For about $20 you can find simple ring slings or the basic-front pack baby carriers. These can be found at discount stores, baby product stores, or even baby consignment shops. If you have a larger budget there are hundreds that you can choose from in the $30-$50 price range which include slings, front carriers, and hip carriers. There are also baby carriers that you can find for $75-$100 which would include rugged frame carriers, specialty ergonomic slings and baby carriers in beautiful luxury fabrics can be found for $75-$100.

Which Look Do You Like?
Most parents have strong opinions on what they like when it comes to baby gear, especially the gear they'll be wearing. Baby carriers are available today in a wide range of styles, colors and patterns, so you can probably find one that one or both parents can proudly wear. Try on a few different baby carriers and see whether you like the look of a sling or a more traditional front-pack carrier. Don't forget that you can customize your baby carrier by choosing a sling in a great fabric or color or buying a custom cover for your front-pack carrier.

Baby Carrier Versatility
How versatile does your baby carrier need to be? That is completely up to the person wearing the baby carrier. Most parents are content with the baby carrier that works only in one position which is the front pack that lies the chest. With this carrier you have the option of facing the child in or facing them out. This also is a great carrier to use if your child is sleeping because the child's head can rest right on your chest. There are other types of baby carries which let you snuggle the newborn on your chest or in the cradle hold. Some carriers will allow you to place an older baby on your hip or even position the baby on your back. If you are planning to use the carrier through the toddler year you may want to consider a carrier that will work in many different positions.

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Baby Product Safety - Babywearing and the Maya Wrap Sling

By the 10th week of life, many babies enjoy being carried around experiencing life from your point of view. Babies may spend time in a swing or bouncer but their attention span makes them bored and wanting to be picked up. A baby carrier allows you to pick the child up and hold them more comfortably for the person wearing the baby as well as the baby. The baby will want to be picked up more often at this age due to being awake for longer peiods of the day.

You could just hold your baby in your arms all the time, though it is really hard to get anything else done. Also, your arms will quickly get tired. A baby carrier allows you to have your hands free and will also help with carrying your baby for a longer amount of time.

A Maya Wrap Sling is a great way to carry your baby around and keep your arms and hands free. It is an adjustable fabric wrap that lets you carry your baby in many different positions including the reclining newborn carry position, the vertical snuggle hold, and forward facing kangaroo carry. The last two positions are similar to what you would expect from using something like a BABYBJ�RN Baby Carrier.

Babywearing

Carrying your baby in a Maya Wrap Sling isn't necessarily as easy as it looks, at least not the first few times you try it. Fortunately, you can attend babywearing classes to help you use your Maya Wrap Sling.

The company that makes the Maya Wrap also provides detailed Maya Wrap 101 instructions and videos that make it easy to learn how to use a Maya Wrap Sling properly.

Until you feel comfortable using your Maya Wrap Sling, it can be helpful to allow another person to assist you in getting your baby into and out of the sling.

Keep in mind that many other brands of slings and carriers are on the market.

Baby Product Safety - Babywearing and the Maya Wrap Sling, Vincent Iannelli, M.D., About.com

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