Modern Convenience, My Eye

This post is part of The Parent Bloggers Network Weekend Blog Blast - What Moms Can't Live Without - in conjunction with Yoplait Kids.  Just for blogging about the modern item that makes your day while trying to keep your sanity with your kids, you can win a $250 Visa Gift Card!

When I saw the topic, I knew without a doubt what I'd write about.  My number one baby item, my number one kid item, and the item I wish the most that I had brought with me today, when I took five of my kids to the air show and Riley had a freak out - because, duh, who brings a Spectrum kid to the AIR SHOW??  That most used, most loved, and most underappreciated item - my sling.

I first bought a sling when my first baby was three weeks old, and he hated it.  So, I promptly got rid of it.  I carried him in a front pack until he hit about 12 pounds, and quickly realized that there was no way I'd be able to keep this up.  For the next three months, I carried his car seat with me where ever I went, until I thought my arms must certainly drag the ground.  Finally, on the repeated encouragement of my LA Leche League friends, I bought one.  It had pastel baby footprints on it, and once I learned how to use it, I never stopped.  Despite the fact that slings have been used since the beginning of time, the first slings were nowhere near as comfy as the newer ones are.  So, slings are an older Modern Convenience, I guess you could say.

I carried my kids EVERYWHERE in slings.  I carried them until they were over three, and in fact, I still carry Riley once in a while, at three months shy of five.  (She's not very heavy.)  I have a photo somewhere of Emma at about 18 months and Riley at 3 months, both in the same sling, one on either side.  I even sold slings for a short time, and I've been known to stop strangers on the street and give impromptu lessons.  Friends and relatives joked me that my babies were still in utero for five or so months - they were just tucked way down there in the slings.  I've nursed everywhere in them, walked miles and miles, been to different countries and on cruises and worn my babies at fancy dress parties and weddings.

As my mothering career has lengthened, I've had several colors and styles.  Black, white, Noah's Ark, blue and white stripe, and the last two - a leopard print Over The Shoulder Baby holder and a Blue and White Maya Wrap.

My best convenience is the only thing I'm convinced that every mother must have - a sling.

Comments

[xenia kathryn]

I'm loving my maya wrap, as well! My oldest loved the New Native until she was three months, then it was the ring-sling (someone made me one). Later I bought a maya, and my second daughter has loved it since day one (snuggled with her tummy against my chest).
I've thought about putting my two year old in it... but I thought she was too old. Maybe I will now, as I miss having her close.

[kyooty]

I have a napsack, an online friend made it for me when I had mr 3 and I "beta tested" her design, it had the bestest wide straps ever! my sister uses it now, it ws a mei tie kind of carrier. I have hernias that wrap was the best because it took all the pressure off my abs when lifting mr 3 thru his mr1-2 yrs. :) oh another thing was a nursing pillow, I didn't need it for mr9 or mralmost 7 because I had own "roll" right there, but when again when nursing with a hernia nad a hernia repair, it took all the pressure away when I was belly to belly :)

[Rosie : )]

I loved my sling too. :)

[kalisah]

Close, but for me it would be a SWING.

Elijah loved it as a baby. It seemed to calm him and make him smile and giggle and laugh when nothing else could. He spent hours in that thing. I couldn't have lived without it.

[Liz in Seattle]

It's not mine (was invented TOO LATE) for my kids, but have them check out Ergobaby. They've got soft sided baby carriers designed like internal frame backpacks, and they can move from front to back carriers. The weight is carried on the hips, and the shoulder straps are merely for stability (you can actually stick fingers under them while carrying a large kid).

All the new moms at church swear by them, and because we are Orthodox Christian, we stand for almost the entire two-hour service (not to boast or anything, but just to let you know how good these products are).

Almost enough to make me want another baby...okay, skip that.

[Anna]

I love my sling, too. I don't use it near as long, but I use it every day when it's time.
I love my sling so much, talking about it is giving me a little baby lust!
Ha! I see Liz just said the same thing.