Finding Out What Kind of Parent You Are: A Moby Wrap Review & Give-Away

FYI: I was not compensated for this review. This is my honest-to-golly opinion. Oh, and you should also know that at the end of this review is an opportunity for you to win a free Moby Wrap, so you can form your own opinion and see if it matches mine. (And if it doesn't you can be all like, "Um, that Claire Bidwell Smith is soo crazy," and I won't mind at all.)

Before you have kids you may think you know what kind of parent you'll be, but the thing is that you don't really know. I actually hadn't thought too much about it, especially given that I didn't even know I wanted to HAVE kids until I met Greg.

The most thought I'd ever given to parenting was when I saw someone doing something I didn't like (e.g. giving their toddler Dr. Pepper or yelling at them loudly in line at the grocery store just because they asked for a pack of gum), and then I would think to myself, wow, I'm NOT going to treat my kid like that. And I would feel kind of smug and superior in this way that was completely meaningless since, in reality, I had NO idea what kind of parent I would be.

In the last six months there are a few things I've discovered about my parenting style. In addition to forming a slightly unhealthy attachment to my kid and failing miserably at sleep training, something else I've discovered is that I really like wearing babies. Who would have thought? Especially from the girl who didn't even LIKE babies to begin with. Now I want to WEAR them?

 

Whenever I think of baby-wearing I can't help but think about that scene in Away We Go when Maggie Gyllenhaal's character chastises the young couple for buying her a stroller. "Why would I want to push my babies away from me?" she admonishes.

But you know, I kind of get it. I love having Veronica close to me, as opposed to isolated in her stroller or crib, and part of what I love about it is that she loves it. And what I really love about baby-wearing is that there are like 101 ways to do it. 

When Veronica was born my first foray into baby-wearing was with the Moby Wrap. All my new mom friends were buzzing about how this was the thing to get, and I distinctly remember buying one online in the last week of my pregnancy. I literally had the thought, "Okay, the baby can come now. I have obtained the last piece of the puzzle." Unrelated, but was there something that made you feel finally ready to have your baby?? I seriously felt this way about ordering that wrap.

So, the Moby Wrap is pretty different from other baby-wearing devices in that it demands a bit more work and creativity on your part. Unlike some of its counterparts that require a more simple method of snapping and locking onto your torso, the Moby Wrap consists solely of a seemingly endless swath of really soft fabric that you must somehow wrap around yourself, securing your baby to your chest.

I was definitely intimidated.

A week before I gave birth my friend Lauren came over and gave me a quick demo with her wrap and her baby. Within seconds she had zipped this thing all around her, ensconcing little Maggie into a perfect little snuggly ball on her chest.

I was still intimidated.

I also remember my friends Dan & Emily actually practicing with their Moby before their daughter Ellie was born. I didn't try it out until Veronica was three days old and Greg and I decided to go for a little walk around the neighborhood. 

Moby Wraps all come with a handy, little instruction booklet, which I whipped out while Greg bounced a patiently waiting sleeping oblivious Veronica. I followed the 3 or 4 steps outlined in the instructions and voila! I was wearing my baby. Seriously, it was way easier than I'd anticipated.

Me wearing a 3-day old (wrapped) Veronica:

From then on I proceed to wear V all the time. I wore her for walks to the park or to Target (man, I bet it seems like I go there a lot), or to get a pedicure, or when I walked around the grocery store. She always felt so secure all wrapped up on me and she seemed so comforted by it too, usually falling asleep within mere minutes of being wrapped.

Greg used the wrap all the time too. Once he saw that his other dad friends were Moby-ing it up (in lavendar-colored wraps, no less) he didn't bat an eye. And personally, I don't think there's anything sexier than a baby-wearing dad.

Anyway, for the purposes of this review Greg and I revisited the Moby last weekend, trying out several different wearing positions. Veronica was a sport about it, enjoying an afternoon of getting wrapped up with her daddy.

The Classic Hug Hold:

Side Hold:

The Lotus Hold:

And yes, we are those people, The Feline Hold:

Other things I really like about the Moby Wrap (yes, besides the fact that you can put a cat in it):

• It fits pretty much everyone and comes in lots of fun colors and fabrics, including organic.
• There are tons of ways to wear the wrap and, even though it comes with a handy booklet, there are also some cool demo videos on the web that are helpful.
• It easily doubles as a blanket, towel or pillow, which is totally helpful to have on hand as a parent.
• Moby Wrap is partnered with Ricki Lake and Abby Epstein from The Business of Being Born, which I think is a really important movement.
• Moby makes some really fun accessories like matching BabyLegs or mini Mobys for your kid to wear because they want to emulate their cool baby-wearing parent.
• You can use the Moby with preemies all the way up to 35 pound kids. That's YEARS of baby-wearing!

Now it's your turn to try one out!

Giveaway Detail: Moby Wrap would like to offer one of my lucky readers a wrap of their own (color choice is all you).

To win simply leave a comment below telling me what you would do with your Moby Wrap.

Here are some rules:

• No duplicate comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by linking on Twitter and leaving a link in the comments.
• You may receive an additional entry by blogging about this contest and leaving a link in the comments.
• This giveaway is open to US Residents.
• Winners will be selected via random draw, and will notified by e-mail.
• You have 48 hours to get back to me, otherwise a new winner will be selected.
• Contest ends January 18, 2010 at 8AM, CST.

Good luck!

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Are you new to Life in Chicago? Find out more!

Also, check out the main page on Life in Chicago Reviews for more give-aways.

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**Congrats to Christina of Nifty, Thrifty Homemaker for winning the Moby Wrap Give-Away!

Comments

[Erica]

This looks great! I would love to use it to wear my 6 week old!

[Gail]

I would love to give this to my sister-in-law who is due with her first baby in May. Thanks for the opportunity!

[Jenny]

I'd wear the baby while furnishing our new house.

[Katie]

I'd wear my baby on my nightly neighborhood walks!

[Lee]

I would use it to wear my 6 month old!

[Liz]

My SIL swore by her Moby. This would be useful to wear baby #2 and isn't something I'd think about buying since I already have 2 slings I used and loved for baby #1. But winning it would be great!

[Liz]

On Twitter
http://twitter.com/thefoxyg/status/7349039191

[Zora]

I would carry around my sweet kittens while I wait and hope to have a family soon!

[Cindy]

I'd be replacing my old, worn out Moby wrap. It's seen 3 babies and toddlers through a lot of walking and shopping! I'd be using it for my brand new 4th child, due in August.

[Cindy]

Tweeted: http://twitter.com/Getalonghome/status/7352387269

[Cindy]

Blogged here: http://getalonghome.com/2010/01/moby-wrap-giveaway/

[Christy @ Jinxyisms]

I'd wear my year old baby girl.

Wearing a cat looks pretty fun too.

[rachel klempel]

I'm having my first baby in early July, and hope the moby will allow to weed and harvest in the garden with baby in tow!

[WEHAF]

I have a friend who is looking for the right baby carrier; I would give this to her.

[Karen B]

I would use it to wear my 3 month old son. So helpful when you have other children to take care of too. It's easy to shop with 2 LO's if you can wear one of them. I love wraps!!!!!!!

[Karen B]

My Tweet Link:
http://twitter.com/SCMOMOF2BOYS/status/7356196566

[Amy]

I would put my 14 month old on my hip and still have hands!

[Anne Brown]

I'd save it for number two. Nah... I'd give it to my cousin's wife who's due this spring.

[Aimee T]

I would give this as a baby shower gift. Share the love! :)

[Charity L]

If I were to win it I would give it to a friend who is expecting:) Please enter me. Thanks!!

[Michele]

We LOVE our Moby Wrap - I wore it yesterday morning whenever our family went for a walk to the park near our house. I wouldn't mind at all having a second one as a back-up for when the other one is in the washer! Thanks!

[Michele]

I have blogged about your giveaway as this link:

http://thismama-tries.blogspot.com/2010/01/we-love-our-moby-wrap.html

[Sarah Cook]

I would love to have a Moby wrap. I have worn all my babies, but have never used a moby. My youngest is now two, and I still wear her at times. We're hoping to have another later this year, and I would love to try the Moby!

[Michelle F]

I'm expecting my second baby and I know that I will need the moby to help me juggle two kids!

[cynth]

I would have a second baby. Because winning this would definitely help me nudge my husband from "WTF!" to "seriously?" on this question...