On My Friend the Moby (A Review)

Ah, my Moby. It is truly a good friend...

Here is the story of my Moby. When my first son was about 8 months old, he was a hefty fellow. I had been using my HotSling which I loved dearly especially for quick trips in and out of the store, but because my son was so large, it really started to hurt my shoulder for extended periods of time or for longer (or even normal length) shopping trips. I wanted another baby-wearing option that would spread the weight across both of my shoulders. From the various carriers I had seen, a Moby looked like one I was really interested in. After a casual mention of it to my mother-in-law, she actually got me one. I think I had just told her I was looking at them and before I knew it, she sent one to me in the mail.

Now, the Moby does have a bit of a learning curve to it since it is a lot of fabric, but the versatility is amazing. If you are not familiar with a Moby, it is a type of baby carrier referred to as a stretchy wrap (wrap carriers can also be made of a woven fabric). It is made of about 6 yards of cotton jersey knit so it is soft and comfortable. There are no buckles or straps, nothing hard so it's all soft material against yours and your baby's body. There are several configurations for wrapping the carrier to hold your baby. The Moby comes with an instruction booklet that demonstrates several wraps, but the internet is also your friend for learning new ways to wrap and carry your baby.

Mobys are very popular for newborns, but like I said, I got mine when my oldest son was about 8 months old and I loved it. I carried him in the "hug hold" which is the traditional wrap that holds the baby against your body facing you. The baby is in a seated position with his/her legs spread in a "frog" fashion. It was wonderful. After a while though, it became a bit difficult for me to carry my little one because he wasn't so little and I'm a bit short for a larger kiddo to be carried on my front side. A friend taught me a side carry that she had created which was fantastic and held the baby on my hip similar to the sling, but the weight of the child was carried on my waist rather than my shoulder. The only drawback to this carry is that you do have to hold the baby while you wrap it but it's very comfortable, very secure, and it still lets you carry the kiddo hands free. I also discovered a carry called the "double hammock" which is a back carry for a wrap. Traditionally, it is not recommended to use a stretchy wrap for a back carry, but I found that I was able to wrap the Moby tightly enough to hold my son securely and he loved it.

Now that I have an infant, the Moby is again proving to be well worth every penny that was paid for it. I wear it almost every day. With a baby and a two year old, it's invaluable. I can wear the baby in the newborn hold (which is like the hug hold except his legs are tucked in) and he is tight and close to me leaving me hands free to chase the toddler and still feel confident that the baby is safe and secure. He loves it and sleeps well in it. The Moby allows me to go grocery shopping where I place the toddler in the shopping cart and the baby in the Moby. I also take trips to the mall with a friend of mine wearing the baby in the Moby and my toddler rides in the stroller. I frequently take my toddler on wagon rides carrying my baby in the Moby. It's no fuss and hands free. I recently even learned a nursing wrap configuration (thank you, YouTube) where I can nurse the baby completely hands-free (although, this configuration does require you to hold the baby while you wrap it).

My Moby came with wrap instructions for the newborn hold, the hug hold, the kangaroo hold, a sling style hip hold, and a nursing hold (not hands-free). From what I've seen, the sling style hip hold and nursing hold are no longer included in the instructions, which is just as well, I didn't use them anyway. Well, I did use the nursing hold a couple of times but found it undesirable because it was not hands-free.

The Moby seems intimidating, but it really is a wonderful carrier that can be used from infancy to toddler-hood once you get the various wraps down and find the ones you like. The versatility is unmatched in any other style carrier I've seen. The biggest complaints I've heard about the Moby is the sheer amount of fabric which seems like a lot but it does allow for almost everyone to be able to wear it and the heat factor during the warmer months. I still wear mine in the south Texas heat, and yes, it's hot, but I would rather wear it than have the baby in the bucket carrier part of the car seat and I try to avoid going out during the hottest part of the day. Almost every day I'm out and about wearing my baby in my Moby I get comments on it. I've had many people ask where they can get one and others comment about how clever it is that something like the Moby is available (although some people think the baby is in my shirt since it's made from the same type of material as t-shirts are and it covers the greater portion of my upper body). I, of course, rave about how wonderful it is, because I probably would be at the end of my rope without it!

On Baby-wearing (updated December 2010)

Baby-wearing can be associated with several different mothering styles. Some may consider it "crunchy" or "granola" others may associate it with attachment parenting. No matter how you look at it, I call it convenient.

If you don't know, baby-wearing is basically a way of carrying around your baby in a type of carrier, typically made of fabric, that holds the baby in a hands-free manner against your body. It's kind of the modern papoose. I'm not sure if you can call it popular, but I think that the idea is gaining popularity among modern mamas.

I have a sling that I wear my baby in. He has done great in it, but I can probably attribute that to starting him in it when he was quite young. My sling, which is a Hot Sling, a type of pouch sling, provides variety in ways a baby can be carried based on age and level of development. When my baby was young, I held him in the cradle hold, basically, he was laying down in the sling. In this position, it was actually quite convenient to nurse him in the sling allowing me to work around the house, prepare meals, or do whatever. The sling works great to hold him securely against my body, which is ideal for newborns. Now, I carry my baby in the hip position, which he's been in since he was strong enough to hold his head up well and sit supported, and it is great because it provides him the security of being next to his mama, he's contained and usually calm, and he can still look around and "interact" with people. When we are out and about, it is great because I am completely hands free so I can shop or do whatever without having to juggle holding him and doing something else.

One situation which I didn't anticipate the benefit of the sling is actually in a gathering type setting. Let's say for example, you are at a social gathering of some sort where you may or may not know the people there very well. This is likely in situations like weddings or showers. It is nice to be able to carry your baby around but your arms may get tired. The sling, or other baby-wearing carrier, comes in handy in these situations. But the best benefit in these situations is that people can see and talk to or interact with your baby, but they are less likely to try to hold them than if you were simply carrying them. This way, you can stay a little protective of your baby without feeling like you are being mean or rude to those you are interacting or conversing with. To me, it is a great advantage.

I get tons of compliments and questions about my sling. I can't think of a time I've gone to the store or craft fair or social gathering without at least one person making a comment about liking the sling or asking if the baby likes it or asking if it saves my back. It is very apparent to me that it is easy to see the benefits that slings provide.

Baby-wearing provides many benefits to mama (or papa) and the baby. First and foremost, the baby is next to his or her parent. This is where babies are meant to be. Baby-wearing allows the baby to be close but still be able to interact with or observe the world around while feeling safe and secure and protected. Baby-wearing allows for hands-free baby carrying. No more worrying about the carrier. No need to fear leaving your baby on the shopping cart to grab some veggies (which can also run the risk of the carrier sliding off or falling off of the cart if it is not secured or locked into place). A baby-wearing shopper can also opt for the hand basket if only a few small items are being purchased because his or her hands are available to hold the basket in one hand and grab items with the other. Baby-wearing allows a fussy baby to move with his or her parent while chores are completed around the house. Many mamas can nurse their baby while baby-wearing very comfortably. Baby-wearing is less bulky and lighter than carrying a baby in a traditional carrier (no more waddling or constant shifting) allowing for longer trips/walks. And again, as I've mentioned previously, baby-wearing allows strangers to say, "Hi" and interact with the baby but are less likely to ask to hold the baby keeping the parent from having to make the decision about whether or not they want to pass of their baby to someone they don't know well or risk appearing rude.

There are several styles of baby-wearing apparatuses. Here are descriptions of a few:

Slings: Slings are worn distributing the baby's weight across the body with the strap on one shoulder. Several varieties are available.

A bag sling provides some structure for a young baby but does not have the versatility that some others may have. The baby is carried in a single cradle position. Be extremely careful with this style though, some of them were part of a recent recall due to infant deaths from positional asphyxiation (suffocation). These types are not usually associated with "baby-wearing" because the baby hangs in a bag rather than being up against the body of the person carrying them and therefore, some or all of the benefits of baby-wearing may be lost.

This is a Hot Sling. This style is called a pouch sling. The sling is a continuous "loop" around the body that is sewn securely. The baby may be held in a cradle position where he is lying down and tucked completely in the sling, a front carry position where he is slightly more upright (shown far right), or a hip carry where the baby is sitting up with the legs hanging out (shown left). The pouch sling is a fixed size and is typically sized for one wearer. A baby can easily be nursed in this type of carrier when in the cradle position.

A ring sling like this one is worn very much like a pouch sling. It is secured by two large durable rings that create tension when the end of the sling is threaded through. It also allows for the variety of positions that a pouch sling has. One additional benefit of a ring sling is that it can be adjusted to change sizes for the baby and the individual using it. This comes especially in handy when dad is much taller or larger than mom. A baby can easily be nursed in this type of carrier in the cradle position.



 

Wrap Carriers: Wrap carriers have less structure than slings. They are typically made with a large long cut of durable fabric with or without  a small amount of stretch. The fabric is wrapped around the baby in a number of configurations from front carry to cradle to back carry and more. Weight distribution is more balanced in this type of carrier which is a benefit if the baby is older or particularly large. This type of carrier can be worn by multiple individuals, as it is retied each time it is worn. A baby can easily be nursed in this type of carrier. Here is a picture of one type of wrap carrier.

Soft Structure Carriers: These carriers provide some structure but they are typically made of durable fabric with or without clasps or buckles to secure them. They are typically easily folded and washed. They are worn either on the front or back of the body. A carrier of this design that ties is called a mei tai. These carriers support the baby's weight over both shoulders and typically have a waist strap and occasionally will have a chest clip to secure the shoulder straps. Some varieties of these carriers (especially those widely available at retail stores) allow the baby to face outward, but use caution with these types of carriers: studies have shown that babies spinal and hip development is better protected when their weight is supported on their rump while they are carried for extended periods of time. If you prefer this style of carrier for your baby-wearing, choose one where the baby is seated on his rump with legs spread wide and knees above the  rump rather than supported in the crotch area. More often than not, you'll find the safest and most comfortable position for your baby is when their body faces yours.


Pack Carriers: Pack carriers have more structure and can be used long term for activities such as hiking, camping, or other outdoor activities. Carriers of this design provide some protection for the baby from falls if terrain is not level, but it will not protect from everything. Babies worn in these carriers are worn primarily on the back and usually are not considered to be "worn". While these carriers do provide some of the benefits of baby-wearing, others are lost. These types of carriers typically provide very good weight distribution to make longer periods of carrying more comfortable.

I hope this enlightens and informs. Make sure to read and follow all safety instructions for proper use and follow your instincts - if the baby doesn't seem safe and secure, he probably isn't. With that in mind, I'd highly suggest baby-wearing to any parents. I enjoy it as does my little one!

Added note: All of these pictures were taken from Google image search results. No copyright infringement was intended. If these pictures are not intended for free use, please contact me and I will gladly replace them. I'd suggest in that situation that the images be better protected and not able to be saved/downloaded to personal computers.