***CONTEST CLOSED. THANKS FOR ENTERING!***
Baby-wearing has been a day-to-day necessity in our family since V was born 2½ years ago. When we brought him home from the hospital for the first time, still tiny and very much brand-new, I remember feeling absolutely lost and confused - this baby, who seemed to have been a typical sleepy newborn, was now having hours-long crying fits and rejecting everything from his bouncy seat to the crib he was meant to sleep in.
Well-meaning (but old-fashioned) relatives warned us of the dangers of giving in to our baby's cries - we were told that he was simply learning to manipulate our responses, and that holding him for as long as he demanded would create a spoiled, clingy child. At the same time, I couldn't ignore the fact that my son seemed to need that closeness almost as much as he needed to eat and breathe - he was only ever calm when held and refused to sleep otherwise.
It wasn't until baby V was nearly 3 months old that I came across the term "baby-wearing" for the first time on my favorite parenting message board. At the time I wasn't aware that there was an alternative to holding my child in-arms for 8 hours a day, aside from using a rigid, uncomfortable Snugli or BabyBjörn, but an entire community of women showed me otherwise - from pouch slings to woven wraps, I absorbed a wealth of information on the beautiful and intricate world of baby-wearing.
Since that day I have never once looked back - pouch slings and Mei-Tais have allowed me to maintain my sanity when faced with fussy, unhappy children, and I can recall very few days that have not included a baby slung over my back, snoozing away blissfully. Baby-wearing is more than a term - it is a lifestyle, oftentimes a parenting necessity, something that I can't believe our family ever survived without.
Today, I'd like to share my love of baby-wearing with you all by introducing you to a carrier that I was recently given the opportunity to review: the Sleepy Wrap. Born from one woman's desire to keep her children close without sacrificing her own comfort, the Sleepy Wrap provides a safe and secure environment for babies while offering parents a comfortable, fully customizable fit.
The Sleepy Wrap is made from durable, high-quality fabric that clings and conforms perfectly to your baby's body. Because this wrap does not sag or lose its shape over time, it is possible to use it to carry your baby for hours at a time. Not only is it buttery soft to the touch, it is also incredibly versatile in terms of adjustability and features two-shouldered support for maximum comfort.
Unlike traditional baby carriers, the Sleepy Wrap does not put unnecessary pressure on baby's body, nor does it leave hips and legs unsupported. Instead, it provides complete head and neck comfort while helping to properly align baby's spine and pelvis. And, as the name implies, it provides your little one with the perfect environment to fall asleep in: close to your warmth, your scent, and your heartbeat.
Here are just a few of the many benefits associated with wearing your baby in the Sleepy Wrap:
Babies benefit greatly from being worn as well:
Besides being wonderfully beneficial and offering an ergonomic design, the Sleepy Wrap is available in a variety of colors to compliment your style and wardrobe. For review, I received a Classic Sleepy Wrap in Beige, which came packaged in a clear tote complete with instruction booklet and a carrying bag.
This was my first experience with a wrap, so I found myself a bit intimidated by what appeared to be a complicated process - the Sleepy Wrap is a 5½-yard long piece of stretchy fabric that first needs to be tied and secured around the body before baby can be placed comfortably inside. Once the wrap is properly adjusted, however, there is no need to loosen or retie it - simply stretch the fabric around your little one to keep them close, or pull aside the material to let them out.
The instructions that came included with our new Sleepy Wrap were clear and easy to follow - better yet, there were visual aids to go along with each step so I could keep an eye on whether or not I was following the directions correctly. The most important thing to keep in mind is that the Sleepy Wrap is supposed to be wrapped tight around your body - on my first try I didn't tighten the material enough, so when I placed 8-month-old G inside, he wasn't held quite as close to me as I would've liked. The second time around I made sure that there was very little give to the wrap, so that G was held much higher and, as a result, much more securely.
Nap-time in our household usually consists of being worn, and switching out our usual Mei-Tai for the Sleepy Wrap didn't seem to bother G - on the contrary, because this wrap is made of a stretchier material, bouncing him to sleep was a breeze. As an added bonus, I made sure to spread the Sleepy Wrap fabric wide over both shoulders, so my little guy's 20-or-so pounds were distributed evenly without putting strain or added pressure onto my back over time.
As you can see, F and I took turns testing our Sleepy Wrap out on both the baby (who is 8 months old) and our 2-year-old toddler:
The only down-side that I found with wearing the Sleepy Wrap is that front-carrying is the hold of choice - baby G has always loved being worn on my back, and while this is possible with a Sleepy Wrap, the stretchiness of the material makes it so that hip and back carries are not recommended. However, NAP Inc. does offer a new line of soft-structured carriers designed for comfortable back carries here.
All in all, the Sleepy Wrap is a welcome addition to our beloved stash of baby carriers - I love its comfort and versatility, and, most importantly, the fact that it allows me to keep my little ones close to me without worrying about readjusting rings, buckles, or straps. Simple, instant baby-wearing gratification - what more could a busy momma ask for? :)
GIFT IT!
The Sleepy Wrap is simply a must-have carrier for mothers of younger children, since it comfortably holds babies for the first 12 months of life and beyond, as desired. Expectant moms will certainly find a use for the Sleepy Wrap during those early newborn days, and the variety of available colors makes this carrier a wonderful personalized gift. The Sleepy Wrap Classic retails for $39.95, while Organic wraps can be purchased for $59.95. Both are available online, or at the following list of retailers.
WIN IT!!!
One (1) lucky reader will receive a Classic Sleepy Wrap in the color of their choice, courtesy of NAP, Inc!
MANDATORY ENTRY:
Visit the Sleepy Wrap website, then come back and let me know which color wrap you would like should your name be drawn. This is required and must be left as a comment at the end of this post before additional entries are submitted!
EXTRA ENTRIES:
Feel free to do any of the following to increase your chances of winning. Be sure to leave a separate comment for each additional entry!
1. Become a Follower of this blog. If you are already following, please let me know! (1 Entry)
2. Spend some time on the Sleepy Wrap website, then come back and tell me something you've learned. (1 Entry Per Fact; Max 3 Facts)
3. Follow me on Twitter. (1 Entry)
4. Follow Sleepy Wrap on Twitter.
5. Tweet the following:RT @MommasGiveaways: Experience the joy of baby-wearing! Enter to win a Classic Sleepy Wrap HERE: http://bit.ly/72OlOS!
Leave the link to your Tweet so I can take a look (if you're unsure about direct-linking on Twitter, please see this page). (Can be done Once Daily for UNLIMITED ENTRIES)
6. Become a Facebook fan of Sleepy Wrap here. (1 Entry)
7. Subscribe to the Ruminations feed using the form in the left-hand sidebar (please be sure to confirm your email subscription!). (2 Entries)
8. Grab my button and add it to your sidebar (if it's already there, let me know!). (1 Entry)
9. Grab The Unofficial Holiday Gift Guide button and display it on your blog or website (if it's already there, let me know!). (3 Entries)
10. Fave me on Technorati (by clicking the link on my left sidebar) and leave your user name in a comment. (1 Entry)
11. Blog about this giveaway, with a link back to Ruminations of a Twenty-Something Momma, then leave the permalink so that I can visit. (3 Entries)
12. Enter any other on-going giveaway here at Ruminations, then let me know which one you've participated in. (1 Entry Per Giveaway)
Open to US and Canada residents. Because this giveaway is particularly close to my heart, it will run for the course of a full two weeks. Therefore, contest ends at 11:59 PM (EST) on December 29th, with a winner drawn via Random Number Generator the next day. If your email address is not visible in your Blogger profile, please be sure to leave it in your comment so that I can contact you if you are the winner! You will then have 48 hours to confirm or a new winner will be drawn.
Good luck!
