This particular review made me realize we’ve reached a bittersweet milestone in our family. My baby boy is no longer a baby, and being carried around conflicts with his burgeoning independence. I thought to myself, How great would it be if I could use this beautiful woven wrap with both kids to show how well it works for children of different ages?
Brooks had other plans.
And just like that, his babywearing days are behind him.
It brought to mind that awful poem about all the “lasts” in your child’s life. I’m searching my memory to see if I can recall the last time he let me put him in any kind of wrap or carrier. Did I cherish it? Did I slow down and treasure that time with him?
Since the dawn of humanity, we’ve been fashioning ways to carry our most valuable possessions—our sweet babies—close to our hearts. But it’s driven by more than just safety and practicality. It feeds our souls.
This is a sobering reminder for me to pay attention and not wish away this precious season of life. Because if I’m honest with myself, I’ve been doing some wishing lately.
Riley—who has never slept for long stretches to begin with—is in her 9 month sleep regression. She’s also learning to crawl and working on her top two teeth. In addition to all that, apparently it’s common for older siblings to have a resurgence of jealousy and acting out as a result of all these new developments.
So the Levang house is experiencing some growing pains right now. But thankfully, babywearing helps take some of the edge off for all of us. Riley gets the comfort and security she needs while her little world is out of control, Brooks gets more of my attention when I’ve got two free hands, and I? I get some much needed rest from the grouchy gloom that’s been hanging over our family.
This woven wrap from the Quebec company Maman Kangourou has been a little slice of sanity for us. It comes in 4 different colors, and I chose this gorgeous one called Summer Rain.
Unlike knit wraps that have a bit of give to the fabric, this 100% cotton, woven style is not meant to stretch. We loved our knit wrap when my babies were newborn, but as they got heavier and more wiggly, we used it less and less, opting for carrier styles with more support. I missed the comfort and style of wrapping, though, so I instantly fell in love with this woven wrap’s perfect mix of sturdy and snuggly.
Getting your baby in a proper carry position with a wrap definitely takes a little more time and practice at first, but for long-term wear, it’s worth the extra effort. It distributes weight across your body better than anything else out there, and I definitely notice a difference in how my back and shoulders feel after a long stretch of carrying Riley, who is now hovering around 18 pounds.
We’ve been doing a lot of front carrying (Front Wrap Cross Carry) when Riley needs some extra comfort, but she also loves the hip carry so she can see more of the world around her. I won’t bother listing all the ways you can wear your little one with a woven wrap, because there are endless variations. After all, this is how we’ve been carrying babies for thousands of years.
But to get you started, Maman Kangourou includes a really helpful instruction pamphlet that illustrates several different options. I used that as well as some Youtube videos to help me navigate this new terrain. When I began carrying Brooks as a newborn I stuck with the Hug Hold (Pocket Wrap Cross Carry) exclusively, so it’s been fun to try something new.
Maman Kangourou offers this wrap in four different lengths. We went with a size 6, the second to largest, so David would feel comfortable using it too. The generous length and 5-35 pound weight range give us plenty of room for Riley to grow.
I love having Riley so close and being able to respond to her (MANY) needs during this especially difficult season of growth. It’s been hard work for all of us, and I’m grateful for such a comfortable, supportive wrap to help ease us through it.
But Maman Kangourou is so much more than just wraps! They also make a wide selection of safe and ergonomic baby carriers for you and your baby: stretchy wraps, ring slings, pouches, Asiatik carriers (a mei tai and stretchy wrap hybrid), woven wraps, water slings and pouches, and even doll carriers for little ones.
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Win Any Style Maman Kangourou Baby Carrier!
Maman Kangourou has generously offered to give one of my readers their very own wrap or any other style of baby carrier that Maman Kangourou carries! Enter in the giveaway widget below. This giveaway is open to Canada and the US, 18+. All entries will be verified.
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Disclosure: I received a sample item for review. All opinions expressed are completely honest and my own, based on my personal experience. Your experience may differ.
Samantha Levang is a contributor at This West Coast Mommy, specializing in cloth diaper and baby item reviews. She lives in Washington state with her husband, toddler son, Brooks, and new baby girl, Riley. Between diaper changes and loads of laundry, she enjoys landscape photography and the never-ending process of home decorating.
I would go for a ring sling in summer rain.
I would choose The Woven Wrap in cicada song. It’s a very pretty wrap and since I’ve never had the opportunity to try out a woven wrap that’s what I’d go for.
i love this carrier
http://www.mamankangourou.com/en/product/asiatik–mei-tai-type
i would get it in the basil color.
If I won, I would request the Woven Wrap in a size 6 in the Cicada Song colorway. It’s such a lovely combination of colours and I’m going to need a long wrap for my growing fella.
I’d love to try the Amerigo Organic in grey!
I think I would choose a ring sling. I’m not completely sure, however. It would require a little more research!
I would choose the Amerigo (Stretchy wrap)
I would love the Summer Rain Woven Wrap. It is so gorgeous and I think it would be perfect for when my newborn arrived. I could also test it with my toddler in the mean time considering it goes up to 35lbs!
I’d get the Aprica!
I like the asiatik in black the most.
I would choose a ring sling, great for newborn a all of the way up through toddler!
I love the woven wrap in Summer Rain!! Just gorgeous!!
Summer rain or beach glass!
I like their Amerigo Organic!
The Pool Pouch in Aqua. Thanks.
Wow so gorgeous!! I love the woven wrap!! 🙂
Honestly I love the one you reviewed. The colors are so beautiful. If I were lucky enough to win, I think I’d pick the same one as you.
Amerigo PLUS (Stretchy wrap) in Frosted Raspberry would be my choice right now/now sure a little further down the road.
They all look great, but I think I would go for the Asiatik in black.
I would choose this one: http://www.mamankangourou.com/en/product/asiatik-plus–mei-tai-type-?variant_code=31:282 I’ve really been wanting to try a mei tei again.
I like the ring sling in the summer rain design. Thanks for the chance to win.
I would get the amerigo wrap.
I’m torn! I would love the Amerigo organic stretchy wrap but I also love the woven wrap you reviewed; you photos show the colors better than the website does!
Iwould choose the woven wrap in Summer Rain!
I would choose the Asiatik PLUS (Mei Tai type) in black.
I would chose the Asiatik, but it would be hard because I love the ring sling too.
I’d probably get the summer rain ring sling.
I would probably try the aprica
I would choose the Cicada Song woven wrap or a ring sling! It would be a really hard choice!
I would get a ring sling!!
I think I would choose the mei tai or the woven wrap. The print you reviewed is really beautiful.
I would choose Amerigo in Raspberry
I would probably choose the Summer Rain Woven Wrap.
I would like the Asiatik. Very cute.
I might choose the Europea (European wrap) because I like the design
I’d love to try a woven wrap of I won. I have a mai tei and a soft structured carrier. Always wanted to try a woven wrap or ring sling.