I have a new favorite category -- kids and family... can't you tell?
One of the major categories I researched during pre-baby free time was infant carriers. They are perhaps the most useful baby item you can buy -- IF you buy the right one. The right kind of baby carrier (re:
Baby Bjorn Carrier) can be a blessing. The wrong kind of carrier (re:
New Native Baby Sling) can be a royal pain in the you-know-what.
About the company
The New Native company is a company that believes in promoting the well-being of not only infants and families, but also the environment. They try to use organic cotton whenever possible, and are involved in a variety of environmental and societal awareness programs. In short, they are the type of company you should strive to buy from. Because their main product is a baby sling (as opposed to a carrier), they fully support the idea of "baby wearing." Baby wearing is when parents carry their child around EVERYWHERE, a concept that closely ties in with the whole "attachment parenting" ideology floating around. Be careful of the website and the "About Us" page. It will attempt to convince you that "attachment parenting" is the only correct way to raise a healthy, happy, successful child (as opposed to a neurotic basketcase). While I don't mind social awareness programs, I've always felt that companies should refrain from making such biased views known on a company website. Why alienate a potential buyer with views that may be contradictory to their own?
You can purchase the
New Native Baby Sling by ordering through their website-- located at http://www.newnativebaby.com -- by calling 1 800 646 1682, or by a retailer in your area (I couldn't find one).
One thing I like about this carrier is that it comes in several different prices. You can buy:
100% Organic Cotton Baby Wrap -- 7 colors -- $48 plus shipping
100% Regular Cotton Baby Wrap -- 7 colors -- $40 plus shipping
Prewashed Carrier: the only difference is that these have been washed -- $34 for regular cotton, $42 for organic plus shipping
Factory Second Carrier: these carriers have small flaws such as a spot, fabric mark or stich repair, the repairs are small and will not affect the carrier -- regular cotton $30, organic cotton $36 plus shipping
Special Discounts on Factory Seconds: these range from overstocks to more extensive appearance flaws (again, will not compromise the integrity of the carrier) -- prices range anywhere from $20 - $29 plus shipping
Discontinued Fabric Color Carriers: these are new, first-quality carriers -- $30 for regular cotton, $38 for organic plus shipping
This carrier claims to be able to support babies up to 35 lbs.
The Product
Firstly, I purchased the 100% Regular Cotton Sling in the discontinued color "Khaki Twill with binding." I figured, compared to the Baby Bjorn, the $30 was a good price to pay for a carrier. The size I ordered was a medium. I'm 5'4'', 140 lbs and the medium fits me fine.
Be VERY CAREFUL WHEN ORDERING THIS. This is a "fitted" carrier meaning there are no straps to adjust to get a correct fit. The website advises people to actually get fitted for a carrier, but if you don't have a retailer in your area... that's impossible. You can also call their customer service line for a fit over the phone. However, it is still a little tricky to measure. Why? Because most of the time when people buy this, they're pregnant. Their chests are bigger, they are swollen... in short, you really do have to guestimate what size you'll be once you give birth. However, New Native does have a good return/exchange policy... so don't worry too much.
Another big issue I have with the New Native Sling is that, since it is fitted to me, my husband can't wear it. He would have to order his own, and that would double the cost (making the great deal of $30 into a crappy one)... then what if someone else wanted to use it? My mom (who would be a small), his sister, any babysitter? What, you buy every size? In my opinion, this is a big strike against the
New Native Baby Wrap. At least other slings have an adjustable belt, but this truly does restrict who can wear the carrier (unless you really do want to buy a few sizes).
Ok, so I get the carrier. It seems like good quality and I wash it (they recommend washing it for the true size). I read through the comprehensive instruction booklet at the 10 different ways you can carry kids in this carrier (you can also find all this on their website)... I am blithely unconcerned, it doesn't look all that hard (HA!). This is really a very simple contraption -- it is only a sling. You slide it over one shoulder and it forms a little pouch that you place your child into. It craddles them into the fetal position as you walk. I practice putting it on and taking it off a few times to get the hang of it -- whew, I'm ready.
The big day arrives, a few weeks pass as I get over my csection... finally, one day I'm ready to use the carrier. I want to go for a walk around the block and I figure that Aidan would love to be put in his carrier. I put the carrier on correctly, pick Aidan up with both hands and then.... stare at the carrier. You see, you need a hand to open the sling so you can nestle your baby into the pouch... but I want two hands to hold Aidan... hmmmm..
I should mention that Aidan is a wiggly little thing -- he came out kicking and screaming and he hasn't stopped in almost 5 months. Some infants you can hold in a "football" hold with one arm... not Aidan. He is the type of baby who would scream if you swaddled him -- even in the first week of life. The nurses at the hospital had a hard time swaddling him because he would extract himself from even the tightest burrito wrap.
I finally manage to get a firm grip on Aidan and his neck with one arm as I open the carrier with the other... I then proceed to try to lay him in there with his pillow (they recommend a pillow for newborns), no joy... so I dispense with the darn pillow and just place him in. Aidan doesn't look happy at all, he actually looks pretty ticked off. One of the sides of the carrier keeps falling in on his face, and I start to worry about suffication. The website even has a warning that babies can be asphyxiated in this sling, so make sure you're careful. They even state on their website that some infants may not like the sling at first because it is confining and they can't see.
Before I venture outside, I try moving around the house. At first it seems comfortable, then the shoulder part starts to bunch up. I fix it, it does it again. This is starting to be less comfortable by the second. I see if I can do dishes wearing it -- I can't, the bulk of Aidan's body is level with the counter top. I see if I can bend over with it on -- BAD IDEA. Even with bending at the knees, you get the feeling your child is going to fall out. I'm starting to think that not only is it uncomfortable to wear, it's also slightly unsafe for my little man.
Anyway, I set out on my walk (which is close to a mile). Aidan does fall asleep eventually, but I have to hold the sling open to prevent the side from falling in on his face. Where is this "both hands free" thing I hear about? About 1/4 of the way through I realize my back is killing me, and I'm sweating (hello, it's DECEMBER). I turn around and go back.
I walk in the door and take the carrier off (with Aidan sleeping inside) and place it in his bed. That's the one nice thing about this carrier, you can safely remove it without disturbing your little one. Aidan never moves a muscle.
I have tried many, many times to use this (until I got my Bjorn), figuring that it was: inexperience, Aidan's neck, or Aidan's size that was giving me problems. But I've found that it's just me. I can't get him into the carrier and into a comfortable position, he keeps on sliding around because he's kicking and screaming about being put in the darned thing (I think it's too confining for him) and it kills my back. In addition, I don't think it's safe at all. I've gotten the feeling that Aidan is going to flip himself out of the carrier at various times (especially when I am doing housework with him in it).
What's truly amazing is that it actually got HARDER to use as Aidan got bigger. I figured once he mastered neck control, I could get him situated in the pouch easier. Wrong. With neck control comes more active movement such as swinging arms, kicking and squirming... all which make it virtually impossible to get a baby into the carrier correctly. How on earth could anyone use this with a 20 pound child, nevermind 35? I can't imagine that the other ways detailed on the website would be any safer than this one (especially the back carrying method... my child would pop right out!).
I thought it was characteristic of all carriers until I got my Bjorn... and I realized that this carrier just doesn't cut the mustard.
Any final thoughts
I tried and tried and tried and tried to like this carrier... but it just has too much against it for me to like it. I truly am amazed at the differences between the
New Native Baby Sling and my
Baby Bjorn Infant Carrier -- the sling can't hold a candle to my Bjorn! I don't think it lived up to one claim the New Native company makes.
So... quick summary.
Pros
*Quality construction
*Many different prices to choose from -- much cheaper than the majority of name brand carriers
*Many different colors to choose from (yes I'm reaching)
*Can be used for infants up to 35 lbs (yeah right)
*Easy to take off
Cons
*Is difficult to use. I'm sorry, but I couldn't (even after 20, 30 tries) get Aidan to sit in the pouch comfortably. I read the directions over and over again, but I guess I'm just not that talented.
*It is very confining for your baby. I think even babies who like to be swaddled would feel confined in this after a while... and active babies like Aidan? Forget it.
*There is a risk of suffocation in this sling, SO BE CAREFUL.
*This is a fitted carrier, so others can't use it. You may end up buying more than one carrier to accomodate other people.
*My husband hated the carrier -- even if I had bought one in his size he wouldn't use it. Once he saw me struggling to put Aidan in here, he knew he'd have no hope.
*This sling killed my back. Each and every time I wore it, it would give me the worst shoulder, neck and back pain. I would have to wear a heating pad to releave the stress and pain from my back. Trust me, even with my bad back, it doesn't have to be this way. If the carrier hurts you, it's the carrier... not you.
*Baby can't see out. I wanted a carrier so that he could see the sights while on walks, not so he could look at me.
*I don't feel Aidan was safe in his
New Native Sling. The best way to describe it is that I felt he was in a hammock. Comfortable, but can flip you out at the tiniest provocation.
*It can get very, very VERY hot. You and your baby are both going to be overheated while wearing this wrap. I tried dressing Aidan in as few clothes as possible, but no dice... even in a thin onesie, he was still warm. Also, remember... I'm using the carrier in December (in Florida). Can you imagine what the carrier would be like IN JULY?
Those are some pretty big negatives going in
New Native's direction. My recommendation? Steer clear of the
New Native Baby Sling and invest in something else!
Nubius Organics
