Slings, wraps, and culture
Kristi
If you're looking for a cheap (free?) easy way to carry baby, I would
recommend you look through the mamatoto.org site. I've always used a
Maya wrap until my newest was born (I have dd 4.5, ds 2, and ds 3m,
and now I use wrap carriers I made for $2.50 each via the instructions
on the website -- I tied him on my back when he was 1 week old and
have gardened, washed the car (without getting him wet!), hung
laundry, played tag, cuddled little ones w/scraped knees, etc. If you
are still set on a ring-sling after looking through mamatoto, check
out thebabywearer.com for links to free instructions for making ring
slings, pouches, and Asian-style baby carriers.
On a more unschooly note, my daughter loves looking through "Babies
Celebrated" with me, which shows babies from myriad traditional and
tribal cultures being carried, bathed, fed, etc. And the mamatoto.org
site is lots of fun because she not only breaks carries into age and
front/back/hip, but into culture (Japanese, Tibetan, etc.) Fun for
little ones (or big ones!) interested in mothering and babies.
Kristi
recommend you look through the mamatoto.org site. I've always used a
Maya wrap until my newest was born (I have dd 4.5, ds 2, and ds 3m,
and now I use wrap carriers I made for $2.50 each via the instructions
on the website -- I tied him on my back when he was 1 week old and
have gardened, washed the car (without getting him wet!), hung
laundry, played tag, cuddled little ones w/scraped knees, etc. If you
are still set on a ring-sling after looking through mamatoto, check
out thebabywearer.com for links to free instructions for making ring
slings, pouches, and Asian-style baby carriers.
On a more unschooly note, my daughter loves looking through "Babies
Celebrated" with me, which shows babies from myriad traditional and
tribal cultures being carried, bathed, fed, etc. And the mamatoto.org
site is lots of fun because she not only breaks carries into age and
front/back/hip, but into culture (Japanese, Tibetan, etc.) Fun for
little ones (or big ones!) interested in mothering and babies.
Kristi