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conuly
It came *fast* - Jenn only got around to ordering it last week, and we had it custom-made, with pretty fabric, and a "toy ring", and a pocket. And embroidery saying "aunt", but it's really small, so kinda useless. I should just get one of those "Hello, my name is" stickers or something.
This is, of course, quite different from the ring sling. Wait, before I go further, I should Define My Terms. Ahem:
This is Jenn's sling. We've never managed a sideways hold with that thing, only lying-down-in-front.
This is where we got our mei-tai. Their pictures kinda suck, just a little, so try these.
For reference, this is a Bjorn.
Jenn has a Bjorn and a sling. And, now, a mei-tai labeled "aunt".
The sling was killing my shoulder. You're supposed to switch shoulders now and again, but I felt *wrong* without my left hand completely free. Jenn feels the same about her right hand, though she doesn't say it the same way. Plus, because of the way it's set up, when I used it, I literally couldn't see the ground I was walking on. Not by looking down, not by looking down and sideways. PLUS, the baby didn't like lying down unable to see out (there's a way to make her lie down and see out, if we want) and was fast at work figuring out how to liberate herself from that thing. This is rather scary.
So we got this mei-tai.
Well... the baby likes it a lot more. She can see out a bit (especially if I face her forwards), and she can see me (not if I face her forwards), and she can't escape (okay, she doesn't like that). When she's awake, this is great - she used to never tolerate being awake in the sling, meaning I'd end up having to carry her. But she refused to *sleep* in the mei-tai. Or she did sleep, eventually, but it was shuddery, not-very-deep sleep. I anticipate that this'll improve with time.
And my shoulder isn't killing me. My lower back was, when I faced her forward, but that was it.
And I could look down. I felt infinitely safer going down stairs.
But the best part?
I can bend over and get a drink of water from a water fountain. Hell yeah. This thing is here to stay.
(Mind, I could've had many of these things by using the Bjorn, but that's reputed to be bad for little bitty baby legs, and I never did like all those snaps.)
Next up, I want a podegi. I still hate strollers, and I think being able to have an extra sling will come in handy - one can be used while the other's in the wash, or I can hoist up the toddler while she's sleeping or having a tantrum, carry her that way. Not that I *want* to lug that kid around *and* her sister, but I'm actually strong enough to do it, and it'd be easier sometimes than the alternatives.
This is, of course, quite different from the ring sling. Wait, before I go further, I should Define My Terms. Ahem:
This is Jenn's sling. We've never managed a sideways hold with that thing, only lying-down-in-front.
This is where we got our mei-tai. Their pictures kinda suck, just a little, so try these.
For reference, this is a Bjorn.
Jenn has a Bjorn and a sling. And, now, a mei-tai labeled "aunt".
The sling was killing my shoulder. You're supposed to switch shoulders now and again, but I felt *wrong* without my left hand completely free. Jenn feels the same about her right hand, though she doesn't say it the same way. Plus, because of the way it's set up, when I used it, I literally couldn't see the ground I was walking on. Not by looking down, not by looking down and sideways. PLUS, the baby didn't like lying down unable to see out (there's a way to make her lie down and see out, if we want) and was fast at work figuring out how to liberate herself from that thing. This is rather scary.
So we got this mei-tai.
Well... the baby likes it a lot more. She can see out a bit (especially if I face her forwards), and she can see me (not if I face her forwards), and she can't escape (okay, she doesn't like that). When she's awake, this is great - she used to never tolerate being awake in the sling, meaning I'd end up having to carry her. But she refused to *sleep* in the mei-tai. Or she did sleep, eventually, but it was shuddery, not-very-deep sleep. I anticipate that this'll improve with time.
And my shoulder isn't killing me. My lower back was, when I faced her forward, but that was it.
And I could look down. I felt infinitely safer going down stairs.
But the best part?
I can bend over and get a drink of water from a water fountain. Hell yeah. This thing is here to stay.
(Mind, I could've had many of these things by using the Bjorn, but that's reputed to be bad for little bitty baby legs, and I never did like all those snaps.)
Next up, I want a podegi. I still hate strollers, and I think being able to have an extra sling will come in handy - one can be used while the other's in the wash, or I can hoist up the toddler while she's sleeping or having a tantrum, carry her that way. Not that I *want* to lug that kid around *and* her sister, but I'm actually strong enough to do it, and it'd be easier sometimes than the alternatives.
