Handmade Alternatives: Slings and Carriers

The list of items you need to buy for your baby is seemingly endless. As soon as I became pregnant, I was bombarded with ideas of things I must-have, will-need, or can't-live-without!! If you're like me, you can't buy anything without seriously over-analyzing the choice, and comparison shopping until the laptop battery dies. Or if you are already a mom with the knowlegde of what works best, you are always searching for the perfect version of your favorite item to give your future-mom friends.

Your local Babies'R'Us, Target or baby boutique is filled to the brim with the items on your shopping list. But…if you are the kind of woman that feels up to shopping outside the box, Etsy gives you a great opportunity to patronize small business owners, shop locally, find something original and show off an awesome handmade version of an otherwise mass produced, made in China item.

While I was on my epic search for a diaper bag, I ended up with an Etsy product that I LOVE, and my many previous experiences with Etsy sellers keep me coming back for more. Once I read the laundry list of baby items to search for, I knew I would be spending several hours (a day?) scouring Etsy's shops until everything was checked off. The results are a series of posts sharing the fruits of all my VERY hard work with you, with alternatives to popular slings and wraps kicking things off.

So if you were looking at a something like a Moby Wrap (pictured below left), sold here for $39.99 from Babies'R'Us, or a ring sling like the MayaWrap (pictured below right) from $59.58 on Amazon.com….

….then consider alternatives like these from Etsy sellers:

The Kenzie Wrap by loveyduds for $45 has the wrap around feature of a Moby Wrap or a Sleepy Wrap, and comes in many pretty and funky prints.

BabyEtte's Brown with Gold Thread Baby Wrap for $48 is more understanded than a funky print, but the metallic fabric makes it a less boring than a plain jersey or linen fabric.

For $95 the Prestige Ring Sling by SnuggyBaby is bright and pretty and adjustable to accomodate differnt sized parents and a growing baby.

The Yoko Ring Sling for $45 by Alliecraft's is elegant and bold, but affordable.

Remember as you search Etsy for these items (and more), that one of the biggest benefits of buying handmade is that most sellers are happy to work with you to customize your purchase, making it the product you need with the design you want…an item that's truly one of a kind.

Stay tuned for a post on handmade alternatives for shopping cart covers!

-Lane

ps.  The CPSC has issued warnings about carrying babies in sling-style carriers.  They recommend exercising special caution when carrying babies younger than 4 months in sling-style carriers, and to avoid sling-styles when the babies have a cold.  Click here for CPSC's diagrams on how to properly wear your baby in a sling-style carrier.

********************************

Contributing author Lane is an intentionally unemployed social worker who is currently growing a human, following her husband's dream, trying to stay relevant, and practicing her mothering skills on two rescued dogs, Enid and Falcor.  Check out her fabulous blog, the Overseas Trapeze.