I am a new babywearer.  Seven years ago when my oldest was born I had a little Snugli, but I didn’t use it past about 3 months.  When Alivia was born last October I bought a beautiful Hotsling on Ebay.  Here is what it looks like.

Oddly enough I can’t find a picture of myself wearing it.  You get the idea though right?

Alivia is 13 months old and almost 20 lbs and I am still able to use this sling in the hip carry for short periods of time.  I absolutely LOVE it.  I consider it a must have for any baby’s mama!

When Alivia was younger I felt like it was the one item that I couldn’t live without.  I used it around the house and in lieu of a stroller when we were out and about. It came with an instructional DVD and it took some practice, but it quickly became the most natural thing in the world.

I only wish I would have had one when Addison was a baby.  Even though she didn’t get to hang out in a sling I thought she should have one of her own.  I bought a child sized one for her to carry her dolls in.  She would rather carry around our cat SkippyJon Jones.

As Alivia has grown bigger I have used the pouch sling less often.  I knew I wanted something new that would allow me to  wear her on my back.  I talked to Stephanie from Adventures in Babywearing on a Blog Talk radio show one night.  She mentioned a Mei Tei and I was really intrigued.  She also directed me to The Babywearer.com.  I went to check it out and I looked for babywearers in my area.  That is where I met my awesome new friend Vanessa.  She and I talked back and forth and we decided to have a play date.  She brought over all of her baby carriers and when she left she let me borrow one of her Mei Tei’s. It’s a BabyHawk and it is exactly what I was looking for.   I loved it so much that I decided to buy it from her!  Here is a picture of me wearing Livie in it.  No that’s not a double chin…it’s just bad lighting.

I feel like wearing Alivia has really enriched our bond.  Obviously it allows me to get some things accomplished hands free when she wants me to hold her.  But it is also such an intimate feeling to look down and see her looking up at me or sleeping on my chest. I love to be close enough to smell her baby shampoo and take in her lovely baby smell.

Livie is only 13 months old  so my baby wearing experience is short.  But from the first day I put her in the sling I knew that it was something I would continue to do until she is too heavy for me to carry.  Alivia and I both truly enjoy the closeness that it provides.

Side note :  I am going to link to a post on a really funny blog called Best Parent Ever.  They are making fun of babywearers and even though I love the blog on this post they are waaay off base.  It’s all in good fun though I think.

For more babywearing stories and photos visit Steph over here.  Also be sure to check out Nonny and Boo’s beautiful slings and wraps.  I have been drooling over several myself.

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