Your Mama Doesn't Like Hotslings

I never intended to be a ‘baby-wearer.’  I don’t subscribe to any sort of parenting philosophy (yet?) that swings to one extreme or the other, but I have been borrowing a bit from everything I’ve read (and that includes Dr. Sears, Babywise, What to Expect, etc.).

Thus, my intentions with buying various baby-wearing mechanisms was purely self-interested: I figured it was an easier way to carry my baby around when there just wasn’t a good place to, well, set her down.  You know, like at a friend’s house or a party when a stroller just doesn’t make sense.  I read a few reviews and decided to buy two to start with.  I am seriously disappointed that I didn’t look harder at the consignment shops when making my decisions or I may have been able to save a few bucks by trying them out a bit.  Ah well.

I registered for the Hotsling, so technically I guess I didn’t spend any money on it . . . but I wish I would’ve gotten $40 worth of, well, anything else.  My first clue that I might not like this sling?  The DVD.   Seriously.   Any baby mechanism that requires you watch a DVD before using it loses from the start in my book.  What mom has 20 minutes to watch a DVD just to show her how to properly wear her baby?

I tried it on.  Even without a baby, the medium is obviously too small for me.  Although I am in the ‘range’ specified for the medium, I probably should’ve gone with the large. It’s tight and doesn’t stretch.  Strike two.

With the baby, things get worse. While the photo shows the newborn snugly snoozing against momma’s bosom, the reality was quite different.  Peaches was all squished up and her head had to be fully engulfed in fabric or it would flop all over the place.  The side that lays over my shoulder is wide and restrictive, so I couldn’t fully utilize my arm.

The Meaning of Life ipod

I’m going to pull it out and try it one more time this month, since Peaches can now sit upright and that position might be a little more comfortable.  I ordered a ring-sling off Etsy that I use often enough and I’m going to stick with that.  I guess that’s what I get for ordering the sling that claims to be ‘dedicated to being on the cutting edge of fashion’ rather than dedicating themselves to an actually functional product.

[rating:1.5/5]

About the author:  One day, Andi hopes to teach the men in her life that they, too, can pick things up and put them away after they’ve used them. Read more from this author.