Be sure to read to the end to learn about our giveaway with True North Ring Slings.
When a new baby joins the family, the pace of life inevitably slows. The priorities shift to feedings, diapers, cuddles, and nap times. One thing that doesn’t go away is the daily routine of meals, errands, laundry, and tidying. Mom’s hands are full and her plate just got fuller.
I remember well how overwhelmed I felt as a first time mom four years ago! Simple tasks like folding laundry suddenly seemed impossible… they needed to be done, but not at the expense of sacrificing time with my baby.
Enter the time-honored, global tradition of babywearing. I loved that I could snuggle my baby and still stay on top of the daily happenings. With my second born, I discovered another plus: it made snuggles easier during those long, hard days of teething. Now, with my third baby, I’m loving that I can still keep up with my toddlers and keep my baby close by.
What carriers have I tried? What are the pros and cons?
Wrap Carriers. My wrap-style carrier (think Moby, Solly, etc.) was my initiation into babywearing. It gave me the courage I needed to go grocery shopping for the very first time alone with the baby.
Pros: Soft and stretchy. Readily available. (Even stores like Target and Walmart offer this style)
Cons: Hot. Difficult to use. (Unless you like feeling like a ninja all while juggling a baby)
Soft Structured Carriers. After becoming frustrated with the complicated wrap carrier, I purchased a soft structured carrier (such as a Boba, Ergo, Lillebaby, etc.). It was a great experience, but lacked a few conveniences I desired.
Pros: Supportive. Great for long carries and bigger babies.
Cons: Bulky (you can’t just toss it your diaper bag). Difficult to safely situate newer babies (who often want to be worn more frequently).
Ring Slings. My third baby has been much more picky about being worn. He’s had some pretty difficult tummy issues and needs a lot of Mommy snuggles, but my wrap and structured carriers were met with very low tolerance. At the suggestion of my midwife, I pulled the trigger and purchased a ring sling. He slept for two hours the very first time I wore him. I’ve tried a few different ring slings for fun since they’ve worked so well for us and can safely say, linen (from a company such as True North Ring Slings) is my favorite. The sling took babywearing from something I did for convenience to something I did because I truly loved wearing my baby.
Pros: Even picky babies seem happy in a sling. Easily adaptable from tiny newborns to toddlers. Quick to adjust (I love having an alternative to lugging around a heavy car seat). Strong supportive fabric that’s still soft enough for delicate babies. Compact (can easily fold and stash in your diaper bag for on-the-go days).
Cons: Slight learning curve (well worth it!). Needs a short breaking in period (there are lots of great short cuts and resources for this!)
I strongly believe that next to a quality car seat, my ring sling is the most worthwhile baby equipment purchase we have made. Hands down.
We are THRILLED to be partnering with Alberta-based True North Ring Slings to bring you a giveaway! I recently purchased a beautiful gray ring sling (with to-die-for rose gold rings) from this amazing company. I’ve been nothing short of impressed by their quality and their customer service. I’ve received almost instant responses from them when I’ve reached out with questions – and they’ve been so personable (even giving me the fun fact that I was their first Texas customer!).
Using high-quality linen sourced from Europe, they offer a wonderful range of colors from classic neutrals to vibrant hues. They are unique in that they offer several lengths to choose from (no worries if you’re tall or broad shouldered! They’ve got you covered!). Their slings meet all safety standards (both mandatory and voluntary), so you can rest easy knowing that your baby is safe. More than anything, I love that is company is mommy-owned!
True North is partnering with us to GIVEAWAY a $50 STORE CREDIT* to one lucky reader and a 10% OFF COUPON CODE to all the rest of you!
To enter the giveaway, head over to Instagram and follow us (@canvasandtable) and then (@truenorthringslings). Tag your friends on our Instagram about this baby wearing blog post (you’ll receive an entry for each tag). For a bonus entry, “regram” our post to your personal Instagram!**
To save 10% on your order, simple use this code when you check out: canvasandtable. Offer good through April 20th.
Do you “wear” your baby? Leave a comment below and tell us.
*$50 store credit is CAD (Canadian dollars) as True North is based in Canada.
**Find complete entry instructions on Instagram post
This week we bring you a gift guide from the both of us! You’ll find some of our favorite ideas for men, women, & children- perfect for Christmas or anytime of the year. Without further ado, the 2015 Christmas Gift Guide from Canvas & Table:
For Men….
Planner – Help your man get organized for the new year with this compact and manly planner.
Blender bottle – A blender bottle is a must-need for any fitness enthusiast, making protein shakes and shakes of any kind easy to mix on the go.
Gym bag – Two words: wet pocket. This gym bag is perfect for the man who wants to make regular visits to the gym and may want to use the pool from time to time.
Grooming set – You’ll equip any man in your life to look better by giving him this portable, easily organized set of grooming tools to help him start his day off right.
Toiletry bag – If your man likes to travel or travels often, he will appreciate having a compact way to take all his toiletry equipment along with him.
Keychain toolset – If your man likes to be handy on the go, this all-in-one keychain toolset is a perfect gift for him.
Waterpic electric flosser – For the man who hates flossing, the man who enjoys making sure he always smells good and looks good, or any man that just loves his electric toothbrush, this electric flosser will be a game-changer.
Personal development books – Does your man love inspiration? Get him a book from an author like Jon Acuff, Stephen Covey, or Jim Rohn to sink his teeth into.
Wallet – Help him carry his cash in style with this extra-capacity men’s wallet.
Gloves – Invest in some nice gloves for your gentleman that make him look extra classy while still allowing him to use his devices.
Leather portfolio – Whether your man is a man who frequents meetings at the office or a man who runs his own business from home, gift him this quality leather notepad portfolio to upgrade his business game.
USB diffuser – Does your man love his Essential Oils? Help him stay oily on the go with this handy USB diffuser.
Laptop and tablet bag – Help your man keep his devices protected with a new laptop and tablet bag.
Game tickets – For the sports lover, a ticket to a live game is always a big hit.
Team memorabilia – Check out the official store of your guy’s favorite team to get merchandise to impress.
Leather Key Fob – Upgrade your guy’s keys with a genuine leather key fob.
Coffee – If your man just loves his coffee, give him some coffee from Stumptown Roasters for a unique gift that is sure to be a big hit.
For Women…
Essential Oils – Is your lady interested in Essential Oils? Buy her a Premium Starter Kit and get her a membership (she’ll receive a lovely oils guide from us when you order from the link above), or order her a couple singles by creating a “Retail Customer” account. We recommend Valor, Progessence Plus, Jasmine, or Joy.
Essential Oil-infused products – If your lady already enjoys Essential Oils and you really want to score, go to the link above, create a “Retail Customer” account, and get her one of the lip glosses or the shave oil that she will be sure to love!
Essential Oils bag – Want to find the perfect gift for the lady who already has her oil collection going? Get her an Essential Oils bag to help her tote around her oils in her purse!
Diffuser – If she loves oils, she will love this diffuser (even if she already has a diffuser- you can’t have too many).
Earrings – Get your favorite lady some adorable handcrafted earrings.
Artistic Prints – Beautiful prints are all the rage these days. Impress your woman by gifting her with one of these beautiful prints to frame and put in a place where she will see it often.
A makeup set – Buy her one of these lovely items to impress & delight.
Coffee mug – Buy the woman in your life a mug that makes her feel cozy (like this sweater mug), makes her smile (like this waking up face mug), or reminds her of how special she is (like this “Best Wife Ever” mug).
Kate Spade notecards or thank you cards – If you don’t know yet, Kate Spade is a big deal and her stuff is the perfect combination of adorable, modern, and adult. If your woman likes chevron, polka dots, gold, or black & white, she will probably love these notecards.
Scarves – Does your woman love to dress up? Be cozy? Wear scarves? Check out these knitted scarves or these ribbed scarves.
Car Coffee Cup – If she’s on the go a lot, get her this coffee cup that plugs into the car to keep her coffee warm.
Throw blanket – Get her a throw to drape over the couch or to cuddle up in while she is reading. She will love it forever.
Devotionals- Get her a devotional she will enjoy all year round! Author recommendations: Laurel recommends the She Reads Truth- check out their app or blog! Ashley recommends a daily Joyce Meyer devotional.
Sharpie pens – Buy her some pens she will love. These are a perfect gift to pair with a planner or notecards!
Purses – Get her an adorable bag at Charming Charlie or JustFab that will be sure to impress!
Toiletry bag – Help her stay organized on the road with a colorful toiletry bag.
Nail kit – If she loves doing her nails, this set of nail grooming tools is a sure bet.
Books – Books are a great choice for young children, creating bonding moments between kids and parents! Check out Thoughts To Make Your Heart Sing or The Book With No Pictures. (For even more recommendations, check out one of our past posts here.)
Jesus Storybook Bible – Invest into your child’s spiritual development by getting them a Bible they can start reading (or being read to) from an early age.
Train Table – A train table is an oldie but goodie that will provide hours of imaginative fun for your littles.
Activity Cube – Another great option for hours of play that will challenge your child and help them develop while having fun.
Kleynimals Keys – Nontoxic chewing fun for very young children!
Puzzles – Get some puzzles for your young ones to help them learn their letters and the alphabet.
Stuffed Diffuser – If you are an oily family, this is a perfect option for diffusing around your young ones.
Jewelry making set – Help your daughter learn to create with this fantastic jewelry making set!
Disclosure: This post contains Amazon Affiliate links. Should you order through these links, we will receive a small commission off your purchase from Amazon. Don’t worry- this does not affect the purchase price of the product. Thank you for helping support this blog so that we are able to continue bringing you fresh content!