Most people who know me (and even sometimes strangers!) realise that I love to rave about the joys of babywearing. In addition to the great benefits for baby, I find using a carrier an essential way to manage my tasks in each day with two young children and I don’t even think about leaving the house without a carrier!
I have read many reviews on various carriers and tried a fair share. With my first baby I found my favourites to be the Ergo and a My Blessed Baby Mei Tai. However neither of these were suitable for newborns and last year while expecting baby-two I began searching for a new carrier that would be more versatile.
Looking at the range of baby carriers available I decided I needed to get a wrap; a completely unstructured carrier which can be tied in hundreds of different ways. This was going to take my baby wearing experience to a whole new level – I was ready for the challenge!
After researching the pros and cons of each type of wrap I felt that the Bali Breeze carrier from Wrapsody would be perfect for my needs. These wraps are made from a light cotton gauze and are said to be one of the coolest carriers around. With Caribbean temperatures to deal with, I needed something that wasn’t going to make us sweat-drenched within minutes! I purchased the Bali Breeze in Iris design – a beautiful rainbow striped carrier that looked gorgeous on the website and even more delightful in real-life.
Sleeping baby after a walk in the Wrapsody Bali Breeze
I’d already been studying wrapping techniques on You Tube but when the wrap arrived with it’s own booklet of step-by-step instructions and DVD I settled down to watch it like a feature movie! The DVD demonstrates a wide-range of wrapping styles and techniques as well as information on safety and troubleshooting. It is a handy reference guide that can be referred to repeatedly.
Although it takes a little time getting used to managing 5ft or more of material, after a few practices with willing babies and a mirror, it soon becomes second-nature. When I first started, I thought I’d never get my baby comfortable and safe with a back carry but now I just sling them over my hips, tie them up and away we go – simple! I love the variety of carrying choices with a wrap and it’s always fun trying new ones to see what suits me and the children in any given moment. My daily favourite is the back wrap cross carry with chest knot.
Amarii fast asleep in a back carry. After he falls asleep I unwrap him and lay him down to nap.
Using and wearing the Bali Breeze is really comfortable for me and both of my children – one aged 2 years and the other 9 months. I really like the non-stretchy material which is easy to handle. I tried a friends stretchy wrap before and felt it was always sagging and drooping but this one stays exactly where you put it. Another advantage I find with a wrap as opposed to the other types of carrier is that for the majority of wrap styles the cloth is kept out of baby’s sucking reach! Whilst my little ones suck away on the straps of the Ergo and Mei-Tai, the wrap stays saliva free!
2 year-old Keeyah in a back carry.
I’m also pleased that it certainly did live up to it’s cool reputation. I’ve walked around Dominica’s capital, Roseau (which is notoriously sweltering) with my now 9 month, 18lb baby wrapped to my front for 2 hours and we remained comfortable. The front wrap cross carry is especially good as it leaves the baby’s back a little exposed to catch a breeze. It’s definitely the coolest carrier I have tried.
The wrap comes with a cute little pocket bag to store it in but my wrap is always in use so storage is not necessary. However, I do use this bag to carry a few diapers, cloths and wipes when we go out and it’s perfect for that!
I feel really elegant in my Bali Breeze and think that wearing a baby looks sophisticated and stylish with these wraps. In fact the material is so lovely that I have a friend who constantly eyes it up as potential dress material. (You know who you are girlfriend and you are not allowed to enter the contest below to cut up the cloth!)
Terri and Amarii at the Health & Wellness Expo - hosting an event is a breeze with a baby in a wrap!
As well as loving the wraps I also admire the company’s fair trade and eco-credentials.Wrapsody is based in the US and is owned and operated by mothers. Bali Breeze wraps are hand batiked (with environmentally safe fabric dyes), sewn in Indonesia (hence the name) and fairly traded. The company makes many other efforts to run the business in a sustainable way which include: supporting local businesses where possible, becoming Green Office Certified and using natural or recycled fabrics in their products and office construction. Their brochures and business cards are printed on recycled paper with vegetable inks and the instructional DVD comes in a biodegradable corn-based plastic sleeve.
So yes, I’m one happy babywearing Mama! I do love the fact that we have several carriers that suit different occasions but if I were forced to choose just one carrier then the Bali Breeze would be it.
If it were within my means I’d buy one for every new mother. However in the meantime I have teamed up with Wrapsody to offer the opportunity to win one Wrapsody Bali Breeze in a design of your choice!!! Yes it’s contest time!
TO ENTER THE CONTEST YOU MUST FIRST SUBSCRIBE TO MY BLOG (enter your email address in the box in the left hand column of the page). NEXT VISIT THE WRAPSODY WEBSITE and find your favourite wrap. Let me know in the comments section that you have completed both of these actions, along with your wrap choice.
EXTRA ENTRIES: ( Leave a separate comment for each one!)
Become a fan on the Wrapsody facebook page
Write the following on the Wrapsody facebook page wall “I entered to win a beautiful Wrapsody: The wraparound baby carrier. Enter the contest at www.childofnatureblog.com”
Follow Wrapsody on Twitter (send me your twitter URL for verification)
Become a fan of Child of the Nature Isle on Facebook
Post the contest on Twitter with the following tweet text “I entered to win a beautiful Wrapsody: The wraparound baby carrier. Enter the contest at www.childofnatureblog.com” (send your twitter URL in the comments for verification)
Add ‘Child of the Nature Isle’ to your blogroll (send me the URL for verification)
Add a photo of yourself using a Wrapsody carrier (if you have one already) on the fan photos album on the Wrapsody facebook page
Vote for Child of the Nature Isle on Top Mommy Blogs
Giveaway ends August 1st. Open to contestants Internationally although a winner outside the US will need to cover US$15 towards shipping.
Although my comments are not numbered they will be counted in the order they are received and the winner will be picked using Random.org to generate the winning number.
If your profile page does not show your email address, please include it in your comment so that I may get in touch with you if you are selected as the giveaway winner. To avoid spammers automatically acquiring your address it is best to write it with the @ as (at) and the . as (dot) eg: terri(at)onelovelivity(dot)com Please respond within 48 hours, or a new winner will be chosen.
This was not a paid post and my opinions are honest. Thank you to Wrapsody who supplied the wrap for the giveaway.
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I have gladly subscribed to your blog, I see that you have a lot of relevant content!
My favorite print from the Wrapsody website is Freya, I love dragonflies and green
i have subsrcibed to your blog and it looks like i’ll have lots of interesting reading to come! i visited Wrapsody and love the Haumea wrap, tho it’s hard to choose, they are all beautiful!
I SUBSCRIBED TO YOUR BLOG.
I VISITED THE WRAPSODY WEBSITE AND LOVED THE BALIBABY STRETCH WRAP IN ALYSSA PATTERN. THEY ARE ALL SO BEAUTIFUL THAT IT WAS HARD TO CHOOSE!
Fan of the Wrapsody facebook page
1) I subscribed to your blog.I really like the Shanti wrap (bali breeze section of the site) as long as it will work for a larger child too (toddler). If not, then I want the Whitman wrap.
2) I’m a fan of the Wrapsody facebook page
3) I posted on the Wrapsody facebook page
4) I follow Wrapsody on Twitter: https://twitter.com/cherylyndouglas
5) I tweeted about the contest: https://twitter.com/cherylyndouglas
6) I’m a fan of Child of Nature Isle on facebook
8) I voted for Child of the Nature Isle on Top Mommy Blogs
I subscribed to your blog.
I Visted the Wrapsody and love the Alice wrap! they are all lovely!
I LOVE the Haumea wrap! And I subscribe to your blog.
I subscribed and my favorite Wrapsody wrap is Sebastian!
I’m a fan of Wrapsody on Facebook and left a note.
I follow Wrapsody Baby on Twitter @BabywearingVids
I just uploaded a pic on Wrapsody’s fan page. It is this one.
[img]http://sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc4/hs201.snc4/38383_1448709930514_1016173266_31239666_6107862_n.jpg[/img]
I’ve subscribed and my favorite colour is Alice! Thanks for doing this, Terri!
I voted for Child of the Nature Isle on Top Mommy Blogs! (Although it took me a minute to figure out how to do it, lol!)
I became a fan on the Wrapsody facebook page!
I wrote about your giveaway on the Wrapsody facebook page!
I became a fan of Child of the Nature Isle on Facebook!
I just subscribed to your blog and when I checked the Wrapsody website I totally fell in love with the Whitman style. I love the simple lines and beautiful colors!
Thanks so much for sharing your great find with all of us!
I became a fan on the Wrapsody facebook page
I wrote on the on the Wrapsody facebook page wall “I entered to win a beautiful Wrapsody: The wraparound baby carrier. Enter the contest at http://www.childofnatureblog.com”
I just became a fan of Child of the Nature Isle on Facebook
Also, I forgot to include my email address for you to contact me:
sarahelwer (at) gmail (dot) com
subscribed and love the IRIS
thanks terri!
Love your site and thanks for the wonderful review. Much like you I prefer wraps for their versatility. Would love to be entered into the contest. I subscribed to your blog and visited the Wrapsody website. All the wraps are beautiful but my favorite is the Whitman. Good Luck to Me!
I also became a fan of the Wrapsody site on FB.
I also wrote the following statement on the Wrapsody Wall: “I entered to win a beautiful Wrapsody: The wraparound baby carrier. Enter the contest at http://www.childofnatureblog.com”
I also became a fan on your FB page.
And I happily voted for your blog on Top Mommy Blogs.
I subscribed to your blog. My favorite design is Javed. My friend has lent me one of these wraps and i love it! I am already a fan on facebook. I became a fan of Child of the Nature Isle and voted for you on Top mommy Blogs! Thank you for the oppurtunity to win my very own wrap. I always get asked lots of quetions and nice comment when I am wearing my son. I always give them the website and tell them about the batiking.
Wow – This really does sound great. I’m going to add it to my wish list. I’m a little intimidated by the wrapping because I’ve never used that style of carrier before, but hopefully I can get it down
Charise @ I Thought I Knew Mama recently posted..A Healthy, Easy, Vegetarian Crock Pot Recipe That My Toddler Loves (LINKY)
Hey Charise, I studied the wrapping techniques so much before baby was born and it took a little practice but after that it was really easy. People would watch me tie it when we were out in amazement. Sometimes they tried to help but it’s so simple when you master it that can do it yourself. Let me know if you get one!
This is my technique for getting them out of a back carry http://onelovelivity.com/childofnatureblog/wordless-wednesday-how-to-get-a-sleeping-baby-out-of-a-back-carry/