My review on the Ergo.

So it finally came! My ergo baby carrier. They were having a black friday sale so I jumped in, I had been wanting to get it for a long time. I really wanted the organic, but it just wasn’t a smart decision financially so I opted for the original. (maybe I will get the organic one day..)

I took it out of the box, and right away I was in love with it. It is very visually pleasing, I got the Purple Mystic one.

 

ok..

So what I like about the Ergo.

Comfortable. Way more comfortable than any other carrier I have worn, it is still a lot of weight to carry around.

Pockets. It has a big pocket and a small pocket in the front. The big pocket has a zipper and you can fit a surprising amount of stuff in there. I use cloth diapers, but you could totally fit a couple disposables and some wipes there if you were going somewhere quick and didn’t want to lug a diaper bag with you. I put my phone, wallet, and chap stick in there and there was still plenty of room.

Sunshade/nursing cover/ head support: A cool feature that comes with the ergo is the sunshade hood. You could also use this as a nursing cover, but my son wouldn’t let me put it over him when he was nursing. Once he fell asleep, however, he let me put the hood on, which supported his head so i could be totally hands free.

Stylish. The ergo comes in a variety of colors, I feel less of a frumpy mom and more of a stylish hot young thing when i’m wearing my ergo. 

I give the ergo 5 crunchy stars for being the best carrier that I have come across thus far. i’m so obsessed with it right now. It definitely is worth the price. 

 

– Crunchy

Don’t buy medela!

Medela has been ignoring WHO codes, and a ton of people are finding MOLD in their tubing and motors! (GROSS!) this is a complete outrage!

For those of you with a pump in style, here is a video showing how to clean it. Please clean it after each use and do not resell it or donate it. These are one person use only and need to be tossed after. (such a shame, I know.)’

here is a link to the article I read about the problems with Medela as well…

http://www.justwestofcrunchy.com/2011/01/19/the-problems-with-medela/

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Happy thanksgiving everyone!

Its funny how I think about everything that I have this year that I did not have just a year before. A lot of things have changed in only one year, my, my, does time go fast. I now have a son, and I also now have a bed. A year ago I was not in a good place, I was homeless and living on the streets. This year has been filled with so much love it makes my heart melt. I feel so accomplished just being home with my family for the holidays. It is something we haven’t had in many years.

Of course with being around so many family, I’m sure many of you have experienced what I have experienced just today. People criticizing your parenting. Yep, it seems like every family member has their opinion on how you should raise your child, and while you know that you know best, many of them just do not understand. Today my grandmother had asked me why I hold my child all the time, I explained that having a close bond with his mother is good for his development, self-esteem, and confidence. She didn’t understand it, my grandma practiced Cry It Out method of parenting, she did schedules and couldn’t be further from the parenting style I practice.

The conversation went like this…

Grandma: Do you hold him all the time?

Me: Yes.

Grandma: Oh you shouldn’t do that, then he will want to be held all the time.

Me: Well i’m practicing Attachment Parenting style, it actually helps them become more confident and independent adults.

Grandma: Well it sure makes for dependent children.

I smiled and said, “I don’t mind.”

I wasn’t about to get into an argument with my Grandmother, someone who, I might add, I love and respect. I’m sure not going to take her parenting advice, however. 😀

My advice for the holiday season? When people try to criticize your parenting, smile, keep calm. Just tell them that your parenting style is what works best for your family, and let them know it is not up for discussion. Stand your ground, they will find something better to pick on your for (like what clothes you are wearing – or that new hair-do) Happy  Holidays everyone and remember what you are thankful for!

What are you thankful for?

 

Today was one of those days where the weather was just TOO good to not go outside. The sky was blue, the sun was shining, and there was quite a lovely breeze. I decided to go on some errands and put Rhythm in his carrier. I love carriers.

Speaking of carriers, you think it would be simple to find a carrier right? Wrong. Babies don’t work like that. I mean some do, sure. Some will go in whatever carrier you want. Some definitely won’t though. Like Rhythm, he just won’t do some of them. I always wanted to be a baby-wearing momma. I love being close to my baby, I love the wraps, those are probably my favorite. In the beginning, Rhythm LOVED that. He loved hearing my heartbeat and feeling the warmth of my body heat. It made him feel like he was in the womb again. I love that there are so many different way to wear a wrap. I had a Moby Wrap, it was cheap. If Rhythm liked it I probably bought another wrap from another momma that makes them and sells them instead of the bigger company. I should have done that to begin with – but I didn’t think about it. I believe that when you are buying wraps and ring slings – try to get them from the little at home businesses. We gotta help fellow mommas out at any chance possible.

The moby wrap.

So, the wrap was fantastic. so many positions, for me it was pretty comfortable – but as rhythm got older, he started doing this thing where he leans diagonally while in the wrap. I have no idea why, but this kid always trys to turn sideways. He does this when i’m holding him too. Kids are funny.

So, that didn’t really work, so we went and tried a ring sling, I got one from listia (which is a place you can get free stuff – its like a barter system – more on that later, join though because it rocks.)

Ring Sling

The Ring Sling did not work well with me, and I really wanted it to because it looked so cute. You can buy it homemade. Love it. Well, It didn’t work like that. Rhythm didn’t like to sit still while I adjusted it, which was overly complicated to me. I know with more practice I could probably get it down faster, but it just was too much of a hassle, and once I got Rhythm in it, he just wanted to be taken back out again. I couldn’t figure out how to nurse it it, either. Gr. What else could I try?

The back pack style carriers.. I have to say, I really didn’t like those. I thought they were ugly and bulky. Well, I was given an infantino ergonomic.

Infantino Ergonomic

Well, my son LOVES this one. It goes on quick, and it snuggles him close to the heart. Except the snap in the back is the ONE place in my back that I cant reach to clip, so I always have to have someone help me with it. Also, I don’t like the weird fabric on the outside. I just don’t. It IS however pretty soft on the inside (the part that your baby is feeling.) I did life though, that it is very easy to nurse in.

I’m trying to save up money to get an Ergo baby carrier, its cute and it has nice soft fabric, it is supposed to distribute the babies weight more evenly, you can nurse in it, and it has a sun shade. and a pocket, (pretty nifty!)

The organic Ergo in dessert bloom, I wannttttt it!

its super pricey though, there is some places online you can find it for discounted prices, but it still 99 dollars, yikes. A girl can dream though, can’t she?

A mom’s job requires at least 8 hands – and we usually only end up with one hand. Carriers at least give you 1 more. Think of how much you could get done with one extra hand than you usually do. This is why carriers rock.

Finding the right carrier might be a struggle, but it is worth it. Having two hands, and the added benefit of nursing discreetly. Big win.

Being a Crunchy Momma is something that seems so simple and right to me, and yet everywhere I turn people are criticizing my parenting style, apparently, people think if you love your kids too much its bad for them. They tell me I am “spoiling” my child.

Right, whatever, crazy. He is only 5 months old, babies when they are young need you and need to know that you are there for them. Letting them cry it out causes trust issues and problems with bonding – it causes children to act out because they do not feel loved and they do not feel secure.

People don’t understand that attachment parenting will actually help create more independent kids. Why? Because they will be secure and confident with themselves, allowing them to properly develop and become independent unique intelligent individuals.You cannot “spoil” a baby by loving them, you are supposed to love them. Infants are at the age where they are learning to trust you, and to trust the world. If they can’t trust you to take care of their needs, then they won’t trust the world. Which will lead to emotional instability.

So love your children, hold them, kiss them, and remember they will not be babies for long. you only get to be their everything for so long.. TREASURE IT! cuddle with them! Whenever people tell me that I am holding my child too much, I just say back, but I only have x more time to hold him like this! why would I waste it on worrying about other peoples stupid opinions? This is precious time!

tell me you wouldnt cuddle this little person right here!?

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