Ditch the Stroller, Get the Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Sling!

Navigating crowded (or even uncrowded) areas with a baby or toddler can be frustrating. Strollers, the conventional means of transporting small children in public places, are often more trouble than they're worth-pedestrians fail to see the stroller and run into it or trip over it (causing an increase in parental blood pressure), they are often difficult to maneuver through crowds, and are virtually useless for outdoor treks (ever try a nature hike with a stroller? Don't.). The solution to keeping your baby safe and close, while keeping your hands free? The Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Sling. No, really, stick with me! I was a skeptic, too!

The Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Sling is a specially designed fabric sling that can be worn in a variety of ways to ensure comfortable baby-carrying. The sling is a sturdy piece of fabric doubled over, leaving a "hammock" for baby to sit or sleep in (sounds basic, yes? Not really.). The sling comes in three different sizes, and each sling is also adjustable so that the wearer can make the fit as snug or relaxed as desired.

The best feature of the Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Sling is its versatility. The accompanying instructional CD demonstrates a variety of ways the sling can be worn- a child can be carried on the hip (my personal favorite), on the front, or on the back. Your child can face out and see the world, or take a snooze against your chest. There are many different methods demonstrated, but don't let this intimidate you: the sling wearer doesn't need to get too fancy with the babywearing-- most users find a carrying position or two that works for them and sticks with it. But be warned: the instructional CD makes it look like a piece of cake to insert a small child into a sling. It is not easy, initially. It takes some practice to wedge a floppy baby or a squirming toddler (who is wearing shoes) into a sling. Once that child is in there, though, the bliss you will experience as you realize that your child cannot run into a busy freeway is priceless.

Did I mention that when you wear the Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Sling, you have your hands free? Try doing that with a stroller. You can pick things up. You can scratch your face. You can pull your hair back into a ponytail when your child amuses herself by pulling your hair out at the root (a peril of being in such close proximity to your child). You can eat. Again- child very, very close to you, so be prepared to share. There's usually plenty of extra room in the sling to toss in an extra bottle, snack, diapers, and a baggie of wipes. For shorter excursions, the diaper bag can be ditched altogether. The sling has proved invaluable in trips to the airport-- no running the stroller through the security checkpoint!

Another benefit of slinging is proximity to and easy access to your child (except for the occasional hair-pulling and food stealing incidents as mentioned above). Your child can see you, make eye contact with you, and talk to you. "Checking in" with your child can be more difficult when they face away from you in a stroller. Though having a child attached to your person may sound limiting and uncomfortable, most people who use slings find the opposite to be true.

Some may balk at the $49.95 price tag. An umbrella stroller, by comparison, costs about $25. One of those monstrous, SUV-sized strollers will cost you well over $100. The price of the Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch sling is more than justified when one considers that it can be used for years. One sling will see your newborn all the way through the toddler years- the sling supports weight up to 35 pounds. It does not consume trunk space (in fact, it can be folded up small enough to fit into a quart-size Ziploc bag-I just tried. Don't ask me why). Further, the resale value of Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouches is such that one could conceivably sell a two-year old used sling for $35. I did. And if you don't like your Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch, let them know- they're guaranteed.

One last word of advice: if you live in Arizona, land of blazing sun, do not select the black Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch, no matter how well it matches most of your wardrobe. Not that I would have done something so impractical. I'm just saying- there are a wide variety of patterns and colors, and in fact, many sling wearers buy a couple to accommodate season and wardrobe changes. Find a style that suits you, and enjoy your family outings a little more.