Poe Wovens Merlot Herringbone

I got the amazing pleasure of getting to try this wrap that has already been broken in with the love of so many mamas on its travels. It is great to be able to compare this with the ring sling that just left that was still very new. 

This wrap gets so very soft! but still has no sag and retains its strength when broken in. It passed the "ruck test" with my 40 lb'er without an issue at all. 

The support of this wrap is something that is usually accompanied with bulk or thickness, but this wrap is amazingly moldable and not overwhelming. I don't often encounter wraps at this point in our babywearing journey that appeal to my preference for thinner wraps (that are moldable) and can still offer the support that is needed when carrying heavier children.

The color is subtle and classy (things I am not ;) ) but still maintains the boldness of the pattern with the contrast of the colors. This would make both a great everyday wrap and a more dressy wrap. 

This is a wrap that can take you through your babywearing days. From newborn to preschooler it offers both the softness and support to keep your babies close as long as you want. 

Poe Wovens Herringbone Lake Ring Sling Review

I've never owned or used a herringbone wrap and when I opened this traveler it was not what u was expecting! It was strong and solid in hand and had a bit of give to it. 

After a wash and dry I found it to be way more supportive in a ring sling then I was prepared for! My son is tittering on the 40lb line and to be quite frank I wasn't expecting much from a ring sling. But it was solid and supportive and hugged my son's booty in the sling with an amazing floppiness that I didn't expect from the feel in hand. 

The pleats are beautiful and well thought out. 

We are not fancy people but I feel this could really be worn dressed up or our usual casualness. Yes it's blue, yes I hate blue, but there's something really beautiful about the contrast of the weave that I find really appealing even despite the color itself. 

This wrap really shines as a ring sling for heavier babies, toddlers, and on into the preschool years. Its also soft enough that it would make a good ring sling for a younger baby, so a great long term wearing investment. 

(Disclaimer: I wore and loved this ring sling for a solid two weeks but my main wearee is on an anti-babywearing photo kick so the pictures are of my middle baby who loves having his picture taken.) 

Ovolo Fletching Review

Wrap size: 6 

Length: 4,91

Width: 68 cm

True to size: Measures long but wraps true to size.

Weight: 1243 grams

Blend: 100% cotton

Age/weight of wrappee: 2.5 years and 40lbs / 4 years and 35lbs

Thank you North DFW Babywearers for letting me borrow this wrap!

(https://www.facebook.com/NorthDFWBabywearers)

I'm not particularly moved by the pattern of this wrap but I could see how others who have calmer taste then I would like this. I also really dislike blue (no seriously its the worst of the colors!), but this is a really pretty blue if you have to wear blue. But I'm not here for the looks of this wrap I'm really moved by the wrapping qualities! I'm really impressed (and for me that says a lot).

If I were to only use one word to explain this wrap it would be SMOOSH! (I mean look at it it just LOOKS smooshy!) From first feel in hand, to first wrap, and then into an hour long shopping trip, that word describes this wrap again and again. Its just smooshy! Its the kind of wrap that makes you want to rub it on your cheek (thats a normal feeling right?) because its so soft. 

I do NOT sandwich my shoulders (personal preference) which usually causes pressure points in thicker wraps with my chunk. With this wrap even wrapping my dead weight sleeping toddler on my back straight from the car in a less then stellar wrap job I barely even felt the wrap on my shoulders. Being that my child is 40 lbs I can no longer even think about using the term "weightless", but I have a feeling this wrap is about as close to that feeling as we can get. 

Again for a chest pass all I can think is “smoosh”, because I realize this isn’t a very technical term I’ll add that its “moldable” and has amazing bounce to it. I was able to tighten my chest pass without restricting my chest. The passes glide into place with almost the stretch of Nati bamboo without the inevitable sag. The carry stays supportive and solid while still soft and comfortable.

I did find slight annoyance that the wrap doesn't have enough grip to hold a single knot but is way too thick to double knot. This was easily bypassed by just doing knotless finishes though; so I would keep that in mind if you are looking to purchase in the decision on what size to get. 

While I think this wrap would be stellar from newborn to toddler and beyond I personally would not recommend it for a new wrapper. Between the thickness of the wrap and the bounce/stretch that is has it may seem overwhelming for a newer wrapper that doesn’t know how to handle those qualities. 

Obimama Custom Wrap Conversion Half Buckle Review and pictures

Obimama Wrap Conversion Half Buckle Review

One day the clouds parted and there was a magical ray of light!! YOU'VE WON A CUSTOM OBIMAMA!! I won my slot from a photo scavenger hunt but there are other (many ways) of scoring either a slot or pre-made Obimama (see her blog post here: http://www.obimama.com/1757/in-the-news/how-do-i-get-an-obimama/).

I'd been on the hunt for a custom WCHB slot for a while (for the idea that would become my Obi) and I'll admit I was skeptical of the whole Obimama hype... All the pictures I'd seen were gorgeous! But could this carrier really live up to the hype? I have a lower back injury and I've NEVER been able to get buckle carriers or Mei Tai's to work for me for too long without pain.

So I tracked down the wrap I'd been dreaming of my WCHB being made of! and off it was shipped to Jen! Who then ... Ok prepare yourself because I love this! ... set up a time to CALL ME! To discus my custom. What options I wanted, the appliqué I wanted on the hood, and made sure she understood how I wanted my appliqué. Her attention to detail just during this conversion got me excited! I knew it was going to be just how I wanted it and beautiful!

I honestly can't recall the exact turn around time but I believe it was about a week and a half from the phone call to getting my carrier in the mail. I'm pretty sure I've never been so excited for a package! This was it! The custom I'd been dreaming of having made for so long! In.my.hands!



And yes it was perfect! And beautiful! And BETTER then I had even imagined (the mustache appliqué had hair! So creative!)

So the real test? How did it work? Was it comfortable? Would my back ache like carries I'd tried in the past?

It was wonderful! My Obi is a short stage 2 with XL straps (for my very tall husband we'll get to him in a minute) and no extra 3rd layer. What the lack of a third layer or extra linen support means for me? It molds like I wrap. It is soft and snuggly and I can get a perfect tight carry with re-enforcement passes and wear it for HOURS!



I also got the Zen straps. These have all the comfort of padded straps but still all the wrapping and finishing options of wrap straps! Because they spread like wrap straps if am doing a front carry I'm able to spread the straps across my back to distribute the weight of my babies.



Now my husband. The man that no matter what I tried would not use any carrier really but his BabyHawk OhSnap... Is now a convert! He will always choose the Obi over the OhSnap! And because he is not a wrapper he just wears it like a Mei Tai (no re-enforcement passes just over and then under the legs) he uses it for hours walking around with both my 10 month old (21 lbs) and my 27 month old (27 lbs).



So in short. Obimamas totally live up to the hype! Not only are they lovingly sewn and beautiful wearable works of art... They are functional and comfortable carriers!!