Safe Babywearing with Boba #FreedomTogether

Before I had my baby I was not well versed in safe babywearing because our media is filled with parents practicing unsafe babywearing.  We all see it: Dads with their babies strapped to them forward facing, going about their day.  I thought that was the kind of carrier that I would have to carry my baby in.  In fact, I even went out and bought one.  After a little research I found that forward facing carriers and carries was not something that I would like to subject my son too.

Boba, one of our favorite carriers, is the only company that exclusively sells baby carriers that keep the baby facing inward. Research shoes that carrying baby facing inward helps baby attach in a healthy way to parents and prevents hip dysplasia, allowing baby to stay safe and healthy, both physically and psychologically. Interested in learning more about attachment parenting? Dr. Sears is a great source.

Why is facing out not recommended:

1.  Facing forward does not support your baby's legs.  This does not allow for proper hip development.

2.  Facing forward makes it tough for the wearer to carry the baby.  Babies curve out when forward face versus hugging your body when facing inward.  This creates an awkward balance and makes the wearer arch their back while the baby is facing forward.

3. Facing forward places unnecessary pressure on the spine.  Since this position stretches the naturally convex rounded curve of the babies spine into a hollow back position it can compromise the spine.

4.  Front facing places undue pressure on the groin and may chafe the inner thighs of your baby.  I always compare forward facing to the comfort you experience in those harnesses while jumping on a trampoline at the mall.  It isn't comfortable.  Think about your little boy with all that pressure on his groin...not good.



Check out more reasons to not forward face here.


When you babywear correctly you are creating a great bond with your baby.  That time is also allowing you to be hands-free to allow you to complete tasks you may not have been able to while simply holding your child.  Boba has not only stayed true to its mission to promote safe babywearing, they have also made a carrier that fits great and has added features.  I love the additional straps on the shoulder of the Boba 3G, I have used them to attached toys and keep my purse on my shoulder.  The sliding back strap allows for me to put my baby in the carrier without help and makes it easy to adjust for comfort.  Although my baby isn't big enough to need them, Boba includes foot straps for older babies to add even more support.

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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba.  The opinions and text are all mine.

Santa's Little Helper Giveaway Hop: Boba Air! #SantasLilHelper

Welcome to the Santa's Little Helper Giveaway Hop, hosted by Viva Veltoro and So Easy Being Green!

We all know that everyone could use a little help around the Holidays, so for this Event I've teamed up with over 50 other bloggers to be your Santa's Little Helper... giving away prizes that anyone would want to see under the tree! You might find the perfect gift for a little one on your list - or even for yourself, so hop around to all the blogs, including the GRAND PRIZE, on the linky at the bottom of this post!

Happy Holidays!

In this Hop I have one of my items from the Travelin' Toddler Gift Guide.  What better gift for your tot on-the-go than a super compact carrier.  Boba brings your the Boba Air which is probably the smallest, lightest carrier I have seen to date.  Shauna is a  stay at home mom to one beautiful little girl.  She tells us about how the Boba Air fits into here babywearing repertoire.

I love to baby wear.  And thankfully, my baby loves it too!  We get snuggle time, while I am also getting things done. It is definitely a win win. I have used many carriers, including a ring sling, mei tai, and a wrap but the Boba 3G is definitely my favorite. So I was really excited to try the Boba Air!

 Baby wearing while running errands is a must! However, there have been a few times that I used a carrier in the house and forgot to put it back in the car. Every new mother knows that getting yourself and baby out the door and to your destination, is not the easiest thing.  Arriving there and realizing you forgot your baby carrier is the worst!

That’s what makes the Boba Air great!  It folds into itself and becomes a small zippered pouch that can easily be stored in your diaper bag to always have on hand.  It is made of 100% nylon so it is super lightweight - 0.7 pounds to be exact.  No need to worry about it weighing down your diaper bag!

The Boba Air goes on just like the Boba 3G and can be worn on your front or back. I have only worn it on my front so far, as my daughter is still too small to be worn on my back.

When I first saw the Boba Air, one thing that concerned me was its lack of cushioning.  I was afraid it wouldn not be very comfortable.  This turned out to be a non-issue.  Once I got it on and adjusted, both my little one and I were very comfortable.  It does take a little adjusting of the straps, tightening or loosening them, to get the proper fit.  I have used the Boba Air for 2+ hour trips to the mall with no complaints.

My baby is currently 15 lbs.  As she grows, I may not be wearing the Boba Air for extended periods of time (but who knows?!).  I do think it will still be a great carrier to have on hand for quick trips to the grocery store or Target.  I also think it will be great in the summer because it is thin and lightweight and will help keep us both cool.  Since it is nylon, it can get wet and will dry quickly making it the perfect carrier to bring to the beach or the pool. 

Because of its convenience, compact size, and ease of use, I now use the Boba Air more than any other carrier.  I’m so glad I have this versatile carrier in my collection!  Want to buy a Boba Air?  Head over to Boba's website or pick one up on Amazon.  You are also able to enter to win one below!

The Hosts of this Hop have put together a Grand Prize Package for a lucky little one! This Santa's Little Helper is going to deliver to one lucky reader... a $100 Gift Card to jrfashionista.com and a $100 Gift Card to Pediped.com to get that little one styling, a $75 Gift Card to Hearthsong.com and a $50 GC to Build-a-Bear to satisfy their Toy List, and a Crane USA Adorable Cool Mist Humidifier and Nightlight so they can sleep soundly waiting on St. Nick!

Enter the Grand Prize Here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway


So Easy Being Green, Viva Veltoro, the Blogging Mamas Network, and the Santa’s Little Helper participating bloggers are not responsible for sponsors who do not fulfill prize obligations.

Babywearing: How it gets me through play time

On this rainy Saturday Nugget decided that he wanted to do a blog post on the benefits of babywearing to educate all the others on how he solves his day to day problems.  When I want to play and Baby needs attention, I babywear.

Tightening your rails is key to achieving the height I got in this ruck

I like to keep Baby close and safe on my back as to not interfere with my daily activities.  Her hips are properly supported and she is up high so she can enjoy play time as well.  When the unthinkable happens and a Weeble wobbles and does fall down, I am thankful for babywearing because I can pick him right up again.

Oh No! Let's pick up the Weeble

When Baby was just born she preferred a front cross carry but since she has learned great head control we have been mastering back carries.  My favorite is a simple ruck because it doesn't take much time and I am able to use mommy's scarf because I don't need a lot of length.  Baby loves it back there and sometimes during playtime she falls asleep.

Baby sounds asleep during playtime

I always make sure she has a clear airway and then I keep on playing.  While babywearing I can keep Baby happy and learn my shapes, colors and my ABCS all at the same time.  I am such a great multitasker.  When I go to play dates all the other kids are struggling trying to hold their Babies and shake their rattles.  I struggle with spreading the message about babywearing as I know it isn't for everyone.  Usually I just shout from my boppy, "Carry them!"

This is me spreading the word

Boba 3G Review

Disclosure: I am have received the Boba 3G in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are 100% my own.

If you follow my blog, you know I am in the camp of -You can only hold your babies for so long-.  To facilitate this, being that I have an 18 pound baby, I babywear and I babywear frequently.  Need to do the dishes...babywear.  Need to fold laundry...babywear.  Dufda says he couldn't get anything done...Why didn't you put the baby in his carrier?  It is the solution to many issues and the savior to any hope my house will be clean again.  I think 95.% of new moms have said, "My baby only wants to be held, I can't get anything done, what should I do?"  Put that baby in a carrier and get on with your life.  Now that I have stepped off my babywearing soap box...Which carrier should you get?  The options are endless: wrap, woven, ring sling, mei tei, soft structure carrier.  Believe we have tried them all.

The one that we are reviewing today is the Boba Carrier 3G.  This is a soft structured carrier (SSC), which means there is no wrapping involved and will use buckles to secure the baby to your body.  At first look you may think that this is similar to other SSC, but there are definitely some upgrades that makes the Boba stand out from the crowd.

The Boba is versatile:  Most SSC's require an infant insert to carry a smaller baby, the Boba does not require that.  If your newborn is over 7 pounds, you are able to carry them in the Boba. 

 Since we touched on one end of the spectrum, what about older babies?  The Boba has removable foot straps to keep their legs in a comfortable position.  The straps will also maintain the correct seat to ensure no additional stress is put on the hips or spine.  The body of the Boba is also a little higher than most carriers.  This provides support to taller babies and keeps your center of gravity closer to your body.

Front Carry:



Back Carry:

The Boba is easy to use:  One of the biggest complaints I have with SSC's is that I can't get the back strap done with a front carry.  Boba has a back strap with an adjustable height.  I am able to let out the straps completely, put Nugget in the carrier and comfortably buckle and tighten the back strap.  Boba has a complete list on instructions for all carries available.  Since the Boba is easy to use....

The Boba is Daddy Friendly:  I have been trying to get Dufda to babywear to make his life easier from the beginning.  The problem is that most of my carriers are feminine.  When I was choosing the color for the Boba, I went with solid black because you can't go wrong with black.  He also agreed that he would have worn the gray as well if I would have went in that direction.  Dufda was able to put Nugget up in the carrier and go grocery shopping all by himself.  The other day I came home from work and he greeted me at the door...baby in the Boba...Dinner on the table.

The Boba is perfect for an on the go mom:  This carrier has a front pocket that will easily hold your phone.  It also has shoulder straps that will secure a purse or diaper bag and keep them from falling down.  The look is sleek because it hugs your child.  This makes it less bulky than other carriers.  You are able to do a front or back carry with the Boba.  Back is my favorite because it allows for more freedom while going about my day.  Front is great if you would need to nurse while on the go.  You can loosen the arm straps to drop your baby down and give him access to the breast.  The Boba has a removable hood as well, for naps or to provide some extra coverage while nursing.

The Boba is made for just about everyone:  The Boba is extremely adjustable.  The waistband can range from 25"-58" and is made for people who are between 5'0 - 6'3.  The fit was an issue for me at the beginning.  I have narrow shoulders and felt like the straps were going to keep slipping.  After using it more, I was able to fix this issue with the back strap positioning.  I was also able to put it on and off by myself by using the sliding back strap.

I have started to like the Boba so much that I have rarely used my wraps since I received this carrier.  It definitely has a small learning curve, but after you get the fit right, it is very comfortable and looks great on.  My one small complaint...it collects everything.  We have a big white dog and the Boba is now covered in dog hair.

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Disclosure: I am have received the Boba 3G in exchange for an honest review.  The opinions are 100% my own.

I am 5 months old!

Outfit is the making of Haddon & Co.  Head over to Facebook and like their page because their stuff is seriously adorable!

Yep, freaking adorable!

Nugget weighs: about 17lbs...bathroom scale, so not exact

Nugget is wearing:  He still fits in his 12 month clothes

Nugget's Firsts this month:  Nuggie found his feet and that is all in terms of milestones, but I am pretty tired so I could be forgetting some

Nugget's Adventures:
This month was a month of sight seeing for Nugs.  We took an impromptu trip to Mill Creek Botanical Gardens and looked at all the flowers.  Nugget loved all the colors and water fountains.

We also took a short little hike with Nugget's cousin through the Laurel Highlands and came to this wonderful water fountain.  Nugget loved it because it sounded just like his sleep sheep.

We got Nugget's five month pictures taken and everyone loves them!  Here are some of the highlights:

There is a name for this?....I thought it was called I love my child

Attachment Parenting.  Why do they create and label things thus stereotyping individuals even further. 

I feel like we are exposed to our parents style of, well, parenting.  This usually consists of the ideas that the baby needs to cry it out, or at least cry for some period of time.  I have been told this is good for their lungs.  With this parenting style you are normally told that you don't want to hold your baby too much because it will spoil them.  Most of these babies were sent to the nursery after birth.  They were probably put in a crib by themselves the first night they were home.  While this was very common in our parents days, it still lives on...but not in my household.

I never needed someone to teach me to be a parent and frankly I don't need someone's help with my baby.  I had developed a way I would like to raise my child from what I believed.  I also make sure that when making a decision that it is what I feel is right and not what I am told is right.  For this reason, while I was giving birth no one was allowed in the room as a visitor who had previously given birth.  When we went home, no one was allowed to come to our house unless they were invited.  I wanted Dufda and I to be able to make mistakes and develop a parenting style that was right for us and not led by others information.  Yes, I may be stubborn.  Yes, my mother thinks I am crazy sometimes and other times flat out wrong.  

My family's style of parenting would be considered "Attachment Parenting" .  I hate that they have now created a name for this because it makes your parenting style "the latest trend", when in reality it is just what comes natural to you.

My bond with Nugget was formed immediately by him being placed on my bare chest the moment he was born.  He was never moved to do test or taken to a nursery so someone else could care for him.  This made breastfeeding very simple for us.  Breastfeeding was hard at the beginning, but now I am hooked.  I love the breastfeeding bond and even at just three months old, I get sad that one day he won't want to eat this way.

When we brought Nugget home, I could not fathom putting him in his nursery.  Yes, I had spent months preparing this room for him and made sure he had crib to sleep in, but why after carrying him around for 9 months would I want to away from him or him from me.  He doesn't.  We co-slept and bed shared because it felt right.  I don't like to sleep by myself so I couldn't imagine making my baby sleep by himself unless he chose to do so.

Babies love to be tight and close to you and this is why we babywear a lot.  Nugget will always nap when wrapped.  It also lets them see the world from your perspective which is a lot better than laying in a car seat or swing all day.  Babies that are worn cry 53% less than their counterparts that aren't.   And really, who doesn't love to have two hands free.

Speaking of crying...I would never let my baby cry it out.  If a baby cries it is because it needs something.  They lack the ability to manipulate you at this age.  Babies can also not self soothe until 4 months old.  To me, there is no reason for a baby to cry.  I, as his mother, can fix it.  I cringe when I here about parents letting their babies cry it out.  How awful to be a little human who can't talk and to learn that you only mode of communication is now being ignored.

Finally, I do not follow a set schedule nor should my child.  I will not force Nugget into something that he didn't lean towards on his own.  Nugget had essentially made his own schedule, but he is able to change it up whenever he needs to.  

I wish the world would stop telling us that we need to put our babies down, let them cry, don't nurse on demand, and stop spoiling them.  We just love our children and feel that this is best.