Baby-Wearin' Mama
February 08, 2010
Last night I arrived home from attending Blissdom, entirely worn out from a fun-filled weekend of learning and networking with other bloggers. I attended BlogHer last year as an enormously pregnant woman, so this was my first time to attend a conference with baby in tow. And while it was a little extra effort, it was the most awesome experience ever.

Most of the the first day, I wore Rayah in my Moby sling - an 18-foot long piece of fabric that wraps Rayah securely against me. And until now, it's been my favorite sling. But this is the problem: since giving birth, my internal thermostat has heated up. I've changed from a woman who curls up in a blanket mid-summer (in Texas!) to someone who wears t-shirts in 60-degree weather. So having an 18-foot piece of fabric wrapped around (and around, and around) me gets kind of...hot.
That, and Rayah really dislikes being in a sling of any kind if I'm sitting down. (Does anyone else have this issue? Is it just Rayah?) When I was sitting during one of the sessions, Rayah was usually sitting on my lap playing or lying on a blanket, playing (I mean, as much as five-month-olds play. This mostly involved dropping her toy and looking around her). If she got fussy, we'd step out into the hallway for a minute until she calmed down. The third time I stepped out into the hallway, a MomBlogger I'd been talking to earlier in the day followed me out. I was Having Issues, and she was there to help.
See, Jessie also works for DittanyBaby.com, a company that makes and sells the Mei Tai sling. She followed me into the hallway, sling in hand. While I held Rayah, Jessie showed me how to wear the sling. And then? Then she told me to that I could HAVE the sling. You guys! This sling is magical!

First: it is not hot, because it has simple straps that hold it in place, not 18 feet of fabric.
Second: Two minutes later, Rayah was asleep. And she STAYED asleep for the rest of her naptime. And then everyone commented on the magicalness of a baby who slept. EVEN AFTER I SAT DOWN. (!)
I wore the sling the rest of the conference, and have been wearing it again since I've been home. Jessie, you're an angel, and I'm an official Mei Tai convert. Thank you so, so much for all your help throughout the weekend!
As for all of the other amazing women I met over the weekend, I'll be linking them here soon. I love having new additions in my feed reader!



Comments
OMG I have been wanting one of those. I have been trying to pysch myself up to spending the $$ on it...I was thinking I should have it by BlogHer!! Good to know...
I have also heard that the Ergo is awesome. I am having trouble deciding.
Posted by: Jenny B | February 8, 2010 02:33 PM
Jenny B: I've heard wonderful things about the Ergo, too. Next time we get together, I'll bring the Mei Tai so you can try it out. It's reversible, so Asher can wear the houndstooth side. That way he won't feel too de-masculinized with all the hot pink. :)
Posted by: chirky | February 8, 2010 02:38 PM
Dimples!!!
Posted by: Roger | February 8, 2010 08:46 PM
I was just chatting with my friend about this today at lunch . Don't remember how in the world we got on the topic actually , they brought it up. I do recall having a excellent steak salad with cranberries on it. I digress...
Posted by: new proxies | February 9, 2010 09:56 PM
Holy cow Rayah is so freakin cute! P.S. I hate to be the first to say it but your boob looks GINORMOUS in that baby mai tai thingy!
Posted by: bianca | February 9, 2010 10:07 PM
SO cute! That sling is adorable! I might be buying one of these for my best friend!
Posted by: my life is brilliant | February 11, 2010 10:15 PM
I'm so glad we were able to help! Rayah is just the cutest thing :)
Posted by: Jessie | February 16, 2010 01:44 AM
You two are SO cute. Gah.
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