Lifft Sling Review Part 1. The Little Sling with BIG ideas!!

So I have the absolute pleasure of reviewing the very different Lifft Sling. 

http://www.lifftslings.com

Price - from £34.99 to £54.99. 

The following initial review will look at the ease, comfort, style, safety and practicality of the Lifft Sling as well as some of the points that make it so unique. 

So.... What does the Lifft Sling promise?? 

This sling promises to be unique, in the sence it actually improves your posture. It promises to be better for you than simply carrying your baby.

Brilliant!! 

With such a claim I was so excited to start playing with this sling. 

I quickly started making a simple pros and cons list to help me with this review. I did this because I've never used a sling like this, and really needed to get to grips with its best bits. 

So here is that list..... 

Pros. 

It is sized to fit you - no buckles, no adjusting. 

It's SUPER EASY to put on. 

Very comfortable. 

Lovely style and colours available. 

Baby is snug at a young age. 

Very good for Breastfeeding!! Win! 

Does feel good on the back. 

I think this will be amazing with bigger children! 

Very good price!! 

Cons. 

It's sized to fit you.... Meaning your partner or anyone else cannot wear it :( 

Lack of adjusting buckles means it can move out of place. 

Centre of gravity is put out of balance with baby's weight spread across body. 

Not convinced it's the best sling for baby's posture. 

[My] Baby slips down the sling - possible sizing problem. 

Ok.... Those are the basics. And I think at this point I should mention that my next review will be based on the use of this sling with a toddler. I am really looking forward to that!! 

So what can we get from those basic points?? 

I think, the fact that the sling is sized to fit the wearer has massive potential to be wonderful. It means that you don't have to worry about tying it tight, or adjusting straps, or concern yourself with it coming loose. 

It makes it the easiest sling I have ever worn. All you have to do is fold it in half and put your arm through it!! I don't think it could be easier!! 

This is reflected in the size of the instructions.... One leaflet.... In comparison to the novels I've had in the past!! (I had a picture of this but I can't find it...!) 

But - and this, for me and my husband, is quite a big deal - it means that nobody else can wear it. 

I know for many baby wearers this will be minor - how often does someone else wear your baby. But for me, even if it's just once a week, my husband does enjoy wearing a sling, and with this one he can't. 

I also think there is the issue of changing shape and size post birth. If you were to purchase a Lifft Sling post birth at a size 14, and then lost weight, you may end up not having a safe sling, having to pay out for another. It could become an expensive habit - whereas if you bought an adjustable sling, this wouldn't happen.

Sizing aside, the ease and comfort of the Lifft sling is undeniable. It's like nothing I've ever worn before, and this alone is worth it. 

I very much enjoyed using this sling for Breastfeeding also!! It's always fabulous when you find a product that links both of your mummy passions. And this really does combine the two. 

I can see how this sling would really help a new mum who was perhaps a little apprehensive about feeding in public. It gives good coverage whilst allowing you to feed comfortably and securely. 

I recommend testing this at home a few times first though just to get your latch and comfort right. 

I think the lady point I'll make before exploring this sling further with a toddler next week, is about it's claim to improve your posture. 

There is no doubt that it feels secure and comfortable on your back and shoulders (assuming the size is correct) and you don't ache after using it..... But.... I found that with babies weight spread across my body in this way, that my centre of gravity was a little off in comparison to using a sling where she would be worn at my centre. 

The claim that it improves your posture is correct, but it is in comparison to simply carrying your baby, not in comparison to other sling types. 

And this is where I am looking forward to using it with a toddler!! 

I can see how valuable it will be with an older child, and so at the weekend, I shall be visiting my beautiful god daughter and we will be playing with the sling together!! 

Can't wait!! Come back next week for the next part of the review. 

X

Emma-Jane Maternity Wear Review Part 1.

So, for a week now I've been wearing and testing two products from Emma-Jane Maternity.  

http://www.emma-jane.com

The first is nursing/maternity bra (style 365 black - £12.00 RRP) 

and the second Nursing vest top (style 821 black RRP £12.99) 

In this initial review I will be looking at the very basic positives of these items, looking at comfort, style and practicality. In reviews to come throughout the week I will delve deeper into their durability, sizing and any other points I may come across!! 

Bra - Size One Cup Only (I usually wear 34 E) 

What the website says - 

http://www.emma-jane.com/nursing-bra-365.htm

So the big claim with this bra, is that, with one cup size, it is great for maternity and nursing, as it grows with you.... I have to say I have not seen this before, so I was looking forward to seeing if it delivers. The website says it is low in price and super comfortable.... lets find out shall we!!
So the first thing I notice about the bra, is just how comfortable and soft it is - there is absolutely no denying its claim there. It is soft, stretchy and seemingly durable (although I will cover this again once washed). It has the standard nursing clasps attached to the straps, which are easily undone with one hand - a must have for nursing mothers!! 
                  

It is was I would call a 'T-shirt' Bra - it is seamless and is great for going under t-shirts, no extra lumps or bumps.... because no nursing mother I know wants any more lumps and bumps!! And again, this does make it incredibly soft! 

The bra has removable pads (for style and comfort, not horrible leaks), but I have not used these, as, well, I just do not need them to be any bigger thank you very much, but.... I can see how maybe using them on a cold day may be beneficial, so I will try them out when the weather is a little chillier (not long to wait!!) 

The bra also has 4 clasp settings which, in any other bra you buy on the high street, means that you SHOULD start on the loosest clasp and as the bra gets older you start using the clasps to make it smaller (as the elastic loosens). However with this one being one size, I have found that I have started on the tightest clasp. I will review this as part of the durability later on. 

During the initial week of wearing this bra when I can, I have come up with two points for consideration, both from personal choice and opinion, and most like come from the size of my chest. 

1 - unlike some of my more pricey nursing bras, this bra does not have a piece of fabric going over the top of the breast when you unclip to nurse. So, for me, it means most of my breast is on show, and I have to cover it up using one of my many methods!! This is only a little thing, but something that personally, makes me feel much more comfortable. 

2 - having such a big bust but relatively 'little' else where, means that I find (and have always found) I need much more support in the bras I wear than others might. So although this absolutely would grow with me, and I can see the benefit of that, for me personally, I feel that I need a little more support. This was more so when I was rolling around on the floor with Dotty at play group.... nothing was revealed.... but felt I needed to check....! 

Having said this, I do think the general comfort could out weigh these points for the majority of people. I would certainly say it is comfy enough to sleep in, wear during the day, and under pretty much anything you want!!

I am very impressed overall. Lets see when next week brings us. 

Vest Top - Size 10-12. 

What the website says - http://www.emma-jane.com/nursing-top-821.htm#

So the very bold claim that I 'won't be able to live without one' has got me hooked..... lets see shall we! 

   

Sorry for the dodgy photo's by the way! I got too excited!! So my first impressions of this were that, once again, the material was incredibly soft!! So so soft! I loved it. It is made using lycra, so I knew it would be nice and stretchy, plus it has 'Cool Plus Technology'...now I have no idea what that is but it sounds ace!! Those of you who have read older posts will know that I have never owned a nursing top - I went to a well known cheap high street clothing store when Dot was born, and bought a white, black and grey adjustable strappy top, and they have been my staple every since. They go under EVERYTHING! Even when it was scorching hot, I was wearing layers!! So this top for me, might have just been a revelation! It has a bra built into the top, so no need to wear a bra with it.... and unlike the actual bra, I feel incredibly supported! I think this is due to the sizing of the top more than anything else. The straps are adjustable, so this helps with getting the right amount of support, and unlike the bra again, the top has fabric running across the top of the breast when nursing, so it is a little more discreet.

I wear my vest tops under garments, so I instantly placed another top over it, and it worked much the same as my other tops did, as a layer, for the week. And with it being lycra, it kept it shape well, as I tried it with different outfits. 

Ok... so far.... so good.... It comes in loads of colours, so I could have one for every different outfit if I needed one!! It is easy to wear, goes with my style, is very practical indeed, and is discreet. 

From my first week of wearing it, these are my points to look out for, and again, this may be to do with my size and shape, and personal preference, and should not be taken as 'negatives' on the product!! 

1 - I am a size 12-14 generally (which I do not like by hey!) and the sizing on the vests are either 10-12 or 14-16..... hmmmmm...... tricky! I was sent a 10-12, and personally, I think, had I tried them on, I would have gone for the next size up for a few reasons. Firstly, my bust size.... again! Although I am support, you will see in my next point when I mean. Secondly, I am always pulling tops down if I don't feel comfortable, or I don't think they are long enough. The top was plenty long enough, but I personally felt a little self conscious and constantly pull it down. Now the DO SELL a long version (style 822) of the vest top... so if you are like me, then I would go for that one!! 

2 - Because of my bust size (again....) and the fact that the built in bra is not sized, I keep finding this happens...... 

And although not annoying at first..... it really is now!! The bra support inside constantly needs adjusting, and not just after feeding. I am almost certain, that had I got the bigger size, I wouldn't be having this problem, but you can see how it might become tiresome.... especially when wearing with a cardigan or shirt!! 

Again, I genuinely think these snags, are a sizing issue, so make sure you read the sizing instructions carefully before purchasing!! 

Other than that, I cannot recommend the vest highly enough. It is wonderfully comfortable to wear, easy to us, and very discreet...... now to get a few more colours I think (in the bigger size of course!!) 

Now... whilst everything is in the wash..... I need wine!! 

Join me during the week for the second part of the review :) 

x

One baby, one day, two slings.

So, this weekend, I went on an epic journey to visit my brother and his lady. 5 hours in the car is NEVER my idea of fun, especially when the journey should take no longer than 3hours!! 

Add a baby into the mix, and it's just a panic filled experience resulting in road-side breastfeeding, screaming child and grumpy parents. 

In reality we were incredibly lucky that Dot slept for so long in the car and nuclear meltdown only lasted a few minutes. 

So, in, fed, and rested we spent Saturday having walks and funs with the slings. Babywearing a plenty!! 

And it was fabulous. 

I finally got to grips with the moby!! As you can see, Dot is snug as a bug, and enjoying her new hat from her uncle. 

Now, clearly, not every sling is going to be suitable for everyone. Different shapes and sizes of wearers and babies will change the comfort for both, and as babies grow, the use of the sling will change. 

So although the moby has been successfully worn, I think, due to having an incredibly long baby, it's just not for us. 

With a long baby, it would seem that the way you wrap it means that little heads don't have anywhere to rest. As you can see here, although comfy, Dot's head can't tuck on nicely. 

Now I've tried different positions and I get the same problem. So, I think, for us, it's not an everyday sling. But I do highly recommend it for comfort, and finally, for being able to put it on on your own!! 

I do like this sling a lot!! It's soft and easy to wear (once you've got the hang of it!) and it can keep you lovely and warm!! 

So, sling two. Hop-tye. 

I love this sling. 

It's so easy. Even my husband managed it. 

Says a lot really. 

Dot sits very well in it. Her hips are supported, as is her back and shoulders. 

And the little hood means that when she starts getting sleepy, her head rests in me, and I can keep her head steady. Good really seen as she constantly falls asleep in this wonderful sling!! 

The back panel means that putting the sling on is very easy. There is only one way to do it, only one place for the baby, very few areas to get wrong. 

Now I know from doing some research, that slings like this (mei tye), that wearer size can alter there ease, so I massively recommend trialling with a test baby whenever you can..... Clearly I'd say this for any sling, but there is less give in this one as opposed to the moby, so probably more room for 'size issues'. 

I've got the hop-tye for another few weeks so I am going to continue using it daily and in different environments to test it's durability within different situations. But, so far, so good!! 

And if she's happy, I'm happy. 

Bring back the tiny days.... Moby review continued.

So, I have been attempting the Moby Wrap sling again.... and I have to be honest, I am really struggling with it.

With someone to help me, it is absolutely fine, but on my own, which you know is my objective here, I am really struggling....

I have had this sling since Dot was born, it was a gift, and I would like to go back to the tiny days when she fit snug inside, no legs poking out, fast asleep, cosy as can be.

I did not make enough of this time!!

Instead, I pushed her around in her very expensive pram, and didn't enjoy the freedom that a sling can give you.

Now.... I am really nearly about to give up on this one....

I had some lovely support and help on Twitter, but even with that, I am finding it tough to get Dot to stay put once it is on. There just doesn't seem to be enough support. Something which is crucial for baby wearing. And is I am not happy with the sling on, then she is not going to be happy with it on.

It is so soft, and potentially snuggly that I don't want to give up on it just yet. It has so much to give, so much so, that I am going to sit here and watch you-tube videos until I have cracked it.....

I know what your thinking.... should sling be such hard work??

I'll get back to you on that one....


Sling Make - www.mobywrap.com

Initial Moby Review.

Let me tell you where I'm at with the moby.....

When Dot was tiny, myself and the husband used this wrap a few times, and seemed ok with it. But as she got bigger, and more importantly longer, it became more tricky. So I thought I'd actively try and use this wrap for a month and use it to review. 

My main objective for every baby wearing sling is that I can put it on ON MY OWN with ease..... 

Definitely not there yet in that sense!! 

There are two types of hold you can do, this one in the kangaroo hold. A wrap I'm able to do on my own, but with some problems. 

One of the key checks to do when wearing a sling like this is 'can I kiss my baby on the head??' 

Urm.... No..... No I can't.

Now I'm certain this is because I've not wrapped it properly, so I'm not giving up yet!! 

I've clearly not got the hang of it yet. It's not right enough, so as I move she lollops about and feels quite unsupported, and quite quickly slips down my body. 

I always feel like I need one hand on her, unlike the hop-tye which I'm very confident being hands free. I think the main issue here is the hop-tye has a clear back panel/support, the moby doesn't, you make it yourself, and I'm obviously not doing it right....

 Having said this, Dot clearly enjoyed it. After a horrible day feeling sorry for herself, she soon calmed down when snugly in this soft sling. 

I'm really hoping to crack this one, as I'd love it to work for me!! 

Let's keep going......


Sling Make - http://www.mobywrap.com 

There's nothing quite like....

The feeling of being at home. 

You can be away for a weekend, a day, an hour, and there's still that sigh of relief that comes from familiarity. 

For us, it means I don't have to worry about covering up when feeding. Don't get me wrong, I don't do it through shame or embaressment.... It's only done to ensure I don't make others feel uncomfortable. Something that I try to avoid at all costs. 

It might sound silly, and in many cultures, it would be. But it's the sad fact that our society are still a little too stiff to accept the natural. And, I'm not the person to force the issue.

 I'm just one person with one baby, we won't change the world..... As much as I'd like to think we can!! 

So, for now, I shall enjoy the time I've got with Dot. The comfy times with no worries, and the confident mummy times showing the world that I'm a proud breast feeding mummy.... That won't make you feel uncomfortable..... 

Happy Sunday everyone! X

Initial downsides of baby wearing....

I'll let the picture speak for itself today...

At least she fell asleep....

Swings and roundabouts.....