While I was pregnant, I became interested in the idea of wearing my baby in a sling. I’m not sure where this idea came from, but it seems that it might have been rooted in my desire to be as little encumbered by baby “stuff” as possible. I read of other benefits and was elated the day my Maya Wrap was delivered.
However my relationship with the Maya Wrap was destined for stormy waters. Because I bought my Maya Wrap from an individual (not the Maya Wrap company) I did not receive adequate instructions on the use of a Maya Wrap and was confounded by the length of the tail, the difficultly in adjustments, and the overall discomfort of wearing the thing. A few months into motherhood, a friend lent me her instruction video and I was embarrassed to find out how incorrectly I had been using my Maya Wrap. It was the Maya Wrap equivalent of putting your pants on backwards. So I started over.
About that time my son’s weight began to take a toll on my wrists. Not only was my exceptionally heavy 6 month old straining my wrists, but also I usually supported his weight by the side of my arm, which caused the nerve in my arm to be compressed in such a way that my arm and hand began to tingle. I strapped on the Maya Wrap with newfound confidence and it became – as it was intended – like a 3rd arm.
Wearing a Maya Wrap is somewhat like bicycle riding. It takes a little practice. Still, all the practice in the world would be useless if you do not make use of the shoulder cap. The shoulder cap is a piece of fabric that folds over your shoulder and prevents the wrap from digging into your neck – obviously this is a very good thing. It also helps to distribute your baby’s weight more evenly over your body even though he or she may be more on your left side.
The Maya Wrap has other plusses too. All Maya Wraps are made in traditional South American patterns. They blend in with clothing and can even look elegant. Since there is no padding, when the baby is not in the wrap it looks like a large shawl. Also because there is no padding, the wrap doesn’t take up excessive space. Although I don’t like using the Maya Wrap for grocery shopping, I do use it when I need to go into stores where I won’t be picking up a lot of items or spending a lot of time (obviously I don’t want to leave the baby in the car).
I’d never say the Maya Wrap is for everyone – I doubt that any baby care products are (besides diapers) – but I like the convenience of not having to always drag out the stroller and relief it provides to my arms. My baby likes to be near me and looks like a little kangaroo baby peeping out of my pouch.
Hindsight – as they say – is 20/20, so next time there is a baby in the house, I can see how the Maya Wrap will help me take care of a newborn and attend to a, well, whatever my son is by that time.
Maya Wraps are available at http://www.mayawrap.com/ or through various websites that sell many types of wraps and slings. I bought my wrap on Ebay. I saved about half the regular cost, but suffered because of the lack of instructions. There are also websites that tell you how to make your own wrap in the Maya Wrap style.
