Petunia Pickle Bottom for MOBY Wrap

I was super excited to receive my Moby wrap, as I have been told this is an absolute must-have item for any new mom. It has been on a number of my girlfriends’ registries and I have even purchased my fair share of Moby wraps as baby gifts. Most of my friends with little ones swear that baby-wearing was the biggest lifesaver after their baby was born. It allowed them closeness with the baby, while allowing them to get things done around the house by having their hands free. It’s also been a lifesaver for those who have had babies with reflux, as the baby can sleep vertically.

I received the Petunia Pickle Bottom for Moby wrap in the print “Starry Nights of Salvador,” and upon first opening the package, I immediately loved the softness of the material. The wrap is made of a blended cotton (70% viscose fibers from bamboo and 30% natural cotton). As I took the wrap out of the package I was shocked at how long it was in length (5 meters, or approximately 16 feet). It was so long, in fact, that it dragged on the floor, which immediately prompted me to ensure that the wrap is indeed washable. Per the manual, the wrap can be machine washed in cold water, but should be hung to dry or tumbled dried on low. I also saw the care instructions sewn into the patch at the tail end of the wrap, in case I lose the manual between now and when it’s time to wash it.

I have to admit upon first glance the pure quantity of fabric was intimidating. I am only 5’1 with an arms span of approximately 4 feet, which in the case of the Moby wrap is not even equal to a third of the fabric. As I began to follow the instructions on how to wrap myself in the Moby, I found myself stepping on the fabric and slightly frustrated that the end product did not look quite like the pictures in the manual.

However, thank goodness for technology! The manual cited the Moby wrap website had additional helpful hints/tips. I am very much a visual learner and the website provided instructional videos for wrapping the Moby. Watching someone else wrap themselves step by step allowed me to follow along, and I realized that it’s really not as difficult as I initially thought. YouTube had some great tips/tricks for Moby wrapping as well.

Once I finally conquered wrapping myself, I was able to easily recognize the reasons behind the “safety checks” included in the manual. The straps essentially become pockets that can be used to carry a newborn, also known as the “newborn hug hold”. Each shoulder strap is used to help secure the baby against your front. Due to this, it’s important to ensure the baby’s face is still visible, not covered by the fabric, and the baby’s chin is elevated off the chest to allow for sufficient breathing. The Moby wrap can be used not just for newborns 8 lbs and over, but babies for up to 30 lbs (some wraps, depending on fabric, can hold up to 35 lbs). As the baby hits various developmental milestones, the Moby wrap allows for different types of holds. The “hug hold” can be used around 2-3 months to allow the baby’s legs to be outstretched, and the “hip hold” is handy once the baby has good head and upper body control.

My only concern with the Moby is that it might get hot using it outdoors during the 90-100 degree days in the height of summer. I can only imagine that between my body heat and the baby’s, along with the additional fabric over our clothing, we might end up being a sweaty mess. Yet, I firmly believe that this wrap will be a perfect option for us in air-conditioned places like our home and the grocery store. And since the Moby can be used at various ages/weights, it will be a great option for carrying the baby around during fall outdoor events once the weather cools.

Overall I am impressed and excited about the ability to “baby-wear” using the Moby wrap. After getting over my initial shock at the amount of fabric and using technology to my advantage, I don’t think the learning curve will be as steep as I initially thought. I have a feeling “baby-wearing” will be the norm around our house very soon.

Price: $55
To buy: mobywrap.com