by Kelly Wilbanks posted in Products

I'm one of those moms who enjoys the idea of babywearing more than actually wearing my baby, if that's a thing. I envision my infant nestled into my chest like a baby koala. In this dream I'm standing and watching my older children play kindly with each other while I sip a cup of iced coffee and savor close tender feelings for my family.
My reality is a bit different. Usually the reason I'm wrapping my baby is because she's crying, wanting to be held while I'm being simultaneously pulled in different directions by my other two daughters. This is not the TV commercial I'd imagined, but I'm still thankful for my wrap, my growing skill with it, and how it holds my baby firmly near my heart.
There are a ton of great options out there when it comes to wearing your baby. I have written about beautiful wraps, carriers for toddlers, and babywearing while pregnant, but one of the simplest (at least conceptually) has to be the wrap. There are many variations: fabric, print, breathability, stretchiness, length. I've tried these three: 
Woven: Natibaby (Amazon, $39.95-$55.95)

Stretchy: Moby Wrap (Amazon, $49.95)

Really Stretchy: Boba Wrap (Amazon, $39.95)

In the picture below I look happy (perhaps that's because there isn't much wine left in my glass), but the prior 40 minutes had been hellish. My 4-month-old was overtired after traveling all day and was crying nonstop during my best friend's wedding shower. I couldn't even leave with...