Customer Reviews

Baby-Gami: Baby Wrapping for Beginners

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

As a seasoned babywearer and leader of a babywearing group, I was hoping to find in the babywearing section of this book some simple baby wrapping techniques that I could share with friends by giving this book as a shower gift. Unfortunately, the babywearing section is bad enough that I simply cannot give the book as a gift.

The instructions for the "front sling," "back sling," "office sling," "'your ad here' sling," "french sling," and "housework sling" are all fatally flawed because they say that these "slings" can be accomplished with 5 to 6 feet of fabric. No one -- NO ONE -- can accomplish these "slings" with that little fabric ... not even my 5-year-old daughter could carry a baby doll with that little fabric. I'm an average size 8 and need at least 4.1 meters of fabric for these tying positions ... and I can get away with 4.1 meters because I'm a seasoned wrapper and am skilled at getting the fabric tight; beginner wrappers my size usually prefer even more length to work with. Also, the pictures all show the babies facing outward in the "back sling," which is an unnatural and uncomfortable position for both the baby and the person carrying the baby. The "hip hugger sling" directions are also seriously flawed, stating that this position can be accomplished with 3 to 6 feet of fabric ... I can do this with no less than 5 feet of fabric. Also, the picture showing the "hip hugger sling" shows the baby leaning way out away from the person carrying her ... which is not just uncomfortable for everybody but is also plain dangerous. The photo of the "twice-the-fun sling" shows one of the twins in a very unsafe position. Instead of sitting in the sling with her bottom lower than her knees and with the fabric pulled up to the back of her legs, the baby is almost standing against the side of the person carrying her with the fabric barely covering her bottom. One good jiggle and out she would go!

Because of these (and other) serious flaws in the babywearing section of the book, I simply cannot recommend this otherwise cute book to anyone. If a person got the book and was interested in doing any of the "slings" shown in it, the person might just throw in the towel, or baby blanket, or whatever, and completely give up on babywearing. That would be a shame, because with good instructions, carrying a baby in a simple piece of cloth is safe, comfortable, beautiful, and easy ... and is an excellent tool in any parent's toolbox.

I was so excited to see this book on the shelf my 3 favorite things babies, origami, and wrapping. Inside there was an even bigger passion BABYWEARING! I was sorely dissapointed to see that out of the few babywearing options many of them look extremely uncomfortable for adult and baby (I say this as a seasoned babywearer) and put baby's spine and hips in the undesireable position and need someone else to put the baby in for the wearer. I have never used a carrier that required 2 adults. There are oodles of more practical, comfortable, and convienient babywearing positions out there and this book had none of them. If I was new to babywearing one look at this book and I would say "Hmmm...no, not for me." and go waste my money on a big clunky stroller.

I am definitely sold on the merits of swaddling and baby wearing, so this seemed like a good book to have. I was hoping for something that would show me lots of different types of wraps/slings I could do myself, so I was disappointed that the book contained very few *different* techniques.

The book illustrates five ways to wrap a baby, but one of them (the arms-free wrap) is essentially the same as a different wrap (the fast wrap), only performed lower on the body. What's more, only one wrap (the snug wrap) swaddles the baby tightly enough to keep arms at the side and baby pacified for long enough to sleep -- and it's the same swaddle illustrated in Harvey Karp's "The Happiest Baby on the Block".

The same criticism applies to the slings for baby wearing. The book only covers three types of slings, and one of them (the back sling) is identical to another (the front sling), only done on the back instead of the front.

The rest of the book goes over wrap/sling variations, which are essentially suggestions for different types of fabric or wrapping material for different occasions. On the positive side, the pictures of babies all wrapped (or slinged) up are really adorable, and the author fills out the book with humorous advice. And, bottom line, it's cool to be able to perform a snug wrap or basic sling using only a receiving blanket or length of fabric, which is what this book can help you do. (Because of these positives, the book can still make a great baby shower gift.) I was just hoping the book would teach me more ways to wrap/sling my baby.

Yardages are completely wrong for babywearing. I wasted $$ buying a pieced of fabric that was too short to make the wrap described in the book. I had to rebuy...so instead of of a DIY less expensive wrap, I might as well have bought a commercial one. BIG DISAPPOINTMENT

I am simply appalled at the babywearing section of this book! The wraps are all shown (besides the hip carry) with the babies facing outward and ALL are very poorly positioned as well. Several pictures look as though the baby could fall out at any minute! These carries would be uncomfortable in the best case scenario, and downright dangerous in the worst. Babywearing can be a safe, comfortable, and enriching experience for both caregiver and baby, but this book just does not qualify to teach even the basics of how to wear your baby safely.

I heard about this from a friend and am so glad my wife and I got it. There's a lot of good, practical information in here along with some humor(the paper bag wrap is my favorite). Whether for yourselves or a gift, this is a great instructional read.

This is a very well-written, beautifully illustrated book. I received this book as a gift from my friend when my baby was past the swaddling stage, so I can't review that part. But the sling advice was terrible. For one thing, the dimensions were wrong--it said to get five to six FEET of fabric when it meant five to six YARDS, and since I can't sew to save my life, I had to make 2 separate trips to the fabric store with a wiggly baby to buy the extra fabric, then find someone who would sew it together for me. THEN, after all of that, the carrier didn't work for us. It would come untied, or sag, and was confusing to put on.

Just get a basic ring sling. They're not too expensive, but they work way better.

Cute wrapped up baby pictures! Its a fun book to flip through and learn some tips on how to wrap babies or non-living things.

OMG--Andrea Sarvady is hysterical! I don't even have a baby anymore--and LOVED this book. The entertaining copy is coupled with beautiful photos of adorable babies. I can't wait to try a "burrito roll" on the next baby I'm with.

Perfect gift for a new parent! When will you translate this into other languages--everyone can appreciate this book!

This is such a sweet, cute, unique book for new mommies. I often buy it as part of a shower gift. There are very clever ways to wrap your baby if you ever get in a jam such as a paper bag or in a map. The babies are adorable too!