Snuggling with your little one while freeing up your hands to get some stuff done is the primary reason most parents love babywearing. As a proponent of attachment parenting, I find that babywearing meets your baby’s need for physical contact, affection, and movement while on the go.
As much as you’d love to chill with your baby all day, the reality is you have to get some stuff done too. I used a Moby baby wrap for the first year of my child’s life. And a lifesaver it was. Whether I needed to go for a grocery run, prep meals, or to the hospital for vaccination, or just about anywhere else, it helped. Around that time, dad was not around, and I had no nanny yet. I had to make things work.
A baby wrap is a piece of fabric long enough to tie and knot around your body to create a snug spot on your chest, hip, or back where your baby can sit. Of all baby carriers, wraps offer the closest contact between you and your baby. If you are breastfeeding, you can do so discreetly while still doing other things like cooking.
Baby wraps blanket you and your baby for the ultimate in skin-to-skin contact. That’s incredibly convenient during the first 3 months of your little one’s life when babies are most clingy.
Meet the Moby wrap
The Moby wrap is a household name with a collection of baby wraps, slings, and carriers. It’s a parenting favorite praised for its comfort, safety, style, adaptability, and bonding needs.
The award-winning parent-invented wrap provides the perfect snuggle for newborns, infants, and toddlers and is a pleasure to wear, as long as you know how to wear a Moby wrap.
The Moby wrap distributes your baby’s weight evenly through your back and hips while keeping them as close to you as possible. If you have back problems, then the versatility of a moby wrap could be the answer.
The Moby wrap weight limit is 8-35 pounds (3.6-15.9kg), which is typically a toddler. However, parents get the most use out of them in the first several months. As your child gets older and more wiggly, maintaining a tight, secure tie on this wrap carrier becomes challenging. Check with your pediatrician if you wish to wear a preemie or smaller newborn in a Moby wrap.
Types of Moby wraps
Moby wraps come in different designs. Here are our Moby wrap reviews of the different types:
1. Moby wrap classic
It’s the traditional style we know. The Moby wrap classic is very long, popular, and is 100% cotton.
Why we love it
- The cotton knit is soft and comfy.
- It’s great for growing babies since it’s not quite as stretchy, hence more supportive. Since it’s more stable than other stretchy wraps, it can help when trying to support twins.
- Its higher weight limit means you may get more mileage out of it.
- Because it has some stretch, It’s easy to pop a baby in and out while the wrap remains tied.
- It is possible to form a good wrap with any body size or body shape. Therefore, it’s perfect for multiple caregivers to take turns wearing and using it in the family.
- Easy to wrap once you learn how to.
Keep in mind
- Because the fabric is so long, it drags on the ground and can get dirty when you put it on in public places. It also makes it cumbersome to carry.
- The dense fabric of the Moby makes it too hot to wear, especially in the summer.
- It’s the hardest for a beginner to learn how to use a baby wrap.
2. Moby wrap evolution
The Moby wrap evolution was introduced a few years ago to improve on the cotton classic. This lighter-weight moby wrap is 70% viscose and 30% cotton for stretch and breathability.
Why we love it
- The right choice for summer.
- Not as heavy or thick, but the integrity of the fabric and weight limit is the same.
Keep in mind
- Some parents report that it gets stretched out too quickly, leading to sagging and discomfort.
3. Moby fit wrap
The Moby fit wrap is another one we highly recommend.
Why we love it
- Super comfortable to wear for more extended periods.
- Easy to slip your baby into the fabric and adjust to a custom fit.
- As your baby grows, you can use multiple carrying positions. The front, outward-facing carry for little ones with more head control is allowed here.
How to tie a baby wrap: Moby wrap instructions
Are you wondering how to use a baby wrap? You can wear your Moby wrap in 5 different ways:
- Wrap yourself method
- Newborn hug hold
- Hug hold
- Hip hold
- Kangaroo wrap and hold
All the Moby wrap holds except the kangaroo hold begin with the basic wrap yourself method. So start with these steps first, then proceed to create your desired hold.
Method 1: Tying the Moby wrap around yourself
Watch the wrap yourself instruction video:
- Center your Moby logo section at your navel, facing away from you.
- Fold the wrap in half, placing it across your waist with the stitched edges on top, closest to you.
- Cross the two ends behind your back to create an “X” on your back. The fabric should stay open and straight (not wadded up) to ensure your baby’s weight is evenly distributed.
- Tuck the ends of the Moby wrap under the logo section from top to bottom.
- Cross the end pieces in the front over each opposite shoulder to form an “X” across your chest.
- Bring the remaining fabric ends behind your back and tie a knot, or continue to wrap around to the front.
- Tie a double knot on your back, front or hip, wherever it comfortably lands.
- Check in the mirror to make sure everything spreads out well and the wrap over the shoulders is laying flat.
Method 2: Moby wrap newborn hug hold
Watch the newborn hug hold instruction video:
Made for Babies: Newborns (8lbs+) to 3 Months old
Method 3: Moby wrap hug hold
Watch the hug hold instruction video:
For babies 3-4 months and older. Introduce once your baby can fully stretch her legs.
Method 4: Moby wrap hip hold
Watch the Moby wrap hip hold instruction video:
For babies 5 months and older. Also known as the hip wrap cross carry. Introduce when your baby has excellent head and upper body control.
Method 5: Kangaroo wrap and hold
Watch how to tie the kangaroo wrap with the Moby:
For babies weighing 8 pounds and up. This hold is called a front wrap cross carry and is similar to the newborn hug, but the fabric is tied with the horizontal pass underneath.
Moby wrap safety check
Regularly check and double-check that you’ve positioned your baby correctly and the wrap is tight enough. You wouldn’t want any accidents to happen.
Here are a few safety checks suggestions from Moby:
- Chin should be off the chest, and your baby’s face visible.
- The logo section or “seat belt” should secure your baby’s entire back and shoulders.
- Your baby must be in a seated position with knees up above the bottom.
- The fabric must spread to the hollows of your baby’s knees.
What are the best Moby wrap positions?
The Moby generally discourages wearing your baby in a forward-facing position. The case against Moby wrap forward-facing has been attributed to the dangers of front-facing. The front-facing position also puts more strain on your back than other positions because the baby’s center of mass is farther from your body.
Instead, it encourages you to wear him in a front-inward, sling, or hip position.
However, if you must, opt for shorter periods as long as your baby has excellent head and upper body control. You can monitor for overstimulation or discomfort but never allow them to sleep facing out.