Wrap Review! Lenny Lamb Sunrise Rainbow

I'm starting a new series! I'll be reviewing all the wraps I've tried so far, and I'll review any new wraps that come in. Starting with Lenny Lamb Sunrise Rainbow, the first real wrap I owned! 

Manufacturer: Lenny Lamb
Name: Sunrise Rainbow
Weave: Twill
Blend: 50% Cotton 50% Bamboo

This wrap is the absolute softest wrap I have ever tried. It's soft and floppy straight out of the bag. One wash and it was perfect. The colors are vibrant, but not blinding. I found it to be a bit slippery. My passes would glide easily, but my knots also slipped a lot. When E hit 20lbs (around 4 months!), this wrap lost all its support. Every carry I did would slip and pull. I was sad to see it go!

Breaking in a woven wrap

Purchasing a woven wrap new is great. You don't have to worry about any undisclosed stains or rips, pets, smoke, or scents. All new wraps require some form of breaking in.

A broken in woven should:
Feel soft
Be floppy and moldable
Glide smoothly over itself without sticking
Knot easily

Breaking in a wrap essentially means breaking down the fibers, so anything that gets some friction going is going to help. So how do you break it in?

(Wrap pictured is Didymos Anthracite Hemp Indio, 5)

Twist it.
Loop the wrap over the edge of a railing. I use the crib (gotta use that thing for something!). Pull the tails so they are even, your middle marker should be on the railing.

Grab the tails and start to twist

Keep twisting until your wrap ends up in a little knot

Un twist and repeat! It's a great forearm workout!

Braid it.
Braiding a wrap is the same thing as a daisy chain. Tie one tail in a circle.

Stick your hand through the circle and grab the wrap

Pull the wrap through and repeat with your new loop.

Make a hammock.
Hammocks are fun! You can use a table like this mama does, but I use the crib. E was not into the hammock today, so here's what it looks like sans baby

Use it. 

Sorry, no action shots yet!

Of course, using your wrap is one of the best ways to break it in. If it's too stiff for a good wrap job, try one of the above tricks to soften it up first!

A few other ideas:
Steam iron (check the tag for heat settings)
Sit on it
Sleep with it (blanket)
Leave it under the couch cushions for a week
Tug o war
Run it through sling rings

Remember, breaking in a wrap is breaking down the fibers. Don't be afraid to rough it up a bit, it's made to last! (avoid sharp objects, of course)

Happy Babywearing!

Hemp, cotton, silk--OH MY!

You've decided to give wrapping a go? Great! Time to choose your fabric!

Woven wraps can be made with many different types of fibers: Cotton, linen, silk, hemp, bamboo, and wool are the ones you will see most often.

Cotton
Cotton is the most common fiber you'll see a woven made from. Wraps almost always have cotton in them. It is cheap and easily accessible. Because of that, cotton wraps usually have a lower price point than other fibers (excluding handwoven wraps). Cotton is easy to care for. Usually soft right out of the package and requires little breaking in. Some find that cotton wraps aren't supportive enough for heavy babies or toddlers. Cotton tends to be on the warm side.

Linen
Linen is another common fiber. Linen is easy to take care of, although it wrinkles much easier and is prone to perma-creasing. Linen is supportive for heavier babies and toddlers. It is great for hot weather, as it is very breathable. The amount of effort required to break in linen varies from wrap to wrap. I've had a linen wrap that was soft after a wash, and I've had linen that needed a good beating before it softened. Although not terribly expensive (for the babywearing world anyway), linen-blend wraps will usually be priced higher than 100% cotton.

Silk
Silk is a less common fiber you'll find in a woven wrap. Silk wraps are hand wash only, and most must be dryed flat and out of sunlight (but always check the tag before washing/drying). Silk is generally better for smaller babies. It is wonderfully soft, but it often as a "silk smell" to it (that can only be described as the way silk smells!). Silk is not hard to break in, but it takes some time and effort for the smell to go away. Silk is better in cooler weather.

Hemp
Hemp is my favorite! Hemp wraps are rock solid for heavy babies and toddlers. Hemp is very easy to care for. Hemp requires effort to break in. The thicker the wrap, the harder it will be to beat into submission. If you're purchasing a thick hemp wrap (you can tell by the weight of the wrap) I'd suggest buying used if you can. Hemp wraps have a higher price point. Hemp is better in cooler weather.

Bamboo
Bamboo wraps are buttery soft. Woven wraps are typically made from bamboo vicose, which does take some special care. Bamboo is prone to shrinkage, so avoid heat. It must also not be submerged for more than 40 minutes, and air dryed (again, check your wrap's label before washing). Bamboo/cotton blends tend to get saggy with heavy babies. When blended with another fiber, such as hemp, you can get the wonderful softness of the bamboo with the solidity of the hemp (bamboo/hemp blends are pricey). Some say that bamboo is hot, I personally thought it was fine in warm weather.

Wool
Wool is surprisingly breathable during the warm weather! It's great for winter too, a year round wrap. Wool is hand wash only, and needs to be flat to dry. Taking care of your wool wrap is important, improper washing could lead to felting of your wrap, and felting is dangerous. When wool becomes felted, the weave is tightened up. A tight weave is prone to tearing, which you definitely don't want while wearing your baby! Wool wraps are great for big or small babies. Some do have a scratchy wool feel to them. No breaking in will change that, just the nature of the fiber.

A wrap can be 100% one fiber, or it can be a blend of fibers. The possibilities are almost endless. One fiber is not better than another. It truly is a personal preference and what suits your baby.