My mom offered to help me make a simple baby sleep sack. A bigger one to fit baby Clarisse. Last week I went out and bought a piece of cloth to make a bigger baby sleeping sack. I know you can simply buy a baby sleep sack from the store, but it is way overpriced and is often meant for babies below 18 months and to a certain height. Also the ones I’ve seen locally are made with fabrics that are simply too thick for tropical climate.

So we ended up making one from a thin, light, comfortable and most of all cool fabric. We try not to sleep with the air-conditioner switched on if possible. With a cooler baby sleep sack, we are more likely to sleep without the air-conditioner when a fan is sufficient to keep the air inside the bedroom cool enough. It has long sleeves and the length is exaggerated so that baby Clarisse won’t outgrow this home made baby sleep sack in a short time. I guess baby Clarisse can use it till she’s three. We also ditched the zipper and used buttons instead. Didn’t want the hassle of sewing a zipper when buttons are sufficient.

The previous baby sleep sack cost me RM69. This DIY home made baby sleep sack cost only a fraction. The piece of cloth is less than RM10 and an hour or two of cutting and sewing. It may look cheap and shabby, but its a baby sleep sack no less. Thanks mom!

Most moms tend to prefer clipping when their babies are asleep. I used to do it that way with my baby Clarisse. She tends to move about and can’t stay still when she’s awake. I can’t keep her fingers steady for more than a few seconds. So I had to trim her nails at night. It’s a hassle holding a small torchlight, nail clipper and her fingers at the same time.

Search for ‘babylightandclip’.

When my sister started to use a Maya Wrap 4 years ago, I recall saying it looked awful. It didn’t look pleasing to the eye on first impression, I must admit. That’s the first time I saw one and at that time, hardly anyone around the neighbourhood has seen one, let alone used it. When my sister used it in public, people would stare and amused to see a baby inside the sling. With his head peering out. Like a baby kangaroo in a pouch.

Aesthetics aside, my sister explained and showed me how useful it is. It was my first time seeing a Maya Wrap type of baby sling in action. I was impressed!

4 years later, blessed with my own baby, I bought a Maya Sling when baby Clarisse was 4 months old. I had trouble finding a local retailer in my area that sells it so I ordered one from eBay.

When it arrived, it took me days to figure out how to use it properly. The Maya Sling takes a bit of getting used to. My sister wasn’t around to show and teach me in person so I resorted to the next best thing – videos. Luckily, instruction videos on how to use a Maya Sling are a plenty on the internet, particularly Youtube. And those videos helped a lot! As a precaution, I practised maneuvering a doll instead into various positions in a Maya Sling before I’m confident enough to carry my baby. It wasn’t easy to be honest, but you’ll get the hang of it after some time.

The Maya Wrap baby sling is a fully adjustable baby sling ensuring a perfect and hassle-free fit at all times. Your baby will remain very comfortable inside the sling despite giving the impression of being crampy within. My baby Clarisse finds it snug and cozy. Infants like to be swaddled and the Maya Wrap baby sling gives them a similar feeling. Your baby will like sleeping in it.

It can be used in a variety of positions to carry your baby – tummy-to-tummy, kangaroo, cradle, hip and back carries. Once properly adjusted and in place, you can move about hands-free. And you’d also find just as many miscellaneous uses like using it as a light weight blanket when it’s cold, blocking the sun, a harness and a shopping cart strap.

Here’s what I like most about Maya slings; breastfeeding in public. I would put my baby deep into the sling. The end of the cloth hanging from the ring, which is about a foot long, can be used to cover up when I nurse my baby. I can breastfeed my baby inside the sling anywhere and anytime I want, without feeling uncomfortable.

These days, I do not leave home without my Maya Wrap baby sling. In fact, it remains in the car even when we’re home. Again, I would like to stress how I love to be able to breastfeed my baby in a Maya Wrap baby sling and walk about hands-free when I’m out shopping or running errands. Furthermore, babies look very cute when positioned in a kangaroo position. I’ve had people walk up to me and asked about my Maya Wrap baby sling. Mostly wondering where to buy it. While baby Clarisse has got her cheeks pinched a number of times.