Babywearing is a trend on the rise, but in fact babywearing is an ancient tradition. It is a primal maternal instinct to carry our babies. With the help of a babywearing device (like the Moby Wrap or Sleepy Wrap), it is also a modern convenience. You may remember that I LOVE using my Moby Wrap with my little one. So, “Why wear my baby?” you ask …

GOOD FOR BABY:

• Newborn are used to being in the womb and the shock of going from constant to little contact can be an unsettling.
• Being in sling/carrier with motion from your movement is womb-like and very comforting for baby.
• That dreaded “arsenic hour” always seems to fall during dinner prep time (the Moby/Sleepy is only carrier I’d feel safe using while cooking).
• Soothing touch and being able to see what’s going on make a needy baby a happy baby.
• Toddlers also enjoy the comfort of being close to mom/dad.

NEED TO BACK THAT UP?

Research shows that babies worn by their mothers (and fathers) cry less; and that babies develop a sense of secrity and trust – meaning they will become independent at an earlier age.

From API:  Needs and the Benefits of Nurturing Touch

• For the child, nurturing touch stimulates growth-promoting hormones, improves intellectual and motor development, and helps regulate babies’ temperature, heart rate, and sleep/wake patterns.
• Babies who receive nurturing touch gain weight faster, nurse better, cry less, are calmer, and have better intellectual and motor development
• Cultures high in physical affection, touch, holding or carrying, rate low in adult physical violence

GOOD FOR MOM, TOO:

I didn’t want to leave my baby, not even an arms-length away, after giving birth. Since newborns sleep so much, I couldn’t very well stay in bed all day – I had another child to care for! Wearing my baby was a great way for me to feel at ease. Now, the baby is a year old and I still wear her almost daily. She feels great seeing everything I’m doing, and feels safe and secure in public (since she is very wary of strangers). And I don’t have to lug a heavy stroller everywhere I go!

Two more great reasons?  (1)Nursing a baby while going on with your daily life is a cinch while carrying baby in a sling/wrap.  And, (2) babywearing even helps prevent postpartum depression!

Now that I’ve given you no reason to not wear your baby, you want to get started right? Wrap carriers are by far my favorite way tote baby around (and I’ve tried them ALL). There are so many great ways to carry your baby or toddler in one of these because it wraps different ways for different positions. It is so nice to have a wrap that can be used from infant to toddler, and even with multiples (whether it be twins or 2 different aged little ones). The lovely folks over at Best Baby Organics are helping the fine readers of Hurried Homemaker to get started with their own baby wrap!

THE SAVINGS:

Save 10% on anything from the Carriers/Wraps/Slings category with code HHM (expires 02/19/2010)

All orders over $35 will ship for FREE

And for the best part …

THE GIVEAWAY

Yes, we are giving away another wrap! This time you get to choose between the Moby Wrap or the Sleepy Wrap in the color of your choice, thanks to Best Baby Organics!

Giveaway ends February 12, 2010 at 10:00 pm (EST). Winner will be chosen by random.org. Winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen. Good luck!

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to Best Baby Organics and leave a comment telling me which wrap and color you would choose. Be sure to enter your email address where requested.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES (leave a comment for each):

• Follow me on Google FriendConnect – 1 extra entry
• Subscribe to the Hurried Homemaker blog via email or reader – 1 extra entry
• Enter one of our other Giveaways – 1 extra entry
• Click on the “Top Mommy Blog” icon on the right sidebar to vote for HH – 1 extra entry
• Grab our button (left sidebar) for your blog/site – 3 extra entries
• Blog about this giveaway. (Be sure to include links to HH & Best Baby Organics) – 3 extra entries
• Follow @hurriedhomemakr and @bestbabyorganic on Twitter and tweet about this contest (must @mention both) – 1 extra entry (Tweet once per day, must have over 50 followers.)

Hurried Homemaker was not compensated for this post in any way.

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Who can’t afford to save a little money? In this economy, you’d be crazy not to take a discount when it comes your way! Enter the My Parent Rewards Card. With this one little card you can save money on dining out, shopping, sports activities, travel and more.With this one little card, you can save up to 50 percent!

Usually these puppies cost $20, but not today! I have 2 to give away … who wants one?

All you have to do is go to the My Parent Rewards website, type in your zip code, and tell me where you’re really excited about saving money!

1 bonus entry for each of the following:

• Click on TOP MOMMY BLOG button to the left to vote for HurriedHomemaker.com
• Follow me on TWITTER and tweet about this giveaway (must have 50+ followers) – 1 tweet/day
• Follow me on GOOGLE Friend Connect
• Subscribe to my blog via RSS feed

Contest will end on January 22, 2010 at 10:00 PM (EST). Two winners will be drawn via random.org. Winners will have 48 hours to respond to my email before another winner(s) is chosen.

Good luck my friends!

Hurried Homemaker was in no way compensated for this post – we did receive our own Rewards Card so that we could provide an honest review of the item prior to offering this giveaway.

As seen on CashNet Sweepstakes
The Largest Directory of Free Online Sweepstakes!

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* GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED – SEE REVIEW/GIVEAWAY PAGE FOR WINNER INFORMATION *

Yes … another great GIVEAWAY on the Friday Find!

FROM THE COMPANY:

Moby^® Wrap, Inc. was created by two mothers in search of the perfect baby carrier. After extensive research, including the sampling of countless slings and wraps, their solution was a variation of a time-tested European carrier. Wherever they went, they would be approached by people wanting one, and it wasn’t long before the constant demand put the two moms in the supply business.

Using the softest of cotton fabrics, the Moby^® Wrap (mother and baby) is by far the most comfortable baby carrier available today. It distributes weight evenly from parent’s shoulders to hips and aligns baby’s center of gravity as close to the parent’s body as possible.

FROM THE HH:

As baby is getting bigger, my infant sling is too small and ring sling not as supportive.  I wanted to continue babywearing without the discomfort in my back or one shoulder, so I was thrilled to try out the Moby® Wrap.  Let me put this in perspective for you: at 11 months old, the baby is 26″ tall and weighs just over 1 lb/inch!

I received the Moby Organic in Eggplant.

I opened the package and  pulled out the wrap.  I must say that I did not expect the wrap to be as long was it was!   So, I started reading the booklet with all the different wrap positions.  The first couple of times I used it I felt like I was wrestling a python.  But after I got the hang of it, it was a breeze!  It really only took about 3 or 4 times before I was feeling at ease.  I must tell you – wrap tighter than you think!

I was heading to do some shopping.  And thought of the perfect place to give it a shot – see if my shoulder and back can withstand the walk through Ikea. (If you’ve ever been there, you know how enormous those stores are!)  I put the wrap on and got in the car.  The baby was excited to get in her new wrap again!  Big grins and happy feet ensued.

I strolled through the entire Ikea store with no aches, no discomfort.  The difference between this and my slings?  Moby® Wrap supports the shoulders and back from the weight of the baby with the way it wraps.  The baby loves to bounce, so she kicks her legs and gets momentum.  Usually after a few minutes my shoulder can’t take anymore.  But on this trip, I was fine with it.  I felt that the lil’ one was comfortable, safe, and stable.

We have used the Moby® Wrap many, many times since that trip to Ikea.  Every time I pull out the wrap the babe gets so excited!  And because the wrap is so long, not only do I know I can use it for a long time, my hubby could use it too! I wish I had gotten one of these when she was first born.  With all the different wrap positions, it can be used from birth through the toddler years with ease!

Lucky you!  You can WIN a Moby® Wrap in the color of your choosing!

Giveaway is open to US residents only and ends December 21, 2009 at 10:00 pm (EST).  Winner will be chosen by random.org.  Winner will have 48 hours to respond before another winner is chosen.  Good luck!

MANDATORY ENTRY:

Go to  Moby® Wrap’s website and leave a comment telling me what color would choose (solid color only please).  Be sure to enter your email address where requested.

ADDITIONAL ENTRIES (leave a comment for each):

• Follow me on Google FriendConnect – 1 extra entry
• Subscribe to the Hurried Homemaker blog via email or reader – 1 extra entry
• Click on the “Top Mommy Blog” icon on the right sidebar to vote for HH – 1 extra entry
• Become a Fan of Moby® Wrap on Facebook – 1 extra entry
• Grab our button (right sidebar) for your blog/site – 3 extra entries
• Blog about this giveaway.  (Be sure to include links to HH & Moby.) – 3 extra entries
• Follow @hurriedhomemakr and @mobywrap on Twitter and tweet about this contest – 1 extra entry (Tweet once per day, must have over 50 followers.)

Hurried Homemaker was not compensated for this review.  We did receive this product for free from the company, which had no effect on our review or opinion of this company/product.

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COUPON

Click the products above for $2 off Aveeno Positively Ageless products

FREEBIE

Beginning 9/15/09, bring in a copy of October’s issue (or a printout of the homepage) to ULTA and receive a free Benefit BADgal blue mascara (full size).  8,000 will be given away – each participating store will have at least 12 (up to 24) to give away.

ESTY FINDS

The obvious theme here is newspaper, in honor of Newspaper Carrier Day today!

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