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I crossed into the world of woven wraps when I first met the TMD writers in Michigan. Xza doled out vintage dresses to all of us and then Alyssa picked woven wraps out of her substantial stash to match our dresses. She gave us each a different back carry and then helped us to securely wrap our children onto our backs. Most of them fell asleep. I had never felt so comfortable carrying my son. Alyssa wrapped Clara up in a reinforced rebozo rucksack and had to deal with her leg straightening and bouncing. I definitely picked the better twin for my first wrap.

I started lusting after wraps at that point. Before that I was unsure that I wanted to make the leap. I had started my babywearing journey with a terrible Seven Sling, an Infantino crotch dangler from Walmart, and a Moby wrap. The Moby was by far the most comfortable and I could even put both babies in it at once, but I had a hard time keeping it tight enough and found it to be too long and bulky for me. It kind of put me off the idea of wrapping, but after Michigan, I was dreaming of wraps.

I ordered my first wrap from Xza on impulse. She had a Didymos Ruby Gold Old Standard Indio (linen/cotton) in a size 2. Not ideal for a beginning wrapper, but it was beautiful and on the lower end of high quality wrap prices (and in stock), so I bought it. She shipped it to me. It took some breaking in, but soon I had tried all the carries that I could do with it and quickly had some favorites. Clara is a bad candidate for a wrap job that doesn’t cross under her legs and I don’t like the short back cross carry, so I rarely wore her in the Indio. I really like rucksack carries, and loved the secure feeling of a reinforced rebozo rucksack, so that’s my go-to carry with a shorty. I’m excited to show my cousin how to do a front rebozo carry with her newborn son when he’s born (soon!). I think it combines the ease of a ring sling with other options down the road.

Since then I borrowed a size 6 cotton Indio from Kelli, and purchased/worked for a few more woven wraps. I still have the size 2 Indio along with a size 3 Didymos Fishes caribe (linen/cotton), a size 4 Didymos black and gold India (silk/cotton), and a size 6 Didymos acqua Pfau (cotton). I recently sold my size 5 Didymos Orient to make room in my pocketbook for a size 5 Didymos Scheherazade. I think a 5 is the perfect size for me and I can’t wait to add Scheherazade to my stash. My go to carries are ruck tied in front with India and double hammock with Pfau. I haven’t learned to love my fishes yet, so I’m still working on that. It’s 50% linen and a beast to break in.

So, now that I’ve drank the Kool-Aid let me tell you… It’s worth it. A great woven wrap is absolutely worth the money. It will give the most versatility of all the carriers out there and will keep its value. Plus, they’re so beautiful. You can keep a woven wrap for the next 25 or so years and then pass them down to your children when they have babies (legacy wrap). The wrap you wear your babies in today will someday carry your grandchildren. I don’t know about you, but I totally plan on being a babywearing grandma.

As for brands, it’s a matter of personal preference. For the most part, you get what you pay for. Girasol is nice and affordable because it’s produced in Guatemala, whereas Didymos, Natibaby, Kokadi and others are produced in Europe. There’s a substantial difference in the wages between workers in Central America and Germany. Additionally, Didymos and Kokadi (and some other brands) use organic and eco-friendly materials. Girasol uses traditionally farmed cotton. You can read about Didymos’ manufacturing here, Girasol’s here, and Kokadi’s here.

I don’t regret buying any of the wraps that I own. If I don’t love them I can resell them. If I do, then I get to keep them around for a long long time.

You can buy both Kokadi and Didymos wraps in our shop.

Happy babywearing!

Double hammock with a size 5 Didymos Orient

Front wrap cross carry with a size 4 Didymos India black/gold

Rucksack tied in front with a size 3 Didymos Fishes caribe

For great videos on how to wear your baby in a woven wrap check out Alyssa’s YouTube channel.

babywearing, didymos, Featured, Jessica, kokadi, Woven wraps, wraps