What is the Moby?
An 18-foot long piece of fabric, available in a variety of material blends, colors, and designs, the Moby is the biggest name in wrap-style carriers. But despite its large market share, the company maintains a commitment to just and fair working conditions at its manufacturing facility and an impressive degree of responsiveness to customer feedback.
Here’s a rundown of available Moby wraps:
- The Original Moby Wrap
: Retails for $39.95. Made of 100% cotton.
- The Moby with UV Protection
: $44.95 Treated fabric blocks the sun’s rays.
- Moby Prints
: $59.95. Like the original, only prettier, with Asian pattern options.
- Moby D
: $59.95-$69.95. The first major design departure. This wrap has a panel of nonstretchy fabric near the center. Choices for this panel include silk, microfiber, fleece, brocade, woven cotton, and silkscreen fabric. The purpose of the panel is to provide a nonstretchy area where baby sits, providing more support.
- Moby Select
: $69.95. Pricier fabric choices include batik and organic cotton.
How Can I Carry My Baby in the Moby?
Newborns are carried most often in front, head resting on your chest. As baby gains head support, wearing him on your back is great for trips to the farmers’ market where (hopefully) he sleeps through most of the trip. Wearing baby in a semi-upright cradle is great for nursing, and as baby gets older, sidecarrying on your hip is also possible.
Reasons To Love It
Aside from the flexible carrying options listed above, here are some other plusses I’ve noticed in three years of Moby use:
- A great buy for the money. My $44.95 Moby has taken me through two kids, almost four years, and all without fading or stretching out.
- Easy to clean. Just throw it in the wash with everything else. (Note: see fabric care instructions if you buy a more deluxe model made with noncotton panel).
- Multiple Uses. I’ve used it as a blanket to cover us on chilly plane rides, a seat to sit on, rolled it up as arm support for breastfeeding, used it as a bib, a burp cloth, a changing pad, and my three year old even loves to drape it around himself and proclaim, “Look mom! I’m superman!”
What are the Downsides of the Moby?
The steep learning curve is one reason some parents choose soft carriers over wrap-style baby carriers. But mind you, these are the same parents who are engineers, contractors, programmers, nurses, homemakers, etc. In other words, every adult completes tasks every day that are much more difficult than tying on a Moby Wrap.
One thing I’ve noticed is that it’s easier to put on the wrap while still at home, wearing it like a sweater or shawl, than to try to put it on and plop baby into it after arriving at our destination.
If you’re still having doubts about your ability to learn this highly specialized skill of babywrapping, you can enroll in the graduate program at – just kidding! Actually, you can do one or more of the following:
- Watch videos on Youtube.com. Search for “Moby Wrap”.
- Visit a smaller retail store or consignment store and ask for a demo.
- View the DVD that comes with the Moby or visit the product website.
A somewhat steep learning curve on something like the Moby – which gives you and your baby so much freedom to move, to nurse, to sleep, to exercise, and to see the world – is worth it.
To wrap it up (I couldn’t resist), the Moby is the baby carrier I’ve used the most with both my kids. Its versatility and comfort can’t be beat in the first twelve months of being a parent!
