Gaku is pretty good about noticing little things. When he comes to my room he always takes a couple of minutes to look around and see if there's anything different (anything he wants).
I usually wear a cross necklace and earrings that were Christmas presents from Tak. But the other day, I decided to wear a different necklace and earrings. When I picked Gaku up at daycare the first thing he said to me was, "マーミ、新しいネックレスですか?" (Mommy, you're wearing a new necklace?) Then the next day I was wearing a ring that I haven't worn for a while. He noticed that right away too and asked where his was. When I said he didn't have one, he got mad and insisted he did. I think he was remembering that I let him wear that ring for a short time one day. He does have a skull ring that he got from Grandma and Grandpa, but that's not what he was interested in.
It's fun to go for walks with Gaku because he notices things that I might not see if I weren't with him. It's fun to look for things to point out to eachother: butterflies, cicadas, flowers, cats... It's nice to stop and smell the roses!
Friday, July 25, 2008
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Water Babies
Both Gaku and Hana just love water!
Today, I picked Gaku up at daycare. One of his teachers Kuroda-sensei told me a cute Gaku story. This year is the first year that Gaku has been able to go in the "big" pool. Up until this year, he has only played in little tiny pools (really more like buckets) on the veranda of his classroom. He really loves the pool. Gaku is in the 2-year-old class this year; he was still 2 as of April 1, which is the magic date for determining school year in Japan. I guess that there is some kind of cold going around right now and a lot of the kids in Gaku's class have been sick with fevers so they can't play in the pool. Since so many of them can't play in the pool, basically the whole class doesn't (they only get showers). But today, Gaku was watching the 3-year-old class play in the pool. I guess he was watching with so much longing that the teacher said he could go play with them. Yay! I'm glad she did that. She was commenting on how Gaku really likes the water and sticks his face right in it. He can easily play in the bath or pool for hours.
The pool at Gaku's daycare:
Today is Tuesday, so the bath downstairs is closed. We all decided to go to the big bath down the street. It's just a bit more of a hassle than going downstairs - there's no Obachan to hold Hana while I go in the bath first and get ready for Hana. Also, we have to pay... But Gaku really likes it and Hana loves the bath, so I thought we should go. Usually when we go there I just lay Hana on a towel on the floor of the bath while I wash up, but so many of the women make comments along the lines of "poor baby", and I also don't really like doing it that way. So I thought I would try something different tonight. I took her Baby Bumbo chair. I sat her in it while I and Gaku (who at the last minute decided he too wanted to go with Mommy instead of Daddy) got undressed. Then I stripped her and took the chair into the bath. She sat in it, as happy as could be, while I got washed up and her brother splashed water on her. Then after the bath, I dried her off, got her diaper on her, and sat her in the chair again with her cup of mugi-cha (non-caffeinated wheat tea) while Gaku and I got dressed.
I nursed her just a bit at the bath, thinking I would nurse her more when we got home. But I laid her down for a couple of minutes while I started the laundry and she hasn't moved since. She'll wake up to nurse at about midnight, though. She usually does.
I have to say that I'm really glad I got the Baby Bumbo chair. I got it when Hana was about 4 months old, but she didn't really like it. I was thinking that I had wasted money on it. But about 6 weeks ago, she started to really like sitting in it. It's great for feeding her - I bought the tray that can fit on it as well. It's one piece of molded plastic and is really lightweight. I also take it to the local restaurant Puchi House whenever we go there for dinner.
(We have the lime green one.)
Today, I picked Gaku up at daycare. One of his teachers Kuroda-sensei told me a cute Gaku story. This year is the first year that Gaku has been able to go in the "big" pool. Up until this year, he has only played in little tiny pools (really more like buckets) on the veranda of his classroom. He really loves the pool. Gaku is in the 2-year-old class this year; he was still 2 as of April 1, which is the magic date for determining school year in Japan. I guess that there is some kind of cold going around right now and a lot of the kids in Gaku's class have been sick with fevers so they can't play in the pool. Since so many of them can't play in the pool, basically the whole class doesn't (they only get showers). But today, Gaku was watching the 3-year-old class play in the pool. I guess he was watching with so much longing that the teacher said he could go play with them. Yay! I'm glad she did that. She was commenting on how Gaku really likes the water and sticks his face right in it. He can easily play in the bath or pool for hours.
The pool at Gaku's daycare:
Today is Tuesday, so the bath downstairs is closed. We all decided to go to the big bath down the street. It's just a bit more of a hassle than going downstairs - there's no Obachan to hold Hana while I go in the bath first and get ready for Hana. Also, we have to pay... But Gaku really likes it and Hana loves the bath, so I thought we should go. Usually when we go there I just lay Hana on a towel on the floor of the bath while I wash up, but so many of the women make comments along the lines of "poor baby", and I also don't really like doing it that way. So I thought I would try something different tonight. I took her Baby Bumbo chair. I sat her in it while I and Gaku (who at the last minute decided he too wanted to go with Mommy instead of Daddy) got undressed. Then I stripped her and took the chair into the bath. She sat in it, as happy as could be, while I got washed up and her brother splashed water on her. Then after the bath, I dried her off, got her diaper on her, and sat her in the chair again with her cup of mugi-cha (non-caffeinated wheat tea) while Gaku and I got dressed.
I nursed her just a bit at the bath, thinking I would nurse her more when we got home. But I laid her down for a couple of minutes while I started the laundry and she hasn't moved since. She'll wake up to nurse at about midnight, though. She usually does.
I have to say that I'm really glad I got the Baby Bumbo chair. I got it when Hana was about 4 months old, but she didn't really like it. I was thinking that I had wasted money on it. But about 6 weeks ago, she started to really like sitting in it. It's great for feeding her - I bought the tray that can fit on it as well. It's one piece of molded plastic and is really lightweight. I also take it to the local restaurant Puchi House whenever we go there for dinner.
(We have the lime green one.)
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Typical Saturday - Jidokan (Baby Center)
Yesterday was Saturday, and it was really hot! Tak and Gaku got up really early and went to the park to look for cicadas and beetles. They came back around 8:30 and got me up before Tak went to work. So, then we were trying to decide what to do for the day. Go to a park with water? Hmmm... a bit hot and maybe not so ideal for me alone with both Gaku and Hana. Jidokan? Sounds better. It has A/C and is much easier with both kids. So the next question is which one. There are two nearby that I really like, so I left it up to Gaku. He decided on the jidokan with a slide (not the one that Mom and Dad when to when they were here).
I decided to put Hana on my back and go by bicycle. Boy was it a hot ride! On the way, we stopped at a convenience store to pick up some onigiri and snacks. There's a lunch room up on the second floor, so took our food and ate there before playing.
This jidokan has three main play rooms - one for babies, one with books, playdough, trains, cars, legos and a play kitchen, and one more that is for moving around more which has big blocks, lots of toys to ride, a see-saw, a small play structure with a slide and (Gaku's favorite) a ball tent. We go here at least 2-3 times a month. Sometimes we spend more time in the baby room and sometimes we spend more time in the others. Yesterday, we pretty much played only in the big room. I went and got a Moses basket from the baby room, and Hana spent almost the whole time in it playing with her feet and chewing on a towel.
Gaku had a great time in the ball tent. He basically does a kind of feet-first sliding jump into the tent and then flails his feet and arms about. Sometimes, he lays on his back kicking his feet and moving his arms; it almost looks like he's swimming. He had balls everywhere outside of the tent. When he first went into the tent, I told him to be careful that he would have to pick up all the balls he threw out, but I realized that there were too many outside of the tent for him to pick up by himself. I asked him if he could pick them all up himself like he'd promised and he said no. So I said let's do it together. I went and got a basket and we went around the room together filling the basket and dumping the balls back in the tent. He was really good about it.
Then he was playing on the small play structure, pretending to be a dinosaur. I got some really funny photos, but when I turned it on video he was done with dinosaur and had moved on to pretending it was a boat. Gaku really has a thing for boats (Disney Land)... Yesterday, I showed him how he could climb up the side using the special foot/hand holds. He thought that was pretty fun. He can't climb up the higher side yet, but probably next time.
I got him to agree to leave without throwing a fit by suggesting it was time for ice cream. We often have ice cream when we're out on the weekends. It worked beautifully. It also helped that he was a bit tired out and ready for his nap. But the tired out part backfired a bit in the grocery store when he had a mini-meltdown, not too bad though. So we got back to the bike and he was eating his ice cream on the way home. We were about halfway home when I realized that his head was starting to wobble, meaning he was falling asleep while still holding his ice cream. I made him wake up enough to continue eating the ice cream. He called me "baka", but started eating again. He started nodding off again. This time when I woke him up again, he dropped the spoon. I told him his ice cream was so melted now that he should just drink it. I really didn't want him to fall asleep until after we got home. If he falls asleep in the bike, he comes wide awake when we get home and won't take any nap. So I succeeded in getting him home while still half-awake, carried him upstairs, and set him down while I unfolded the futon. He said "Mickey" and I threw it on the futon and said, "There's your Mickey." He basically crawled on top of it and never moved! Hana hadn't slept while we were out either. I took her out of the back carrier and laid her down, and she didn't move either. Both kids completely zonked out!!
Thursday, July 17, 2008
Dental Woes
First off, I guess my problems originate with my overall dislike of the dentist. They're fine as people, but I absolutely hate going to the dentist, far more than any other doctor. It's probably bad enough to be called a dental phobia.
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_phobia
Dental fear refers to the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. A pathological form of this fear (specific phobia) is variously called dental phobia, odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia, or dental anxiety.
It is estimated that as many as 75% of US adults experiences some degree of dental fear, from mild to severe.[1][2] [3] Approximately 5 to 10 percent of U.S. adults are considered to experience dental phobia; that is, they are so fearful of receiving dental treatment that they avoid dental care at all costs.[4] Many dentally fearful people will only seek dental care when they have a dental emergency, such as a toothache or dental abscess. People who are very fearful of dental care often experience a “cycle of avoidance,” in which they avoid dental care due to fear until they experience a dental emergency requiring invasive treatment, which can reinforce their fear of dentistry.[5]
Women tend to report more dental fear than men,[6] and younger people tend to report being more dentally fearful than older individuals.[7] People tend to report being more fearful of more invasive procedures, such as oral surgery, than they are of less invasive treatment, such as professional dental cleanings, or prophylaxis.[8]
Until this year, I absolutely refused to go to a dentist in Japan. (Actually, for a few years when I worked for AEON, I didn't have dental insurance.) So, I only went to the dentist one time in almost 8 years. That was when I was in Michigan and went to see Dr. Schaumberg about 4 years ago. Everything was okay then...
But when I was pregnant with Hana and right in the midst of the most awful morning sickness (last year in May), the third tooth from the back on my upper left side started hurting me. Well, I didn't have a dentist in Japan yet and didn't think a dentist could do anything without me being sick. (I couldn't even brush my back teeth very well.) So, I brushed and flossed more carefully, started rinsing with Listerine, and chewing only on the right side. No more pain, but I knew the cavity was there... Morning sickness went away, but I thought, "Well... I'm pregnant and probably shouldn't get that kind of dental work done right now, anyway." So, I put it off some more. Then Hana was born, and I wasn't supposed to go out for the first month. Then I was "too busy" taking care of Hana to go... Every so often, it would bother me just a little bit, but I would rinse it with the Listerine more often and be more careful about how I ate, and it would go away.
What finally got me to the dentist was a different tooth. On the upper right side (2nd from the back) is a tooth that was filled when I was in college. In February, I was eating something and thought a small part of the filling came out. (But since I wasn't sure and wasn't in pain, this really wasn't a reason to go yet.) A couple days later, it started hurting just a little bit. So, I had a bad tooth on both the right and left side of my mouth and couldn't put off going to the dentist anymore (unless I was going to stop chewing anything).
During the first visit, the dentist just put some medicine in both teeth to stop the pain and help soothe the nerves. A week later, the right side was fine, but the left side was still bad. Since I could chew on the right side, the dentist figured we should fix the left side first. So during the second or third visit, he started fixing the cavity on the left side. Well, it was too deep so I had a root canal right then. I was quite tense and stressed out about the drilling. It's not the pain (it didn't hurt at all since I was nicely numbed) as much as the sound of the drill. Over a period of almost 5 months (no appointments while in Izumo, and a couple missed due to sick kids), it was cleaned out. (A cavity in the tooth next to it was also fixed.) Just last week I finally got that tooth completely finished with a crown. Yay!!
So a couple of days ago, I had an appointment to fix the tooth on the right side. When it was first filled years ago, Dr. Schaumberg told me it was pretty deep and might need a root canal, so I was expecting I would have to get one this time. Sure enough, the dentist said I should have it done. But I wasn't really nervous or tense at all this time. I've finally gotten used to this dentist and I've been going often enough that I feel comfortable. (If I use my birthing techniques, I can actually relax.) So on Tuesday, I had a root canal on the right side - no big deal. Except, I have one big problem... For more than a year, I've been chewing exclusively on the right side of my mouth. And I can't seem to remember that I shouldn't chew on that side right now. Yesterday, I was cleaning some stuff in the kitchen and popped a Cheerio in my mouth to see if they were stale or not. They were beyond stale - almost fossilized - and (wouldn't you know) I bit down on hard on the Cheerio right on the tooth that had the root canal. Owww!! For about five minutes it throbbed so bad I was almost in tears. I think I've only forgotten once today... Maybe I won't forget at all tomorrow! I hope not, because it's pretty sore today.
Anyway, the moral of my story is GO TO THE DENTIST more often than once in eight years. You'll save yourself a lot of pain. I think I've finally learned my lesson, and will not be skipping regular cleanings anymore.
(Now my concern is how to instill such thoughts in the heads of my children without making them afraid of the dentist. I'm afraid we're not off to a good start with Gaku. His teeth are fine right now, but he really fights brushing. *Sigh*)
From Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dental_phobia
Dental fear refers to the fear of dentistry and of receiving dental care. A pathological form of this fear (specific phobia) is variously called dental phobia, odontophobia, dentophobia, dentist phobia, or dental anxiety.
It is estimated that as many as 75% of US adults experiences some degree of dental fear, from mild to severe.[1][2] [3] Approximately 5 to 10 percent of U.S. adults are considered to experience dental phobia; that is, they are so fearful of receiving dental treatment that they avoid dental care at all costs.[4] Many dentally fearful people will only seek dental care when they have a dental emergency, such as a toothache or dental abscess. People who are very fearful of dental care often experience a “cycle of avoidance,” in which they avoid dental care due to fear until they experience a dental emergency requiring invasive treatment, which can reinforce their fear of dentistry.[5]
Women tend to report more dental fear than men,[6] and younger people tend to report being more dentally fearful than older individuals.[7] People tend to report being more fearful of more invasive procedures, such as oral surgery, than they are of less invasive treatment, such as professional dental cleanings, or prophylaxis.[8]
Until this year, I absolutely refused to go to a dentist in Japan. (Actually, for a few years when I worked for AEON, I didn't have dental insurance.) So, I only went to the dentist one time in almost 8 years. That was when I was in Michigan and went to see Dr. Schaumberg about 4 years ago. Everything was okay then...
But when I was pregnant with Hana and right in the midst of the most awful morning sickness (last year in May), the third tooth from the back on my upper left side started hurting me. Well, I didn't have a dentist in Japan yet and didn't think a dentist could do anything without me being sick. (I couldn't even brush my back teeth very well.) So, I brushed and flossed more carefully, started rinsing with Listerine, and chewing only on the right side. No more pain, but I knew the cavity was there... Morning sickness went away, but I thought, "Well... I'm pregnant and probably shouldn't get that kind of dental work done right now, anyway." So, I put it off some more. Then Hana was born, and I wasn't supposed to go out for the first month. Then I was "too busy" taking care of Hana to go... Every so often, it would bother me just a little bit, but I would rinse it with the Listerine more often and be more careful about how I ate, and it would go away.
What finally got me to the dentist was a different tooth. On the upper right side (2nd from the back) is a tooth that was filled when I was in college. In February, I was eating something and thought a small part of the filling came out. (But since I wasn't sure and wasn't in pain, this really wasn't a reason to go yet.) A couple days later, it started hurting just a little bit. So, I had a bad tooth on both the right and left side of my mouth and couldn't put off going to the dentist anymore (unless I was going to stop chewing anything).
During the first visit, the dentist just put some medicine in both teeth to stop the pain and help soothe the nerves. A week later, the right side was fine, but the left side was still bad. Since I could chew on the right side, the dentist figured we should fix the left side first. So during the second or third visit, he started fixing the cavity on the left side. Well, it was too deep so I had a root canal right then. I was quite tense and stressed out about the drilling. It's not the pain (it didn't hurt at all since I was nicely numbed) as much as the sound of the drill. Over a period of almost 5 months (no appointments while in Izumo, and a couple missed due to sick kids), it was cleaned out. (A cavity in the tooth next to it was also fixed.) Just last week I finally got that tooth completely finished with a crown. Yay!!
So a couple of days ago, I had an appointment to fix the tooth on the right side. When it was first filled years ago, Dr. Schaumberg told me it was pretty deep and might need a root canal, so I was expecting I would have to get one this time. Sure enough, the dentist said I should have it done. But I wasn't really nervous or tense at all this time. I've finally gotten used to this dentist and I've been going often enough that I feel comfortable. (If I use my birthing techniques, I can actually relax.) So on Tuesday, I had a root canal on the right side - no big deal. Except, I have one big problem... For more than a year, I've been chewing exclusively on the right side of my mouth. And I can't seem to remember that I shouldn't chew on that side right now. Yesterday, I was cleaning some stuff in the kitchen and popped a Cheerio in my mouth to see if they were stale or not. They were beyond stale - almost fossilized - and (wouldn't you know) I bit down on hard on the Cheerio right on the tooth that had the root canal. Owww!! For about five minutes it throbbed so bad I was almost in tears. I think I've only forgotten once today... Maybe I won't forget at all tomorrow! I hope not, because it's pretty sore today.
Anyway, the moral of my story is GO TO THE DENTIST more often than once in eight years. You'll save yourself a lot of pain. I think I've finally learned my lesson, and will not be skipping regular cleanings anymore.
(Now my concern is how to instill such thoughts in the heads of my children without making them afraid of the dentist. I'm afraid we're not off to a good start with Gaku. His teeth are fine right now, but he really fights brushing. *Sigh*)
Monday, July 14, 2008
Fun at the Rainbow Pool / Future Skin Cancer
Last month, I was checking one of the Yahoo Groups I belong to and saw something about getting free pre-season passes to the Rainbow Pool. So I did some research on the internet. The Rainbow Pool is a huge water park in western Tokyo (Tachikawa) that is located inside a big park. You can register online to receive a pass for free entry on either the Saturday or Sunday before the park actually opens. So I registered and we got a postcard in the mail which was good for up to 5 people for Sunday, July 13th.
I really wish we could have all gone together yesterday. But on Saturday evening, Hana had a runny nose and a fever, so we decided she shouldn't go. Tak said I should take Gaku to the pool since I'd really been looking forward to it and he would stay home with Hana. But as I got to thinking about it, it didn't seem like such a good deal. If Hana wasn't feeling well, she'd want to nurse... So I sent Tak and Gaku off to the pool. About 5 minutes after they left, I realized they didn't have any sunscreen in their bag. I thought about calling Tak, but figured it would be okay.
At the pool, Gaku had a great time. On Saturday, we went shopping for a pair of water wings for Gaku. Tak taught him that if he didn't flail around and kept his arms out and still, he would float. So Gaku had a great time with the water wings. He has no fear of water, and was jumping into the pool. Tak told me they spent most of their time in the wave pool and played a little bit in the kiddie pool, but never made it to the "lazy river" pool. He played really hard for a few hours, then they went and had lunch, and it was lights out for Gaku on a sheet in the park.When they got home I was surprised to see how red they both were. Tak hadn't thought about sunscreen at all. Even if he had, he probably wouldn't have put it on himself. So I dug through our shelves, and found a bottle of after-sun gel, and plastered Gaku's back with it. Every time I asked Tak if he wanted me to put some on his back, he would say he doesn't need that "softie stuff". I told Tak that Gaku should skip the bath last night. It definitely would have hurt and Gaku would have been crying. He was complaining about it hurting as it was. This morning Tak put some more of the gel on Gaku's back. But then Gaku was worried about his Daddy and really wanted to put some gel on Tak's back, so Tak let him.
Gaku was complaining that his back hurt and he wanted to stay home. I said fine, he could stay home if he wanted. So of course he then wanted to go. When Tak took him to daycare, he was showing off his sunburn to his friends. But when Tak wanted to show the nurse (I think to give her the after-sun gel to put on his back), he didn't want her to see his back and was saying "やだ！" ("yada" meaning "no!!") Goofy monkey!
** The sunburn already looks better this morning. And because of the flash, it looks worse than it is in the photos, not that it isn't pretty bad...
Friday, July 11, 2008
Baby Sling/Carrier Reviews
I have so many different slings and carriers, but I still maintain that they all have (had) their uses at their times. The only one I probably won’t use again is the only one that Tak still uses (and the Tonga). He just laughs each time he sees a new one. He doesn’t understand the need for each of them. (He doesn’t carry the kids around so much. He usually goes out together with the kids and me, when we always have at least one, sometimes two, stroller with us. I often go out for quick trips with two kids and no stroller.) Anyway, I thought I would give a review of the pros and cons of all of the ones I have. I guess I’ll put them in the order that I bought them, which might make more sense for why I have the collection I do. Here is a list of the slings:
1. Nojo Baby Sling
2. Huguenot, made by Eightex
3. Tonga
4. Duccoby Dura, made by Eightex
5. Babybjorn Baby Carrier Air
6. Maya Wrap
7. Zolowear Solarveil Baby Sling
8. Kelty Wanderer Carrier (out of order, this one was Tak's choice)
1. Nojo Baby Sling
2. Huguenot, made by Eightex
3. Tonga
4. Duccoby Dura, made by Eightex
5. Babybjorn Baby Carrier Air
6. Maya Wrap
7. Zolowear Solarveil Baby Sling
8. Kelty Wanderer Carrier (out of order, this one was Tak's choice)
This is the first one I bought before Gaku was even born. I first used it with him when he was about a month old. He also went all over Tokyo in it when my parents visited. When I bought this one, the selection of slings/carriers was not as generous as it is now.
Pros (most have to do with ring slings in general):
1. Versatility. Can carry the baby in a lot of different positions.
2. Can nurse easily in it (more true of another one I have).
3. Is very easy to adjust for someone with no experience using ring slings.
Cons:
1. The thick shoulder pad gets irritating and makes it bulkier.
2. The padding in the rails means you cannot tighten it as much, and again makes it bulkier.
3. Cannot adjust the rails and the middle like you can with other ring slings.
Pros (most have to do with ring slings in general):
1. Versatility. Can carry the baby in a lot of different positions.
2. Can nurse easily in it (more true of another one I have).
3. Is very easy to adjust for someone with no experience using ring slings.
Cons:
1. The thick shoulder pad gets irritating and makes it bulkier.
2. The padding in the rails means you cannot tighten it as much, and again makes it bulkier.
3. Cannot adjust the rails and the middle like you can with other ring slings.
I loved this one with Gaku. As a small baby he would lay horizontally in it. When he got bigger we used it with him upright. But knowing what I know now about ring slings, I wouldn’t buy this one again. I couldn’t use it with Hana because as a very small baby she wanted to be upright (not horizontal) in the sling and I couldn’t tighten the top rail enough to get the head support she needed. However, this is the sling/carrier that Tak still uses with Gaku when he wants to go for a “sleepy walk”.
I bought this one because it wasn’t too expensive, and it could be used to carry the baby in a lot of different ways:
1. In front facing in
2. In front facing out
3. On your back
4. Baby bed/flat (never tried)
Pros:
1. It’s comfortable to wear.
2. It’s easy to swing the baby onto your back.
Cons:
1. Material doesn’t breathe well.
2. It’s a tricky, pain in the **** to use as a front carrier because you have to first strap the baby into the carrier, hold the baby up against you, swing the straps over your shoulders and buckle them in on the opposite side behind you.
3. It’s not easy to get the baby completely out of if they fall asleep in it.
4. When your child hits a certain weight, all of their weight sits on the top of your shoulders.
1. In front facing in
2. In front facing out
3. On your back
4. Baby bed/flat (never tried)
Pros:
1. It’s comfortable to wear.
2. It’s easy to swing the baby onto your back.
Cons:
1. Material doesn’t breathe well.
2. It’s a tricky, pain in the **** to use as a front carrier because you have to first strap the baby into the carrier, hold the baby up against you, swing the straps over your shoulders and buckle them in on the opposite side behind you.
3. It’s not easy to get the baby completely out of if they fall asleep in it.
4. When your child hits a certain weight, all of their weight sits on the top of your shoulders.
Overall, I love it for carrying the baby on my back. I used it to carry Gaku on the front, but it was a bit of a hassle, especially if I was taking him to the doctor where I had limited space to get him out and had to put him back in again after being checked. I use it with Hana now, but only on my back, usually just riding the bike to pick up Gaku from daycare. Best from around 6 months up until maybe 1½ years.
Tonga
I bought this one for its size. Basically, it was a sling that I could throw in the diaper bag when I was out with Gaku in a stroller. Then if he got fussy, I could carry him and still push the stroller.
Pros:
1. It’s so tiny it can literally fit in your back pocket.
2. It’s good to take the babies weight off your arms.
3. It’s like a hammock, so it’s cooler for carrying your baby in the summer.
Cons:
1. It’s not hands-free.
2. If you’re not extra vigilant, the baby can easily slip out of the bottom.
3. You cannot adjust the length or fit.
Pros:
1. It’s so tiny it can literally fit in your back pocket.
2. It’s good to take the babies weight off your arms.
3. It’s like a hammock, so it’s cooler for carrying your baby in the summer.
Cons:
1. It’s not hands-free.
2. If you’re not extra vigilant, the baby can easily slip out of the bottom.
3. You cannot adjust the length or fit.
I used this a bit with Gaku, but found that it was hard to keep him from almost slipping out of the bottom. I have to say that I wouldn’t buy this one again (because I’ve found better alternatives).
This one is a hip carrier. I got it when Gaku was about one and I was taking him to daycare every day. He couldn’t walk home yet and I couldn’t leave my bike at the daycare.
Pros:
1. It distributes most of the weight on your hips so it doesn’t kill your back.
2. You’re carrying your child on the front, so you can still talk to them while carrying them.
3. Their legs aren’t straight down on top your legs, making it difficult to go up steps.
Cons:
1. When too big (I used with Gaku recently – at just 3 years old), their legs hang straight down, making them feel heavier and putting more strain on the middle of your back.
Pros:
1. It distributes most of the weight on your hips so it doesn’t kill your back.
2. You’re carrying your child on the front, so you can still talk to them while carrying them.
3. Their legs aren’t straight down on top your legs, making it difficult to go up steps.
Cons:
1. When too big (I used with Gaku recently – at just 3 years old), their legs hang straight down, making them feel heavier and putting more strain on the middle of your back.
I got a lot of use out of this one for about a year. I liked it because it took Gaku’s weight off my back, but allowed me to still interact with him during our walks to daycare. Best from 1-2 years.
The above slings are the ones I used with Gaku. I now have three more that I added.
The above slings are the ones I used with Gaku. I now have three more that I added.
Babybjorn Baby Carrier Air
http://www.babybjorn.com/American/products/Mobility/BABYBJORN-Baby-Carrier-Air/
I didn’t buy this one with Gaku because it’s a bit expensive. But I saw one of our friends using it and it looked so easy. I have to say that I absolutely love this one and wish I had bought it with Gaku.
Pros:
1. It’s very easy to take on and off.
2. It’s even easier to get the baby in and out of.
3. It’s mesh so it breathes well (good for summer).
4. Baby can face in our out.
Cons:
1. It can’t be used as a back carrier (but I knew this when I bought it).
2. Like with most carriers, as the baby gets heavier, their weight will be more on your shoulders.
Pros:
1. It’s very easy to take on and off.
2. It’s even easier to get the baby in and out of.
3. It’s mesh so it breathes well (good for summer).
4. Baby can face in our out.
Cons:
1. It can’t be used as a back carrier (but I knew this when I bought it).
2. Like with most carriers, as the baby gets heavier, their weight will be more on your shoulders.
I also bought the fleece cover to go with it, which made the set fantastic for winter. If it was really cold, I could slip a couple of blankets between the carrier and the cover and Hana would be nice and toasty! Because of the cover’s design, the blankets couldn’t fall out and end up on the ground. Since I have the mesh one, I’m using it quite a bit now that it’s hot out. It has enough head support for newborns. I first used it with Hana when she was about 3 weeks old. I sometimes use this one when going out by bike also.
I bought this one because I wanted a ring sling that I could use with Hana and the Nojo one wasn’t working. I tried to buy a ring sling in a department store since I had seen some a few weeks before Hana was born, but no luck! The department stores had stopped selling ring slings because “they’re dangerous”. (They’re only dangerous if not made properly, and if the baby is not in them properly, which is true of any carrier!) I spent some time researching online and found one woman selling it in Japan.
Pros:
1. The material is really, nice and soft. Maya Wraps are made in Guatemala and the material has an ethnic feel to it, very nice colors.
2. You can adjust the rails and the middle of the sling to get a perfect fit.
3. You can carry the baby in lots of different ways.
4. There’s a pocket in the tail you can throw your wallet and keys into when making a quick run to the store.
5. It’s great for nursing in public.
6. It comes with a “how-to” DVD which is very good.
Cons:
1. There is a bit of a learning curve. The first few times you use it (or any ring sling) you won’t feel completely comfortable.
2. The material breathes nicely, but is still maybe a bit warm for summer.
Pros:
1. The material is really, nice and soft. Maya Wraps are made in Guatemala and the material has an ethnic feel to it, very nice colors.
2. You can adjust the rails and the middle of the sling to get a perfect fit.
3. You can carry the baby in lots of different ways.
4. There’s a pocket in the tail you can throw your wallet and keys into when making a quick run to the store.
5. It’s great for nursing in public.
6. It comes with a “how-to” DVD which is very good.
Cons:
1. There is a bit of a learning curve. The first few times you use it (or any ring sling) you won’t feel completely comfortable.
2. The material breathes nicely, but is still maybe a bit warm for summer.
When I first ordered, it I was concerned about the new design with “light padding in the shoulder”, but it’s just the way the material is stitched together. From what I can tell, it makes it a bit easier to use.
This is another ring sling. It’s basically what I consider my replacement for the Tonga. It’s made out of a polyester mesh which dries really quickly (within 30 minutes) and allows more air flow than the Maya Wrap.
Pros:
1. It’s cool for summer. They talk about even wading in water and showering with your baby.
2. You can adjust the rails and the middle of the sling to get a perfect fit.
3. You can carry the baby in lots of different ways.
4. There’s a pocket in the tail you can throw your wallet and keys into when making a quick run to the store.
5. It comes with a “how-to” DVD which is very good.
6. It fits very easily into any bag.
Cons:
1. There is a bit of a learning curve. The first few times you use it (or any ring sling) you won’t feel completely comfortable.
2. The material isn’t as soft as I had hoped. It’s actually just a tiny bit scratchy feeling.
Pros:
1. It’s cool for summer. They talk about even wading in water and showering with your baby.
2. You can adjust the rails and the middle of the sling to get a perfect fit.
3. You can carry the baby in lots of different ways.
4. There’s a pocket in the tail you can throw your wallet and keys into when making a quick run to the store.
5. It comes with a “how-to” DVD which is very good.
6. It fits very easily into any bag.
Cons:
1. There is a bit of a learning curve. The first few times you use it (or any ring sling) you won’t feel completely comfortable.
2. The material isn’t as soft as I had hoped. It’s actually just a tiny bit scratchy feeling.
Because the material is not quite as soft as I had hoped, it’s not my very favorite, but I still like it and am looking forward to using it with Hana at the Rainbow Pool this weekend. (We were supposed to go today, but Hana is sick. So I sent off Tak and Gaku and am staying home with Hana.)
My two absolute favorite must-haves would have to be the Babybjorn and the Maya Wrap (Zolowear Solarveil being VERY close behind). They are both good for carrying Hana for longer periods of time. I alternate between the two. I find that using one or the other too much puts strain on different parts of my back. The Babybjorn hits the shoulders and the Maya Wrap hits the middle of my back. Having both is great! I have to say there was a day this week when I used all three of my current favorites.
Although, I do have a problem now. I have to confess to wanting more slings. Tak doesn’t understand this, but basically a sling becomes like a piece of clothing, something to match your clothing and mood of the day. Do you just have one jacket and always wear the same one? (I suppose Tak would probably have to answer yes to this question, which is why he doesn’t get the sling thing.) I would really like one of the Zolowear Silk Brocade ones. They look absolutely gorgeous, but are well beyond my price range! (At this point I have all the slings I really NEED; anything else is fulfilling WANTS.) I realize that I’ve become a sling addict… There are a couple more carriers that I would love to try (Ellaroo Woven Wrap or Moby Stretchy Wrap), but I cannot justify buying another one for any reason.
Oh! I was just walking down the hall and discovered one more carrier that I had forgotten about. This one isn’t my purchase, though. This is one that we bought in the States because Tak wanted it and thought he would use it. I think you could count on both hands the total number of times we’ve used it.
Kelty Wanderer Carrier
http://www.ruggedbear-online.com/kewaca.html
This is one of those frame backpacks for carrying kids. Tak thought it would be great for hiking and walking. But we’ve hardly used it at all. Instead, when Tak has wanted to carry Gaku on his back, he’s used the Huguenot carrier.
Pros:
1. Baby sits in a seat, so potentially more comfortable for them, although I think we had a problem with some of the straps rubbing on Gaku’s leg funny. I can’t remember for sure…
2. Has a backpack on the back so you can put all your junk in it, no need for another bag.
3. Since the baby is away from your body, it’s a lot cooler in the summer.
4. The frame stands up, so the whole thing can act as a chair for the baby in a restaurant.
Cons:
1. Heavy.
2. The baby ends up taller, so not so practical for hiking (tree branches).
3. Big, which means it’s not good on crowded trains in Tokyo.
4. I can’t get it on without a table or a chair to rest it on first. There’s some trick of resting it your knee and flipping it around onto your back, but I could never get the hang of it.
5. I also have an issue with getting the adjustments right for my height.
Pros:
1. Baby sits in a seat, so potentially more comfortable for them, although I think we had a problem with some of the straps rubbing on Gaku’s leg funny. I can’t remember for sure…
2. Has a backpack on the back so you can put all your junk in it, no need for another bag.
3. Since the baby is away from your body, it’s a lot cooler in the summer.
4. The frame stands up, so the whole thing can act as a chair for the baby in a restaurant.
Cons:
1. Heavy.
2. The baby ends up taller, so not so practical for hiking (tree branches).
3. Big, which means it’s not good on crowded trains in Tokyo.
4. I can’t get it on without a table or a chair to rest it on first. There’s some trick of resting it your knee and flipping it around onto your back, but I could never get the hang of it.
5. I also have an issue with getting the adjustments right for my height.
Amazingly Good at the Doctors
I really can't believe how good my kids are at getting their vaccination shots.
Three weeks ago, I took Gaku to get his DPT booster and Hana to get her first DPT. It worked well because I could take both of them at the same time. Also, Gaku can't go to daycare on a vaccination day because they want you to keep them quiet (yeah, right) at home and watch them for reactions.
In the week leading up to the vaccination, we were kind of psyching Gaku up for it. He was saying things like, "お兄ちゃんだもん！痛くないもん！泣かないもん！” "I'm a big boy! It doesn't hurt! I won't cry!" When we asked about Hana getting a shot, he said she shouldn't get one because she would cry. He was a bit worried for her.
So we went to the doctor. I had Hana in the Baby Bjorn front carrier. So Gaku went in and sat on the chair all by himself, let the doctor listen to his chest, and opened his mouth so nicely for the doctor to check his throat that he didn't even need the tongue depressor. Then he got his shot and didn't cry at all, not even a whimper! I was pretty proud of him.
Then it was Hana's turn. She was okay to get the shot, so I put her back in the carrier first. And can you believe it? She didn't cry either, didn't even flinch or react in any way. Today she was going for the second dose. I figured last time might have been a fluke, but again today, no tears or anything. Wow!
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