My daughter is now 14 months old. She can be quite independent but she’s curious so she likes to see what mommy is up to. Obviously, I can’t have her in my arms all the time but it’s also important for me to include her in what I do as much as possible. That’s where babywearing comes in!

I’ve been doing it from the beginning for bonding, because it soothed my baby when she was colicky, because it was great for breastfeeding, because I needed to have my hands free, because I wanted to be active, etc. The benefits are truly too many to list here.

Wanting to babywear is the first (easy) step. Then comes the decision of which carrier to choose. I’ve personally always liked the simplicity and the versatility of wraps. I received a very thin and plain one as a shower present and even since, I’ve been drooling over pretty colorful wraps.

I finally got my hands on of the best of the best of there: a Zara by Ellevill! Ellevill is a Norwegian company that specializes in wraps. They offer many different fabrics and blends from cotton, bamboo and silk, to linen and wool. They also offer stretchy wraps made from a special Air Merino blend.

Ellevill wraps come in many rich and vibrant colors as you can see below. The designs are also unique. No plain solid wraps or expected stripe patterns!

As I said before, I received a beautiful Zara Fresh. It has 2 vibrant shades of kiwi green. The colors really pop! I think it fits equally well for a girl and a boy. It was important for me to get a gender neutral color because we want more children and also because I’m not sure I could convince my husband to wear an aubergine wrap, no matter how stunning the shade of purple!

I especially like the weaving pattern in it which reminds me of stars and butterflies and waves. I learned that it was inspired by Norwegian and South American knitting styles. The wrap is 100% mercerized cotton. This type of cotton has a special treatment which makes it stronger, smoother and shinier than regular cotton and it takes dyes more easily. Because it’s 100% cotton, it can be used all year round.

The wrap is thin and has a nice weight to it (not too heavy, not so light that it feels flimsy) and a good diagonal stretch which is important for optimal comfort. It softens with use and after a few weeks, feels like a very comfortable sweater. I was also pleased when I discovered that the ends are lopsided so they aren’t as bulky and the knots are very small.

We’ve been using our Zara many times a week for a few weeks now. I’ve tied it in a rucksack, a secure high back carry, and a double hammock. I’ve also done a few front carries for breastfeeding. My daughter is comfortable in it and I actually also find it more comfortable than my other one, probably because of the natural stretch in the cotton weave.

If you’re new to babywearing and aren’t sure what size you need, I suggest you take a look at the table that Ellevill provided. It’ll tell you which size you’ll need depending on the types of carry you’d like to do. There are also instruction photos and videos so you can learn how to tie your new Ellevill wrap properly. Don’t worry, it looks trickier than it actually is. There’s definitely a learning curve but take you time and practice until you’re comfortable. I’m no expert and I’m still learning and practicing new ways to wrap after over a year of babywearing!

If you’re looking for a comfortable and stylish woven wrap, head to Ellevill Wraps. Don’t forget to like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter for all the latest news and promotion.

Rachel