Why A KangaWrap Is My New Travel Essential

When travelling with a baby, a baby carrier is one of my essential items. Having your hands free to carry luggage or supervise other children at the airport is very handy while having the freedom to ditch the pram when exploring a new place is also important. We used one when our eldest daughter was a baby – at home and abroad – but I had never used a ‘wrap’ style carrier. With our first abroad trip planned and our six-week-old daughter in tow, when approached by KangaWrap to try out their product, I jumped at the chance. I was intrigued. Was there really much of a difference between a wrap and my BabyBjorn carrier? To be honest, I was slightly sceptical about its virtues. I was to be proved wrong.

Having seen many mums in my local area wander around wearing their wraps with ease, I was interested to see how I would get on. The first thing that stuck me about the Kangawrap is how lightweight the material is and portable. It fits into a small drawstring bag which is stretchable so you aren’t wrestling for ages stuffing it in.

Made from organic cotton it is a very soft, breathable material. Now, it does take a bit of practice to put on (I recommend doing it in front of a mirror to start with) but it eventually comes second nature and the instructions are equipped with good diagrams. Check out my short video demonstration to see how easy it is.

The first time I trialled the wrap was during the short walk to our nearby park and the little one was being a bit grizzly. ‘Would it work for us,’ I wondered. But the Kangawrap came into its own during our travels and I am now a total convert. Here’s why.

– Easy to fit into handbag/hand luggage
It’s compact and lightweight so I could just pop it into my bag or under the buggy. When we had taken the buggy as far as allowed at the airport, it was perfect for transporting baby from the gate onto the plane. The same when we were out and about exploring.

– Comfortable to wear
Because the KangaWrap is so soft and lightweight, unlike many bulky baby carriers, I can keep wearing the wrap on the flight. It provides a cosy sling for baby to rest her head and body on during the flight and when she gets tired I can pop her in it so she can get some sleep. Because the material goes over their eyes, the have the darkness they need to get them to sleep. It also means that I am ready to go straight away when it is time to embark. In addition, it provides an extra layer of clothing (I can get chilly on planes) AND I can use it as a breastfeeding cover which is my next point…

– Doubles up as a breast feeding cover
This came in handy while waiting to get on the plane and on the flight. I could discreetly feed her without much fuss – or anyone seeing something they shouldn’t!

– Good for places where pushchairs are not allowed
The wrap has proved invaluable on our travels around various towns and cities where there are lots of stairs, cobbles and attractions where pushchairs aren’t ideal. In particular, during our visit to visit the Papal Palace (Palais des Papes) in Avignon, France. No pushchairs were allowed (ancient buildings with their narrow corridors don’t tend to be very buggy friendly). As the KangaWrap is so portable, we had fortunately put it in the bottom of the buggy so I just put it on, slipped her in, and off we went!

– Helps the mother/child bond
The wrap makes a great cocoon for baby and you are able to get skin to skin contact which is great for various reasons. As baby is close, she can hear your heartbeat and feel secure. In turn, you feel closer to baby. Because the material wrap is so soft and relatively thin, you can get really close for extra special cuddles and lots of kisses on their head. I love it when she rests her head on my chest and have her so near. It also means my daughter can’t pester her little sister which is quite tempting when she’s in a pram.

– It helps get baby to sleep
Yes, really!! We had a few nights when baby would not settle. She was at the 6/8 week stage when the ‘witching’ hour around 6/7pm (when we wanted to have dinner) was very real. Hooray for the KangaWrap. A few strolls around the block and she had nodded off to sleep. Of course, transferring her to the buggy was another matter. One night I sat at dinner with the KangaWrap attached and you know what, it was so comfy I forgot it was there. I have used the wrap since at home to get her to sleep when she is really struggling.

– It is comfortable to wear
Some baby carriers can really dig into my back and cause pain. I haven’t found that with the KangaWrap. Perhaps it is because baby is better able to get into a position they are comfortable in or because there are no buckles or hard materials. Granted, she is only three months old and weighs around 8kg but so far I have not experienced any lower back pain (the longest I have carried her has been for around 40 minutes). It does feel like a far more natural way to carry a baby.

Here are the downsides

– There’s a lot of material. I’m pretty short and have a slim build so I was left with a fair bit of wrap to wrap around my waist. Not a biggie and I guess I could get it adjusted if I was really bothered.

– When they are too young to be facing outwards, they are very likely to fall asleep so not great if you want them awake! But, I’m pretty sure this is the case with other baby carriers too.

– Be careful using when the weather is warm and especially in hot countries. Because of the close contact, you are adding your body heat to them and it is very important not to let your baby overheat.

Conclusion

I would thoroughly recommend the KangaWrap to any mums with young babies. It is not just useful for those who enjoy travelling but for walking to the shops, getting baby off to sleep and enjoying that wonderful closeness between mother and baby. I can’t believe I am only just discovering the advantages of a wrap carrier! The material is soft, lightweight, machine washable and baby seems to like going in it too.

I also really like the ethical background to the KangaWrap too. It works with Trade4Life, a not-for-profit organisation which helps mothers in developing countries by creating ethical job opportunities. Profits from KangaWrap have also helped maternity workers in the Delhi slums. At £44.99, I don’t think it is bad value at all (especially compared to other baby carriers). It can be used from birth until your child is around 15kg. They can be purchased from the KangaWrap website. They also do a KangaWrap Joey (£12.99) for young girls and boys to carry their teddies and dolls in – how cute? I’m looking forward to using my KangaWrap for as long as I can and I can’t imagine not owning it.

How about you? Would you like to own one? I am delighted to announce that I am running a giveaway for a KangaWrap. Are you expecting a baby or have a little one that would benefit from the KangaWrap? Perhaps you have an friend or family member who is expecting a baby. This would make an amazing gift so hurry and enter my amazing competition below. THIS COMPETITION HAS NOW ENDED.
a Rafflecopter giveaway

Disclosure: I was very kindly given a KangaWrap in return for an honest review

Pin for later