Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Baby Sling Wrap Review

Maya Wrap Adjustable Pouch Baby Sling/Wrap Reviews
Great Baby Carrier For For Mom and Dads

Pros : color choice, washable, versatile, easily transported, light weight, breathable

Cons: none

The Bottom Line: The ease of use, durability, and versatility make this my new favorite carrier, and one I wish I had when my first child was born! A must have!

This is the easiest carrier to use! I have two of the regular sling Maya Wraps, and debated on whether or not to order a pouch, when I saw on the website that the company was working on an adjustable pouch. I knew it wouldn't be long before it would be available, so I held out and ordered one as soon as I could.

The adjustable pouch is based on the same concept as the original. It's a solid ring of fabric, and you put one side under one arm, and the other side on the other shoulder, with the open edges facing upward, and then rotate the pouch so the seam is positioned where you want baby's rear end to be. Then you just open the pouch and lay (or sit) your baby in it and go! It's that simple!

The new adjustable pouch differs from the traditional one in that it has zippers to adjust the fit. This is a nice feature, since not everyone is made the same, and this allows you to customize the fit of the pouch, although not to the extent that the Maya Wrap sling with tail offers.

The pouch is also versatile. It is convenient to nurse in, allows you to carry baby hands free, and you can also lay it down to use as a little blanket. It can be used to carry your baby in several positions, such as the newborn carry (baby lying down), baby facing in, baby facing out (kangaroo carry), hip carry, back carry, and necklace carry (where both ends of the pouch are over your shoulders, and none of the pouch is under your arms.)

I have used it with my two year old in the hip carry, and it was comfortable and easy. With my 2 month old daughter, I have only used it in the newborn carry, but plan on trying her in the kangaroo shortly.

The snug, dark, cozy pouch provides a womb like environment when worn close to mom (or dad) in that baby feels the motion of walking or rocking, and is near to mom (or dad's) scent and sounds. This can be very beneficial when attempting to calm a fussy baby, while saving your arms!

The carrier is made out of 100% cotton and is machine washable. It is best, however, to line dry to prevent shrinkage. There are many colors and patterns to choose from, and it's best to go to the website to see them, as they are labeled by number. The weight limit is 35 pounds, which allows it to be used for newborns (including preemies) to toddler. No buckles or straps mean no risk of the sling opening and falling off the wearer.

Another great feature is that it is easily transported. It can be folded up and put into a diaper bag, purse, or carried in the stroller basket. Many times I have kept it on even when not carrying my baby, since it is extremely light weight, breathable, and comfortable.

Babies love to be held close, and the Maya Wrap adjustable pouch gives moms and dads the chance to carry baby comfortably while also giving them freedom of mobility. However, caution should be taken as with any carrier, and it is not recommended that baby be worn in any carrier while cooking, driving, or during any other task which may pose possible risk to the infant. The pouch should not be left in the crib with baby.

Recommended: Yes

Amount Paid (US$): 44.95
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months

"Sling Challenged"? Try the Pouch- Great for Late Walkers, Too!

Pros: Easy to use, super portable, washes well, quick on and off, suitable for both parents

Cons: As baby grows more active s/he may resist pouch's confines- start young!

The Bottom Line: Want to "wear" your child, even as s/he grows into toddlerhood? Frustrated by carriers that need constant adjusting? This high quality, easy to use pouch is for you!

First, let me specify that this review pertains to the Maya Wrap Pouch- not to be confused with the very prevalent Maya Wrap Sling.

My family and I LOVE our pouch! We had tried numerous slings and carriers (Baby Bjorn, Dr. Sears, Over the Shoulder Baby Holder, and others) with our daughter when she was an infant (she's now 4 1/2, and none of them were "right" for us. We always felt like we would drop her, or they were physically uncomfortable for us.We finally resigned ourselves to the fact that we'd have to carry our late-walking (she didn't walk until she was 16 months) and very heavy (almost 30 lbs. at a year old!) girl on our hips and just be thankful for a great daily bicep workout.

With our son (he'll be a year old in 2 weeks), we again tried the same parade of carriers, and still we weren't quite comfortable with any of them, so you know since we weren't, he definitely wasn't!

We were initially introduced to the Maya Wrap by trying their trademark sling carrier. It worked very well when our son (another BIG baby!) was only a few months old. As he grew, however, I began to get frustrated with the constant repositioning of the rings while juggling the big boy, and the ever present question of "What to do with that tail?!?!".

A few months ago, I decided to look further into the pouch, which I had seen on the website when I purchased the sling. I fell in love with the idea of a "ringless" yet adjustable carrier. The pouches come in sizes small, medium, large, and extra large. (I am 5'6" and selected a medium, which works great- I have room to adjust up or down, should it become necessary). When your pouch arrives, you select the appropriate length of pouch for you and your child by choosing one of 3 zipper options. The zipper sets the length by creating a horizontal pleat in the fabric that varies based on the location of the zipper, thus lengthening or shortening the pouch. The zippers are VERY high quality, and when a particular setting is not in use, the zipper "teeth" are securely covered in the soft yet very durable (and attractive!) cotton fabric, in order to protect your baby's soft skin. Once you've selected the length that works for you, THAT'S IT!!! (Until the baby grows, of course:) You can take the pouch on and off, and the setting stays exactly where you want it. No rings to dig into your shoulder (I know, I know, they aren't supposed to dig into my shoulder- I just never could get it right, even with the excellent video instructions), no constant adjusting of the tail, and never a need to re-thread the wrap through the rings- Get it, adjust it once, and that's it!

This carrier has been to museums, on Easter Egg Hunts, to birthday parties, shopping, around the yard, to playgrounds- road tested indoors and out. It has been indispensable for us, as we have an active 4 1/2 year-old who frequently needs a hand to hold. We can be right at our daughter's side without maneuvering a stroller through crowded areas, and our son is close to our faces- not staring at the legs of a crowd while down in his stroller. Our favorite position is to carry our son on our hip as we would w/o the pouch, but this lets us do it hands-free. There are at least 3 other positions to try with the pouch, including a back-carrying position that we're not ready for quite yet (again, my issue- not the baby's :).

The fabric is great, it washes very well (remember to line dry 100 % cotton!) and is breathable in even the warmest weather. The carrier can be used with babies/toddlers up to 35 pounds. The website states that the pouch zippers have been tested up to over 125 pounds, and if a zipper should ever malfunction, the pouch would never open- it would only extend to its largest setting.

I purchased the pouch "gently used". It cost $31.95, which is a substantial savings over the regular priced pouches, which range from $44.95-$49.95. The pouch was in new condition- not even the slightest sign of wear, even on the label! I was thrilled! And, even though it was a "used" model, it still came with the free instructional video. BTW, the video is great- take it from a teacher :) the instructions are simple and presented at a pace that is easy to follow.

Our son has just started crawling at almost a year- looks like we've got another late walker on our hands. This time, the pouch will spare our biceps (unless, of course, we need the workout!).

Recommended: Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 31.95
Age Range of Child: 0 to 12 Months