Now, let’s talk about something you DO need! (AND something you can win!)

My Pippalily sling was one of my top five favourite baby shower gifts. Here are a couple of lil’ ditties that help illustrate why.

Story #1:

My son was born in August. When he was one week old, we decided that it was time to break out of our cavern (as the bedroom, with the shades drawn and nipple shields festooning the bedspread had become) and take Our First Family Walk. It was a glorious summer day, and we were ready to face the world as a family of three.

For those who have done this, you know what a big deal it is.

We were going to the Public Gardens, which was only a block from our house. Nonetheless, this was an event. I dug out a maternity shirt from my second trimester, we packed a diaper bag fit to equip an Amazonian excursion, we read the stroller manual 87 times before figuring out how the &*%$# thing unfolded, and 2 hours later, we were off!

We made it about 12 feet before I peered into the stroller and decided that the baby, who was flailing about in the bassinet attachment, was going to get Shaken Baby Syndrome from rattling over the cracks in the sidewalk.

My husband gently suggested that such an occurrence was unlikely, but refrained (wisely) from protest as I plucked my son from the stroller and carried him the rest of the way. He didn’t even roll his eyes, until I insisted that he walk at such an angle as to cast a shadow over the baby, as I was afraid he would get a sunburn on his bare feet. But he still did it. Wisely.

We made it to the park with no further drama, until my husband went to use the washroom, and left me sitting on a bench with babe in arms. Newborn babies tend to attract a bit of attention, so quite a few people stopped to ooh and ahh. I was feeling quite pleased with myself for producing such a specimen of a child, and proudly showed him off to everyone. I was doing just fine until a woman, who was clearly on an outing from the nearby hospital, stopped to comment on the baby. “Nice baby!” she exclaimed. Her case worker patted her on the arm for using her best socially appropriate behavior. Like I did with everyone else, I tilted his face for her to admire. She promptly bent down and planted a big, slobbery kiss on his cheek. I was speechless with New Parent Horror.

Then my husband appeared. ”Did you just let that strange woman kiss the baby?” he hissed in my ear, with a combination of surprise and disgust.

“It happened so fast!” I cried. “I couldn’t stop her!”

Oh, but I could have.

Read on.

Story #2 (it’s much briefer, bear with me here):

When my son was 2 weeks old, we went to my sister-in-law’s wedding. I was to read a passage from Corinthians during the ceremony. I had smartened up slightly at this point, being an experienced parent of a two-week-old child, so this time he was in the Pippalily sling. I was prepared.

Two minutes before I was go in front of 140 people, I sprung a leak. A major one. Actually, it’s safe to say that the levees broke.

And nobody knew, because my sling hid the entire milky display!

Can you tell?

Didn’t think so! My Pippalily sling hid the whole scene.

So, let’s review the Top Five Lessons We’ve Learned from my stories. Other than the fact than I am apparently unafraid to invite the World Wide Web to squint their eyes and scrutinize my post-partum breasts.

1. Slings hide your leaky boobs.
2. Slings allow you to walk around freely and do things like read from the Bible in front of hundreds of people (Hallelujah).
3. Slings protect your baby from crazy stranger drool.
4. Slings keep your baby protected from UV rays.
5. Slings keep our baby cozily close to you, which is exactly where he wants to be, and exactly where you want him to be.

So slings, in general, are great. But how is my Pippalily sling extra-special?

Here are my top five favourite things about it.

1. It is BEAUTIFUL. Honestly, it’s way more fabulous than my dress. Can’t fit into pre-pregnancy clothes yet? Funky sling + cool shoes = WHO CARES.
2. The company started with a Canadian mom who designed a practical product that she could use. Does that not speak volumes?
3. It is super easy to use and uber-comfortable. Pippalily even has straightforward instructional videos on their website if you’re feeling unsure.
4. It’s very compact and can fit into a small purse, so you never need to find yourself without it.
5. You can make an entire batch of cookie dough, and eat it, while your baby sleeps in the sling.

If you want an up close and personal look at a Pippalily design, you can send an email to carlyjansutherland@gmail.com with “Pippalily” in the subject line for a chance to win a Pippalily diaper clutch! I am bad at keeping secrets, aren’t I? Be sure to email me by December 15th.

The contest is open to all Canadian residents.