When I was pregnant with my son seven years ago, I was introduced to stretchy wraps. Before my pregnancy, I had used carriers and woven slings as a nanny to twins, and they had been brilliant, but I had never heard of a stretchy wrap. Naturally, I did a fair amount of research, looking into how they worked and how they were made. I discovered that you could get wraps with a one-way or two-way stretch, and I felt that a two-way stretch would be the best option to try.

As an eco-conscious family, we were planning to use cloth nappies, had bought an organic mattress, and aimed to use as many sleep-related items made from organic fabrics as possible. I was keen to ensure that my new baby would be exposed to as few harsh chemicals as possible, and I wanted his sleeping and resting spaces to be as natural as they could be.

After a thorough search, up popped the Hana Baby Wrap, which seemed to tick all the boxes.

Once it arrived, still during my pregnancy, I was taken aback by its sheer size! Compared to the slings and woven wraps I had used before, this seemed like an endless piece of fabric, and I couldn’t fathom how I was ever going to master wrapping it around me.

However, a quick trip to YouTube provided a video that broke down the steps, and while I wasn’t an instant pro, after some practice, it became a lot easier. My husband and I even practised with a pillow to get a feel for it, which worked surprisingly well.

Our son was born on 11th May 2018, at home, and although it was a beautiful birth, he was unwell, so we had to spend five days in the hospital. And of course, this gorgeous wrap was packed to come with us!

We knew how important skin-to-skin contact is in those early days, and we couldn’t wait to use the wrap.

While in hospital, my husband used it for skin-to-skin, and it was perfect – soft on our baby’s newborn skin, and despite the hospital being quite warm, our baby didn’t overheat at all while wrapped up snugly.

We used the wrap nearly every day until our son was about six months old. I wore it while cooking, walking the dog, cleaning the house – pretty much for everything! It was wonderful to have him close to me, and on particularly fussy days, when he wouldn’t settle, the wrap brought us both comfort. After the first few weeks, I even mastered breastfeeding on the go while wearing it!

One standout memory was picking strawberries with our nephews during the summer holidays. My son started to get fussy and needed a feed, but I didn’t have to find a seat – I discreetly fed him in the wrap while continuing to pick strawberries. It was such a bonus that the wrap felt like a soft t-shirt, allowing me to pre-wrap it before leaving the house. Once we arrived somewhere, I could simply pop my baby in without the faff of setting up a carrier while he waited impatiently in the car.

The Hana wrap held up brilliantly, even after months of daily use. It washed so well that it looked brand new, despite being worn daily and often covered in baby sick! When my brother and his partner were expecting their baby in Australia in 2020, I shipped it over to them.

They loved it for their early morning beach walks. My sister-in-law told me how easily her little one napped in the wrap, just like my son had done. It was a lifesaver for both of us – being able to get out and about quickly without dealing with a buggy helped protect my mental health.

Fast forward to July 2021, when my beautiful baby girl was born. From day one, she was cuddled up in the wrap, just like her brother had been.

She was a fussier baby, so the Hana wrap became like a second skin. With a three-year-old to care for as well, I knew she was safe, comfortable, and well-regulated temperature-wise, curled up close to me. Writing this now makes me nostalgic for that feeling – there’s nothing quite like having your baby close, knowing they’re secure and content while you get on with your day.

If we’re ever lucky enough to have another little one, a new Hana Baby Wrap will be at the top of my list – and with so many colours to choose from, I’ll definitely be treating myself to a fresh one!