Mako Mania, it's a thing

A bit late to the party, but Mako Mania, it's a thing! Ankalia released Mako, part of their Fusion line in November 2015. When ai first saw the images in the lead up to the release I wasn't that interested. The geometric pattern isn't really my thing and I prefer other colours. But, the babywearing world went crazy. 'Mako Mania' they called it, so when a friend decided to send her Mako ring sling travelling I couldn't pass up the opportunity to try it.

Mako arrived and I opened her up. I can't say I was taken at first sight, but there's a hypnotising arrangement to the blue and purple triangles, an almost ethereal sheen and as a result I was eager to give her a try. I didn't have to wait long, as soon as my 2.5 year old clocked there was a new wrap in the house she yelled 'I want to go up mum mum!'. I was a bit weary as I haven't found a ring sling that will comfortably support her 15.5kg lanky butt yet, but I was hopeful. As I dropped her into place and started tightening it was almost as if I could hear a choir of angels singing hallelujah behind me! The material slid effortlessly through the rings, and with a wriggly 'I want to help' toddler this wrap is forgiving of a sloppy tightening job as there isn't too much stretch. The grip is amazing, and held her her comfortably. We were both impressed, with shouts of 'no mummy. No I want to stay up' when I told her it was time to get down.

A few days later we went to a mini golf course as a family, and I forgot to pack a wrap. Have you ever tried to play golf with a baby off centre strapped to your chest? Imagine a slightly insane person with a cane that has no sense of direction or spatial awareness and that’s how I looked! Despite it not being practical, mako also held up with the 11.8kg octopus that is my ginger ninja and 15.5 month old. Rosie LOVES mako and grins every time she spots her. Despite a child desperately trying to escape and join us in playing golf mako is forgiving and thanks to the limited stretch there was little sagging and the seat was maintained. Despite the wriggling, and satisfactory containment my husband still asked if I had a wrap I could throw the ‘octopus trying to escape from a paper bag’ toddler on my back in but I had to say ‘nope, the crazy babywearer that always has a wrap, ringsling and buckle in the boot, today only brought the ringsling’ but, I had seen someone mention they had rucked with a ringsling so I thought ‘hmmmm maybe I can do that’ *DISCLAIMER* Using a ringsling to back carry is an advanced technique and should not be attempted by anyone new to the babywearing world. Mako actually holds up really well in a ruck when in ring sling form. The seat stayed, the grip gave us enough extra to make sure she didn’t flail out when trying to get her sisters golf club and the lack of stretch meant she stayed nice and high without sagging. Although there’s not quite enough length to use any more than tippy tails when tying it off in a wearer my size, a smaller wearer could easily pull off a safe and comfortable ruck for a longer length of time than my 20 minutes whilst we played golf.

And with that I come to today, a cold and windy morning in Perth with no blue skies in sight. The big toddler was eagerly begging us to take her to the beach, so we packed up the car and I popped mako in, determined to get my use out of her as I’m posting her on tomorrow. My ginger octopus is a snuggle bunny, and today’s strong winds meant she was determined to be as close to me as possible. Mako gave us some gorgeous snuggles whilst we watched the big kid look for shells on the beach and run away from the surf, and as you can see from the pictures she was pretty happy!

So, my conclusion? I have Mako Mania. I’m sad to send this one on, and I’m praying to the wrap Gods one comes up at the right time for me, or that the lovely ladies at Ankalia make it an in stock wrap when they shake up their current in stocks!

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