Baby Wearing

I've talked about teens the last couple of posts, so today I'm posting about baby wearing. This is an article I did a few years ago. Some of you may have even given me quotes for this article. Read it and see if you agree.

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Baby Wearing

     You want your baby near you, but you have wash dishes and tidy the house. He's not ready for a nap, although you are.  And really, you're happier when you have your baby close. The solution? Baby wearing. While this has been done in other countries since the beginning of time, it's newer to the United States.

      Parents have found that wearing their babies in slings and other carries has many advantages. Babies who are carried cry less. A team of pediatricians did a study in Montreal and found that carried babies cry 43% less. 
     If your infant is fussy, try carrying her more often throughout the day, not just in response to her cries. "My daughter rarely fusses when worn. It's like she forgets to fuss because she's right by me where all the action is," says Tara Krey.

     Baby wearing allows close contact with your child. Extra bonding takes place when baby is body to body with mom or dad. "When baby wearing I am able to nourish, comfort, and spend quality time with my daughter, all while completing whatever I need to get done throughout my day," says Krey. Pam Arndorfer agrees. "I love having the option of 'holding' my baby or child even when I'm busy. I love the comfort and security that they have from being worn."

      Babies who are worn learn from being engaged in activities. Rather than being put in a crib or playpen while mom does her daily tasks, these babies are right there watching from their front row seat. The sling also frees mom's hands to accomplish more.

      "I 'wore' all four of my children in a maya wrap ring sling," says veteran mom Jenee O'Carroll. "The most unusual thing I did while wearing my baby was bowl with my baby sleeping happily in the sling. I have done quite a bit of hiking, lawn mowing and gardening with a baby on my front, back or side."

     Tara Krey also has a list of what she's accomplished while wearing baby. "I have gone to the fireworks, gone out to eat, attended a Breastfeeding Walk, finished the dishes, done laundry, made the beds, vacuumed, etc, all while my baby was right along with me watching what I was doing."

     Sarah Anderson, mother of a toddler, has found her sling to be a lifesaver when she needed both hands free. "At the family reunion this summer my husband and I were the only ones with a toddler who could go through the line together because my son was in the ring sling. It's also very handy for rummage sales when you don't want to carry a heavy toddler around."

     There are many great wearable baby carriers available. It's important to find one that works well for you and to wear it properly so that it's comfortable for both you and baby.  When choosing a carrier you'll need to keep in mind:
The size of the person wearing the carrier.

The age and weight of the baby.

The planned activity.

            Soft structured carriers, such as Snugli or Baby Bjorn are one of the more popular choices. They easily fasten to the wearer's body with clips or buckles. These carriers are usually padded but the baby's weight is exclusively on the wearers shoulders and the baby's groin. This may become uncomfortable as the baby gains weight.

            One-shouldered sling style carriers are also popular and versatile. They can be used for newborns as well as older babies depending on how you position the child. Since all of the babies weight is on one shoulder, it's not good to use these for long periods of time as it can push your spine out of balance or cause injuries.

            A baby wrap, consisting of a piece of woven or stretchy material may be the most versatile carrier. The wrap may be from 4 to 15 feet long and can be used to carry babies in many different positions--front, back or hip. It takes practice to learn how to tie the wrap, but once you've found your favorite way, the freedom is rewarding.

            Some baby carriers, such as Mei-teis, consist of a piece of cloth that goes over the baby's back and ties over the parent's shoulders and around the waist.
            Which carrier you use should be determined by which one most comfortable allows you to have your baby close and still have your hands free to accomplish other things.