TheHolisticParent.ORG Babywearing

                                                          Baby Wearing

Babywearing is an age old practice that mothers have been doing probably since the
beginning of time. It is very prevalent in other cultures and is starting to gain popularity
in ours. So what is babywearing exactly? Babywearing is the art of wearing your baby
throughout the day in a carrier of sorts. It truly is an art.

Our culture has it backwards in this department. We have everything under the sun for
the baby to sit in, swing in, play in, and ride in. Then we get frustrated that our babies cry
for us to pick them up because we can’t get anything done. Constantly, putting a baby in
some sort of device or contraption deprives the baby of the very thing it needs most: us.

Babies cry when we are not holding them because of an instinct that used to keep a
baby safe from predators back in the day. It used to be that a baby was only safe when it
was around its parents. This is still true today. Babies are designed to be around their
parents.

Benefits To Baby

There are many benefits babywearing provides for the baby. Babies who are carried cry
less. In our culture, we think of it as the norm that babies will cry. Many cultures do not
feel this way. Babies who are carried learn more. They spend their time in the carrier in
a quiet alert state, the best state for learning. They can see things at their parent’s level,
and interact with the world from a different perspective. Holding the baby provides a
great transition to life outside the womb. The baby will still be able to hear its mother’s
heartbeat, rhythmic breathing, and the bounce in her step. Babies who are carried are
often smarter, more attentive, have better listening skills, and better speech
development. Babies who are carried also form securer attachments and learn to trust
easier.

Benefits To Mom

There are also benefits for the mom. Provides hands free baby care to allow a mother
to get things done while she also takes care of her baby. It provides an easy way to
breastfeed with certain carriers. Moms who carry their babies are usually more in tune
with their baby’s needs. Babywearing facilitates bonding and many mothers who carry
feel very close to their babies. Moms who babywear also have a lower incidence of
postpartum depression. Babywearing allows a mother not to have to lug heavy car
seats and other things around. It really makes life more simple.

Dads like to babywear too. Now, don’t just assume this is for moms only. Dads get a lot
of the same benefits moms do. Babies also get to spend special time with their dads.

How To Babywear

So, how to go about babywearing. Babywearing does not mean that you have to wear
your baby 24/7. We have a swing and some other toys for our baby that work quite well.
But if she becomes discontented in them, then out she comes and into a carrier she
goes. She also likes to lay down occasionally and take naps or sit on the floor and play
with toys. The time your baby spends in the carrier is whatever works best for you and
your baby.

Some people may feel like they can’t get anything done while wearing their baby. The
point of wearing the baby is for you to be able to get more done while also providing
stimulation for a baby that wants to be held. Of course, there are some things you won’t
be able to do like heavy lifting or grass cutting. But you can fold laundry or make dinner
or play with your other children. A lot of what you can do has to do with the type of carrier
you have and which one works best for you. I found a sling to be difficult to do things
because it pinned down one arm, but it was great for walking around outside especially
with a new baby. It will take time to get used to functioning while wearing your baby. It
will also take some practice, but the rewards will make it worth it.

Breastfeeding In A Carrier

Let’s be honest. How on earth do you breastfeed in a carrier? A lot of it depends on
what type of carrier you have. Sling carriers are notoriously better for breastfeeding. Not
every woman will be able to breastfeed in a sling. Women who are large breasted may
have greater difficulty, or it may not be possible at all. This may take a lot of practice and
patience to get the hang of and is certainly not necessarily for everyone. Practice at
home first until you are comfortable. If it ultimately does not work for you, that is okay.

Back Pain

So what do you do if you have a bad back? The good news is you can still carry your
baby! If you have a good carrier, it can actually make holding your baby easier. There are
many carriers that are designed to help with back pain. If you have this issue, it will
probably take some trial and error until you find the right one for your unique
circumstances. I do still suffer from back pain, but I have found ways to carry my baby.
The best advice I can give if you do have a bad back is to get a carrier that can be
adjusted. I have seen different slings, particularly hot slings come to mind, that are one
size. I’ve noticed that as I or my baby move, the sling can move and eventually I find the
sling is pulling on my back creating pain. Again, it will probably just take trying on
different carriers to see which works best with your type of back pain. See my
recommendations for my favorite carriers.

Spoiling

Won’t carrying my baby spoil him/her? No. Babies cannot be spoiled. It simply doesn’t
exist. Babies have very basic needs that have to be met. Carrying your baby helps to
meet those needs. Babies are not manipulative. It is true that babies will get used to
being carried and come to enjoy it. This does not mean that your baby will never be
content if set down. You can train your baby to like to do other things as well by meeting
your baby’s needs in a consistent manner. It is also true that your baby may not like to
be carried constantly or may have to get used to being carried in certain carriers.

Meeting Needs

Have you ever noticed a baby that spends the majority of the time in a swing or other
substitute seems like a zombie? That’s because they practically are. They’re craving
attention and not receiving nearly the stimulation they could be with mom or dad. They
may not cry or be demanding because they have resolved that their needs will not be
met in the way they are needing. Then they are thought to be a good baby, but in reality
they could very well be suffering. Babies are just not designed by their very nature to be
stuck sitting in some object all day by themselves. It seems our culture forgets this. We
have a misconstrued notion that babies are passive and will lay around all day in a crib
staring at a mobile. This is so not the case. Babies are trying to learn and do require
entertainment and stimulation. Carrying your baby will result in a more attached,
secure, intelligent, alert, and happy baby.

Safety

Safety is an important factor to consider when wearing your baby. First, be sure you
understand how to use your carrier and that you are using it properly. Make sure all the
pieces are present and nothing is broken. It will feel different at first for your baby to be
attached to your body, and you will have to be conscious of such things as how you
move about so as not to bump your baby into anything. Be sure your baby is properly
positioned in any carrier you are using. Older babies are able to grab at things, which
you must be aware of. If you’re wearing an older baby on your back, they may be able to
grab things you cannot see. Make sure especially when you are wearing a younger
baby that they have an air passageway and are able to breathe. Wearing your baby may
mean you’ll have to adjust your balance slightly, and it can also inhibit your vision
slightly, so adjustments must be made for that as well. Wearing your baby can be very
safe if the proper precautions are taken and can actually help to increase safety in many
circumstances such as in crowded places.

Baby Carrier Design

One other thing to consider for any baby carrier is that the baby carrier does not put all
the baby’s weight on his/her pelvis. If the carrier is a good one, it will most likely be
designed to help distribute the baby’s weight to other areas instead of just the pelvis.
This is important to watch out for because if the baby spends a great deal of time in a
baby carrier with all its weight on the pelvis region, this can create complications in
spinal growth for the baby. This is a controversial topic, but why take the risk. All of the
carriers that I recommend are safe and account for this issue.

Final Thought

If you feel like you can’t get the hang of wearing your baby and are wondering how
everyone else does it, then don’t get down on yourself. Babywearing really is a learning
experience. It takes practice. It also takes the right carrier. It seems people get more
used to carrying their babies over time and usually each subsequent baby is carried
more than the previous baby. It is worth the effort though.

Baby Carrier Recommendations:

I’ve tried a lot of baby carriers due to back pain. I was determined to carry my baby. I
haven’t tried them all, but I have picked the top three that I like. Below I’ll tell you which
ones and why. They are a bit more expensive then the kind you’d find at Babies R Us or
elsewhere. Usually, you pay for the quality that you get. All the carriers I recommend
come in organic, which is a plus.

Ergo Baby Carrier- This carrier is by far my favorite. It does run about $105.00, so it is a
bit pricey, but well worth it. I can hold my baby in this carrier for hours without
experiencing any type of pain. There is a belt that goes around your waist. This is where
the bulk of the baby’s weight gets distributed. It also comes with waist extenders to fit
almost everyone. They have different accessories for it including a backpack that
attaches right on the front. I found this carrier to be good for both upper and lower back
pain. You can also carry children up to 40 pounds in it. This carrier is good for around
the house, long hikes in the woods, shopping trips, and anywhere else. It would be
hard to breastfeed in. It can be positioned on your back or in the front. The baby is
supposed to face you when in the carrier, though my baby does not always like this, and
we have found ways to modify it and turn her around while she’s in the front position.

You can buy the Ergo baby carrier directly online here.

Maya Wrap- This is a sling type carrier. It can be used for babies of all ages and have a
variety of different ways to carry a baby. It can be used to breastfeed. There are many
sling carriers out there. I do not know the differences for each one, but one thing to look
for with sling carriers is bigger rings on them. Ones that have bigger rings are easier to
adjust, and the fabric slides through easier. When the baby gets bigger, the sling can
be used to carry the baby on your hip. The Maya Wrap comes with a zippered pocket,
which is handy. There is a padded shoulder, but I have noticed that for long periods, my
shoulder becomes a bit sore. Also because the sling goes over one shoulder it is hard
to accomplish many tasks with this carrier. It certainly serves its purpose, but you can’t
do everything in it. It runs around $65.00. There are different size increments to allow a
good fit for all sizes of people.

                  Click here to purchase yours from Amazon.com


Moby Wrap- The Moby Wrap is an interesting carrier that is actually a really long piece
of fabric that you learn to wrap in certain ways around your body. Then the baby can be
placed in a variety of positions. This carrier worked great for my husband. I found that
with my certain back pain, I was not able to use it. It seemed to create pressure in my
upper back in such a way that I could not tolerate, however many people like this carrier
because it distributes the weight of the baby evenly to both sides. This carrier truly
allows a baby to be kept very close and simulates the womb well. It is especially useful
for smaller babies. When a baby becomes heavier, the fabric will start to pull, which can
cause discomfort. We were able to use this carrier to hold our baby continuously for the
first three weeks of her life. I felt this provided a great way for her to adjust to life outside
the womb, and I think this carrier is a great resource for most people. It can be used to
breastfeed in and runs around $40.00.

                                                  Click here to purchase yours from Amazon.com

These three carriers as are most of the better ones are not sold in regular stores. They
can be found online or in some specialty stores.

Resources

www.thebabywearer.com The best resource for babywearing

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babywearing Background about babywearing

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/t051100.asp Offers great information about
babywearing

www.wearyourbaby.com A good resource for babywearing

http://www.youtube.com A video of the anti-babywearing ad by Motrin. If at some point
this video doesn't work, google it. You'll be amazed at how idiotic this Motrin commercial
is. This is one reason why we don't use medications in our house!

Book Recommendations

Babywearing: The Art (and Science) of Wearing Your Baby by William Sears

Babywearing by Dr. Maria Blois

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