Let me just start this post by saying baby wearing saved my sanity during the first few months after having my son. Being able to put my son in his carrier and head out for a walk in the evenings, or when I couldn't put him down for a nap, or if I wanted to run some errands or even get things done around the house- having a baby-carrier was an absolute must for me. I think the same thing can be said for many mothers (and fathers too!). The benefits are many and the huge variety of baby-wearing options out there means that pretty much anyone who wants to find a carrier for their baby can find the one that's right for them. Even if you're not sure you're the baby-wearing type, or maybe it's never crossed your mind to wear your baby, trust me- once you find a good one you are converted for life.
As we all know, babies love to be close to mom and/or dad. The warmth of our bodies, our heartbeat next to theirs- babies simply know from the start that being close to their parents is where they belong. It's a continuation of how they felt being in the womb. Snuggled, warm, and the movements that they feel being carried around are exactly the same as those they felt while being waddled around by mom for 9 months. Historically speaking, baby wearing has been around for as long as we have been bipeds (walking on 2 legs, as opposed to 4), because for as long as we have been carrying babies in our arms there has been a need to have a hands-free option. Many sling-type carriers look almost exactly how original baby-wearing options would have looked- a long piece of fabric fashioned to be worn tied around the shoulders, waist and/or back so baby is securely and snugly carried. In some cultures women wear their babies almost the entire day as they are working, walking, socializing etc. For something to withstand generations of parenting without much change to the original prototype means they got something right pretty early on, I would say.
Numerous studies have been done showing the benefits on baby-wearing; some have shown that babies who are carried for minimum 2 hours a day cry over 50% less during the fussy evening hours than those who are not carried. Um- yes please! I don't know of any new mom who would turn down the possibility of a quieter evening with a newborn. Babies can be placed skin-to skin in a sling or wrap against mom or dads chest and instantly feel calm, relaxed and generally will be asleep within a few minutes. They really are the equivalent of a sleeping pill for babies.
The benefits carry on long after the newborn phase as well. There are certain baby-carriers that can be used up to or even over 40 lbs! (We'll get into the options a little later on.) Going for a hike? No need for a huge bulky all-terrain stroller. Want to go shopping somewhere with tons of stairs or sub-basement shops with no access? We've all been there before, but haha! Those of us who carry our babies just take the stairs and are SO glad we brought the carrier. Ever been to crowded outdoor concert or fair? Baby wearing means you don't need to maneuver your stroller through the crowds of people or get stuck on wires or roll over peoples' toes.(Although, strollers can totally come in handy in many different situations as well!) Sometimes kids just like to be carried. And who can blame them? I'd love to be carried around some days, able to sleep when I feel like it, enjoy the scenery from a comfy little spot next to someone I love. Studies have shown that children will have a more secure attachment to their caregivers if they've been carried during the first 3 months of life and that mothers tend to be more responsive to their child's needs if they are a baby-wearing mom. Research has also shown that "sling babies", as Dr.Sears calls them, show more enhanced visual and auditory alertness. This is because baby spends more time in a quiet alert state. There are many more studies that show babies who are worn are more attentive and can learn more as they are more "involved" in what the carrying parent is doing.
Whatever the reason for choosing baby-wearing, there are definitely a myriad of benefits which can be seen and not heard(!) literally minutes after baby is put into a sling or carrier. And who doesn't like smelling the top of a baby's head? No really. That smell should be bottled.
Here are some different types of carriers. There is a carrier out there for everyone, I promise. This is definitely not an exhaustive list, by the way, just an overview of what's out there.
Sling- Generally a piece of fabric sewn into a tubular shape, worn around the shoulder, baby is placed into the hammock area. Great for smaller babies and very comfy- you can also nurse while carrying!
The photo below shows a ring sling, basically the same idea, except the fabric is sewn into a ring on one end and the other end wraps into the ring to tighten the fabric. Cozy!
Wraps- Wraps are great because they can be worn by many different members of the family and no adjustment is needed because the wrap is tied on each time by the person carrying the baby and you don't need to buy a specific size. The fabric is generally stretchy and soft and there are many different ways to tie the fabric so baby can be worn in a variety of positions (back, front, hip, facing out, facing in, etc) Newborns heads can be safely held by the fabric and again, nursing in public can be discreetly done if you want while carrying baby in the wrap.
Soft Structured Carriers- These look similar to a mei-tai type carrier but use buckles to attach the carrier. This limits the variety of ways you can carry baby (generally just front facing in, or on your back facing in) but women love these carriers! Most have a pocket to carry extra stuff, a sleep/sun hood and toddler foot rests. I myself have loved my Ergo carrier for months. No back pain from carrying around 20+ lbs and because you use buckles to attach baby in there is no loosening of fabric at all.
Mei-tai- This is similar to the carrier shown above, but doesn't use buckles to attach baby in, instead there are ties (mei-tai- similar to Me Tie? Hmm.....sorry, lame joke). Some women find this to be their favorite carrier because you have the same support as a soft structured carrier but the ability to adjust the straps and tie the carrier in different ways for your comfort.
So there you have it. My take on baby wearing, the benefits along with a little intro for those of you who haven't heard of or seen many different types of carriers. There are so many brands on the market, with so many great designs it's hard to choose just one. Most women don't. :) As your baby's needs change so will your carrier. A newborn will generally not be carried the same way as a toddler, and every baby is different. Like I said, once you find a good one you are a baby-wearing convert for life!
And for kicks and to show you all that dads can babywear as well, here's a shot of a great dad I know (wink, wink) carrying a sweet sleeping baby:
Anything to add? Got a great carrier people should know about? Any questions about babywearing? Feel free to post a comment!
And, as always, thanks for reading,
Megan
As we all know, babies love to be close to mom and/or dad. The warmth of our bodies, our heartbeat next to theirs- babies simply know from the start that being close to their parents is where they belong. It's a continuation of how they felt being in the womb. Snuggled, warm, and the movements that they feel being carried around are exactly the same as those they felt while being waddled around by mom for 9 months. Historically speaking, baby wearing has been around for as long as we have been bipeds (walking on 2 legs, as opposed to 4), because for as long as we have been carrying babies in our arms there has been a need to have a hands-free option. Many sling-type carriers look almost exactly how original baby-wearing options would have looked- a long piece of fabric fashioned to be worn tied around the shoulders, waist and/or back so baby is securely and snugly carried. In some cultures women wear their babies almost the entire day as they are working, walking, socializing etc. For something to withstand generations of parenting without much change to the original prototype means they got something right pretty early on, I would say.
Numerous studies have been done showing the benefits on baby-wearing; some have shown that babies who are carried for minimum 2 hours a day cry over 50% less during the fussy evening hours than those who are not carried. Um- yes please! I don't know of any new mom who would turn down the possibility of a quieter evening with a newborn. Babies can be placed skin-to skin in a sling or wrap against mom or dads chest and instantly feel calm, relaxed and generally will be asleep within a few minutes. They really are the equivalent of a sleeping pill for babies.
The benefits carry on long after the newborn phase as well. There are certain baby-carriers that can be used up to or even over 40 lbs! (We'll get into the options a little later on.) Going for a hike? No need for a huge bulky all-terrain stroller. Want to go shopping somewhere with tons of stairs or sub-basement shops with no access? We've all been there before, but haha! Those of us who carry our babies just take the stairs and are SO glad we brought the carrier. Ever been to crowded outdoor concert or fair? Baby wearing means you don't need to maneuver your stroller through the crowds of people or get stuck on wires or roll over peoples' toes.(Although, strollers can totally come in handy in many different situations as well!) Sometimes kids just like to be carried. And who can blame them? I'd love to be carried around some days, able to sleep when I feel like it, enjoy the scenery from a comfy little spot next to someone I love. Studies have shown that children will have a more secure attachment to their caregivers if they've been carried during the first 3 months of life and that mothers tend to be more responsive to their child's needs if they are a baby-wearing mom. Research has also shown that "sling babies", as Dr.Sears calls them, show more enhanced visual and auditory alertness. This is because baby spends more time in a quiet alert state. There are many more studies that show babies who are worn are more attentive and can learn more as they are more "involved" in what the carrying parent is doing.
Whatever the reason for choosing baby-wearing, there are definitely a myriad of benefits which can be seen and not heard(!) literally minutes after baby is put into a sling or carrier. And who doesn't like smelling the top of a baby's head? No really. That smell should be bottled.
Here are some different types of carriers. There is a carrier out there for everyone, I promise. This is definitely not an exhaustive list, by the way, just an overview of what's out there.
Sling- Generally a piece of fabric sewn into a tubular shape, worn around the shoulder, baby is placed into the hammock area. Great for smaller babies and very comfy- you can also nurse while carrying!
The photo below shows a ring sling, basically the same idea, except the fabric is sewn into a ring on one end and the other end wraps into the ring to tighten the fabric. Cozy!
Wraps- Wraps are great because they can be worn by many different members of the family and no adjustment is needed because the wrap is tied on each time by the person carrying the baby and you don't need to buy a specific size. The fabric is generally stretchy and soft and there are many different ways to tie the fabric so baby can be worn in a variety of positions (back, front, hip, facing out, facing in, etc) Newborns heads can be safely held by the fabric and again, nursing in public can be discreetly done if you want while carrying baby in the wrap.
Soft Structured Carriers- These look similar to a mei-tai type carrier but use buckles to attach the carrier. This limits the variety of ways you can carry baby (generally just front facing in, or on your back facing in) but women love these carriers! Most have a pocket to carry extra stuff, a sleep/sun hood and toddler foot rests. I myself have loved my Ergo carrier for months. No back pain from carrying around 20+ lbs and because you use buckles to attach baby in there is no loosening of fabric at all.
Mei-tai- This is similar to the carrier shown above, but doesn't use buckles to attach baby in, instead there are ties (mei-tai- similar to Me Tie? Hmm.....sorry, lame joke). Some women find this to be their favorite carrier because you have the same support as a soft structured carrier but the ability to adjust the straps and tie the carrier in different ways for your comfort.
So there you have it. My take on baby wearing, the benefits along with a little intro for those of you who haven't heard of or seen many different types of carriers. There are so many brands on the market, with so many great designs it's hard to choose just one. Most women don't. :) As your baby's needs change so will your carrier. A newborn will generally not be carried the same way as a toddler, and every baby is different. Like I said, once you find a good one you are a baby-wearing convert for life!
And for kicks and to show you all that dads can babywear as well, here's a shot of a great dad I know (wink, wink) carrying a sweet sleeping baby:
Anything to add? Got a great carrier people should know about? Any questions about babywearing? Feel free to post a comment!
And, as always, thanks for reading,
Megan
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