Babywearing Basics

It’s International Baby Wearing Week! Let’s talk wraps, slings, structured carriers and wear all the babies! Many will try to tell you “those babywearing devices weren’t around when I was raising my babies”. While they may not have been as popular or readily available, babywearing has been around for centuries and is used in every society, from the developed world to riverside villages; Allowing Mothers from every walk of life to keep their fragile babies close while continuing on with the tasks of a busy life.

Wearing your baby has so many more benefits than just allowing the wearer to have both hands free and the ability to do tasks. This simple act has magical effects for baby! 

Spending time with an infant skin to skin, belly to chest is called Kangaroo Care. Kangaroo Care helps baby regulate body temperature, breathing, and heart rate, allowing their little body to focus on growing while they mirror the bodily functions of the adult they’re skin to skin with. 

The benefits of babywearing don’t end with infancy, older babies can benefit from babywearing the same way as well as help social, mental and emotional skills develop. 

Don’t think this is a one-sided thing! The Wearer of the drooling bundle of cuteness benefits with lower rates of Postnatal Mood Disorders. The lower rate is believed to be a result of the reduced time it takes for Mom to respond to Baby and the growing confidence in being able to meet Baby’s needs quickly leading to a sense of feeling “in tune” with Baby. 

Having baby so close is also great for your breastfeeding relationship as hunger cues are recognized quicker meaning baby is able to get a deeper, more efficient latch because they’ll be trying to latch before they reach the crying stage of hunger cues.

 It is also believed that having baby near the breast gives your body the signal to create more milk and who doesn’t love that newborn baby smell?

Now that we’ve covered all the WHYs of how babywearing is fantastic, let’s chat about the HOW you do it part! 

Babywearing can be done from birth and continued on as long as you’re willing and able to carry around that (not so) Tiny Human strapped to your body. It’s never too early or late to wear babe! Just be sure to follow these safety rules when choosing your carrier.

Maintain airway by keeping baby upright, head, neck & spine aligned, tight against the wearer’s body with no material near the face. 

As with any baby device such as car seats, boppys, bassinets, etc CHIN TO CHEST IS BAD as that means baby’s airway is restricted, a fun little pneumonic memory items  for this is TICKS.

Tight

In View

Close Enough to Kiss

Keep Chin Off Chest

Supported Back

You can find a variety of babywearing devices on the market, so check each product guideline for weight and wearing as every device is just a little different based on the manufacturer’s guidelines

(Ring) Slings– (Maya Wrap, homemade) quick, easy to throw over your body and nestle babe in, great if you have a convertible car seat or don’t want to carry the bucket seat, most can be used from birth with variations up into toddlerhood

Wrap- (Boba, Solly, Moby) come in different varieties such as woven or stretchy,  a length of fabric that you wrap around yourself in various ways then tuck baby in, requires a bit more skill to get started but once comfortable can be very versatile, including helping support Mom’s core post delivery, the length depends on your height and body type so be sure to check the “sizing” guidelines for each particular product

Buckle/Soft Structured (Tula, Lillebaby) usually what comes to mind when people thing of baby wearing, more backpack like in nature with many having the ability to wear a variety of ways, traditional, forward-facing, back carry and even on hips, depending on brand can be used from birth with an additional insert or up to 48lbs

Now that you know how awesome baby wearing is for your little and yourself get out there and get to trying them out! Look for a local lending library or borrow friends to find one you and baby both like!