- Written by Helen Schwalme
Misconceptions on Babywearing
As a new mum where you ever told that carrying your baby would make them clingy and too dependant? Did people suggest that you should not pick up your baby too often so that they learn to be alone? Did this feel right to you or did it make you feel uncomfortable? When I had my first child I was bombarded by people telling me to put him down or I would create a child that would cling to the apron strings and would never leave my side. Fortunately, my gut instinct told me to ignore this “advice” and to do what felt natural to me…that was to carry my baby!
Why should we carry babies?
A newborn is completely defenseless and is also completely dependant on someone else to meet all of his/her needs. Imagine knowing that and being put down and left alone. How would you feel? How would you know that this person would ever come back again? What if they just left you alone, hungry and scared? On the other hand, what if you were always with your mother, snuggled up securely on her chest where you could feel her heart beating, smell her familiar scent and be close to your food source? Do you not think that this baby would learn that his/her needs will be met, and will learn to trust, resulting in a child that will feel more confident to move away from his/her mother when older? It makes sense when you think about it. A baby who is left alone in a crib, car seat or bassinet for extended periods, who does not have his/her needs met, immediately will either learn to scream louder or, even worse, will shut down.
5 reasons to wear your baby
- Wearing your baby gives you your hands back. Do you wonder how you will make dinner, do laundry, vacuum or shop with a new baby? Wearing your baby in a carrier will free your hands for other tasks.
- Wearing your baby makes for a happier baby. Studies have shown that babies who are carried are happier. They cry less and are generally calmer. Crying is stressful for both parents and babies, and stress hormones can cause long term damage to a baby’s developing brain
- Wearing your baby is good exercise for you! New mums find it hard to fit in exercise, but if you carry your growing baby in a sling all day or go for a brisk walk you will be getting good exercise and can nurture your baby at the same time.
- Wearing a baby is a great bonding tool for dads, grandparents and other care givers too. New fathers sometimes complain they feel “left out” when mum is breastfeeding, but wearing the baby in a sling is a great way for Dads to bond with their babies. The baby will become accustomed to the sound of Dad’s voice and heartbeat, to his smell and let’s face it, who doesn’t think it’s cute to see a Dad walking down the street wearing a baby?
- Wearing your baby keeps them in a safe place. The world is a scary, noisy place for a baby. Being worn in a carrier provides the baby with a sense of security and comfort. They are not at the same level as exhaust fumes as they are in a stroller and they maintain the connection to their parent that is not possible in forward-facing strollers and car seat carriers.
Types of carriers
| Ring Sling This is a long piece of pleated material which has 2 rings attached. This sling can be adjusted to get just the right fit for mum and baby. |
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| Pouch Sling The pouch sling is worn in the same way as a ring sling, over one shoulder, but is not adjustable. This makes it important to purchase the correct size and makes it harder for other people to wear you baby. For example a Dad who is much taller or broader than the mum. |
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| Mei Tai The Mei Tai is a rectangle of fabric with four straps, two for the shoulders and two for around the waist. The straps are criss-crossed and tied for security. When using a Mei Tai carrier, the weight is distributed more evenly and it can easily switch from a front carrier to backpack carrier style. Although a Mei Tai is not recommended for newborns it has more longevity, as it can easily accommodate a toddler in the backpack carry. |
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| Baby Wrap The wrap style allows for a nice two-shoulder method that helps distribute the weight, but it can be very intimidating for beginner wrappers. Essentially, the wrap baby carrier is a large piece of fabric and the babywearer must learn the different wrapping styles. So, while it has a huge range of styles (hip carrier, back pack, front carrier), these need to be learned. However, there are some beginner tying styles that can easily be learned by anybody. |
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| Backpack or Front Pack Carrier The most well known of these are the Baby Bjorn front carrier and the Ergo Baby carrier which can be used front and back. There are some concerns regarding the Baby Bjorn style front carriers as all the weight is centred on the babies hips so this type of carrier should be limited to short periods of use. The Ergo carrier however is designed so that the babies legs are frogged or spread which distributes their weight more evenly and is safer and more comfortable all round. |
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Good books and websites for Baby wearing
http://www.instinctiveparenting.com/
The Baby Book : Everything You Need to Know About Your Baby from Birth to Age Two by William Sears. (The chapter on baby-wearing comes complete with wonderful illustrations and instructions for sling use! There’s also a lot of information on the benefits of wearing your baby.)
Attachment Parenting: Instinctive care for your baby and young child by Katie Allison Granju. (Comprehensive chapter discusses how and why to wear your baby, and explores the myth of holding causing “spoiling.”)
Why I chose to wear my children
I have 2 sons, both of whom I carried in a variety of carriers from birth until they became too heavy for me to manage (around age 2 when they preferred to run everywhere anyway).From the moment they were born, I felt bonded with them and felt very strongly that I needed to carry and protect them until such time as they were willing and capable of moving away from me and developing their independence. Both of my children are very independent, both go easily to stay with a sitter or friends or to nursery school. Neither is hanging off my apron string. I am sure that their confidence and independence is due largely to being carried as babies. I would like the myth that carrying your child will spoil them to finally be put to rest so that all new mothers and babies can do what is instinctively right….to be together!
