The
evidence-based information shared in this post was provided by http://babywearinginternational.org Information was revised for user-friendliness by
Heather Kaplan, CD(DONA) MSEd PD, Y Beginnings Parenting Center Coordinator
Heather Kaplan, CD(DONA) MSEd PD, Y Beginnings Parenting Center Coordinator
BABYWEARING 101
Benefits of Babywearing:
If you're a NYC mama like me, you know that navigating a stroller on busy streets and in local shops can be challenging! The good news is that babywearing is a wonderful solution for us multi-tasking mamas AND has it's own benefits, above and beyond the obvious one of lightening your stroller load. Infants thrive
on touch and being close to their caregivers, so wearing your baby has many advantages:
• Happy Babies. It’s true -- carried babies cry less!
• Healthy Babies. When a baby rides in a sling
attached to his mother (or any caregiver), he is in tune with the rhythm of her
breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and her movements. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses.
Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight
faster and are healthier than babies who are not.
• Confident Parents. Feeling confident as a parent has
a lot to do with the ability to read babies’ cues successfully. Holding our
babies close in a sling allows us to become attuned to their movements,
gestures, and facial expressions. This cycle of positive interaction deepens
the mutual attachment between parent and child, and is especially beneficial
for mothers who are at risk for or suffering from postpartum depression.
• Loving Caregivers. Baby carriers are a great
bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, adoptive parents, babysitters, and
other caregivers. Cuddling up close in the sling is
a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get
to know you!
• Comfort and Convenience.
You can take care of older children or do chores without frequent interruptions
from crying baby, go where strollers can’t, climb stairs, hike, and navigate
crowds easily. Many women also love the convenience of breastfeeding their babies in their carrier!
Is Babywearing Safe?
When done properly, carrying a baby in a carrier can be
safer than carrying a baby in your arms. But, as with anything concerning
babies, good safety practices are of paramount importance. Whatever carrier you
choose, learn to use it properly, and always keep safety in mind.ABSOLUTE RULES
- Make sure your baby can breathe. Never allow a baby to be carried, held, or placed in such a way that his chin is curled against his chest. They need good back support in carriers so that they don’t slump into the chin-to-chest position. Never allow a baby’s head and face to be covered with fabric. Always make sure your baby has plenty of airflow. Check on her frequently.
- Never jog, run, jump, or do any other activity that subjects your baby to shaking or bouncing motion. “This motion can do damage to the baby’s neck, spine and/or brain,” explains the American Chiropractic Association.
- Never use a baby carrier when riding in a car.
- Use only carriers that are appropriate for your baby’s age and weight.
Guidelines for Everyday Safety
- Inspect your carrier regularly to ensure it is sound. Check the fabric, seams, and buckles or other fasteners every time you use a carrier to avoid complacency. Don’t use a carrier unless it is structurally sound.
- Check that your baby is secure by using reflective surfaces such as car or store windows and mirrors, by double checking the baby’s position with your hands, or by enlisting the help of another set of eyes.
- If you shouldn’t do something while pregnant because of an enhanced risk of falls, you shouldn’t do it while carrying a baby either.
- If you need to wear protective gear while doing a certain activity, you shouldn’t do it while carrying a baby.
- Protect your baby from the elements. Little babies are especially sensitive to hot and cold.
- Be aware of what your baby can reach.
- Don’t put loose items in the carrier with your baby that can be choking hazards, that can poke your baby, or that can cover your baby’s face.
- Carrying a baby in arms or in a carrier is a task for a responsible adult who can assess risk in a mature way.
- Cooking -- Carrying a baby while cooking can be dangerous and subjects the baby to an enhanced risk of burns.
Safety Guidelines for Learning New Carries:
- Practice with a doll or teddy first. Understanding the instructions with your mind is just the first step; your body needs to understand them as well. Doing a few “dry runs” will help you build the muscle memory for doing a particular carry.
- It is best to try a new carry with your baby when you are both well rested and generally content.
- Use a spotter, but only another adult who accepts the responsibility of keeping your baby from falling. The spotter must be able to catch the baby at any instant if he or she should start to fall.
- Use a mirror. Start low. Most carries can be accomplished while sitting on the floor. As you build muscle memory and confidence, you can move up, next lifting your baby onto your body from a bed or chair.
Choosing a Baby Carrier
Cloth baby carriers come in an endless array of fabrics and
colors, from basic solid cottons to exquisitely embellished silks. Whether you're
looking for something to use every day, a carrier for a special occasion,
or slings to match every outfit, the choices are yours to make, whatever your
personal style. Your baby carrier (or carriers) can be both functional and
attractive. The array of baby carriers available today can be a bit
overwhelming, but don't let that keep you from finding a carrier (or a few)
that work for you! If there's a Babywearing International chapter or other
nonprofit, free-to-attend babywearing group near you, you can get free
babywearing help and can try several types of carriers, which will give you a
better idea of what to buy or make. Another source of help is online
communities like the forums at TheBabywearer.com.
How big? How old?
All of the types of carriers shown on this page can be used
to carry babies and young children on the wearer's front, hip or back, although
some are better for one or the other carry. Most of these carriers can be
used from birth until parent or child chooses to stop carrying. This can
sometimes be age 4 or beyond! Whichever carrier you choose, look for a carrier that holds
your child in a position you would naturally carry them in arms in front, on
your hip, or for a piggyback ride. Most carrier manufacturers list weight
limits for their carriers, but there is often a significant discrepancy between
the published weight limit and what a particular user finds comfortable. Help
from experienced babywearers, such as Babywearing
International's Volunteer Babywearing Educators, can save most
beginning babywearers both time and money as they review their babywearing
options.
Wraparound Slings
Ring Slings
In its simplest and most elegant form, a ring sling is a
shawl with a pair of rings attached to one end. The rings replace the knot
or tuck-and-twist method of fastening used with traditional shawl carriers such
as Mexican rebozos or Indonesian selendangs. Some ring slings have
padding where the sling rests on the caregiver's shoulder or along the
edges of the sling, and some depart further from traditional shawl
carriers by having the fabric at the end of the sling folded and stitched into
a rope-like tail. Ring Slings are an ideal newborn carrier and
are also fantastic for the up-and-down toddler phase.Pouch Slings
Simply a tube of fabric with a curved seam, a pouch sling is a sleek carrier option. Pouches are sized to the adult wearer, and what they lack in adjustability they make up for in convenience. While usable with newborns, many moms find these more fitting once their postpartum weight stabilizes and baby becomes stronger, generally around 4mo
.
The modern take on a traditional Chinese baby carrier with a
body panel, shoulder straps, and waist straps still carries the traditional
name, "mei tai" (pronounced "may tie"). The new-generation
mei tais typically have either wide, padded shoulder straps, or extra-wide,
wrap-style, unpadded straps for the wearer's comfort. They also offer a
variety of features such as headrests or sleeping hoods for the baby, pockets
for diapers or other essentials, and fabric choices that range from strictly
utilitarian to truly luxurious. Mei tais can be used from birth
and are ideal for sharing among caregivers
Soft Structured Carriers
Also with a body panel and shoulder and waist straps, soft
structured carriers replace knots with buckles and add a thickly padded
waistband and shoulder straps. The result is a different weight distribution
and overall different look and feel from a mei tai, putting this style of
carrier into a category of its own. Soft structured carriers offer the
convenience of buckles yet are vastly different from framed backpacks in that
they hold the baby securely against the wearer's body. Unlike framed backpacks,
soft structured carriers are suitable from birth through toddlerhood and
provide the benefits of body-to-body contact for the baby (although some require
or include a special insert for newborns). Soft Structure carriers really shine
after about 4-5months.
