Babywearing and its benefits
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Written by Emma Glass
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Most parents’ experiences with babywearing is purchasing a Baby Bjorn
carrier which they use when the baby is tiny.
As their baby gets
heavier they find the carrier to be uncomfortable and resolve that
their child is now far too heavy to carry.
There is a huge range of baby slings/carriers on the market, though they can’t be found in the high street shops. If you find the right one you can carry your child comfortably into toddlerhood and beyond.
I came a little late to babywearing. Ava, like a lot of babies, preferred to be held, if possible 24 hours a day. It was like an on and off switch, I tried to put her down she would cry. I’d pick her up and she would stop. To begin with, I just carried her in my arms, but eventually I needed to be hands free. I had come to terms with the fact that my housework standards had slipped, but I still had to achieve some things around the house. Priority one, was feeding myself and priority two was tackling the huge pile of laundry that an infant creates. So, I began to research. The choice in slings on the internet is rather overwhelming and different types suit different lifestyles. Here’s a summary of the styles on sale:
Wraps
Wraps are essentially a long piece of material. They have been used traditionally in many cultures due to the versatility of them. There is a bit of a learning curve practicing the different carrying positions, but you can use them to carry babies on the front, hips and back. They distribute the baby’s weight evenly if wrapped correctly. You can use a piece of material you’ve bought yourself and hemmed, but I have found the German wraps to be very comfortable due to the weave and texture, that have just enough give.
Ring Sling
Rings are used to adjust the material on a ring sling. They are used on one shoulder so can cause the shoulder to ache, but I found making sure that I swapped sides eased that. They are fully adjustable so you and your partner can both use it. They enable you to carry an older baby on the hip, or a younger infant in a cradle hold. Some are padded, some are not, and they have a tail of fabric which can be left open or sewed closed.
Pouches
Pouches are a tube of fabric with a curved sewn seam. They are very easy to use, and they are quick to pop your baby in and out of. There is no need for any tying. You must be careful to get the correct fit in a pouch, though you can get adjustable ones if you and your partner will be using them.
Soft back pack carriers
This style of carrier consists of a scare or rectangle of material with four straps. The straps are either tied, or have buckles. They have been used for centuries in Asia. They distribute the weight evenly and are excellent for longer walks. They also allow both hands to be free.
I currently own a wrap, pouch and a soft carrier. I use them all at different times depending on where we are going and what we are doing. More often than not, I now leave the pushchair behind as I have found wearing my baby to be more convenient. It has been easier using public transport, I found that once I managed to get the pushchair on the bus, if the bus was busy it was very hard to manoeuvre once I wanted to get off. Ava much prefers to be carried, she went through a particular phase where she would scream if I put her in the pushchair. I didn’t want to force her to use the pushchair as I worried she would hate it even more.
There are many, many benefits of babywearing, here are some of them:
Distributing the weight and freeing your hands
A baby carrier distributes the weight across your body, making it a lot easier to carry your baby. Most carriers are useable from birth till 35lbs (16kg). They also free your hands so you can attend to other children, do some household errands. You can also breastfeed in some slings.
Slings promote bonding
Wearing babies foster trust and attachment. A baby whose needs are met quickly will feel more secure in the long term. Relatives, siblings and partners can all carry baby in a sling, thus establishing a bond and giving Mum a break.
Carried babies cry less often
Research proves that carried babies cry less often. Carrying babies in an upright position can also help soothe reflux, colic and fussiness.
Carried babies tend to be alert
Babies love to be up high, where they can see what you are doing and interact with you and other adults.
Babywearing has been one of the highlights for me as a mother to a young baby. It has meant that Ava has been very portable and she has been able to come along to many adult gatherings that I thought I would have to miss out on with a young baby. At 10 months Ava has just learnt to crawl and needs carrying less often. She now has the confidence to crawl off and explore and get into mischief. She still loves to be carried when we go out, especially to the supermarket, where she can get lots of attention and can wave to the checkout staff. She loves to be up at adult face level, she is included and interacts with people. If she is particularly fractious, usually when she is teething, the sling is all that is needed to soothe her and get her off to sleep. Babywearing has helped me to be a better parent. By responding to my daughters needs, it has meant less crying and therefore increased confidence as a mother.
Emma Glass and Sally Cheng are organising local Slingmeets in the Portsmouth area. If you would like to find out more or come along and try different types of slings please see http://pompeybabywearer.blogspot.com/ for more details.
Recommended sites for buying and hiring slings carriers:
www.slingjax.co.uk
www.bigmamaslings.co.uk
www.sasaslings.co.uk
www.sybela.com
www.slingdiva.co.uk
For more information and resources:
Nine in, Nine out, the babywearing organisation
http://www.nineinnineout.org/
Dr Sears, paediatrician
http://www.askdrsears.com/html/5/T051100.asp
La Leche League article, The Benefits of Babywearing
http://www.lalecheleague.org/NB/NBNovDec04p204.html
The Importance of the In-Arms phase by Jean Liedoff
http://www.continuum-concept.org/reading/in-arms.html
Internet Forums for research purposes and to meet other babywearers
www.thebabywearer.com
www.slingmeet.co.uk
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