Carry Those Babies

First carrier

 Obviously babywearing has been around longer than 1986, it just always takes us closed minded Americans longer to get on board with things.  Until someone has researched it or Dr.  Oz has given it the green light our society remains skeptical of things not in our comfort zone.

Anthropologists who travel throughout the world studying infant-care practices in other cultures agree that infants in babywearing cultures cry much less. In Western culture we measure a baby’s crying in hours, but in other cultures, crying is measured in minutes. We have been led to believe that it is “normal” for babies to cry a lot, but in other cultures this is not accepted as the norm. In these cultures, babies are normally “up” in arms and are put down only to sleep – next to the mother. When the parent must attend to her own needs, the baby is in someone else’s arms.

In 1986, a team of pediatricians in Montreal reported on a study of ninety-nine mother-infant pairs. The first group of parents were provided with a baby carrier and assigned to carry their babies for at least three extra hours a day. They were encouraged to carry their infants throughout the day, regardless of the state of the infant, not just in response to crying or fussing. In the control, or noncarried group, parents were not given any specific instructions about carrying. After six weeks, the infants who received supplemental carrying cried and fussed 43 percent less than the noncarried group.

Thanks Dr Sears...

Now Babywearing is all the craze, the baby carrier retail industry is just insane.  You used to have a few carriers to pick from, and now literally 7 years later since I started the carriers are limitless.

Here is why baby carrying is the best humor coming so look out:

Baby feels safe

Baby feels loved

Mom can go to the bathroom and not even have to put baby down...  Holla....

If infants spend less time crying and fussing, what do they do with the free time? They learn!

You can nurse baby on the go in a carrier.

You can tend to other children when baby is in carrier.

The carrier is like the womb environment and automatically regulates baby’s systems.

Helps momma be able to be physical, go on walks to help get body strong again, as well as helps to clear the mind to be active.

Baby becomes aware of, and learns from, all the subtle facial expressions, body language, voice inflections and tones, breathing patterns, and emotions of the caregiver.

You can cook dinner with baby in the carrier, as well as do other household chores.

Momma can wear baby to brush her teeth and put a little mascara on so to not scare my family with my black circles under my eyes looking like Gene Simmons...

Baby carriers are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers.

Some of the carriers are actually really cute...

Helps me be able to drink a cup of tea with out being disturbed...

Did I mention I can go to the bathroom lol...

All in all Baby wearing is amazing, and although not for everyone it sure can be if you explore all the different carriers.

Carriers are the tricky part in my opinion.  With our first daughter we got a wrap, structured carrier the beco (which was new back then), we got a Bjorn and a ring sling.  Most of the carriers were gifted, and I'm super thankful for them becuase it took awhile to figure out our groove. Bryten my first hated slings, could take or leave Bjorn and loved the wrap and the beco.  My husband wore the beco religiously and I kinda went between the wrap and the beco.  My second daughter daphne we got an ergo, and a Ktan, as well as had all our other carriers from the first.  She loved all carriers...  She just wanted to be close to someone, a true squish.  So I started dabbling in wraps as well (dabbing lol I'll be real with ya became obsessed).  So far the third has loved everything I've put her in as well.  I counted before the third came and in total between wraps and mei tai to ring slings to structured carriers, hiking carriers we have 30 (keep in mind most were gifted, bought second hand or made at home) Crazy I know but we use them.  We have 2 in each car at all times one for mommy or daddy since our taste is different.  One in almost every room hanging somewhere to grab on the go and then my precious wrap collection.  My girls have been worn until they literally said okay mom put me down, I'm too big.  In the case of my 6 year old my husband was wearing her to mow the lawn when she was 4 still.

I could go into all the carriers but it's kinda silly, everyone's body is different meaning what might be comfortable to me, may not be to others.  When people try to be so matter of fact about carriers I giggle inside because you just never know how they are going to fit.  As well as never know what kind of baby you may have, like I said before babies prefer different carriers just like we do.  The best thing you can do is join a local Baby wearing group, and perhaps try on a few types before buying.  Where I live here in Davis some amazing gals got together and started The Davis Babywearing group, I know lots of cities have them now.  It's a group of gals that are baby carrying Mommas that have lots of knowledge about all the different types of carriers.  They also usually have a lending library where you can borrow a carrier for a week and try it out before committing to buying a pricy carrier that might not work for you, which is an idea I just love, since I hate being a frivolous consumer.

For me the wraps are divine, you can carry babies in so many different carrys, they are pretty, they can be used as a blanket, they are comfy, and there is soooo many options...  Not all people are wrap people, I know in the beginning before I figured it all out i thought to myself that is so much fabric, and so much work.  But then after trying a few holds that were extremely comfortable I was all in.  Also in my mind I always go back to what people have been doing for centuries and how we should not change a good thing.  Wrapping babies is what the world has always done, before strollers, and structured carriers, and bouncers, and swings, wrapping babies was how to soothe.  I like be old school and teaching be my children old school ways.

Wraps are somewhat the new trend nowadays, and I have stumbled upon people that are snobby about wraps, I usually don't subscribe to that since I haven't cared what anybody thought of me since I was in high school.  I have expensive wraps that were gifted or bought second hand, to homemade wraps and everything in between.  I actually encourage most people to make their first one, and practice with it with a doll before baby comes.  And once you know wrapping is for you, splurge if you can.  Again women have been making their own wraps with whatever they have for centuries.  Although this is not what purest wrappers believe, I think you can make a safe and comfy wrap with most fabrics.  What makes wraps safe in my opinion is your knowledge of different carries more than what kind of fabric it is...


So enough about that, let's move on to the the fun stuff.  If you are wanting to make your own wrap this is a great tutorial:

http://wrapyourbaby.com/blog/2013/05/do-it-yourself-woven-wrap/

For wrap info and tutorials on how to carry I love this gal she has lots of youtube videos on several holds.

http://www.keepcalmandcarrythem.com/?m=1


For inexpensive wraps if your not a do it yourself kinda gal there are several places to look.  Keep in mind used wraps are the best because they are usually broken in, meaning the fabric is softer and more pliable.

Check these places out:

Baby wearing on a budget Facebook group...  No carriers are over $100.0

eBay you can find used wraps for cheap.

Local Babywearing groups on Facebook, women are often willing to trade or sell for lower prices for local Mommas.


Carry those babies pals, they love it.
Tread lightly
❤️Mel