The practice of babywearing – wearing a baby strapped to your body with fabric (often called a “sling”) – has been common in traditional societies for centuries. Many families in Western societies have been adopting this practice in recent years and are finding that it has many benefits!
Why wear your baby?
In this age of strollers and infant carriers and high chairs and playpens, why would anyone want to wear their baby strapped to their body? There are as many reasons for wearing babies as there are parents who wear their babies, but here is a list of some of the most common reasons. Babies who are worn are generally happier, cry less, and have more quiet alert (learning) time than babies who are not worn. Babies who are worn have an easier time organizing their sleep and wake cycles. Babies who are worn have a greater opportunity to learn about the world around them. Babies and parents have more opportunities for bonding when the baby is worn. Parents who wear their babies tend to be more in tune with what baby needs. Baby is kept close at hand, yet safely out of harm’s way. When a baby is worn instead of carried in an infant carrier (car seat), it is much less stressful on mom’s or dad’s back, arms, and wrists. When a baby is worn instead of pushed in a stroller, he or she is better able to see people’s faces – which babies love – and better able to learn about his or her world. Additionally, mom and dad don’t have to try to maneuver the stroller through crowded store aisles or crowds of people. And when a baby is worn instead of being carried, it’s much, much easier on mom’s and dad’s arms and back and it leaves their hands free. (Think back to when you were in school and chose to carry your things in a backpack or bag rather than in your arms.)
When you can wear your baby
You can wear your baby all the time! Wearing your baby around the house allows you to get housework done while also keeping baby content. Many babies like to sleep while being worn, and many worn babies sleep longer than they would if they were laying down alone, giving mom or dad even more time to complete a few tasks. Wearing baby in the kitchen (on your back if you’re cooking) allows you to get a meal prepared with minimal interruptions. Wearing your baby while shopping keeps baby content for longer periods of time and allows you to shop with two hands. Family walks are perfect times to wear your baby – it will provide you with a better workout and will allow baby to be soothed by the rhythmic movements of your baby.
A particularly good time to wear your baby is when baby is fussy or fighting sleep. Placing baby in the sling and walking around the house (or bouncing on an exercise ball) will often soothe baby or even lull him or her to sleep.
How to wear your baby
There are many types of baby slings available today – simple lengths of fabric, slings with rings for adjustability, squares of fabric with straps, scarves. You can even use a twin-sized bed sheet as a sling! While giving instructions for every type of baby carrier is outside of the scope of this article, consider looking through web pages describing the various ways of wearing your baby and then just picking one and trying it out. You may eventually discover, as many babywearing parents do, that different slings and different carrying positions work best for different situations.
Good baby slings must be bought online. Some baby superstores will carry a limited supply of slings – usually bulky, padded ring slings with limited adjustability and a high price tag. Most stores carry soft front packs like a Snugli or Baby Bjorn, but these front packs do not offer the flexibility of traditional slings, nor are they as easy on the back (baby’s or mommy’s) as traditional slings. If you’re considering wearing your baby for any length of time, steer clear of these front packs and opt instead for the more affordable, more versatile, and more ergonomic traditional slings.
Babywearing precautions
When wearing your baby, be sure to follow some basic babywearing precautions. First, just use common sense when wearing your baby. Be aware of baby’s position at all times and make sure, for example, that you don’t accidentally bump his or her head into a door frame as you pass through. Second, never wear baby in the front while cooking; always put baby on your back while cooking, handling hot foods or liquids, or doing anything else that might potentially put baby at risk. Third, always hold baby with at least one hand while bending over. Better yet, try squatting rather than bending. Not only will it keep your baby safer, but if will also be easier on your back!
