Babywearing 101

What I love about babywearing
Babywearing has been a big part of child rearing in many cultures for centuries and has become more popular in the Western culture over the past few decades. By doing a little research, you learn that there are many reasons why it is good for you and your baby. My personal favorites are:

• It’s a great practice for keeping your baby happy and it helps build a stronger bond between mom and baby.
• A carrier can go more places than a stroller can. Crowded places, on hikes, public transportation, etc.
• Once the baby is more aware of the world, it gives them a better view of their surroundings. I love to put Richie on as I prepare dinner. He loves to look at all the colors of the vegetables and I’ll talk to him as I do so he learns. We also have dance parties when I’m wearing him.
• I find it challenging as a new mom to find time to exercise, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in the sling, you will enjoy the dual benefits of walking and weightlifting.
• It helps babies that can’t sit up on their own, the opportunity to do so. We are always trying to find ways to keep Richie off his back since he is too young to sit up on his own, crawl, or walk. Babywearing can be a great alternative to tummy time.
• I find that Richie digests his food better when I put him in the carrier after I’ve nursed him.​

​Finding the right carrier 
I was on a mission to find the most comfortable carrier for Richie and I because I have a far walk to my car garage and there are many steps up to my doorway. It didn’t and still doesn’t feel safe to carry him all that way without the support of a carrier. I also need to have free hands so that I can carry packages in when my husband isn’t home.  
 
I tried three different types before I found the one that works best for us. Let me tell you, Babywearing can be trickier than it looks and it can seem daunting at first. Most baby carriers have a learning curve and they require practice to become comfortable with them. However, once you’ve chosen the right carrier and learned how to use it, babywearing will become second nature.

The brands we tried 
Ergobaby 
It was important that I could put it on without the help of someone else because I planned to use it when my husband wasn’t home.  This wasn’t possible with the Ergobaby carrier because it has a very hard to reach clip in the back in between the shoulder blades and neck. I have very flexible shoulders and arms but it was still impossible for me to clip it on my own. I also didn’t love how bulky it was. Richie never felt close enough in this carrier. In all the times I used it, he never once fell asleep in it so he was never as comfortable as I would have wanted him to be in it. This carrier was also hard to store because it’s so big. I wanted something I could throw in the diaper bag after using,
 
Baby Kat’an
This wrap was very easy to put on but was very constricting. There are loops to put your arms through then wrap the baby in but because those loops are sown in, it’s hard to have wiggle room for when the baby grows or if you want to wrap it in a different way. It is, however, small enough to store in your diaper bag.
 
Solly Baby Wrap
This is the wrap we liked best because not only is it easy to put on, it doesn’t require the help from someone else. It is super comfortable too – soft, flexible and lightweight. The wrap has a lot of fabric and is super long so it allows for you to really wrap your baby up so he or she feels close and comfortable but it’s not to constricting like the Baby Kat’an. Even though there is a ton of fabric, its very easy to wrap up and store. Another plus!
 
Tips for getting on a carrier 

• Feed your baby before putting them in the carrier. If you attempt to put them in when they are hungry, they will be fussy. They may also attempt to feed off of you because they can smell you and will want to nurse. That’s unless you want to nurse them while they are in the carrier.
• Pacifiers help. Some babies are naturally fussy when getting into the carrier. The pacifier will help soothe them.
• Don’t give up. Some babies fight the carrier. Eventually they will fall in love with it. Richie absolutely loves it. He was a bit fussy in the beginning but now he loves to observe everything I am doing. Usually after 30 minutes or so, he passes out since the movement, warmth from your body heat, and sound of your heart beating help to soothe them to sleep.

Happy babywearing mamas! ​