I am a working mom. Though that means lots of different things, it mostly means that I constantly feel pressed for time. Putting in a full day at the office leaves me with few precious hours at night to connect with my family and tend to the list of household tasks. The routine that my husband and I have has been pretty smooth for several months, as two-year-old Anna is very independent and doesn’t constantly need or want my attention. But all of this will change with the arrival of our baby boy in the spring. Some nights I feel the uncomfortable question of “will I have enough time?” settling in. But then I remember the Moby wrap that is hanging in the closet and I close my eyes and drift off to sleep, feeling confident in the magic of babywearing.
Babywearing is the act of using some sort of apparatus to “hold” your baby to yourself without actually having to use your hands. It’s an art that has been used by multitasking men and women (OK, mostly women) for centuries, though its fame has been largely credited to the famous Dr. William Sears who discussed its benefits at length in his “attachment parenting” ideas. But don’t fret, there is no parenting style you must subscribe to in order to enjoy all the perks of babywearing. It’s for everyone who doesn’t want to miss out on those precious bonding moments but would still like the benefit of having two free hands.
There are true professionals in the world of babywearing and we have some great resources among us to help us choose the right products and make sure they are used properly. Judy Percy is a Springfield mom and business owner of Faithful Baby who started babywearing 16 years ago with her first daughter. “I enjoyed the closeness and all the benefits of babywearing – like free hands to tend to my other children, a less cranky baby, a happy baby, long walks, less acid reflux and many more.” Judy began educating herself through the teachings of the BabyWearing Institute, a highly recognized organization that prides itself on safety education. Then she brought her expertise to the public through such events as Baby Day, Arts in the Park, WIC and more.
Judy says there are about five basic types of carriers on the market.
The first is a stretch wrap, a long piece of stretchy fabric that is wrapped around you and the baby. This variety of carrier is an inexpensive starter wrap that is great for newborn babies but not a safe choice for bigger babies who need more support.
A woven wrap, on the other hand, is “very versatile and great for newborns and toddlers” she explains. “It’s very comfortable [and has] been used for ages in many cultures.”
A ring sling is a piece of fabric that is connected to two rings and is worn over the shoulder. Like the woven wraps, the ring sling is great for newborns to toddlers alike and is highly adjustable to fit all body types. These are easy to take on and off. But don’t plan to be very comfortable in this if you have back problems.
My personal favorite is the Mei Tai. Not to be confused with the cocktail, this is an Asian-inspired carrier that has a structured panel and straps that tie around the waist and shoulders. Judy says that this carrier is great for babies from about four months to toddler age, and can be used in a front or back carry position. It is not recommended for newborns.
Finally there is the soft-structured carrier which Judy describes as “inspired by a backpack.” “[They] sit on the waist and hips and usually use buckles and padded straps and are very supportive especially for older children.” She warns customers to try this kind of carrier on before you buy it as it may be hard to adjust and is not appropriate for newborns.
If you live in the Bloomington area, you’ll thank yourself for looking up Anna Hubbard and her store Once Upon a Sling which was started in 2001 after Anna saw a need in central Illinois for quality carriers and babywearing education. Her selection of products is vast. When I went to see her personally, she didn’t let me pick something off the shelf, pay, then leave. This is what Anna has recently said about the shopping experience her customers can expect: “There is not one carrier that works for all people. Each body and personality is different. The best thing you can do is try on the carriers and feel the difference yourself. Any carrier is safe and secure when worn properly. But we do have the luxury of comfort. If you are local (ish), know that when you set up a free consultation, we spend around an hour going over each type of carrier and fitting it to your lifestyle. I will not let you leave with a carrier that doesn’t bring a smile to your face. Sometimes it is worth spending just a little more on that one carrier that won’t send you to the chiropractor, or the one that won’t be sitting in your closet.”
Babywearing is a true love of mine. It enabled this busy mom to grocery shop, do chores, read a book and grab my husband’s hand on a walk without having to sacrifice “holding” my baby. I am confident that it’ll be an even more appreciated tool when our second arrives. As parents, lets take advantage of these amazing tools that give us back a little bit of luxury. Come on! Give yourself a hand!
Ericka Hine is a Springfield mom to two-year old Anna, baby boy who is due in the spring and is the proud wife of her husband, David. She can be reached at erickahine@gmail.com.
This article appears in Capital City Parent January 2014.
