Babywearing 101

While I’m not overt about it, I definitely consider myself an attachment parent.  If you’re not certain what that means, I wrote a post about it this week over at Orange County Moms Blog.  One of the principles of attachment parenting is to use nurturing touch.  And one of the ways I do this is through babywearing.

Babywearing is easier than it sounds and provides many mutual benefits.  My daughter likes to be held.  My son likes to play and go places.  Wearing my daughter in a carrier makes both of them happy and leaves me relatively hands-free.  But beyond practicality, babywearing enables direct contact with me (which is calming to babies), gives my daughter motion stimulus (which mimics the womb and pacifies/calms), reduces crying, promotes bonding, and enables learning and development.

I’ve tried numerous carriers.  And I’ve found that those that are the easiest to put on work best for us.  Belle Baby Carriers are soft, ergonomic, eco-friendly, and user-friendly.  I was actually surprised at how little fabric was used to create the carrier.  The goal is to enable direct contact with your baby, a feature not characteristic of many carriers on the market.

Belle Baby Carriers recently released their Organic Earth Carrier, which has an outside layer made from 100% undyed Romanian hemp and an organic cotton/hemp blended inside liner.  I really like the soft, fuzzy inside liner because it’s cozy for babies.  The waistbelt, shoulder straps, and seat are lightly padded for an additional layer of comfort.

The carrier is relatively easy to use.  I can get my daughter in and out of it without assistance.  You simply secure the main strap around your waist, then click the two padded shoulder straps.  With all of the concern about the safety of baby carriers, it’s comforting to know that the buckles utilized on this carrier resemble those used on high-end outdoor backpacks and the waistbelt rings are made from stainless steel.

Belle Baby Carriers can be worn with infants and children 8-30 pounds.  You can simply detach the head support when your baby is fully supporting his/her head (I still like to use it as my daughter sleeps in the carrier).  The carrier tucks nicely into a diaper bag (as opposed to bulkier carriers) and can be machine washed.

The Organic Earth Carrier retails for $119.95 and is available on their site.  Their carriers are made by local artisans in Boulder and Denver Colorado.

No compensation was received for this post.  A product sample was provided to facilitate this review.

Teaching Children About Babywearing

My son LOVES his “night night” bear.  It’s his little security blanket.  Lately he’s been “talking” to Mr. Bear.  Asking him if he’s “ready for school,” or “ready to eat.”  I don’t know what we’d do if he ever lost that bear.  My son has a lot of stuffed animals, but there are only a few that he actually “engages” with.  While I think stuffed animals are “cute,” very often they just sit around, gathering dust.  We recently received an adorable organic teddy bear from Sleepy Wrap that I guarantee is not going to just “sit around.”

Awhile back, I reviewed a Sleepy Wrap to review.  I “wore” my son until he was about a year and half or so.  He loves to be carried and I’m certain he would have enjoyed being close to mommy and daddy for longer, but when I found out I was pregnant with number 2, I had to stop (because of my previous high-risk pregnancy).  We’re anxiously awaiting and planning for our second baby and I have every intention of wearing him or her as well.  So along with preparing my son for all of the changes he will soon experience (divided attention, breastfeeding, etc.), he will also be adjusting to mommy carrying another baby.

The creators of the Sleepy Wrap have designed the very first stuffed toy designed to promote babywearing.  Thanks to Parent Reviewers, we received an organic cotton Sleepy Bear to review.  The “mama” bear has her “baby” wrapped in a Sleepy Wrap.  Not only is it soft and eco-friendly, it’s a great way to introduce my son to this concept.  I’ve started talking to my son about how mommies wear or carry their babies close to them.  I also told him that when he was a baby, I wore him close to me, just like the mama bear is wearing her baby bear.  He’s still too young to actually “wrap” the baby bear himself, but the foundation is being laid.  My hope is that his exposure to babywearing (via the bear), will help prepare him for the time when baby number 2 arrives and he or she is carried close to me.  I want to help my son adjust and avoid jealousy and I think this toy is an excellent way to teach my son the concept of babywearing.

The Sleepy Bear has her baby wrapped in an Organic Khaki wrap.  It’s available in full size for moms on the site.  It’s designed for children over three, however, my almost 2 1/2 half year old loves it.  I feel very comfortable letting him play with it since there are no removable parts that could pose a choking hazard.

The Sleepy Bear is not actually available for purchase on the Sleepy Wrap site.  It is exclusively available for purchase at the following retailers (approximate retail value is $30):

Tadpoles & Butterflies
Sherwood Park, Alberta CANADA
info@tadpoles.ca
www.tadpoles.ca
1.888.312.6554

Supermommy’s Superstore
2411 Ring Road, Suite 105
Elizabethtown, KY
accounts@supermommyssuperstore.com
www.SupermommysSuperstore.com
270.769.6693

Sweet Infant
1007 S. Country Club Rd.
Lovington, NM
support@sweetinfant.com
www.sweetinfant.com
575.441.3005

Nurtured Family
8525 Jackrabbit Rd., Suite B
Houston, TX
support@nurturedfamily.com
www.nurturedfamily.com
832.239.5140

Heavenly Hold
510 Briarfield Crossing
Marietta, GA
amber@heavenlyhold.com
www.heavenlyhold.com
404.849.5394

Baby Carriers-n-More
265 W Cimmarron Way
Erda, UT
robyn@babycarriersnmore.com
www.babycarriersnmore.com
801.671.5740

Attached to Baby
Seattle, WA
sara@attachedtobaby.com
www.attachedtobaby.com
800.887.1461

Profuse thanks to Parent Reviewers for this review opportunity!

Hands Free Attachment

I love keeping my son close to me. From the moment the nurse placed him in my arms that summer night, I didn’t want to let him go. One year and twelve pounds later we’re still “wearing” my son! I first took up babywearing when my husband began to complain comment about the dishes that were stacked as high as my son’s building blocks and the laundry that was ready to walk out the door on it’s own. My need to “sleep when the baby sleeps” began to lose it’s validity as an excuse to get absolutely nothing done around the house right around four months postpartum. No longer could I spend all day lounging around the house bonding with my son until my husband came home from work to a messy house and an empty table.

My one year old baby boy still loves and needs to be carried and the use of a carrier allows me to get things done while keeping him happy. There are two things I look for in a baby carrier: safety and comfort. Everything else is frosting! I’ve tried soft front carriers, a sling, and a couple of wraps and I have found that wraps offer much in the way of versatility.

We recently tried The Sleepy Wrap and I have to say that I wish I had this when my son was a baby. The Sleepy Wrap is made from a cotton knit called French Terry which is 95% cotton and 5% spandex making it super soft and comfy for both moms and babes. More importantly, the material is durable and I never feel like my son is going to wiggle out. Over the years, my work as a nurse has subjected me to minor back strains and I have to be particularly careful to use the proper body mechanics and carrier when wearing my son. My son weighs approximately twenty pounds and I have not experienced back, neck, or shoulder pain while using this wrap. Unlike most carriers, wraps tend to conform to both the mom’s shape and the baby’s body for a secure and comfy fit. If you’ve tried the other popular wrap on the market you may have noticed some striking similarities. Having tried both wraps, I have to say I prefer The Sleepy Wrap for the following reasons:

I don’t have to guess how much room I’m going to need for my son (with the inevitable tying and retying that goes along with that)

I don’t have to worry about the wrap getting loose

I don’t have to retie the wrap to take him in and out

Both my husband and I can use the wrap without having to adjust it

It will accommodate my tot until he asserts his independence and no longer wants to be held

According to the manufacturer, The Sleepy Wrap provides adequate support for infants head, neck, hips, and legs. As a NICU nurse, I appreciate the fact that this wrap is suitable for premature babies and promotes kangaroo care. The Sleepy Wrap is a comfortable, secure, affordable way to wear your baby. I’ve compiled a short list of some of the things I’ve been able to accomplish while “wearing” my son.

Traveling – While I did not have the wrap when we took our trip to Nashville this past spring, traveling hands-free minus a stroller already makes the trip that much easier.

Nursing – Hands-free, discrete nursing? If I had only known how easy it could be. Check out the manufacturer’s tips here.

Light Housework – When my son wants to be held and I need to get something done, in the wrap he goes. When he was younger he used to fall asleep with my movement which was delightful.

Leisure and Errands – I keep my wrap with me wherever I go. It is so much more convenient than lugging a bulky stroller in and out of the trunk. I keep it tied around me and pop my son in and out of it as I do errands or stroll the mall.

Mastering the wrapping technique comes quickly once you’ve done it a few times. If you’ve never used a wrap or are a little nervous, I suggest practicing with a doll until you’re comfortable with the technique of placing the baby in the wrap. One suggestion I would make is to tie it snugly. This will ensure that your baby is close and secure and allows for the natural “give” inherent in the fabric.

The Sleepy Wrap is available in 12 different colors and retails for $33.95. Be sure to check out their articles on babywearing, attachment parenting, and breastfeeding.