International Babywearing Week!

Since writing a post on babywearing and it's benefits, I've actually had a lot of questions about types of wraps/slings/carriers! Which is awesome! This week has been International Babywearing Week #IBW2015 and if you've missed some of the great things going on to celebrate, I'd definitely encourage you to find your local babywearing group and get connected!

There are many different ways to wear your baby! and I just wanted to share a quick glimpse at some of the options. Each has pros and cons and checking out the lending library at your local babywearing group is definitely the best way to find what works best for you!

So, let's break this down a bit...

• Stretchy wraps-these are great for new babies and typically have a pretty low weight limit, meaning, baby can only be worn in a stretch wrap for so long. Examples of a stretchy wrap are a moby, k'tan, or boba. There are also lightweight versions of these like Solly and Happy. Great beginner option and great for your newborn and infants!

• Woven Wraps- Examples of these are Little Frog, Didymos, Girasol, etc. These don't stretch! So they have a higher weight limit. Baby can be wrapped from newborn to toddler in the same wrap. Woven wraps aren't always a great starting point for beginners. There are a bazillion ways to wrap (check youtube), they're a bit pricier than stretchy wraps and you won't find them at your typical box store. You will need to shop online or at a more natural baby store/boutique.

• Ring Sling- Similar to woven wraps, they don't stretch, so great for newborns to toddlers! The benefit of the ring sling over a woven wrap is there isn't any wrapping. There is 1 long stretch of fabric connected to a set of rings. Baby sits in a little "seat" in the fabric and the rings tighten/loosen the fabric to fit the baby snugly in their seat and support their back. It's a lot less material to work with and a quick option on the go. You won't find a ring sling at Target, so you'll have to shop at a local shop that carries them or online. 

• Soft-structured carrier-This is actually a personal favorite. They are soft and comfy but supportive and easy to use. They roll up prety small too. Not the best way for brand new infants, but for bigger babies, this is a great easy option! Examples include Ergo, Tula, Lillebaby, Kinderpack, Beco, etc.. We have tried on or owned all of these and I definitely have some favorites ;) but you can ask me more if you're interested!

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• Structured backpacks- typically used for hiking. These are large and in charge! Great for long hikes, camping trips, can have shade for the baby and lots of pockets and things for storage. Probably not your best daily use option but great for the avid hiker!

eeek! ok, so this is a very quick glimpse at babywearing! Again, your local group is where you can find more info, try on carriers, even borrow some for awhile before you buy so if you want to be a babywearing momma, check out facebook and the International Babywearing website! We absolutely love babywearing and hopefully this helps you to figure out what's best for you so you can love it too!

Wear All The Babies!

Now, before you go thinking babywearing is a "new" or "modern mom" thing, I'd like to show you this 1986 classic...

That's my mother and an adorable me in the stroller...oh and 2 of my brothers.

So babywearing isn't exactly a NEW and HIP trend. Having twins as our first go around at parenting, I bought an Ergo baby carrier from babysteals a bit before the twins were born and thought I had the babywearing thing down. I saw people wrapping and just kind of went about my merry way in the Ergo.

It was kind of a no brainer to continue babywearing when Ben was born. Chasing after 19 month old twins with a newborn in tow was quite a challenge.

I borrowed a friends Moby and fell in love with wrapping my babies. He was so comfortable and squishy all wrapped up! I wore Ben pretty much everywhere his first 2 years...Disney, hikes around California...

There was that one time I let my childless friend attempt to babywear, in Las Vegas, copying off of a certain movie I'm sure you've seen...

Ben was scarred for life. Who can blame him. Poor guy!

 But I never really THOUGHT about babywearing or it's benefits. I just did it because I needed a free hand. With babywearing getting some negative comments from people and making national headlines, I thought I would take an opportunity to share with people who may not know, the benefits of babywearing!

Here are just a few of the highlights:

• Babies being worn cry less. I know. Shocker. A baby being held doesn't cry as much? That sense of security is actually GOOD for the baby! And when baby is crying less, baby is happier, learning more, and spending the time in their lives when they're developing the fastest being happy, comfortable and focusing their attention on learning and growing.
• Bonding with baby is good for milk supply. Do you know why they encourage baby to go on a mom's chest as soon as their born? Why kangaroo carrying is so important in the NICU? Why nursing in the first hour is so important? That bond, that skin time for baby and mom is so beneficial. It helps mom's milk supply come in, keeps the baby nourished and helps mom and baby bond. That bond keeps your milk flowing! Chest to chest doesn't have to end after you leave the hospital. Wearing a baby keeps their heads on your chest a lot more and therefor, keeps that bonding up. Le Leche League is a big supporter of babywearing for it's benefits for encouraging breastfeeding!
• Babies can bond with dad too! How often do dad's get close cuddly time with their newborns, especially after they return to work? Not much! Dad's who wear their babies can get a chance to bond with their baby and give mom a much needed break!
• It's an obviously, practical thing to do. How do mom's with so many little kids do it? They probably have a baby in a carrier of some sort. That frees up their hands that were previously full of a baby or carseat. THIS was my original reason for babywearing. I never thought of all the other benefits that were happening.

Now, people are quick to criticize. Your baby is too big. Your baby can walk. But have you gone shopping with a 3 year old? Sure, they can walk. They can also terrorize a room in about .2 seconds, throwing everything off of a shelf and potentially endangering themselves and people around them. It's a 3 year old's natural talent. Isn't it easier to have that 3 year old on your back, away from trouble, while you run an errand really quick? 

Could that big kid being worn be special needs? A lot of special kids don't understand basic safety rules like don't run into the street, don't leave mommy's side, don't run when surfaces could be slippery, etc. The child could be 3 or 4 and nonverbal and a have a lot of risks. It's safer for them to be worn. And don't just think that 3 or 4 or even older child should LOOK disabled in order to be worn, a lot of kids have invisible disabilities. You don't know. Don't judge so quickly.

Babywearing isn't hard, there are a ton of options out there these days! But there are some safety issues to keep in mind. So, if babywearing is something that you're interested in, I highly suggest joining the local babywearing chapter, Babywearing International, or the facebook page of a favorite carrier. Everyone will be more than happy to help you wear your baby safely! Here are some tips from Babywearing International.

Now, I don't want mommy wars for writing this. If babywearing isn't for you, then it's not for you. I don't judge you for carrying around your carseat, don't judge me for wearing my babies in carriers or wraps. To each his own! But I just wanted to let people who might be curious about it find some resources and know that babywearing is really a great thing! So I leave you with a popular quote in the babywearing world...Wear all the babies!