Why I Love Babywearing

I didn't discover babywearing until a year or so ago. It was long before I found out I was pregnant. I have to be honest. I thought the idea was weird. I thought the babies looked uncomfortable. I never for an instance thought I would be a babywearer.

Then I found out I was pregnant. So throughout my pregnancy I started paying attention to two types of people. The parents that wear their babies and the parents that don't. I found these parents mostly in stores while shopping and at the library. Then I learned some of it firsthand when I started babywearing.

Here's what I noticed about the parents that wore their babies:

• Their babies were never crying despite looking cramped. In fact, the babies were almost always sleeping.
• Both their hands were free to do whatever tasks they needed to do.
• They talked to their babies about what was going on around them.
• Even if people thought it was weird, no one stared or acting like they minded.
• If they did stop, they admired the baby and could do so without the parent needing to move the baby closer for them to see. However, because the baby was being worn they didn't try to touch the baby. (This I didn't see but actually experienced while wearing my baby.) 

Here's what I noticed about the parents that did not wear their babies:

• The parents were lugging around a heavy carrier or car seat. In fact, I once saw a dad carrying a 6 month old through the mall in his car seat. I felt so bad for both of them! Who has the strength to do that?
• Because they have to carry the baby in the carrier/car seat, they only have one hand free. Well at first. Eventually the carrier/car seat gets so heavy you need both hands to carry it.
• Because it is winter, most of the time the babies carrier/car seat was covered with a blanket. Even if it wasn't the baby couldn't see much of what was going on around them.
• Most of the time, I noticed parents rarely spoke to or interacted with their babies. Carrying around the carrier/car seat seemed no different than carrying a shopping bag or purse.
• People often commented on how heavy the carrier/car seat must be forgetting the actual human being inside it.
• If people do pay attention to the baby, because it's in the carrier/car seat they seem to think it's okay to touch him or her. I particularly find I have issues when small children are around. They get too close and want to touch the baby. And other kids carry germs!
• People always wanted me to lift or turn the carrier/car seat so they could see my baby. 
• If they attempt to carry a very young baby in their arms and shop or look for library books...well forget it. Babies that can't support their head yet need both your hands.

My list of cons definitely outweigh the pros. Mind you, this was just the differences that I saw in public. When I started babywearing at home, I discovered something I was never able to do with my first four children. I could get things done! I could do housework, read a book, or go on the computer all with my baby right there at my chest. I could do things that I needed or wanted to get done while cuddling with my baby, talking to my baby, and bonding with my baby.

Now I think parents that don't wear their babies are weird! Maybe weird is a bit strong of a word. But I want to stop these parents carrying a heavy carrier or car seat and tell them there's an easier way! I want to tell them their hands can be free and their baby at their chest. They don't have to tire their muscles and ignore their little one. They can get done what they need to do and bond with their baby at the exact same time!

There's all these pros and I haven't even touched on the benefits for the baby. How they cry less, it's easier to breastfeed them, or how they are able to see the world around them and learn faster. It can even help mothers with postpartum depression! I was convinced that babywearing is awesome just from the practical benefits.

Here's more on the benefits that go beyond just the practical ones:

Great things about babywearing

14 Reasons to Wear Your Baby

But what about safety? Let's go there. The biggest concern seems to regarding because they get covered by the material of the sling and suffocate. Please explain to me how a baby gets suffocated when it is right there with you? Are these parents falling asleep or are they drunk? What kind of parent is so out of it that they can't safely have a baby quite literally on them? No, I am not ignorant of the rule about making sure a newborn baby's chin is not resting on her chest. But when I am wearing Skylar, I am constantly checking on her. All I have to do is look down. Are these parents wearing their babies but not actually looking at them? They are babies not coats. You can't put thee sling on and just go on your merry way without still being an attentive, responsible parent.

Since we're talking about babies faces being covered, let's talk about how babies get covered while in their carriers and car seats. I understand it's winter. I even admit I do have a Cozy Cover on my daughter's car seat. But the only time I cover her face with the flaps is if there is a high wind or it is snowing. The first thing I do after putting her in the car if I do have her face covered is fold up the flaps off of her face. The first week I was driving with her I was constantly paranoid that the top flap would fall down and suffocate her until I learned how to fold it under so it stays in place. She's so small I have to leave the Cozy Cover partially unzipped and fold the bottom flap under as well. 

I have been in the grocery store where the babies face is covered either with the Cozy Cover flaps or a blanket the entire time while indoors! I have had situations where I had to fight the urge to go up to a parent and ask them if they could please make sure their baby was still breathing. And if they are doing this in the store I am sure the baby is completely covered in the car as well. There's no way that is safe.

My point is this. You can't blame the slings for these accidents. You have to blame the parent for being negligent. Some of the safety warnings on the link I shared earlier are just common sense. I find it kind of sad that these warnings need to be given. Don't climb a ladder when wearing your baby. Don't wear your baby while mowing the lawn. Don't put loose items in the sling with your baby. Don't cook while wearing your baby. 

Lastly, I want to address the idea that the babies look so cramped. I noticed in the first twenty minutes or so after being born that my daughter has a very sensitive startle reflex. She also seems to have less control over the flailing of her arms and kicking of her legs than my other babies had. She tends to get overexcited and when she does, flails her limbs out like she's trying to somehow propel herself forward by arms and legs alone. For some reason when she is awake and you give her a pacifier, it causes her to stop flailing her arms and legs and she's able to calm down.

This sensitive startle reflex has been a huge issue in getting her to sleep. My baby girl does not sleep well unless she is swaddled. I call it turning her into a "baby burrito." When I had my other kids they hated being swaddled and I hated how it looked. For little Skylar, it is the only way she can truly relax. She loves to sleep like a "baby burrito." The same effect happens when she is in the sling. The sling essentially swaddles her and she is able to calm down and relax. So what looks like being uncomfortably cramped is actually very comfortable and soothing.

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