Monday, March 10, 2008

Baby on Board

The idea of "wearing your baby" is not a new one but is a fairly recent practice in our culture. Slings and other baby carriers are quickly becoming a new mom's way of keeping her baby close adding immeasurable benefits for both mother and baby. Many websites are devoted to promoting this practice, The Baby Wearer and Ask Dr. Sears are two good places to get info on this topic, and Target has recently began carrying the popular Hot Slings and Peanut Shell carriers. I personally used a Blue Sky Ring Sling (sadly no longer available) and a New Native Baby Carrier and both were worth their weight in pacifiers. Nothing else comforted my baby like wearing him in a sling and many things as a result were easier for me because I had free hands. I cooked, did laundry, searched on the internet, took my dogs for walks and once even made handmade picture frames as gifts for grandparents. Most of my son's naps the first four months of his life occurred snuggled up close to his mom bundled in a sling.

Even with all of the information available on wearing your baby, it can still be a bit intimidating at first. Newborns seem so small and fragile and trying to juggle a crying baby while maneuvering a sling you are unfamiliar with can be a frantic experience. There are also so many types of carriers out there, which one will work best for you and your baby. Here are some tips for a wonderful babywearing experience. Check for local sling distributors in your area. Many moms build at home businesses selling and making carriers and are more than happy to demo different slings for you and offer suggestions for your personal needs. I decided on purchasing a ring sling after meeting with Jennifer from Firefly Baby who runs a website and is a local mom where I am from. Don't be afraid to ask fellow moms in public about the carriers they are wearing. Chances are they will be more than happy to talk with you about their babywearing experience and you might even make a new friend in the process. Lastly, attend a local mom's support group such as Dar a Luz or La Leche League. Slings are not only popular at these meetings, but are often topics of discussion.

Wearing your baby can be a wonderfully rewarding experience. We invite you to share your own babywearing story in our comments section.

1 comment:

Devon said...

nice post! It was fun to read and sent me to some very good web sites! Keep up the good work you daraluz news people!