Let’s Babywear!
Photography: Michelle Kennedy Foote
You’ve seen it all over Instagram, right? Parents and caregivers wearing their babies in all kinds of gorgeous wraps, carriers, and slings. Maybe you’ve thought to yourself, “I’d like to try that, but I have no clue where to begin!” This is the post for you!
What is Babywearing?
Babywearing is the practice of carrying your baby on your body, usually utilizing some kind of fabric. Babywearing has been the norm in many cultures around the globe for thousands of years. It’s a fantastic way to keep your baby close while freeing up your hands to complete necessary tasks around the home or at work. In American culture, folks tend to carry their babies in woven wraps, slings, structured carriers, and hybrid carrier styles.
Who Can Babywear?
Babywearing is so customizable, most caregivers find that they are able to comfortably babywear once they find the carrier that fits their unique body and baby. I like to say that baby carriers are like jeans, no single carrier is the “best”, and each person will have their own favorite carrier that fits their body best! There are options for caregivers of all sizes and shapes.
One hurdle that sometimes makes a new parent hesitant about babywearing is that they have recently had a cesarean birth and are still experiencing tenderness at their incision. It is true that many structured carriers on the market have waistbands that tend to put pressure on that area of the body, but there are many carrier options that do not! Look for styles such as the stretchy wrap, meh dai, onbuhimo, woven wrap, apron style carriers, ring slings, and more.
Small babies can also present a challenge, as most carriers are safety rated from 8 lbs and up! Chatting with a knowledgeable babywearing specialist or brand-specific educator can help you find the best solution for little babies. My newest addition was born at 5 lb, 9 oz, so I understand this struggle! We ended up using a combination of woven wraps, ring slings, and stretchy wraps in the early days.
Chat with me or your local babywearing specialist if you have any injuries, disabilities, or special circumstances and have questions about how you can babywear!
When & Where Should I Babywear?
Almost anywhere, any time you want! There are endless ways to utilize a carrier for your convenience and keeping your baby happy.
Around the house - fussy babies just love motion, and your arms deserve a break!
The grocery store - hands free to shop, and baby is high and close, out of strangers’ germ radius
On a walk or hike, or even the beach!
To your older child’s activities and sports
To family events or overstimulating places where you may want to keep your baby close and comforted.
Babywearing is especially useful in the early postpartum period, also known as the “fourth trimester”. Most babies are happiest when they are held close to their caregivers, feeling their warmth, hearing their heartbeat and breath, and co-regulating. But the benefits don’t stop in the newborn phase. Older infants, toddlers, and even big kids can benefit from being carried.
Why Should I Babywear?
Develop a closer bond with your baby:
Keeping baby close promotes continuous engagement and interaction between baby and caregiver(s)
Opportunities for skin-to-skin contact
As babies get older, they look to you for comfort in highly stimulating or stressful situations. Being carried can often alleviate some stress on your child in such situations and improve their participation in the activities.
Positive impact on perinatal mental health:
Oxytocin is released through prolonged touch. Known as the “love hormone”, oxytocin assists with bonding, trust, and general good feelings for both baby and wearer
Decreased rates of postpartum mood disorders, including postpartum depression
Oxytocin also helps reduce postpartum bleeding and helps the uterus shrink back down to pre-pregnancy size, aiding in recovery after birth
Being upright with gentle tummy to tummy pressure and warmth allows colicky and gassy babies to release gas more efficiently - Happy baby = Happy caregivers!
Helps with Breast/chestfeeding:
Having baby close to the chest allows for on-demand feeding
Once you are confident with using a baby carrier and breast/chestfeeding, you can combine them! The carrier can support your baby’s body while you nurse on the go
Milk supply is established in those crucial first 12 weeks postpartum, and wearing your baby and feeding on demand helps meet your baby’s nutritional needs
Bottle feeding? The carrier can be excellent for that too!
Convenience:
Hands free!
Using a carrier to keep your baby close allows you to have your hands free to eat or drink something, tend to an older child, use the bathroom, do light housekeeping tasks, or get some work done. I’m babywearing my 8-week old right now while writing this blog!
Easy to throw in the diaper bag or for travel - no bulky stroller needed!
No longer nap trapped on the couch - you can be on the move!
Keeps germs away - baby is high and close, out of reach of strangers and little kid sneezes!
Gross motor development:
The physical therapist in me also loves babywearing since it helps your baby develop head and neck muscles necessary for later gross motor skills - like rolling and sitting
Think of it as upright tummy time!
Babywearing also helps get non-mobile babies off of their backs, decreasing the likelihood of a flat head shape.
How Can I Get Started?
Join your local babywearing group! Check out Bay State Babywearers and the North Shore Babywearing Group if you are local to Boston/Northern Massachusetts.
Try multiple styles of carriers - these groups have lending libraries so you can try before you buy! Find the right fit for your body and your baby.
Learn the basics: TICKS
Tight
In view at all times
Close enough to kiss
Keep the baby’s chin off of the chest
Supported back
Best practices
Use and care for the carrier as directed by the manufacturer
Position baby upright, with their hips in an “M” shape to protect their hip development and decrease the likelihood of hip dysplasia
Do not forward face a baby before they have solid head control and they meet the requirements set by the manufacturer - and no sleeping facing out. Protect their airway!
When wearing your baby, only do activities you would feel comfortable doing while holding the baby. (Avoid cooking over open flame, running, vigorous activity, watersports, bike riding, etc.)
Get in touch! Schedule a virtual consultation with me to get a custom fit check, have all of your babywearing questions answered, chat about different carrier styles, and review babywearing safety.
Alyssa (she/her) is a birth and postpartum doula, childbirth educator, pediatric physical therapist, babywearing specialist, and cloth diaper educator. She lives on the Southcoast of Massachusetts with her husband, two young children, and big dog Brady.
Alyssa King, CD-L, CD-PIC, C-VBACS, PT, DPT, CEIS
