I have recently been reading a lot on the subjects of Attachment Parenting, Natural Parenting and Babywearing. Here is a brief rundown on the basics of babywearing.

I guess within the bounds of all of this, I have realised that I already did a lot of what is known as Attachment Parenting by instinct without really putting a name to it BUT I was completely addicted to my pram and still am.

Having recently discovered that we are expecting number three (affectionately known as Squidgy at the moment) I decided to look a little more closely at this whole Baby Wearing thing. What does it mean to ‘wear your baby’? What are the benefits? What are the downsides? Is this something that would compliment my parenting style? If I decide to ‘baby wear’ what ‘gear’ will I need? Oh how I do love to shop!

So here is the very brief low down on Baby Wearing:

What does Baby Wearing mean?

Essentially, Babywearing simply means to carry your baby/child rather than popping them in a pram or other device. It is not a new concept, it has been around for centuries and has never fallen out of ‘popularity’ in many cultures. In Western society it has gained popularity in recent years, in part, due to the increasing popularity and awareness of ‘Attachment Parenting’ though many advocates of Babywearing do not consider themselves Attachment Parents at all.

Why would I want to wear my baby?

Just like any other decision you make when parenting, Babywearing is simply one way you can choose to transport your ‘bundle’. It keeps them close, allowing plenty of close contact which is nurturing and offers feelings of comfort, security and of course warmth. It has been shown that baby’s worn in a sling or similar carrier cry significantly less than baby’s who are not ‘worn’.

It can be very convenient to wear a baby! Pushing a stroller through crowded places or wrangling a toddler in crowds can be challenging but when they are being carried it becomes a non-issue.

Babywearing is very economical and is a safe option for toddlers too, stopping them from running riot in the local grocery store! Wearing your baby can help you feel attuned to your babies needs, can help newborns regulate body temperature and bodily functions and is also a great way for fathers or other caregivers to bond with baby.

It can allow easy access to the breast for breastfeeding mothers and is an excellent fitness tool! Yes, you heard that right! Wearing your baby can help you regain your fitness and lose weight post birth. We all know that finding time to excersise (or the motivation for that matter) with a newborn can be a real challenge. When you wear your baby you move more, carry additional weight and therefore increase your fitness, stamina and strength. BONUS!!!

Sounds Great! Why wouldn’t I wear my baby?

Well, just like any other parenting decision you make, you will recieve criticism. People will tell you that you are ‘spoiling’ your baby, that your child has legs and should use them, that your baby will become dependant on you and many other myths they will deem appropriate to bombard you with.

You may get ‘spat up on’ a little more often due to proximity of baby… But hey, what Mum is not used to a little baby spit?

Your *ahem* collection of carrying devices may become a slight addiction, resulting in glorious expensive shopping sprees.

Babycarrying is not physically easy. In developing core strength and fitness you may endure some aches and pains associated with physical activity but this should ease as your body becomes more accustomed to Babywearing and provided you do it regularly enough your body should slowly adapt to your baby’s growth.

So which Baby Carrier is best?

There is no real answer to that question. Just like when making any other purchase you will have decisions to make. Selecting a carrier that works for you will depend on factors such as the age and weight of your baby, the carrying position you prefer, cost, material, asthetic preference, ease of use and any physical limitations you may have.

One of the most common carriers referred to are slings, but even when it comes to the seemingly simple sling there are a plethora of designs out there, from padded to non padded, mesh, stretchy, organis, ring slings and the rest, there are wrap around carriers and backpacks, hip carriers and pouches. All of this choice can be a little confusing but here is a fantastic comparison chart from a wonderful website outlining the different types of carriers and their features. Just think of all the shopping you could do!

Well I hope that clears a little up for you. You will see I have not delved into Attachment Parenting or Natural Parenting or any of the other ‘movements’ out there. Maybe in a nother post but for now, enjoy thinking about the benefits of Babywearing and look at some of the uber cute carriers you could start collecting invest in.

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