Babywearing Myths and Misconceptions - Part One.
Last week I sent out a tweet on the TweetyBox and a Facebook status on the Natural Urban Mamas page for all the myths and misconceptions that people have heard about babywearing. The response was amazing! And here I am to set the record straight on a few recurring themes and comments that came my way! Thank you to everyone who posted and tweeted with me about this.
From Twitter, @knikkicharles wrote,
Misconception: "my baby didn't like the snugli, so they don't like being carried..."
There is a very good explanation why most babies do not or have not liked being carried in snuglis, bjorns or any other kind of similar carrier that does not place them in an ergonomically and therefore comfortable position to be carried in. Being carried in these kinds of carriers does not support babies legs properly and can put a fair amount of pressure on their immature spines and necks. These carriers, which also often recommend outward or forward-facing positions put baby in a non-physiological position that places pressure on the inner thighs of baby and the lower spine (the least developed part of your infants spinal column) and can be very stressful for babies. Hence, "my baby did not like the snugli."
Wearing your infant in a soft fabric carrier such as a wrap, mei tai or sling and keeping them oriented to the wearer in a tummy-to-tummy position is the solution here. Ideally the fabric of any baby carrier should extend from the back of one of baby's knees all the way to the other one, making a deep 'seat' for the baby to sit in. This position fully supports the legs and in turn positions the pelvis properly and optimally supports the spine and creates a comfortable place for babies to be!
And @hugabub also tweeted:
Myth: That wraps are too complicated/difficult/time-consuming to tie.
"Babywearing is a skill that you learn and master and is not the result of a product that you buy."
I read this the other day and could not think of a better way to describe it. That being said, there is skill involved in a lot of things about parenting. It takes some skill to put together a crib, install a car seat, figure out your stroller and assemble all the other gear and gadgets that come along with having a baby. A wrap carrier may look a little intimidating at first pass, but with a little bit of practice you will GET it and trust me, your babywearing efforts will be rewarded 10 fold! When I first brought home my little 4 pound preemie from the hospital four and a half years ago, I had a stretchy wrap and he lived in that thing. And every day for that first two weeks we were home with him, I would go and look at the online instructions on how to tie the wrap on me and then get him in it. Yes, it took some practice and yes, it took a bit more time, but it was so worth it. So please Mamas, don't just dismiss something because it looks like it is too hard. Try it, PRACTICE, seek out some professional babywearing education if you can and see for yourself. And believe me when I tell you that you (and your sweet little baby) will not be disappointed that you did!
Another lovely babywearing and blogging mama, @joyfulabode, wrote this:
Myth: "Babywearing creates clingy, needy children."
This is actually one of the biggest misconceptions about babywearing and attachment or instinctive parenting as a whole. We are conditioned in our western culture to think that holding a child will spoil them and make them into clingy, demanding little human beings. While in fact the exact opposite is true. Research has shown us that the physical closeness and physiological benefits of babywearing actually encourages children to be more independent and to feel more secure and content. They develop a better sense of self-esteem and are more able to be AT the centre of activity versus being THE centre of attention and that in and of itself promotes and stimulates brain development and cognitive learning. So wear your babies Mamas, and do it often. Give them a safe, secure and rich learning environment and know that a baby has no sense of entitlement, does not know what being spoiled means and only wants to be held close so that their most important needs can be met. Food, touch, warmth and love!
And finally, Josline from Facebook wrote:
Misconception: "That {babywearing} is just for babies!"
Ah yes, because as we all know, babies are the only ones who want to be picked up and carried and held. NOT! Imagine this: you are walking through the mall with your toddler happy as a clam in the stroller, and then suddenly, NOT at ALL and all she wants is for you to pick her up and carry her. The problem is, you kind of need two hands to steer the stroller through the mall and juggle the shopping bags and fish in your purse for your wallet, and....well, you're getting the picture right? We have all been there and gotten the looks from everyone passing by as our toddler is having a scream-at-the-top-of-his-lungs tantrum because we just don't have enough arms to do it all! Babywearing can be a life and sanity saver in this moment and many others like it!
I think this misconception exists because a lot of the carriers like the snuglis and bjorns of the world have a pretty low weight limit on them and once a baby has outgrown these kinds of carriers, parents believe that they can no longer carry them in any kind of baby carrier. Having a good, proper baby carrier that can support both you and your growing baby in a variety of different carrying positions is key to keeping your babywearing relationship going with your child for as long as you both need! And again, having someone to teach or show you the different baby carriers and to explain which is best for all stages and ages is important too. Do a bit of research and find a baby carrier that is safe for carrying your older baby or toddler, will be comfortable for both of you and by all means, keep enjoying all of the amazing benefits that babywearing has to offer!
Stay tuned later this week for Part Two of the Myths & Misconceptions of Babywearing. I still have a whole page full of them to dispell!!
Happy Babywearing Everyone.
Natasha~
References:
1. Strollers, baby carriers and infant stress. by Elizabeth Antunovic (©2008 NAP, Inc.)
2. InstinctiveParenting.com. Benefits of babywearing.
3. AskDrSears.com. Attachment Parenting Research.
Natasha's Pick of the Week: Ring Slings!
I love my ring slings!! The first baby carrier I ever bought was a ring sling and I still have it and still use it.
Ring slings are one of the three kinds of baby carriers that I think all parents should own (the other two being a wrap carrier and a soft-structured carrier).
And here are the reasons why I love ring slings:
- You can use a ring sling from day one of your baby's life! And because it is a one-size fits most kind of baby carrier, you do not have to get a specific size for either you or your child. (I carried my 4 lb premature son in ours almost everyday at home!)
- Kind of repeating myself here, but ring slings are adjustable. And that means that they can easily work for a 5' 2" Mama as well as the corresponding 6' 2" Daddy, as well as all sizes of babies!
- When babies start to move around more, ie, rolling, crawling, walking, they are usually in a constant state of what I call "the ups and downs". As in, please pick me up for a bit....Okay, now I want down....AND now I want up again....and down.... and I think you get the picture. A ring sling can be the perfect solution in this situation-it is easy to slip baby in and out of the sling to suit their ever-changing little minds!
- A ring sling is the perfect 'leave in the car' carrier. And this is where at least one of mine is at all times. I use it for when I have those days of multiple quick errands to run and I have to be in and out of the car. It is an easy carrier to use and get baby in and out of and in my opinion is a better alternative to carrying around the bulky and often very heavy baby + car seat.
- You can use a ring sling for your toddler. My daughter is two and a half years old and weighs about 30 pounds. Last weekend she fell down one step and twisted her ankle and has refused to walk on it now for about a week. And I don't know what I would have done with out my ring slings for both at home and when we have had to go out. I am also finding that at this age and weight, of all of my carriers (and I have over 20 of them) the ring slings and my woven wraps are proving to be the most comfortable to use with her.
We have a few different brands of ring slings at Natural Urban Mamas and I have used them all and personally think they are all fantastic. You really can't go wrong with any one of these great baby slings:
- The gurumama Ring Slings are very nice because they have that little bit of designer fabric pizzazz on the 'tail' part of the sling, as well as a built-in zippered pocket.
- The Ollie Golightly 100% Linen Ring Slings are at this point a very limited item. We only have three more of these and once they are gone, that is it (the creator of these has moved on to other career endeavors). I love these because the hand screen printed images on the tail part of the slings are gorgeous and the different colored bias ribbon to help with tightening makes these very user-friendly.
- NEW Waterbaby Ring Slings from Babyette just arrived last week and this is the perfect carrier for your beach holiday, summer time at the splash park or pool or even just taking a shower with baby at home. They are made with a breathable, fast-drying, super-soft mesh material and they come in four different colors.
- NEW 100% Cotton Batik Rings Slings from Babyette also arrived last week and we are so excited about these. The patterns were chosen specifically for Natural Urban Mamas, which makes these an exclusive item to us! Babyette Ring Slings are nice wide ring slings (read-plenty of fabric to support the shoulders of any size baby) and they have the most gorgeous and comfortable pleated shoulder detailing on them.
So go ahead Mamas, get yourself a ring sling and enjoy all there is about them and your babywearing time with your little baby!
And if you are local to the Greater Edmonton Area and need more information or hands-on instruction, be sure to check out our upcoming Basics of Babywearing Workshops and/or book a Private Babywearing Consultation with me.
Happy Babywearing Everyone!
Natasha~
P.S. Remember that proper positioning applies to all baby carriers, ring slings included and I do not recommend a cradle position or forward facing out position in these or any baby carrier.
Chimparoo Woven Wraps and Mei Tais
You all know that I love babywearing, that is kind of a given. But what you may not know is how much I LOVE babywearing with woven fabrics! Woven materials are the IDEAL fabric for babywearing. They are soft, so beautiful and because they are NON-stretchy, they are STUR-DY. A good woven wrap offers optimal baby support as well as wearer comfort. You can use woven wraps from day one of your baby's life all the way up to....well, let's just say I know a few 4 year olds who still enjoy a nice piggy back in a woven wrap!
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| Case in Point! |
I am very happy to announce that the Chimparoo line of woven wraps and mei tais have arrived at Natural Urban Mamas. Chimparoo is a Mama-Owned Canadian company out of Quebec and all of their baby carriers are made right here in Canada and are 100% Oeko-Tex certified. So yes, they fit all the criteria for products carried by us!!
Often the hesitation with buying a woven wrap is cost. Some of the European brands can be a bit pricey. The Chimparoo line of woven wraps are very well priced, with the longest length (5.5 metres) coming in at just under $100.00. This is well below the average $130-180.00 for some of the popular European brands.
Trust me, the versatility and long-term use of a woven wrap can't be beat. You can learn to wrap your baby on your tummy, your hip and your back. A Chimparoo Woven Wrap truly can be the ONE baby carrier that you buy for the whole length of your babywearing journey!
Each Chimparoo wrap comes with a DVD and instruction booklet, outlining all of the different ways to tie your wrap and don't forget that you can also book one-on-one babywearing consultations with Natasha or attend one of our local workshops to learn more.
The Chimparoo Mei Tais are also in stock and they are simply amazing! These mei tais are made with the same woven material as the wraps and are not only incredibly beautiful, but also super duper comfortable and so easy to use. The construction of these Asian-inspired baby carriers also makes it so that this is easily one of the mei tai brands that I would highly recommend right from the start with your baby.
The sides and front of the body of the Chimparoo Mei Tai have these lovely little toggles on them that can shrink down the body of the carrier to really hug the baby and help get them in the proper positioning for babywearing and the built in head rest is perfect for when nap time happens to coincide with babywearing! The waist straps and shoulder straps have just the right amount of padding to them and again, because of the sturdiness and non-stretch of the woven fabric, these mei tais are great for kiddos up to 35+ pounds!
What more can I say Mamas, these really are some great Canadian-made baby carriers, I am so happy to have them at Natural Urban Mamas and I don't think you can go wrong with carrying around your little Monkey in a Chimparoo Baby Carrier!!
Happy Babywearing Everyone!
P.S. Don't forget to check out our SALE section for some really great deals on natural, fair trade and organic baby essentials!!
Resistance is futile....I will get you (and you will love me for it)!
Today I chased down a woman who was wearing her baby in a forward facing out carry in a Mei Tai baby carrier...yup, that was me!! (See * and ** below for how this all panned out!)
Here is the thing. I really am not some crazy lady going around badgering all moms out there who I think are not doing things 'right'.
What I am is an experienced babywearing mama and a certified babywearing educator. I have spent the last 4 years carrying my children around in baby carriers on my tummy, my hip and my back and the last year educating myself and gaining even more experience as a formal babywearing educator. I understand the mechanics of babywearing, the benefits of babywearing and the joys of babywearing.
When I stop a mama or a daddy to discuss their babywearing, I am not doing it to be a nosy ninny or a crunchy mama know-it-all. I am doing it because, even if they don't know it, what I am about to tell them WILL help them do it better! My advice will likely make their use of the baby carrier more comfortable for them and for the baby. The information I share is meant to inform. Decisions to do or not do what I say are completely up to the parents.
And that is my goal. To help parents make better decisions about what baby carrier to get, what babywearing can really mean to their parenting and how to do it so that all parties involved are getting the full benefits of this amazing practice.
Today, I worked a wonderful trade show and co-ran the show's "Stroller Check". The concept being that you come to the show, check 'in' your stroller, check 'out' a baby carrier and do some hands-free, paraphernalia-free shopping. What I learned, yet again, is that there are many misconceptions, much misinformation and so many mamas who need to know more about using baby carriers and jumping on this amazing babywearing bandwagon!
Here is some of what I heard today:
"Hes' already 14 months old, I can't wear him anymore!" (Says who??)
"There is no way my toddler is going to like that!" (this from the Mama who's little one immediately fell asleep and had a good 45 min nap in the Pipa Pack while her Mama finished off her shopping)!
"I have a Baby Bjorn, but I don't find it very comfortable". (Uhm, duh!)
"But, my baby only likes to be worn facing out." (Have you tried a back carry?)
And then there was the whole slew of new mamas who were given a carrier or bought a baby carrier or sling, but had no idea how to use it.
And so I wrapped, and tied and buckled all these mamas into different Stretchy, Woven and Gauze Wrap Carriers, Mei Tai's or Soft-Structured Baby Carriers. And the results where pretty close to unanimous. Almost all of those babies came back sound asleep or just waking up from a lovely nap. And almost all of the mamas came back with this look of wonder on their faces, like they never knew life could be SOOOOO good.
And that MAKES MY DAY and my job so worthwhile!
Yes, yes, I know, I run a retail business. I am in the business of selling a product and making a profit. But the true joy in what I do is knowing that the products I sell and the services I provide actually have an impact on someones life. What I do changes peoples lives for the better, even if it is just a little bit.
....and I get to hold babies all day long. And trust me, THAT, never gets old!!
Happy Babywearing Everyone,
Natasha~
*For more info on WHY I chased the mama, please read THIS comprehensive article about babywearing and the reasons behind why forward facing out is not a recommended position for wearing your baby.
**and P.S. The Mama was leery of me at first, but listened to what I had to say and we eventually found a proper position that worked for both her and her baby!
My TOP 5 Tips for Safe Babywearing.
It’s a fact mamas: babies who are held cry less, are more calm and content, sleep more peacefully, nurse and gain weight better, they enjoy better digestion and physically and mentally develop better. (1, 2, 3)
The reality is, that holding your baby all day long can get cumbersome and tiring, UNLESS you are doing it with the help of a baby carrier. "Babywearing" simply means holding or carrying a baby or young child using a baby carrier. Holding babies close is natural and universal; baby carriers just make it easier and more comfortable. "Babywearing" is the art of wearing your baby in a variety of different carriers, wraps, Mei Tais, or soft-structured carriers (SSC).
With all the recent news regarding consumer recalls of certain kinds of slings and carriers (4), it is more important than ever to understand how to choose the right carrier for you and your baby and how to use it properly.
Here are my Top 5 Tips for Safe and Comfortable Babywearing.
1. Choose a carrier that is right for YOU, your baby and your lifestyle. Different carriers have different feature and benefits and are more appropriate for different ages and stages of your child. A carrier that is two-shouldered and has a waist tie or strap will allow you to carry your baby comfortably for a lot longer than a ring sling or pouch sling. On the other hand, if you need something for shorter periods, quick trips in and out of the car to run errands or for a special occasion, then a ring sling may be just the thing. Seek advice and education about different carriers and if you can, try out a few before you make your decision (your mama friends, natural parenting stores and your local La Leche League meetings are good places to start).
2. Consider who else will be wearing the baby--daddy, grandparents, older siblings, caregivers. An adjustable carrier (a wrap, a ring sling, Mei Tai or a SSC) may be a better idea than a sized carrier such as a pouch sling.
3. Positioning of the baby in ANY carrier is of the utmost importance and ensures the safety of your baby and your comfort. The following criteria should be met at all times in ALL carriers(5):
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- Baby should be facing inwards (or on the back in a back carry)
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- Baby is in an upright position and has a rounded spine**
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- Knees are higher than the bum or hips in a frog-like position
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- Legs are out of the carrier and splayed in an 'M' position (30-45' angle from hips)
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- Baby is HIGH on the wearer’s body (baby's bum should never be lower than your belly button)
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- The fabric of the carrier is carefully tightened around baby, spread from one knee to the other
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- Baby’s head is tilted back, face uncovered, to ensure that there is no risk of the airway becoming blocked. You should be able to get two finger widths between baby’s chin and chest, if not-REPOSITION!
**The upright position is a safer choice for several reasons: Baby’s neck is in a straight line with the body and his face rests on the wearer’s chest, with free airflow on both sides. Babies rely on the rounded spine to properly support and distribute the weight of their head and upper body and when a wrap or sling is tightened properly, the immature rounded spine gets maximum support and the natural “frog-leg”-position promotes the development of baby’s cartilaginous hip joints.
4. Practice Makes Perfect. Babywearing is a learned skill and does take some practice. Use a doll or a stuffy to practice with your carrier before you put your child in it. When starting to use the carrier with the baby, always do so on a soft surface like a bed or a sofa (or better yet, on the floor) and if possible have a spotter (someone who will accept the responsibility of keeping your baby from falling).
5. Use common sense when wearing your baby and do not engage in activities that you would not do without the carrier. Avoid activities with risk of falling, like climbing a ladder, horseback riding, cycling or skating. Don't lean over a hot stove when you're babywearing. Be careful when drinking hot coffee or tea. Don't handle knives or other sharp objects. Don't lean out a window or over the stairs. The list could go on and on... in the end it is up to you to ensure that you are protecting your baby AND enjoying the joys of babywearing.
With all that being said--go out and find the right carrier for you and your baby and enjoy all the benefits of babywearing for both you and your precious cargo!!
Happy Babywearing Everyone! Natasha~