Adventures in Baby Wearing

It took my husband and me 8 very long years to have our little boy. And now that he is 16 months I am seeing that the quote “it goes so fast” is absolutely true. I have dreamt of having a baby for a very long time, and I wanted to make sure I enjoyed motherhood as much as possible. One thing that I researched was baby wearing. I know, baby wearing sounds like something from another country. You see the pictures of the women with their baby’s wrapped up and clinging to their backs while carrying baskets of fruit on their heads and carrying buckets of water in their hands. Yes, this is absolutely a form of baby wearing, but there are so many other ways to carry your baby.

Venturing in to the world of baby wearing is overwhelming at first and can become very, very addicting. At first, I was so confused by all of the terms – buckle carrier, SSC, wraps, and ring slings. I didn’t know where to begin or even what to try first. I did know that I did not have a very strong back, so I had to find something that was supportive and did not pull too much on my back. That is when I decided to try a buckle carrier.

There are quite a few brands of buckle carriers out there and Kelly’s Closet even sells a few. It is hard to decide which one to try first. I ordered one, tried it and sent it back because it hurt my back so much. That is when I found out about baby wearing meetings. Baby Wearing meetings are located in many counties around the country. Your best bet is to do a search for you a baby wearing group in your area. This is a great place to try many different carriers and receive training and assistance on how to wear your baby. These meetings give so many helpful tips on how to wear. If there is not a baby wearing group in your area make sure you watch a few videos on you tube, or even on the websites of the baby carrier you are looking to buy to help with proper technique to carry your baby.

Once I had the placement and carrier figured out, my adventures in baby wearing began. I have to say, it is one of the best things I have ever done! My son loves to be worn. Now, I am not one that wears him all the time, but I do wear him when we go places that are busy. I have worn him for probably 20 hours around Disney World, wandered with him around the Baltimore Aquarium, and worn him around countless zoos and parks. It is so nice to be able to hook him in the carrier and stand in line for 45 minutes waiting for a ride without have to switch him back and forth from hip to hip, or even carry him around while he is quietly sleeping after a long day at the parks. Now he is just comfortably placed either facing me or being carried on my back. I give him a pacifier or a toy, and he is a happy little boy. Plus, I honestly think he likes to be close to me. It is like I am hugging him non-stop for a few hours. It is a great way to feel like you are bonding with your little one.

Baby wearing is not for everyone, but is definitely something you should think about. You can go as crazy as you want with baby wearing. I am warning you now….if you can’t swing another addiction (like cloth diapers), move along and forget baby wearing. It is another way for your husband to strip you of all of your credit cards. Either way, do what is best for you and your little one. Have fun looking at all the carriers and joining in on yet another mommy addiction! Happy Baby Wearing!

Bio: Lisa Lopez is a mom to a 16 month old little boy named Maximus. She loves to write, and loves it even more when she can share info about things she loves. She currently lives in West Chester, PA with her husband of 10 years, her son, and 3 Australian Shepherds.


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