Baby Wearing

I used to love having my baby in my sling...when he got too heavy for that, I switched to the ERGO which I still use sometimes and he is 18mos and 27lbs! The ERGO is wonderful for babywearing, esp when they start to get heavy!
A.

i like it - but my daughter is now 4 mos old and i can't find a good position to put her in the ring sling (Over the shoulder baby holder is what I'm using). Any ideas?

Hi D.,
Bonding with your baby in this way is very traditional in many cultures outside the US. It is very healthy for both the child and the mother. Early bonding such as this will nurture a close relationship and give a strong emotional base for your daughter. Keep up the great job!

E.
www.parentinginaction.com

Hi D. - At one point I had three Maya Wraps and wore my daughters (now 4 and 2) constantly. It is really a great tool to keep them close and you comfortable. I truly feel that it helped me immensely - particularly during times when they were frightened, acting out, or tired. Keep wearing them as long as your body can handle it! I still put my oldest in one from time to time - she just loves it.

Peace,
S.

Baby wearing is amazing! My son is nearly 2 years old and I wore him in a baby bjjorn, a sling and now have an Ergo backpack carrier. I don't wear him as often lately as he is tall for his age and loves to run around, but he is such a happy, outgoing, well adjusted baby/toddler and I'm sure that the attachment parenting approach - wearing him, breastfeeding etc. really contributed to his dispostion. We have such a close relationship and I feel that I can communicate well with him.

I whole heartedly recommend baby wearing to all new parents.

I wear my baby! He's 14 months now and it gets tough if I do it for too long, but I still do! I have a moby wrap, a maya wrap, an ergo, a mesh pouch (for waterparks, beaches and showering together), and a handmade mei tai. My moby and maya are my favorite, but I like the ergo for wearing him on my back! Babywearing has brought both of us so much peace and I couldnt imagine not sharing that closeness with him. He's calm and always happy and people always comment on how alert and at peace he seems. I always tell them its because I breastfeed and wear him close to me! He's always content in his wraps and it sure makes like easier for me! I had one woman comment once "Do you really think that makes life easier for you?" I stared at her like she was dumb for a minute and said, "Absolutely! I never leave home without it!" She said she always has her kids in a stroller and how it is so much easier than having them "on" you. I said, "I dunno...I wouldnt want to lug around that heavy stroller everywhere I went! What a pain!" I love having my baby close and it makes him feel secure and happy! Yay for babywearing!

My little girl is 3 now, but I wore my baby constantly. She was in a sling until she was 18 months. I used to put her in the sling/bjorn and breastfeed and do things around the house or even shop. Multi-tasking was my specialty. I'm currently trying to have another one and can't wait to wear her/him as well.

yes, I wear my 8 month old son when ever I can. I started out when he was about 2 months old with wearing him in a ring sling and then lately I've started wearing him in a soft carrier (Ergo) and I like it.
When he was a baby, I wore him, let him sleep and nurse all in the ring sling. I walked around NYC with him nursing in my sling. No one even knew.
I tried to wear my older son (28 mo) but he didn't seem to like it and I was a new mother so things were always so tense.
I am part of this mother's group for women who like wearing their babies. The group used to be part of NINO but is no longer. You should see if NINO has any groups around you. I love going to my group b/c I can try on other slings from the sling library that they have and get help on how to use the slings.
Good luck and happy babywearing.

i love wearing my baby. I am always trying new slings. We currently use the over the shoulder baby holder, but just ordered the zolo and the ergo. Can't wait to try the new ones. My son is 4 months old.

Dear D.,

I really recommend the Baby Bjorn. As soon as my son could hold his head up, he no longer wanted to be in a sling, and the Bjorn distributes the baby's weight evenly across your shoulders. It was also a great way for my husband to bond with our son, since (obviously) he couldn't breastfeed. One interesting side effect, though, is that my little guy has never been a big stroller fan. We now have a camping-style frame backpack for him, which he loves, but he never lasts too long in the stroller. It's still totally worth it, though.

Good luck,

M.

D.,

I agree with the other baby wearing mamas (and papas), wearing your baby is the best thing you can do for them. They grew inside you with all the noises of your body for their whole existence thus far. They depend on you for food and warmth and support in growth and development. Weaning them away from your body slowly is the best approach for a healthy, content ad well-adjusted child.

I have been advised by baby development professionals that you should change the way you wear your baby. For example, if you use a bjorn (legs spread/ stretched out) then you should offset that with a sling (legs together/fetal position) so that the babys physical growth is not stunted in one way or another. You should use a variety of carriers.

I used a bjorn and maya wrap, now that shes bigger we use the ergo (front facing/rear facing/or on the hip) and the maya wrap.

Good for you and wearing your baby.