When I became pregnant with my third, I joked that I would have to “wear this baby” – because where in the world was I going to put him in our small house and how else would I keep him safe from the hands of his two older brothers?
Soon I’d stumble upon a La Leche League meeting full of moms carrying their babies in beautiful fabric and, pretty much, I’d never look back. In honor of International Babywearing Week, I wanted to take a look down my babywearing memory lane.
Wearing Grayson in my very first ring sling, summer 2007.
My very first sling was a mom-made black ring sling for just $15 on eBay. I ordered it several months before Grayson was born, and packed it neatly in my hospital bag. He was “worn” from the first day he was born until he was almost three and I was too uncomfortable in my fourth pregnancy to continue babywearing.
Babywearing has saved the day in tight spaces when the stroller wouldn’t fit, when sometimes it was the only way he’d nap, and that time I really wanted to try on jeans at Gap and he really needed to breastfeed.
And of course most importantly, babywearing allowed me to hold my child close whether I needed my hands free or not.
When my fourth baby came along, babywearing was a necessity. I tend to leave my house and go do things despite having more than a few children. Two would walk, one rode in the stroller (or front of the shopping cart), and another in the sling. It’s how we got around. Ivy was the kind of child that was happy no matter if she was in my arms or on the floor, so the sling became more of a straight jacket – how I kept her out of trouble and in line most of the time.
Babywearing Ivy, fall 2008.
There was always a carrier in my car (I preferred the mei tai as soon as my kids had good head support) and several more in various parts of the house. I remember both Gray and Ivy crawling to me at some point, dragging a sling behind them. I loved that they loved babywearing, too.
Looking back, I can see how babywearing gave me permission to be more spontaneous – no need to worry if the stroller would be a hassle or bulky wherever we needed to travel, and as the sling was almost always a guaranteed nap, schedules could bend with our plans. And so, maybe it gave me the freedom to be a bit more easy going and carefree, which is a fabulous thing when you have several children.
Now that my youngest, Ivy, just turned three, I’m afraid our babywearing days are over. I mostly miss it for the snuggles (and that guaranteed nap), but I’m thankful for every moment we did do it. And I’m not sure how else I would have gotten by.
Thank you, babywearing.
Are you a babywearer? What are some ways babywearing saved the day for you? And if you’ve got a favorite sling or carrier, tell us!
{About Stephanie, our Family+Parenting Blogger: She’s mom to four and journals about life at Adventures In Babywearing and on twitter as babysteph}
{ 17 comments… read them below or add one }
I was lucky that my Sister-in-law bought this weird thing called a Maya Wrap 11 years ago for her 6th baby. When I became pregnant with Emma 9 years ago, I inherited her Maya Wrap. I have used ring slings, soft baby carriers (Ergo) and wraps. I love my sling for shopping trips and in the car. I love my Ergo for long walks, amusement parks, etc. And i love my wrap for whenever I feel like wearing it. I use them all interchangeably and love them all. The only one I haven’t tried yet is a Mei Tai. I have heard awesome things about them and have always wanted to try one…maybe this time I will. it’s my last chance
With my kids so close together, I purchased a double stroller but never used it. My 2nd (and well, 3rd and 4th) lived in a sling (Rockin’ Baby Pouch). And when they got a bit bigger, it was a Mei Tai carrier (BabyHawk).
I can’t imagine doing everything that I did, especially with my big brood, without babywearing. I have my mom to thank who was a pioneer babywearer (at least in this country anyway) who wore me all the time when I was a baby about 35 years ago.
I got a Maya Wrap when my oldest was 2 months old (she’s 6 1/2 now) and I’ve used it with all 3 of our kids. I made a ring sling from a lightweight mesh material that I wear in the pool so that I can have a bit of an easier time managing everyone. My friends laugh that I should be the Dr. Seuss for nursing moms with my sling. “I can nurse you in my socks. I can nurse you on a rock. I can sure you while we school. Because hands-free nursing rules!” Ha Ha
I have lots of friends that like the Ergo, but living in Florida – I found it way to hot to have the Ergo wrapped around me.
Babywearing has helped me do laundry, make dinner, take care of my oldest, go to the bathroom, nurse on-the-go, and so many other daily activities. But for me? It’s the intangible things babywearing has given me: a heart full of joy; a baby with a contentedness that can’t be created any other way (that may be tangible, but whatever); a feeling of being so IN TUNE with my baby; peace, knowing that he’s where he is most at ease; confidence, knowing that I can feed him and provide him with warmth and my heartbeat, all with a piece of fabric. Babywearing has connected me to my babies in a way that I don’t think I could’ve experienced had I not worn them. Ezra has been worn from day one, and we are seriously such a fine-oiled machine at this point. I feel like we are one being, one person, equal parts of a whole. I love all my carriers: my ring sling, my mei tais, my Ergo, my Boba, my Didymos, etc. They’ve all been important in our journey, and each has memories attached to it that are priceless.
THANK YOU, Stephanie. Without you, I would’ve never known about babywearing. Or maybe I would have, but you have shown me the love and beauty and peace it can bring. You have always been such a huge advocate for babywearing. I consider you a pioneer for our generation of mothers, showing us how this practice can change or lives, and helping us learn how to do it.
You will always be my babywearing hero, my very first granola mama guru. Thank you. <3
One of the things that made me excited about our unplanned baby number four was that I would get to use my sling again. I love wearing my babies! I love telling other moms about baby wearing and getting them excited about the versatility of it. I just recently picked up an Ergo and am excited to try it out when my baby gets a bit bigger.
I loved babywearing! With both my girls, it was the Bjorn. With my son, I tried out a few different slings too, which I loved for the style element too. My husband stuck with the Bjorn and would happily wear the kids in it.
My middle child was the one who was visibly thrilled to be worn. When I’d put her down and start donning the Bjorn, she’d beam and wiggle around, even at only a few months old. Car seat = bad; Bjorn = good!
It’s not the prettiest, but my go-to utility carrier for Gage is the Ergo. And oh, my, I’m going to like qualify for the blog in 3 months. Four kids!!!!
I didn’t wear my first baby much. It was the days before slings (almost 20 years ago!) I did have a front pack Sunggli I used. But all my others, I wore until they were around 2 years old and too heavy to carry that much. I miss the times I could snuggle them next to me and know all was right for them.
I loved baby wearing. I had ring slings to start with, until I discovered the mei tai when my youngest was about 5 months old. Then that one become my favourite. I think it was her’s too.
I’ve worn all my babies, using only a Maya Wrap. Love it, love it. My favorite memories are of my first baby. We regularly volunteered at a soup kitchen in Chicago and the wrap allowed me to keep up with all my old duties without missing a beat. Also, my sweet babe brought smiles to all the faces of our guests without my having to worry about where she was at any given moment.
On our fridge I have an old polaroid of me being worn at the age of 2 by our maid in our teensy kitchen in Guatemala. Right next to it I have a picture of myself wearing my third baby in our teensy kitchen in Chesterton. They are two of my favorite pictures.
I could never do it. Just thinking about another 7-30lbs strapped to my body hurts my back. We had a snugli for the first (and I know it’s not the same) but it just felt like the baby was in my way. I couldn’t do anything in it and I constantly banged the baby into things. It was just a pain.
Shrug. I never found I needed to carry my kids all the time. They were happy to just lie on the floor or in their bassinet. If they weren’t being fed or needing to snuggle they were in their bed or on the floor (on a blanket or play mat) from the time they were born. Worked for us with all 5 kids.
Have loved the Ergo since I bought it w/kid 3. Steph taught me how to use the pocket sling w/my 5th and I loved it with my newborns. It kept people from getting in my baby’s face during cold and flu season. When we adopted our sixth from Africa, we didn’t even fool with a stroller for traveling. She just hung out in the Ergo from day one. It was great for helping with attachment issues. And it allowed me to accomplish things in those first rough months at home.
And now w/baby 7 on the way, I know I’ll use both the pocket sling and the Ergo tons…
I’ve been into babywearing since my oldest was just 2 days old, but I didn’t know about the really good slings until later!
Babywearing was especially helpful for me with baby #1 because he was high needs, and also with #2 because #3 was born just 23 months later.
I started babywearing with my oldest using a bjorn. I only wore him shortly because it became uncomfortable. I stumbled upon the babywearer site while pregnant with my second and never looked back! I love all my carriers but my favorite is a ssc I made using the sweetpod pattern from Etsy. So comfy! I now have 4 kids and babywearing is a part of everyday life. In fact, I am wearing my newest baby in a ring sling as we speak
The thing I love most about babywearing, if I could pick something specific, is the way it allows for freedom to move and go but still keeps us lovingly attached to the people who love so much. A beautiful walk down memory lane, Stephanie!
My husband’s favorite is the native carrier, my favorite is the Maya Wrap, the pocket on the tail fits keys and paci, the tail itself is an excellent breastfeeding cover.
ive baby carried, but now i find it too hard, it strains my pelvic floor and pelvic bone. the baby also blocks me having a good view of the other kids as we walk down the street, and i feel like i am less able to move around eg. if a kid falls its hard to bend down to them when wearing baby. i guess if it was easier i would do it more…