Red Wellies # 7: 👶🏼 The History, Benefits & Art of Babywearing 👶🏼

If you read my recent post Red Wellies # 3: 12 Must Have Baby Items you’ll know that I own an Ergobaby 360 for wearing our baby Freyja, and you’ll also know that it’s the only way I get a lot of things done and are able to hold and nurse my baby at the same time.

Baby Freyja in her carrier - such a happy baby!

But did you know that there are benefits to both the mother and child and that women for centuries have been wearing their babies out of necessity.

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History:

Prior to the 1900s women made baby carriers out of a variety of materials, everything from long pieces of fabric, shawls and scarves to sturdier formed carriers such as the cradleboard used by Native Americans.

Each country in the world had its own carrier designed to meet the needs of the climate and the activity or work that the mother would be undertaking, with some being worn on their mothers back and some hip or front.

Examples of Inuit, Maori, Asian and Welsh baby carriers
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In some of these countries, the practice of baby wearing has sadly declined due largely in part to it being perceived as something the poor would do, and to avoid that stigma mothers turned to prams and strollers to emulate the wealthier “Americans”.

The irony is that mothers in developing countries are now more than ever emulating them by adopting the practice of babywearing.

Fast forward to the middle of the 20th century, women were told by “experts” that wearing your baby would spoil them and so they turned against their natural mothering instincts of holding their baby and keeping them close. Instead they began the practice of putting their babies in cribs and strollers, and not holding them so much in an effort to make them more independent.

Wearing your baby will not “spoil” them.

Wearing your baby will not “spoil” them. Babies thrive from being held, as a newborn they crave the bodily closeness of their mother for comfort, food and emotional development. Research has shown that lack of touch and bodily contact can actually delay a baby’s development.

Babywearing is not just for hippies.

In Hawaii 1981, Rayner Garner invented the first ring sling for his wife to wear their child, that is still the choice of many babywearers today. Fashioned from a length of fabric with two rings and padded edges, the bulk of the child’s weight rested on one shoulder and spread across the back. This was the start of the modern day babywearing movement.

Ray Garner
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Benefits:

Dr. William Sears, renowned US doctor and author of numerous pregnancy and baby books, sees the art of babywearing as an extension of the womb and that is has many benefits to both the mother and child. Following this statement, numerous studies have confirmed this.

• Happy Babies
  According to a study in the “Journal of Pediatrics”, babies who are carried cry 43% less than babies who aren’t worn. When babies aren’t sleeping they are in a state of “quiet alert” and are ready to interact with those around them. They are content and can see what’s going on in their environment.

• Healthy Babies
  When a newborn baby is worn in a carrier, they are in synch with the rhythm of their mother’s breathing, heartbeat, and her movements - walking, bending, and reaching. This helps them to regulate their own physical responses and recreates the feeling of being safe and in the womb.

Baby wearing also stimulates the infant’s vestibular system, the parts of the inner ear that work like levels or sensors to control the body’s sense of balance. The stimulation "helps babies breathe and grow better, regulates their physiology, and improves motor development" (Sears and Sears 2001) This applies to both full-term and premature babies.

• Breastfeeding
  if you are breastfeeding, baby wearing allows you to nurse more frequently and respond to baby’s hunger cues immediately. Because a shorter time occurs between feedings, baby gains more weight as the fat content is higher in your milk.

If you are babywearing in public, the privacy offered by the carrier can make it less noticeable if you’re self-conscious about nursing.

It’s easy to adjust clothing and baby’s position in the carrier and offer them the breast and continue what you were doing.

• Confident Parents
  Having our babies close gives us confidence as a parent to read their cues and address their wants quickly. Becoming finely attuned to their needs a lot faster than if the baby wasn’t being carried, whether this is being hungry, bored, or wet. All this is communicated without having to cry through their movements and gestures.

• Loving Caregivers
  Baby carriers are a great way for parents, family members and caregivers to bond with a new baby or child. The baby becomes used to their heartbeat, facial expression, movement and voice and forms a stronger attachment. When the baby fusses or is scared they can receive instant reassurance. Cuddling in the baby carrier is a great way to get to know each other.

• Comfort and Convenience
  Carriers can free you up to take care of older children or do chores without frequent interruptions from an anxious or distressed infant and helps to reduce sibling rivalry. Your baby does not need constant face-to-face stimulation from you, just the reassurance that you are there.

Carriers will also save your arms and go where strollers can’t or when you don’t want to use one. Climbing stairs, hiking, grocery shopping and navigating crowded facilities such as an airport or train station, airports all can be done with ease when you’re practicing babywearing.

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Options:

Since the development of the initial “ring sling” in the late 1980s, manufacturers have designed a variety of different carriers to meet the needs of today’s babywearer. Wraps, Ring Slings, Pouch Slings, Meh Dais, or Buckle/Soft Structured Carriers are the typical types of carrier that area available.

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Wraps

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The beautiful fabrics used in many wraps make them a simply gorgeous choice of baby carrier and lack of hardware means that they are infinitely adjustable to meet the needs of different sized wearers.

They are also the most traditional and simplest form of carrier and can be used to carry an infant, toddler, or child in a variety of positions including front, hip, and depending on the material, back carries.

Unlike some other types of carrier, the use of a wrap carrier takes a good deal of practice and can initially be intimidating.

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Ring Sling

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The ring sling is made from a roughly two-meter-long (6.5’) piece of fabric with a pair of metal or nylon rings securely attached to the end. The tail end of the sling is threaded through the rings and adjusted to the wearers body. The weight of the child in the carrier secures the rings against slipping.

As with “wraps”, ring slings are available in a variety of fabrics, colors and patterns and are suitable from newborns to toddlers.

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Pouch Sling

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A pouch sling works in the same way as a ring sling and is made from a fabric tube. Since it has no hardware, it’s not adjustable. For the sake of safety and comfort of the wearer, pouch slings need to be properly fitted and cannot be shared. Easy to use and inexpensive, they’re great to stash in your diaper bag.

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Meh Dai

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The Chinese meh dai (pronounced “may tie”) carriers are made from an often beautiful, panel of fabric with two short waist straps and two longer shoulder straps. The straps are padded or very wide to provide extra comfort for the wearer.

As they do not have hardware and are tied each time, creating a custom fit, they can be shared easily between wearers. Used from birth to toddler, as with “wraps” you need to learn how to tie them to carry your child in front, back, and on the hip.

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Buckle Carriers or Soft structured carriers (SSCs)

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Soft structured carriers are the most popular style of baby carrier in the market today. They are ergonomically designed, comfortable to wear and can be adjusted to fit different caregivers easily. Depending on the brand, they may have pockets, sleep-hoods, adjustable seats or offer an infant insert.

They are easy to put on much like a backpack and can be used for front – inward and outward facing, back and sometimes hip carries. Unlike “Wraps” or “Meh Dai’s” there is practically no learning curve.

Again, like other carriers, they can be used from birth to toddler.

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Considerations:

When purchasing a baby carrier, ask yourself the following questions:

1. How long do you plan on babywearing?
   Some carriers can be used from birth to toddlerhood
2. Who will use the carrier?
   Some carriers can be adjusted to fit multiple users, whilst others are made for specific heights and weights
3. What is your budget?
   Prices can range from around $30 - $200 for a new carrier
   If purchasing secondhand, ensure that there is no damage to the carrier

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After having 5 kids, I’m no stranger to trying the different options for babywearing and you should consider the various carriers available and your needs before settling on one. Even then you may decide to change carriers as your needs change.

Starting with baby #2 and after much research and tying of different carriers, we settled on an original Ergo which is a “soft structured carrier” and loved it.

That was 14 years ago and so for Baby Freyja we registered for the updated version, Ergobaby 360 and infant insert and we’re thrilled with the decision. As with most newborns, Freyja wants to be held all the time and the Ergo is an arm saver and allows me to love, nurse, cuddle her and get a few things done around the house.

Despite having a forth c-section the Ergobaby is very comfortable over the incision area and can be adjusted to be worn by anyone in the family from Daddy [6’2”] to Grandma [5’6”]. I highly recommend the Ergo and infant insert to allow wearing of babe from birth and if I could only choose one baby item, it would be this over a stroller any day. Currently Freyja is worn in the “facing in” position, but soon will also be able to face out. This carrier can also be used on the hip and back.

I have tried the beautiful and traditional “wraps” but just couldn’t come to grips with all that fabric. There are some “pre-tied” ones available now, but after using the Ergo previously that was the way to go for us.

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Freyja is in the carrier for most of her day unless she’s having tummy time, I’m showering, we’re playing or reading a book. She naps in it during the day and nurses from there too. She’s worn when I’m cooking, cleaning including vacuuming and other household chores. Out grocery shopping and going for walks. I work from home so whether I’m at my Mac for work or blogging, she’s right there with me too.

Freyja and I working in my office

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Remember, you don’t need to begin babywearing at birth, you can start at any age with a toddler and yes, even a preschooler. It’s never too late to have this closeness with your child.

Besides milk, what babies want and need most is human contact - to be close to those who love them.

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Original content by @redwellies

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