A Mommy Story

Today I was happy to read this article on the NY Times web site. It discusses the trend of babywearing in New York City, describing a “try-on” party being held in a sandwich shop to let parents try out new types of baby carriers.

While not an expert on the subject, I happen to know quite a bit about babywearing and I love seeing positive news about it. When Cordelia was born she was, um, not a happy baby. A shrieking banshee is how I described her, I think. She refused to come out and greet the world (full breech requiring c-section), and once she was yanked out unceremoniously to a cold, harsh world, she made her feelings well known.

The first week at home was a nightmare. There was crying, there was wailing, there was thrashing – and that was just me. Cordy was determined to prove to us that we were the Worst People Ever for taking her from her warm womb. We were given a ring sling from a friend of mine who sews slings. She made her first one as a response to having a first child much like mine, and from there decided that all the new parents she knew must have one. Bless her.

We used the sling the first week, and oh, how it helped! Along with tight swaddling (we love our nurses for teaching us this!), our colicky daughter loved being held tight up against my body in the sling. I could walk around the house, and to her it was just like old times, complete with hearing my heartbeat, feeling my warmth, and being swayed by the same movement as before. Aaron and I would take turns wearing her, walking around the living room, gently bouncing up and down on an exercise ball – anything to quiet her down and make her feel more at home.

I read up on the use of slings, including the wisdom of Dr. Sears (like Dr. Spock, only crunchier), and realized that there was actual research to back up the use of these things. The NY Times article mentions this:

Aside from using the fabric as a fashionable way to feature their infants, who are, after all, the most winning fashion accessories imaginable, they saw baby-wearing as a wise, age-old practice. Babies who are worn by their parents cry less and are more engaged in the world around them, according to experts on raising children.

People, listen to me: screw fashion. Pay attention to the last part of that quote, because that’s the nugget of Truth. Cordelia lived in that sling at least 4-6 hours a day during her first three months. Without it, I don’t think I could have survived. Or at least not without far stronger antidepressants than they were already giving me.

As she got older, we needed the sling far less, although it was still a very convenient way to travel. If I was running errands, it was much easier to throw on the sling and put her in it at each stop, rather than lug the SUV stroller out of the trunk each time. I could also get things done around the house without the worry of her waking up the second I set her down (and she was so good at popping open those eyes the second she touched the cotton sheet).

The ring sling also gave Aaron extra bonding time with Cordy. Hollywood be damned: there’s nothing sexier than a man wearing a baby. OK, maybe a man wearing a baby doing dishes.

As Cordy got older, we started trying some other carriers. She never liked the Bjorn or the Snugli, so we sold them. I bought an asian-style Mei Tai, and that worked very well once she was sitting up and more mobile. It can be worn either on your front or back. I preferred the backpack style.

I also bought a Mei Hip carrier. I love these things! It’s a lot like the Playtex Hip Hammock. It has a single strap that goes across you, a strap around your waist, and the baby sits in a fabric seat at your hip. Very comfortable, very easy to use. It also helps that I’ve got, ahem, “good” hips for carrying a baby like that. The Mei Hip saves my arms from tiring at least.

My only complaint with the NY Times article is that it is far too short and doesn’t have enough information. The author briefly covers the topic, but other than the one passage I quoted, doesn’t even begin to cover all of the benefits of babywearing. I will happily sing the praises of babywearing to any who will listen. Hell, I even got myself quoted in Parents magazine.

If you’re interested in learning more about babywearing, or seeing the research that the NY Times refers to, I’d suggest checking out TheBabywearer.com or Nine in Nine Out. They can give you information on the different types of baby carriers, match up which carrier is right for you, and you can find support from other moms and dads who believe in babywearing.

*This Public Service Announcement brought to you by a happy babywearing mommy. Oh, and the letter Y and the number 4.