All About Babywearing - Recently Updated Pages

Babywearing in cold weather

Beth323 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:59:30 CDT

Wearing your baby in a carrier during the colder months of the year can prove to be a bit tricky, but with a few helpful tips you can easily continue babywearing year round.

When choosing a carrier to wear consider:

Style of the carrier – some carrier styles provide more coverage that will keep both parent and baby warm.
Carrier fabric – heavier weight fabrics such as fleece are a great option for winter babywearing.
Ease of Use – being able to quickly adjust and put your baby in the carrier important because you don’t want to expose your little one to the cold for too long.

Make babywearing warm and comfortable for both of you by dressing you and your baby in layers. When planning your layers be sure to keep in mind that both you and your baby will benefit from each other’s body heat as well as the extra layer of fabric from the carrier. If either of you become warm during the day simply remove a layer of clothing or two.

On days when it’s windy or snowy out, you’ll likely want to wear a coat over the carrier. Don’t attempt to wear a carrier over your coat. Doing so can interfere how well you are able to secure the carrier. When it comes to choosing a coat or jacket, you can wear a coat that is one size larger than what you would normally wear. Doing so will allow the coat to keep both you and your little one warm. Though some parents prefer to wear outwear that is specifically designed for babywearing like a babywearing coat or babywearing fleece vest. These garments are designed to be worn by the parent and in conjunction with your favorite carrier. Babywearing coats and vests do not replace your carrier.

Babywearing in specific situatons

Beth323 — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 14:59:12 CDT

Nonprofit Babywearing Groups

crystalann77 — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 08:22:31 CDT

Babywearing groups bring babywearers together. Typically, veteran babywearers help new babywearers learn to use different kinds of slings. Some groups are outreach-oriented, some are more social in nature. Add your group! (HINT: Right click in the table to add rows, etc.) Nonprofit groups only, please. (This does not mean you have to be a "registered charity" or otherwise have your nonprofit status officially recognized by a government agency. It just means that you have to be nonprofit.)

Babywearing Groups in the United States, by State

Location and Group Name	Group Information
Alabama
Birmingham, Magic City Slingers	Website Blog An outreach-oriented group where newcomers are always welcome. Meets monthly on the first Wednesday of the month. Meetings are always free and open to any interested parent or caregiver. Group has occasional walks, hikes, picnics and other outings. Optional memberships are offered at $20 for the first year and $15 per year thereafter. Members may borrow baby carriers, books and DVDs from the group's extensive lending library.
Cullman, Cullman City Slingers	Website Blog A new group meeting every 1st Monday at Woodland Hospital Professional building's 1st floor conference room at 11am. Food and drink allowed. Each meeting will have a set topic theme then feel free to ask for help with any other carrier.
California
Bay Area Babywearers, Inc. (San Francisco Bay Area)	Website South Bay Meeting: 2nd Tuesday of the month, 10:30am-12:30pm East Bay Meeting: 3rd Saturday of the month, 11:00am-1:00pm Other gatherings and events at various times and in various places Join our Yahoo group for locations and other information, and for access to our lending library
Missouri
Springfield, Greater Ozarks BabyWearers	Website (under redevelopment) Email Babywearing is beneficial for you and your baby. We can help find a carrier that works for you. Join us at one of our monthly meetings or occasional outings to learn more. Currently we are meeting on the first Thursday of each month, 5:00-7:00 p.m. at Cox South.

North Carolina
Chapel Hill and Raleigh, Triangle BabyWearers	Website Need help learning how to use a carrier? Want to borrow a carrier to see what type works best for you? Join our group and we can help! Meetings are held monthly in Chapel Hill and Raleigh.
Pennsylvania
Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley Babywearers	Website Meetings are on the 1st and 3rd Tuesdays of the month at 11am. Parents (including expectant ones) and caregivers are welcome to come and try out our carriers or show off your own! Join our Yahoo group for more meeting info.

Babywearing Groups in Canada

Babywearing Groups in the United Kingdom

Babywearing Groups in Europe

France. Brest. Brittany . A Portee de Bisous	free babywearing individual lessons, soon also free workshops at the maternity unit of Keraudren. I can go to your place if you are a new mom or expecting a baby and having difficulties to travel. Large baby carrier library so you can try many different carriers and borrow some too, just leave a deposit or proof of identity. website and email. Phone: 0298459018. No selling, no advertising. Peau-a-Peau trained educator: Marianne Scourzic

Babywearing Groups in Australia and New Zealand

Babywearing Groups in Brazil

Babywearing Groups in...

Podaegis/Podegis

kalohabreeze — Tue, 15 Apr 2008 13:46:51 CDT

Podegi (literally means baby carrier in Korean)

Traditionally, a podegi is a Korean baby carrier that consists of a wide blanket with two straight straps on either side with the weight mostly held on the torso. The modern podegi has a narrow blanket with either straight or angled straps and can be worn as a torso or a two shouldered carry. These carriers require more of a learning curve than Mei Tai, but with time they can be an even faster and more convenient way to carry your child. One reason for this I find is that you don’t have an extra set of straps to pre tie which allows you to hold a fussy baby and strap them on w/o having to set them down.

An example of a traditional podegi shown here the torso carry-

An example of a modern podegi used in a two shoulder front carry-

Videos and slideshows

kalohabreeze — Tue, 08 Apr 2008 13:55:01 CDT

If you're new to babywearing, these videos and slideshows can give you a better idea of what it's all about. Enjoy!

The Magic City Slingers slideshow.

Local TV news story about Magic City Slingers, a babywearing group in Birmingham, Alabama.

Local TV coverage of Winnepeg Babywearers, including a fashion show:

Baby Carriers and How To Use Them

SusieSlings — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 20:19:05 CDT

For more detailed information about a particular type of baby carrier, as well as instructions for different ways to use it, refer to the subpages for that carrier. If you have instructions to share, please add them to an appropriate subpage or create an appropriate subpage for them.

There are several different general classes of fabric baby carriers:

1. Pouch slings. A pouch is a tube of fabric with a curved seam. It is worn over one shoulder like a ring sling, but there is no size adjustment to make after putting it on. (Some pouches are adjustable, to fit a range of sizes; most are fitted to a particular size.) Many people find pouches to be very easy to learn to use. Hotslings has photo and video instructions, as does Slinglings.

2. Ring slings. When most people think of baby slings, they think of ring slings. These popular slings adjust by pulling a tail of fabric through two rings. There are many different styles of ring slings, from the heavily padded to the totally unpadded, and from casual cotton to silk shantung. Here’s a link to the instructions, including video instructions, from MayaWrap. There is a useful list of photo dos and don’ts on Zolowear’s troubleshooting page. Here’s a link to the YouTube video instructions from Sakura Bloom; here’s a link to the video instructions from Oopa Baby. Here’s a link to a printable page of photo instructions in .pdf format from Peppermint, an internet sling store, for the tummy to tummy carry in a ring sling, plus nursing in a ring sling and threading a ring sling. Last, but not least, here's a clip from the Tummy 2 Tummy DVD showing how to do the tummy to tummy position in a ring sling.

3. Asian-style baby carriers. Commonly called ABC's, these carriers feature two or four straps that wrap and tie. A popular type of ABC is a mei tai (say ”may tie”), which has a body, two long shoulder straps, and two shorter waist straps. Mei tais work well for front and back carries, and hip carries are also possible. Kozy Carrier has great illustrated instructions, as does FreeHand Baby Carriers. Other types of ABC's include onbuhimos - which, instead of waist straps, have rings or loops through which the long shoulder straps are threaded - and podegis, bei beis and Hmong carriers - all of which have two straps that are long enough to wrap around the adult's shoulders and also under the baby's bottom. (ABCs are sometimes also called "Asian back carriers" because the traditional versions were most often used for back carries. Modernized versions may be referred to as "Asian inspired soft carriers" or other variations on that name.)

4. Soft structured carriers, a/k/a "technical carriers" or "buckle carriers." These buckle-and-strap carriers can be considered a subset of Asian-style Baby Carriers, because the basic form is much the same (a body panel with straps), but they function differently enough to constitute a separate category in most contexts. Most soft structured carriers (SSCs) have a firmly padded waist/hip strap which distribute most of the baby's weight to the wearer's hips; other buckle carriers have unpadded or lightly padded waist straps and feel more similar to a mei tai. Here are The Ergo Lady’s instructions and tips for soft structured carriers.

5. Long wraps aka wraparound slings. A wrap is a piece of cloth with no buckles, snaps, or straps, that’s infinitely adjustable and fits everyone. There are many different ways to tie a wraparound sling to carry a baby, depending on the length and width of the cloth and the body size and preferences of the person carrying the baby. Peppermint has good instructions for the basic carries, as does The Mamatoto Project.

6. Knot slings, including Mexican rebozos, shawls, and short wraparound slings. Many shawls can be used as baby slings simply by tying a knot in them. One method is to tie a slipknot in the sling so that it is fully adjustable, similar to a ring sling. Elly's rebozo instructions are a great resource for this method as well as many others. If the slipknot still slips after you tighten it, your shawl doesn’t work for this technique. Don’t worry, there are other ways to carry a baby in a shawl! Here are some instructions from The Mamatoto Project.

7. Pareos, including African kangas and even beach towels, which are sometimes used as torso carriers. Mamatoto has instructions for a torso (no-shoulder) back carry as well as a one-shoulder pouch carry.

For a random collection of instruction links, both in pictures and videos: on this blog. Please feel free to edit this note and to put the different links found on the website in any of the categories above.

Special needs

brumarena — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:12:20 CDT

carrying twins or more than one baby

http://www.alongfortheride.biz/Articles.asp?ID=264
http://www.thebabywearer.com/articles/HowToO/Twins.htm http://www.thebabywearer.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=59 http://www.kangarookorner.com/choose.aspx?t=chooseTwins http://members.aol.com/ljcblue/twins.htm http://www.betterbabysling.co.uk/slcarry5.html http://zolowear.blogspot.com/2007/01/twin-carries.html http://www.gypsymama.com/colorbooklet.pdf http://www.babyheaven.se/info/knyta/backpack_twins.htm http://www.babyheaven.se/info/knyta/xomslut_twins.htm
and have a look at this clever video: http://my.videoegg.com/video/fsyPoZ http://www.mayawrap.com/video/toddlerandnewborn_popup.html

emergency babywearing (in video)

emergency baby carriers, what can you use? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5uqoZcFZnKA&feature=related
sweat pants: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bq2KD-dBY6M&feature=related
shirt: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zUXGnQ53zhE&feature=related
towel: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N8-uWIf9qL0&feature=related
awesome!!

babywearing while you are pregnant

You can do a rucksack, tied under baby's bum instead of crossing under her bum and bring it back to the front. Or a no-tie rucksack, tied really high as shown in this link: http://www.portersonenfant.fr/kangouroudossansnoeud.pdf.
A classical rucksack, Tibetan tie, is shown here with beautiful photos: http://forum.doctissimo.fr/grossesse-bebe/Mamans-nature/comment-porter-enceinte-sujet_4592_1.htm
There are multiple possibilities. For example the BWCC (back wrap cross carry), but tied in front, Tibetan style, as in the link above.

Breastfeeding while babywearing

brumarena — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 10:04:08 CDT

Many breastfeeding mothers find that, with a little practice, they can easily breastfeed while babywearing.

SAFETY NOTE: A baby carrier can help a breastfeeding mother hold her nursling more comfortably and it can also provide some privacy for nursing in company; however, the mother must still pay constant attention to her breastfeeding baby. Of the reported cases of infants suffocating during breastfeeding, at least one infant died of suffocation in connection with breastfeeding in a sling. (See Instructive Case: Delayed infant death following catastrophic deterioration during breastfeeding, J. Paediatr. Child Health (2005) 41, 215-217 (stating that the mother was breastfeeding her infant in a sling while shopping).

Here is a list of links which will show you how to nurse in a carrier:

1.nursing in a front wrap cross carry:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=z7y8xEQB-xY
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=ytCv_ZEWf8E
http://site.peppermint.com/instructions/kangaroocare_wrap.pdf
http://www.gypsymama.com/colorbooklet.pdf
2.nursing in a simple cross carry, stretchy wrap: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=hXcmNPD68MU
3.nursing in a sling:
- cradle position:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=XCIgzjJjAT4&feature=related
http://site.theslingstation.com/video/kc_rs_fullinstruct.mov
http://site.peppermint.com/instructions/kangaroocare_ringsling.pdf
http://site.peppermint.com/TMTSlingWearingInstructions.htm
- hip position: http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=uUi3PdcVqiQ&feature=related
4.nursing in a double sling (would do for a double pouch too): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UG0vfnfSy-U&feature=related
5.nursing in a pouch:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=0Lt4bUElNS8&feature=related
http://www.theslingstation.com/hsnursing.html
6.nursing in a soft structured carrier:
http://fr.youtube.com/watch?v=6gw9pI-QrrQ&feature=related
http://www.ergobabycarrier.com/media/flash/front_nursing.swf

DIY Projects

brumarena — Sat, 15 Mar 2008 09:55:04 CDT

The baby crafts page at Sleeping Baby Productions includes a selective collection of tested instructions for making a variety of baby carriers.

The "make a carrier" pages at The Mamatoto Project include instructions for no-sew baby carriers as well as sewing projects. The Mamatoto instructions for making a no-sew wrap have enabled many people to begin babywearing immediately.

The blog of the Magic City Slingers includes instructions for a no-sew fleece poncho to use while babywearing; it works for front carries or back carries.

The Christmas Eve Twins blog has a tutorial for sewing a luxurious, "Scandinavian-style" mei tai.

Mag-knits has instructions for a simple knitted cool-weather cover called "Seaweed" that works with your own coat.

Gypsy Mama has instructions for a super-simple no-sew fleece babywearing poncho.

A Portee de bisous has a large collection of links for DIY babywearing items, carriers, clothes etc:DIY category

Babywearing Organizations and Events

SusieSlings — Sat, 23 Feb 2008 13:10:45 CST

There are many babywearing groups that provide help and support for people interested in babywearing. Also, there are occasional conferences and expos. Refer to the subpages for more information.

Nonprofit Babywearing Groups
Babywearing International, Inc.
Babywearing Conference

Ethnic and traditional babywearing

SusieSlings — Sat, 26 Jan 2008 17:16:43 CST

If you have some original content on this topic to add to the wiki, please do so!

Here's the Rebozo Way Project slideshow of indigenous babywearing.

Here's a great flickr.com slideshow featuring ethnic baby carriers around the world.

About Babywearing

SusieSlings — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:22:54 CST

You may notice that the navigation section on the left of the screen shows a hierarchy. The "About Babywearing" section is for general information about babywearing, including benefits and safety.

Information about and instructions for using baby carriers are found in the "Types of Slings and Baby Carriers" section.

All About This Wiki

SusieSlings — Fri, 18 Jan 2008 12:41:55 CST

A wiki is a collaborative website. Users can edit and contribute content easily.

Creating a Babywearing Encyclopedia ... together

All About Babywearing is a wiki about ... you guessed it ... babywearing. "Babywearing" is the practice of using a soft carrier to hold a baby close to you. This wiki is a place for babywearers to share useful and interesting information about babywearing with one another and with the world. You can edit and add pages ... that's what a wiki is all about! For example, if you have some good instructions for how to do a certain carry with a wrap, you can add a page for that carry. The goal is to create a babywearing encyclopedia to serve as a reference for people looking for information about babywearing.

Discussion Forum

You can start or reply to discussion threads on any page. For example, if you have a question about how someone tied the sling on a how-to page, you can start a thread and ask, and others can reply with any information they have. This process can help improve pages. To see all the discussion threads, just click on the "Discussion Forum" button on the left side of the screen.

Some Guidelines

This wiki is not a place to promote specific brands of slings. For example, it is inappropriate to add or edit a page to state or imply that Brand X mei tai is the best mei tai. Adding or editing a page so that it works as an advertisement for a sling is not allowed. Discussion of brands in discussion threads is allowed. If that's your interest, you should check out the very active and comprehensive discussion forum at TheBabyWearer.

This wiki is also not a place to promote or denigrate any parenting styles or parenting practices except, of course, that this wiki promotes babywearing. Please stay on the topic of babywearing.

Please note that the Wetpaint terms of use (which you agree to when you sign up as a user), as well as copyright law, prohibit your posting any content that you do not have the right to post. So, don't copy content from other places, and don't post photos or videos, unless, of course, you hold the copyright or have permission from the copyright holder.

In general, deleting, editing, or adding content in a way that is contrary to the goal of creating a babywearing encyclopedia is not allowed, and the wiki admins will deal with such vandalism in any way they find appropriate and within the bounds of the law.

Babywearing Conference

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:55:59 CST

YOU can add to this page!

Babywearing in Books

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:55:35 CST

YOU can add to this page!

Babywearing International, Inc.

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 15:44:42 CST

Babywearing International, Inc. ("BWI"), was incorporated in July 2007 to serve as a central organization to support local babywearing groups and also to directly promote babywearing. You can learn more about BWI at its website. BWI projects include, among other things, International Babywearing Week (November 12-18, 2008).

BWI's Mission Statement:

Babywearing International Inc. is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote babywearing as a universally accepted practice, with benefits for both child and caregiver, through education and support.

BWI's Goals:

1. To provide information about the benefits of babywearing for children and caregivers.

2. To foster the creation of a global network of peer educators to support and encourage those interested in babywearing.

3. To provide the highest standard education about the types of carriers and their proper usage.

4. To provide ongoing support for babywearing educators.

5. To develop a postive image for those who practice and promote babywearing.

6. To enlist members of the medical community, birth professionals, and child care providers as babywearing facilitators.

7. To further advancements in research about the benefits of babywearing and babywearing techniques.

8. To be a resource for researchers and other professionals who are looking for evidence-based information about babywearing.

BWI's Vision Statements:

We envision a world in which babywearing is a natural part of child-rearing.

Babywearing International Inc. will serve as a central organization through which babywearing educators and advocates will collaborate to share resources and coordinate activities to promote babywearing. Peer educators will find that Babywearing International’s group leader development materials help them maximize their ability to teach babywearing. Members will use Babywearing International as a resource to obtain easily understood information about babywearing practices and benefits. Through Babywearing International’s professional outreach programs, members of the medical community, birth professionals, and child care providers will understand how and why babywearing is a powerfully beneficial technique for parents and caregivers, and they will refer their clients to Babywearing International and its affiliated groups. Babywearing International’s research as well as its position statements concerning the benefits of babywearing will be reported in media around the world.

Babywearing in fine art

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:21:26 CST

Remember to link, not frame, copyrighted works (unless, of course, you own the copyright).

Our Babywearing World

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:21:06 CST

Babywearing is all around! This section is for information about traditional use of baby carriers in various cultures, babywearing in the news, babywearing in art, and other interesting babywearing information that goes beyond the basics or how-to information.

Benefits of Babywearing

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:13:30 CST

These days, places to put your baby abound. Beyond the old standbys of cribs and high chairs, parents can now purchase a bouncer seat, infant swing, playpen, activity mat, Exercauser, jumper, Bumbo sitter, and a stroller system with the removable infant car seat.

So do you truly need a baby carrier? Or is it just one more thing to buy, right up there with the wipes warmer? After all, in your grandmother’s day, experts warned against holding a baby between feedings.
Today, though, medical professionals agree that infants thrive through touch. Holding your baby is an obvious way to meet this need. While the resurgence in baby carrying is a fairly recent development in Europe and North America, baby carrying is an everyday practice among most of the world’s population. You could even say that the carrier is the world’s first baby gear: mothers have been using them for thousands of years, carrying their children in animal skins before cloth was available.

Here’s a closer look at the benefits:

Advantages to the Baby

· At six weeks, the peak of infant fussiness, babies who are frequently carried cry 43% less than babies of the same age who are carried less often.1 Furthermore, babies who cry less in the first year of life also cry less in the second.

· Holding a baby reduces the stress hormones and adrenaline in his blood stream. In fact, carriers are sometimes included in the treatment for infants who were exposed to drugs in utero, to reduce irritability.

· Babies carried throughout the day have optimal opportunity to develop social skills. They encounter adults and observe facial expressions at eye level. They witness interactions without the stress of being at the center of attention themselves.

· Carrying a baby develops a baby’s balance through stimulation of the vestibular system. After years observing a “babywearing” tribe in South America, anthropologist Jean Liedloff argues that frequently-held babies grow into more agile adults who experience less vertigo.2

· Regularly-carried babies develop trunk control at a faster rate for sitting, standing, and walking.

· Frequently-held babies eat better and grow at a faster rate.3 Studies of full-term infants in orphanages and pre-term babies in hospitals have shown a positive correlation between how often (or rarely) a baby is touched and how quickly (or slowly) a baby grows.

· Pre-term babies who are frequently held have fewer breathing problems.4

· Low-birthweight babies who are held often leave the hospital sooner and have fewer infections on average than other low-birthweight babies.5

· Carrying a baby helps meet her need for motion. The studies of Drs. William Mason and Gershon Berkson revealed that monkeys given a “swinging” cloth mother surrogate had fewer social abnormalities than those monkeys given a stationary cloth mother surrogate.

· Keeping an infant physically close promotes attachment between baby and caregiver. Though it was once believed that too frequent contact between an infant and his mother would “spoil the child,” the studies of John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth showed that an infant who is “securely attached” to his primary caregiver is more likely to have healthy relationships with others as an older child and adult. The studies of Harry Harlow showed that social mammals bond through touch even more than through feeding.6

· Regularly-held babies spit up less frequently.

· Holding a baby in the upright position eases reflux. It limits the amount of acid able to travel up the esophagus and cause pain.

· Carrying your child gives her a better view of the world. Rather than facing the ceiling, the same walls, or even the hood of their stroller, the baby sees what you see. Imagine the difference this makes for a trip to the zoo!

· Being held helps a baby to sleep more easily and for longer durations. It’s also a gentle way to help newborns organize sleep patterns, learning to distinguish day sleep (sounds, light, and motion) from night sleep (quiet, dark, and still).

Advantages to Caregivers

· Held babies are content. With the help of a good carrier, you can take care of older children and do chores without frequent interruptions from an anxious or distressed infant.

· Mothers whose babies cry less have been shown to develop more confidence in their parenting skills.7

· When a baby cries less often, this means less stress for the mother, who experiences a physiological response (including a surge in heart rate and increased blood flow to her breasts) at the sound of her baby’s cry.

· Well-designed carriers distribute weight so that heavy babies are easier to hold.

· Physical closeness assists the bonding process.

· Carrying your child might allow you to be on the go during sleep times, since most babies sleep well when held.

· Carriers provide an alternative to taking that heavy infant seat out the car.

· Keeping baby close in a carrier deters strangers from touching your baby.

· Holding your baby allows for a less cumbersome stroll. Curbs pose no obstacle, and you can easily traverse terrain like stairs or trails that would be difficult to impossible with a stroller.

· Using a baby carrier makes errands easier. You don’t have to juggle the baby or a stroller at places like the bank or drug store. You can even use a carrier when grocery shopping to give you more space in the cart and protect your child from germs. The best perk? Preventing public meltdowns! Held children are happy children.

Works Cited
1 Urs Hunzkiker, MD, and Ronald Barr, MD, “Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial.” Pediatrics: Vol. 77 No.5, pp. 641-648, May 1986.
2Jean Liedloff, The Continuum Concept. Perseus Books, 1977.
3 Marie Blois, MD, Babywearing: The Benefits and Beauty of this Ancient Tradition. Pharmasoft Publishing, March 2005.
4 Diane Ackerman, Ph.D, A Natural History of the Senses. Random House, Inc., 1990.
5 Nathalie Charpak, Juan G. Ruiz-Peláez, Zita Figueroa de C, MD, and Yves Charpak, “Kangaroo Mother Versus Traditional Care for Newborn Infants <2000 Grams: A Randomized, Controlled Trial.” Pediatrics: Vol. 100 No. 4 , pp. 682-688, October 4, 1997.
6 For a physiological perspective of this issue, see Allan N. Schore, Ph.D, “Effects of a Secure Attachment on Right Brain Development.” Infant Mental Health Journal: Vol. 22, Issue 1-2, pp. 7-66, January 25, 2001.
7 Lewis A Leavett, “Mother’s Sensitivity to Infant Signals.” Pediatrics: Vol. 102 No. 5 Supplement, pp. 1247-1249, November 1998.

Babywearing Safety

SusieSlings — Sat, 12 Jan 2008 13:08:18 CST

When done properly, carrying a baby in a soft baby carrier can be safer than carrying a baby in your arms. Your carrier doesn't have muscles that become fatigued, and your carrier doesn't have arms that reflexively reach out to balance you or catch you when you fall. But, as with anything concerning babies, good safety practices are of paramount importance. Whatever carrier you choose, learn to use it properly, and always keep safety in mind. Your baby's safety is your responsibility.
A Few ABSOLUTE RULES:

Make sure your baby can breathe. Baby carriers allow parents to be hands free to do other things ... but you must always remain active in caring for your child. No baby carrier can assure that your baby always has an open airway; that's your job.

-Never allow a baby to be carried, held, or placed in such a way that his chin is curled against his chest. This rule applies to babies being held in arms, in baby carriers, in infant car seats, or in any other kind of seat or situation. This position can restrict the baby's ability to breathe. Newborns lack the muscle control to open their airways. Always check to be sure that your baby’s airway is not bent or restricted, and monitor their breathing. Newborns need good back support in carriers so that they don't slump into the chin-to-chest position. For more information, review M'Liss Stelzer's article on Correct Newborn Positioning.

-Never allow a baby's head and face to be covered with fabric. Covering a baby's head and face can cause her to "rebreathe" the same air, which is a very dangerous situation. Also, covering her head and face keeps you from being able to check on her. Always make sure your baby has plenty of airflow. Check on her frequently.

Never jog, run, or jump. Do not do any activity that subjects your baby to shaking or bouncing motion, such as jogging, running, or jumping on a trampoline. "This motion can do damage to the baby's neck, spine and/or brain," explains the American Chiropractic Association.

Never use a baby carrier when the baby should be in a car seat. Soft baby carriers provide none of the protection that car seats provide.

Use only carriers that are appropriate for your baby's age and weight. For example, frame backpacks can be useful for hiking with older babies and toddlers but are not appropriate for babies who cannot sit unassisted for extended periods of time. Front packs usually have a weight range of 8 to 20 pounds; smaller babies may slip out of the carrier, and larger babies will almost certainly cause back discomfort for the person using the carrier.

Guidelines for Everyday Safety:

Inspect your carrier regularly to assure it is sound. Check the fabric, seams, and any buckles or other fasteners. Do this every time you use it to avoid complacency. How would you feel if the pilot on your next flight didn't do his pre-flight check? Do not use a carrier unless it is structurally sound.

When using carriers out and about, check to assure that your baby is secure by using reflective surfaces such as car or store windows as mirrors, by double checking the baby's position with your hands, or by enlisting the help of another set of eyes.

If you shouldn't do it while pregnant because of an enhanced risk of falls, you shouldn't do it while carrying a baby. For example, your risk of falling increases when you climb a ladder, ride a horse, ride a bicycle, or go skating. Your risk of falling also increases on slippery surfaces like the ones you encounter when you go bowling, sailing, or spelunking. When a baby is in his mother's womb, he has built-in protection, but a baby in arms or in a carrier does not have that protection.

You’re walking for two! Avoid walking on icy surfaces. Whenever a handrail is available, use it. Be extra careful on steps and stairs. Avoid wearing things like high heels, long pants legs, thong sandals, or anything else that increases your risk of tripping.

If you should wear protective gear while doing an activity, you shouldn't do that activity while carrying a baby. Baby carriers do not provide hearing protection, eye protection, protection from projectiles such as rocks flung from a lawn mower, protection from fumes or dust such as occur during lawn mowing and some household cleaning tasks, or protection from impacts such as falling from a bicycle or a horse.

Protect your baby from the elements. Little limbs and heads may need sun protection. Don't dress your baby too warmly in the summer, and don't use a baby carrier under circumstances that cause the baby to suffer heat stress. Don't let your baby get too cold in the winter. (There are some excellent coats and ponchos designed especially for use with baby carriers, and you can also improvise or make your own.)

Be aware of your expanded girth. When carrying your baby, use extra caution negotiating revolving doors, turnstiles, sharp corners, and tight doorways (including those on public transportation). You need more personal space now to negotiate your safe passage when carrying your baby.

Be aware of what your baby can reach. In particular, be aware that a baby on your back can reach things you can't see. Think twice before using a baby carrier in a hardware store, for example.

Don't use your baby carrier as a purse. Some carriers have pockets to hold keys, wallets, and other items, but don't put loose items in the carrier with your baby that can be choking hazards, that can poke your baby, or that can cover your baby's face.

If it hurts, don’t do it. It is common to have tired muscles after carrying your baby for awhile; however, if carrying your baby with a certain carrier or in a certain position causes you pain, stop. Get professional help if you need it. The methods of carrying a baby presented in this book are designed to be comfortable; pain is a certain sign that something is wrong. Either the carrier isn’t a good fit, the baby is too heavy, you’re not doing a technique correctly, or a combination of these factors.

Other Things to Consider:

Carrying a baby in arms or in a carrier is a task for a responsible adult who can assess risk in a mature way. Here are some things to consider about specific activities.

Cooking. Carrying a baby while cooking subjects the baby to an enhanced risk of burns. A baby in arms or in a carrier is at stovetop height, and burns can occur. Reaching into a hot oven while carrying a baby similarly puts the baby at risk for burns.

Boating. While it might seem more secure to use a baby carrier to board a small boat than to carry a baby in arms, the safer practice is to have the baby wear a personal flotation device. Personal flotation devices are generally not compatible with baby carriers. Moreover, if you fell into the water, having your baby securely held to your body by a baby carrier would be a grave danger.

Safety Guidelines for Learning New Carries:

Most people easily learn front or hip carries, but when learning these carries you should still support your baby with your arm until you are confident that your baby is securely held in the carrier. Back carries are more challenging, but the reward is tremendous liberation and, for heavier babies and toddlers, greater comfort for the person carrying the child. These guidelines apply to all carries but are particularly important when learning back carries:

1. Practice with a doll or stuffed animal first. Understanding the instructions with your mind is just the first step; your body needs to understand them as well. Doing a few "dry runs" will help you build the muscle memory for doing a particular carry.

2. It is best to try a new carry with your baby when you are both well rested and generally content.

3. Use a spotter ... but only another adult who accepts the responsibility of keeping your baby from falling. The spotter must be able to catch the baby at any instant if he or she should start to fall.

4. Use a mirror.

5. Start low. Most carries can be accomplished while sitting on the floor or bed. As you build muscle memory and confidence, you can move up, next lifting your baby onto your body from a bed or chair.