What is babywearing? What is babywearing consultancy? What is a peer supporter? What is a sling meet? And then all the slings and carriers? Do you need more answers? OK. Are you ready?
"Babywearing simply means holding or carrying a baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier. Holding babies is natural and universal; baby carriers make it easier and more comfortable, allowing parents and caregivers to hold or carry their children while attending to the daily tasks of living. Babywearing helps a new dad put a fussy newborn to sleep. It allows a new mom use both hands to make a sandwich. It lets an experienced parent or caregiver carry a baby on her back and wash the dishes, do the laundry, take a hike, or weed the garden, all while keeping the baby safe and content.
Babywearing is a Skill
There are many baby carriers on the market. However, a commercial baby carrier is not necessary for babywearing. Many people use simple pieces of cloth to safely and comfortably carry their babies. Additionally, there is a learning curve with any baby product, including commercial baby carriers. Parents and caregivers often benefit from thinking of babywearing as a skill they can learn, rather than as the result of a product they can buy. Many babywearing techniques can be learned in just a few minutes. Some techniques, such as carrying a baby on your back, take more time and practice to master, but the extra effort is rewarded with liberation and increased comfort."
Source: Babywearing International
A babywearing consultant will help you learn the techniques you need to know and find your own path, your own carrier or sling.
The consultant will offer you sessions to talk through every question you might have and those ones that you do not yet know that you have them. A consultant is trained to teach and ideally a babywearer herself/himself, too. He/she is able to identify the best technique suitable for you.
A peer supporter is trained to know all the slings and carriers and will be able to advise you about the slings but is not trained to teach you advanced techniques.
A sling meet is a gathering of people who are most probably babywearers and/or would like to know more about babywearing and who enjoy meeting like-minded people.
What is the difference between a sling and a mei tai? What does it mean: full buckle? What does it mean that I should wrap my baby? What is the best sling for me? Read more about it by clicking here.
"Babywearing simply means holding or carrying a baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier. Holding babies is natural and universal; baby carriers make it easier and more comfortable, allowing parents and caregivers to hold or carry their children while attending to the daily tasks of living. Babywearing helps a new dad put a fussy newborn to sleep. It allows a new mom use both hands to make a sandwich. It lets an experienced parent or caregiver carry a baby on her back and wash the dishes, do the laundry, take a hike, or weed the garden, all while keeping the baby safe and content.
Babywearing is a Skill
There are many baby carriers on the market. However, a commercial baby carrier is not necessary for babywearing. Many people use simple pieces of cloth to safely and comfortably carry their babies. Additionally, there is a learning curve with any baby product, including commercial baby carriers. Parents and caregivers often benefit from thinking of babywearing as a skill they can learn, rather than as the result of a product they can buy. Many babywearing techniques can be learned in just a few minutes. Some techniques, such as carrying a baby on your back, take more time and practice to master, but the extra effort is rewarded with liberation and increased comfort."
Source: Babywearing International
A babywearing consultant will help you learn the techniques you need to know and find your own path, your own carrier or sling.
The consultant will offer you sessions to talk through every question you might have and those ones that you do not yet know that you have them. A consultant is trained to teach and ideally a babywearer herself/himself, too. He/she is able to identify the best technique suitable for you.
A peer supporter is trained to know all the slings and carriers and will be able to advise you about the slings but is not trained to teach you advanced techniques.
A sling meet is a gathering of people who are most probably babywearers and/or would like to know more about babywearing and who enjoy meeting like-minded people.
What is the difference between a sling and a mei tai? What does it mean: full buckle? What does it mean that I should wrap my baby? What is the best sling for me? Read more about it by clicking here.
Blogs and webpages to read more
http://www.slingababy.co.uk/#!resources/c13he
The Slingababy resources
http://www.slingpages.co.uk/
The Slingpages - you will find everything you need about sling professionals, vendors, manufacturers. This is the Yellow Pages of the sling world.
http://sheffieldslingsurgery.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/sling-safety-with-young-babies/
Babywearing safety
http://southlondonslings.co.uk/sling-info/choosing-a-baby-carrier/
How to choose a carrier
http://www.closeenoughtokiss.co.uk/babywearing-t-i-c-k-s/
The importance of sling safety
http://parentsinandaroundderby.weebly.com
The Attachment Parenting Group in Derby
The Slingababy resources
http://www.slingpages.co.uk/
The Slingpages - you will find everything you need about sling professionals, vendors, manufacturers. This is the Yellow Pages of the sling world.
http://sheffieldslingsurgery.wordpress.com/2014/04/04/sling-safety-with-young-babies/
Babywearing safety
http://southlondonslings.co.uk/sling-info/choosing-a-baby-carrier/
How to choose a carrier
http://www.closeenoughtokiss.co.uk/babywearing-t-i-c-k-s/
The importance of sling safety
http://parentsinandaroundderby.weebly.com
The Attachment Parenting Group in Derby
Books I loved reading recently
Two Thousand Kisses a Day - Gentle Parenting Through the Ages and Stages, L.R. Knost - A Little Hearts Handbook
How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk - Adele Faber and Elaine MazlishKangaroo Care, The best you can do to help your preterm infant - Susan M. Ludington - Hoe, Ph.D with Susan K. Golant
The Attachment Parenting Book - William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N.
How to talk so kids will listen and listen so kids will talk - Adele Faber and Elaine MazlishKangaroo Care, The best you can do to help your preterm infant - Susan M. Ludington - Hoe, Ph.D with Susan K. Golant
The Attachment Parenting Book - William Sears, M.D., Martha Sears, R.N.
Learn more...
Birth - before and after
How can a babywearing consultant help you through the last weeks of pregnancy and the first weeks with your newborn?
Pregnant wrapping
It is possible to use a wrap for labour and birth. Even before the birth, a wrap can help you increase your comfort and "carry" your belly. Use these techniques at the end of a long day. Do not wrap your bump all the time, let your muscles do their own part, too. :)
"This illustration shows one way that the wrap can be used to support the pregnant belly similarly to how I descried it above, but in this case, the support is to give the mum-to-be support in her third trimester, to easy the pains and weight of her now large belly, and could be especially advantageous to mothers of twins with twin sized bellies! Many mums feel that wrapping the belly after baby is born can be very beneficial to helping the post-partum body to most quickly regain full health and the closest pre-pregnancy appearance." Read more by clicking here.
How can a babywearing consultant help you through the last weeks of pregnancy and the first weeks with your newborn?
Pregnant wrapping
It is possible to use a wrap for labour and birth. Even before the birth, a wrap can help you increase your comfort and "carry" your belly. Use these techniques at the end of a long day. Do not wrap your bump all the time, let your muscles do their own part, too. :)
"This illustration shows one way that the wrap can be used to support the pregnant belly similarly to how I descried it above, but in this case, the support is to give the mum-to-be support in her third trimester, to easy the pains and weight of her now large belly, and could be especially advantageous to mothers of twins with twin sized bellies! Many mums feel that wrapping the belly after baby is born can be very beneficial to helping the post-partum body to most quickly regain full health and the closest pre-pregnancy appearance." Read more by clicking here.
Wrapping Instructions
This „bump-carry” might help you feel more stable after a long, tiring day. It gives extra support to your pelvis, hip and back. If you use a woven wrap you can learn how to handle the fabric and you easily break a new woven in. So by the time your little one arrives you have a soft, cuddly wrap.
These pictures were taken using a Liliputi stretchy wrap. To show off with a beautifully designed panel, do not spread the wrap over it. If you have a „boring” wrap, just try the other carry.
It will keep your bump warm and snuggly. :) Enjoy it!
These pictures were taken using a Liliputi stretchy wrap. To show off with a beautifully designed panel, do not spread the wrap over it. If you have a „boring” wrap, just try the other carry.
It will keep your bump warm and snuggly. :) Enjoy it!
Facts for new parents and new babies
Benefits - not mentioning all of them - for you and your babies are:
- Babies, especially newborns can benefit a lot from babywearing if it is done safely and correctly.
- Skin-to-skin contact with their carers is a basic need for a baby.
- Kangaroo care (for positioning and details read more here) is also possible. More Kangaroo care info here
- Twins can be carried together and tiny, premature babies also can be kept close to hear your heartbeat.
- A sling - if correctly used - will give extra head support to your baby.
- Babywearing makes the transition from your womb to the world much easier.
Benefits - not mentioning all of them - for you and your babies are:
- a settled baby who cries less,
- as the baby is always in view you get to know him or her better,
- you are more relaxed,
- you and your baby would feel less frustration or stress,
- skin - to - skin contact,
- supports milk production and might facilitate easier breastfeeding,
- helps dealing with reflux,
- helps avoiding over-stimulation,
- in most cases you do not even get to the crying point as you notice the signs from your baby,
- being carried can regulate heartbeat and the baby's body temperature...
What does my baby need?
I feel his heartbeat. I can hear him breathing. He is right here to kiss. His skin is warm. Sleeping. He trusts me so much. I am the centre of his world and so he is mine. He is listening to my heartbeat. He is calm. I trust he knows what is the best for him. I give him all my heart, my attention, I encourage him and show him the rest of the world. I know he would tell me if he needs anything more. He knows that I would listen.
Do you think of having a baby is about money? Do you think you need to have a nice, freshly painted house before a baby could arrive to your family? All wrong. What a baby needs is something you already have. Love, attention and trust.
I am here for my baby, he was born to make me a mother. His mother. His carer. The one who will listen to his heartbeat until the last one and even beyond.
I feel his heartbeat. I can hear him breathing. He is right here to kiss. His skin is warm. Sleeping. He trusts me so much. I am the centre of his world and so he is mine. He is listening to my heartbeat. He is calm. I trust he knows what is the best for him. I give him all my heart, my attention, I encourage him and show him the rest of the world. I know he would tell me if he needs anything more. He knows that I would listen.
Do you think of having a baby is about money? Do you think you need to have a nice, freshly painted house before a baby could arrive to your family? All wrong. What a baby needs is something you already have. Love, attention and trust.
I am here for my baby, he was born to make me a mother. His mother. His carer. The one who will listen to his heartbeat until the last one and even beyond.
Birth and parenting - positively and happily
When I say giving birth happily - people smile. It is not possible. Are you sure? I did it. No magic, no pills - only trust the mother in you, the woman inside. Let your instincts lead you. I will help you find them. I cannot wait that my sons wakes up from the nap or in the morning. I love every second with him. It does not mean that my son does never cry or he is never sick. It does not mean that I am not tired ever. Yet - it is fun being a mother. You will understand why. How do you bond with your baby? How can babywearing, co-sleeping and attachment parenting in general help you have a more balanced family life? How can you manage your time to be an excited and exciting wife/husband/partner, etc. at the end of the day? "You act exactly like your father!" - That is what my mum told me couple of weeks ago. I have never felt so proud ever before. Yes, I want to be a person like my dad. My husband blames me that I am just like my mum. I am so happy to hear that. I am very lucky to have parents who are perfect for me. They are my role models. I can see their mistakes and I am able to correct them. But I can copy them. I do not have to be afraid what if I do not think before I react something, because I know that my initial reaction is good. I do not have to control myself. I can be open and honest. I am free. I know, though, for many people it is difficult to set themselves free because they need to keep control beyond feelings not to be harmed. I would like to help you realize these feelings, name them and know them. We can learn together how to handle them. Your baby will copy you. You are a role model. You are a hero. You are the one who has to teach him how to handle feelings. Are you happy with that? |
Feeding your baby
It is known that mummy's milk is the best for a baby. It is also known that it is free, accessible any time. I believe in breastfeeding. I support breastfeeding. But... What if things turn out to be different for you? What if your baby cannot breastfeed? What if you have no chance to provide milk? Anything can happen messing things up. I wanted to breastfeed my baby. I did. I worked so hard to have milk. We have a story. I ended up trying everything! EVERYTHING! You cannot imagine how hard I worked for that. After 5 months my son refused my milk. Even the expressed one. I could not make him put my nipples into his mouth ever again. I tried many times. Even when he was sleeping. My milk was soon gone. We had to start bottle feeding and he started with the porridge. He got a spoon. He took the lead from there and I followed. At 1 year old he is healthy, strong and funny. He can eat with spoon and fork on his own - almost clean. He can drink from glass alone. He eats everything he is supposed to. He is very happy. I let him lead. I cooked and cooked and cooked. Every day. Healthy food which is great for the family and safe for babies from 8 moths old. I support breastfeeding mums and extended (natural) breastfeeding when your child will decide when it is enough. Although, the ideal is not always the reality...Do not feel pressured. It is NOT your failure!! You can find some recipes for free on my cooking blog: click here to open it in a new window. And another useful link to the Simply Yummy website: click here! Follow them on Facebook, too :) |
Are you interested in gentle parenting techniques? Would you like to know more about attachment parenting? Read more on the Attachment Parenting UK and find your local parenting group! :)
Thank you for the pictures and guidelines to the Babywearing community, School of Babywearing, Slingababy, Je Porte Mon Bebe, Boba and all who contributed to safe babywearing during their work. The pictures on this website are not available for further distribution or share. Please do not download them without referring back to Baby In Sling. Most of these pictures are family photos and they are very precious to their owners. Thank you.