FeaturesAugust 1, 2015
That's a wrap: Though not a new concept, babywearing has seen a boost in popularity in the U.S.
Babies are used to being connected with their mothers during their nine months in utero. Now, more and more women are wearing their babies in slings on their bodies during their first years of life, which experts say provides a "transitional womb." Babywearing is hardly a new concept. It's been practiced in many cultures around the world for centuries, but has become more of a trend in the U.S. during the past decade...
Babies are used to being connected with their mothers during their nine months in utero. Now, more and more women are wearing their babies in slings on their bodies during their first years of life, which experts say provides a "transitional womb."
Babywearing is hardly a new concept. It's been practiced in many cultures around the world for centuries, but has become more of a trend in the U.S. during the past decade.
Dr. William Sears, pediatrician, author and baby attachment proponent, coined the phrase "babywearing," and these days it's not hard to spot women -- and occasionally men -- wearing their children in a sling.
Cape Girardeau has its own babywearing organization, SEMO Babywearing, which has about 300 members.
The group meets at 6 p.m. on the third Wednesday of each month at the Cape Girardeau Public Library.
"I'm there every month," says Emily Wade, a founding member of the group that started in 2013.
The meetings provide an opportunity for parents who may be considering babywearing to learn more about it.
Though styles of carriers may vary slightly, generally there are two types: wraps, which are made of stretchy material; and carriers with buckles, which are made of a sturdier, less flexible material.
Education is a big part of what goes on at the meetings. Visitors and new members learn not only about the benefits of babywearing, but, with the help of demo dolls, also how to use carriers and what to consider when purchasing one.
"When I have a parent or caregiver come to me wanting help picking a carrier, I like to stress to pick a carrier that meets their child where they currently are in terms of age, size and development," Wade says.
For newborns, she suggests a wrap, also called a ring sling, because they provide the best support and conform to the baby's size and body almost perfectly.
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"You want the carrier to support babies properly so that they don't curl into themselves," Wade says. "This is super important with newborns, since it's so easy for their tiny airways to get cut off."
She adds, "The carrier should also be able to support the baby or child from knee to knee in a sitting position. Ideal position is often referred to as an 'M position,' meaning knees shoulder width apart with knees higher than their bottom."
The fit of the carrier in the back is equally important.
"The back of the carrier should come up high enough to fully support the spine (for older kids I generally recommend to shoot for one that's at least armpit level), but not so high that baby is lost in the carrier," Wade says.
Research suggests that babies who are worn against their mothers' bodies are generally happier and cry less, but the motivation behind making the choice to wear the baby varies.
"People 'wear' for different reasons," says Wade, who is certified as an instructor by the Babywearing Institute. "For me, it was almost a sanity saver. My kids were clingy and it was a way for me to get something done."
Because wearing a baby makes mom's hands free to do other things, Wade says babywearing was also an easy choice when she was pregnant with another child.
"It was a lot easier to figure out how to wear him in a carrier than to carry him in my arms with a big belly," she says.
A baby can be carried in front or on the back, and sometimes people opt for tandem carrying, meaning wearing one child in front while another rides in back.
The length of time women choose to wear their children also varies.
"You can carry them all the way to 50 pounds," says Erica Haff, also a founding member of SEMO Babywearing.
While it might seem like a long time to carry an attached child, Haff says she enjoys it so much that she's not looking forward to stopping.
"I'm going to miss it," she says. "Having someone so close. They are connected to you."
For more information on babywearing, visit the SEMO Babywearing Facebook page, or go to www.attachmentparenting.org.
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