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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. The opinions and text are all mine.
With my 3rd child now almost 18 months old and basically running everywhere. I thought now would be the perfect time to talk about safe babywearing and my experience through 3 kids whom I “wore” at various stages.
I want you to think about how baby wearing makes you feel. Is it comfortable when your baby is facing you with those little legs tucked to your sides? Have you used a carrier that allows you have your baby face forward? How did that work out?
I have had a few carriers of various designs and have even sewn my own carrier. I will tell you now, that having my baby face forward in those carriers was uncomfortable for me. It felt unnatural and upon looking at us in the mirror I could see that my little one was not so happy with how the carrier was holding him especially in the groin area.
Here is the deal. Having the babies legs hanging downward or having baby face outward is not only uncomfortable but can have long term effects on the joints and balls of the hips causing Hip Dysplasia.
Below are 2 pictures of my 2nd in the carrier I made. On the left side we did our first fitting and I had to adjust the straps to bring him up a bit more. He must be around 5/6 months in these pics. He was a lot more content in this style of carrier vs the others.
I know a lot of moms are going to say that the baby does not like facing inward and wants to see the world. Mine started with resistance just after turning a year old. I switched to “carry on my back” position, this allowed him to “see” his world more and he settled right down.
Start using a carrier right away to get the maximum benefits.
The benefits of using a carrier that supports your baby, like Boba for instance, are many.
Did you know that your baby can identify your scent? Having your baby in a close carrier is reassuring, calming and bonding to baby.
A tip for the newborn Mom is to have skin to skin like this at home. This way your baby is close and you have your hands free. Skin to skin also helps with bonding and even increases your breast milk supply.
I don’t know about you, but I was VERY possessive of my babies for many months after they were born. Wearing your baby in a carrier protects them mostly from curious strangers (and their germs).
A stranger thought to peek in on my baby in the carrier today. She got an eye full of a nursing baby. I am sure she will not be peeking in anymore carriers! – Says my friend Jen.
I have used both a carrier and a stroller. My experience is similar to many mothers, that babies are sometimes just not happy in the stroller. Personally, I attribute this to no familiar scent of mom, no comfort from mom and all the unfamiliar sounds. It must be very lonely and scary to a baby.
This is why I personally did safe babywearing for those first months.
Take a look around next time you are in the mall, I am sure you will see one or two mothers pushing empty strollers while carrying their baby. Babies LOVE being held. And NO, you can NOT spoil your child by carrying them.
Another plus if you have older kids, being hands free is a BIG bonus. But I must say one of the best pro’s with carriers and slings is discreet public nursing!
Places to check out for more info include Dr Sears attachment parenting section as well as Boba, who provides a variety of carriers and accessories which will support your decision for safe babywearing. How awesome are those foot straps for the older kids!
Boba is the only baby carrier company that exclusively sells baby carriers that keep baby facing inward. Research shows that carrying baby facing inward helps baby attach in a healthy way to parents and prevents hip dysplasia, allowing baby to stay safe and healthy, both physically and psychologically.
I would love to hear more about your babywearing experiences!
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This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Boba. The opinions and text are all mine.
Check out our Pinterest Board for even more awesome pictures and posts about safe babywearing!
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marylee says
I used the baby B’jorn and the Maya wrap when my kids were small. I had them face me in B’jorn until they were old enough to support their heads really well. They went into the Maya wrap when they were greater than 6 months.
I occasionally would wear both children simultaneously when the youngest was very small. The baby would be in the front in the B’jorn and the older one would be piggybacked on the back with the Maya. This was infrequent, during times of illness or in areas with large crowds when I couldn’t use a stroller and didn’t have another caregiver to help with both. Obviously it’s not ideal and wasn’t for long periods of time.
I miss having that close bonding with my children and will never regret any of the timesI was able to wear them close to me.
Christy Garrett @ Uplifting Families says
I miss having a baby, I really wanted a nice wrap with my last baby. The wrap I wanted wasn’t affordable at the time. 🙁