Babywearing is such a personal experience. The reasons you choose to babywear are yours and yours alone. The impact babywearing leaves on you and your family - no one can take that away from you. I am a working mom of 2 with a husband who works nights…babywearing has been a vital part of my life! My oldest was born almost 3 years ago (pardon me while I go watch him sleep and try not to cry all over his beautiful curly head) and in those early days when he was a newborn I used a Moby wrap - because that was what every new mom HAD to have! While I was on maternity leave I wore him often around the house and if we went to the store, etc. But the real fun started when I went back to work when he was 12 weeks old. Those nights while we were both adjusting to the distance between us; a new routine, noises and smells of daycare, they were all so exhausting for both of us. He would cry the entire way home if he didn’t fall asleep. The minute we hit the door it was into a carrier while I cooked dinner for me and leftovers for daddy to take the next night. I remember the awful fussiness that some may call the “witching hour” where he would scream and nothing seemed to soothe him…unless he was worn and was nursing.
As a working mom we usually try to cram ALL THE THINGS into the weekends because you know, work. When we went anywhere on a weekend a carrier was a must. My son hated, HATED, his car seat so the whole pumpkin seat in the stroller combo was short lived for us. Saturday mornings are my only day to really clean up the house and I often spend them with a baby on my back vacuuming and dusting away. My son would fall asleep so fast; the vacuum was like white noise for him. He was also a HORRIBLE napper (he’s still not that great at it - and neither is my 15 month old). Daycare swore he slept GREAT. I still think they were lying. I kid, I kid! Honestly, he slept in a room full of other babies, a teacher or two and noise all around. Then he comes home and is expected to sleep in a big room by himself (with white noise and music though!)? Yeah right. Thank you again babywearing for saving our weekend nap time, even though it was hardly ever productive for mommy. Nobody wants to hang around my kids without naps. Yikes!
As a working mom I remember (and am still experiencing with baby number 2) all the days missed at work because of my little ones being sick. Many times the only thing to comfort them were some babywearing snuggles. I can remember pacing the living room floor trying to comfort a whiny febrile baby while waiting on the return call from the nurse. I can remember swaying back and forth trying to keep a rhythm going that would soothe my little one. I still find myself swaying whether I’m wearing a baby or not.
I found out I was pregnant with my daughter when my son was 10 months old. Working full time, being a married “single mom” (absolutely NO offense intended to full time single mommas - y'all ROCK!) most of the time, and now pregnant. What’s a momma to do when her baby is still a baby and she’s now carrying a baby - babywear! After working all day and dealing with the screaming evenings (those lasted for a long time with my son) babywearing on the weekends for all of our various outings was a way for he and I to get close again and bond more with each other now that the week of separation was over. I found some great carries that accommodated my growing belly and we kept on! My son would even ask for “back” when he wanted to get up!
When my daughter arrived, the idea of wearing two babies seemed daunting but I definitely wanted to give it a try. My first attempt was from my car into the Hoover BWI meeting while on my maternity leave. I wasn’t sure how else I was going to get my “all over the place” 19 month old and newborn baby girl inside otherwise! We gave it a shot and it was definitely a work out! When I went back to work the second time around my daughter seemed to adjust to daycare a lot easier than my son but bath and bedtime were still super hard. Babywearing saved me in the evenings again because I could wear my daughter while giving my son his bath and putting him to bed. After my son went to sleep and it was just she and I - babywearing gave us some alone time to continue learning each other. She was such a happy worn baby - now at 15 months she’s bucking to be on the ground but then wants up 2 seconds later. If she sees me trying to put on a carrier she’s usually running the other way. This stage is definitely not my favorite but she doesn’t always rebel. Just this weekend I was helping break in a ring sling for the library and was able to pop her in and out between dinner out and a trip to the grocery store. She did great and it still gives me moments to feel close to my kids again after being apart so often throughout the week.
My son is now at an age where he can help me learn different carries because he can take instructions. One of the things we love to do on the weekends is try a new carry. He recently helped me learn Robins Hip Carry! We may not get to babywear as often as some but the time that we do get is invaluable! There are so many things I can’t imagine us doing without a carrier. This group has meant so much to me and has helped me learn so much over the last 3 years. If you’re contemplating coming to a meeting please don’t hesitate any longer, just come! You won’t regret it!
To all of you moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, nannies, full time workers, stay at home parents, whoever you are that holds babywearing close to your heart…
Happy Babywearing!!
Jazzmine Brawley, CSV
As a working mom I remember (and am still experiencing with baby number 2) all the days missed at work because of my little ones being sick. Many times the only thing to comfort them were some babywearing snuggles. I can remember pacing the living room floor trying to comfort a whiny febrile baby while waiting on the return call from the nurse. I can remember swaying back and forth trying to keep a rhythm going that would soothe my little one. I still find myself swaying whether I’m wearing a baby or not.
I found out I was pregnant with my daughter when my son was 10 months old. Working full time, being a married “single mom” (absolutely NO offense intended to full time single mommas - y'all ROCK!) most of the time, and now pregnant. What’s a momma to do when her baby is still a baby and she’s now carrying a baby - babywear! After working all day and dealing with the screaming evenings (those lasted for a long time with my son) babywearing on the weekends for all of our various outings was a way for he and I to get close again and bond more with each other now that the week of separation was over. I found some great carries that accommodated my growing belly and we kept on! My son would even ask for “back” when he wanted to get up!
When my daughter arrived, the idea of wearing two babies seemed daunting but I definitely wanted to give it a try. My first attempt was from my car into the Hoover BWI meeting while on my maternity leave. I wasn’t sure how else I was going to get my “all over the place” 19 month old and newborn baby girl inside otherwise! We gave it a shot and it was definitely a work out! When I went back to work the second time around my daughter seemed to adjust to daycare a lot easier than my son but bath and bedtime were still super hard. Babywearing saved me in the evenings again because I could wear my daughter while giving my son his bath and putting him to bed. After my son went to sleep and it was just she and I - babywearing gave us some alone time to continue learning each other. She was such a happy worn baby - now at 15 months she’s bucking to be on the ground but then wants up 2 seconds later. If she sees me trying to put on a carrier she’s usually running the other way. This stage is definitely not my favorite but she doesn’t always rebel. Just this weekend I was helping break in a ring sling for the library and was able to pop her in and out between dinner out and a trip to the grocery store. She did great and it still gives me moments to feel close to my kids again after being apart so often throughout the week.
My son is now at an age where he can help me learn different carries because he can take instructions. One of the things we love to do on the weekends is try a new carry. He recently helped me learn Robins Hip Carry! We may not get to babywear as often as some but the time that we do get is invaluable! There are so many things I can’t imagine us doing without a carrier. This group has meant so much to me and has helped me learn so much over the last 3 years. If you’re contemplating coming to a meeting please don’t hesitate any longer, just come! You won’t regret it!
To all of you moms, dads, grandmas, grandpas, nannies, full time workers, stay at home parents, whoever you are that holds babywearing close to your heart…
Happy Babywearing!!
Jazzmine Brawley, CSV
Older kids are great for helping you learn a new carry!
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