Yes, definitely! Let’s talk about why babywearing education is important.
Anyone on the internet can tell you how to wear a baby, but just like anything else, not everything you read or see on the internet is true! I have received training, read fatality reports, done research, and have personally used every carrier in the You & I Baby Carrier Lending Library. I know the whys that go along with the hows, and I know more about hip health in infants than I ever thought I would need to know! Arguably most importantly, I am passionate about babywearing. I love the way it bonds the wearer and the infant, the closeness they feel, have first-hand experienced the joy it brings, and I want you to experience it too! I wasn’t able to breastfeed my first child and I felt terrible and guilty; like I was failing at being a mum. I wore him in an attempt to bond with him in ways I didn’t think were possible at that point in our life together, and it worked! We danced, and giggled, and cuddled as though we were one again. It was, and still is, my favorite part of being a mother.
I see so many short how-to videos (looking at you, Tik Tok) that show a fancy way to tie off a wrap, but don’t touch on pressure points. I’ll scroll past an Instagram ad for a new brand that’s all-the-rage, but the models are wearing the babies in unsafe positions. Worst yet, celebrities will post pictures of themselves wearing their babies with improper positioning, and their influence, whether intended or not, spreads, and we start to see others wearing in unsafe positions. Out in the wild, I’ve seen people wearing babies in stretchy wraps on their backs, using soft structured carriers to wear infants with no head control facing out, and I’ve seen pictures of people wearing infants on their backs, facing out. None of these positions are recommended by the carrier manufacturers, and can lead to poor relationships with wearing and can even cause permanent harm. Even some well-known brands are out here promoting their narrow-based carriers, claiming they’re “hip-healthy” when the International Hip Dysplasia Institute has NOT cleared the carrier. It’s a tricky world to navigate, and it can be overwhelming!
That’s why I’m here, and that’s what the Lending Library is for! When you schedule a
consultation, we go through all the important things slowly and thoroughly. Positioning, pressure points, different carriers and their pros and cons. You’ll leave understanding what a narrow base vs wide base is, why it matters, and you’ll be able to pick out which is which! You will leave our session feeling empowered and confident, not overwhelmed and frazzled.
Group babywearing classes have the same general structure, but we focus on one specific type of carrier (stretchy, soft-structured, etc). During group classes you either bring your own carrier or borrow one of mine, and by the time class is over you’ll know every inch of that carrier! All the doodads and thingmabobs will make sense, and I can assure you that you and Baby will be safe and comfortable. Not to mention after you have a group class of consultation, you’re welcome to join babywearing dance classes!
Babywearing is a helpful tool to be hands-free, has been practiced for millennia around our Earth, and is one of my absolute favorite ways to connect with babies, but it can have dire consequences when done incorrectly. Just like with other infant products (cribs, bassinets, strollers, car seats), babies can be harmed with improper use. Though it's rare, babies have died in carriers when they were not being used correctly, and I never want anyone to look down at a baby they thought was sleeping and realize they're no longer alive. I personally know families who have experienced this and think of them often. My heart absolutely breaks for them, daily.
I've encountered families who are on their second, third, or fourth child, who have attended a babywearing meet thinking they had been wearing properly in years previously, only to learn that there were a few things they could have done more safely. And yes, those babies are fine. They have grown into children, and are healthy and were fortunate enough to not experience any negative reprecussions. But those parents, now knowing what they know, made the decision to schedule a consultation to learn how to wear their newest addition safely. It's never too late to start learning, especially when our children's health and wellness is at stake!
It's hard to talk about, but it's important to know and it needs to be said more often. That being said, you don't need to fear babywearing! Just like we aren't afraid to put our babies in their cribs for naptime because we're educated on safe sleep, we don't need to fear baby carriers when we're educated on safe wearing. When used properly in the manner they were designed, baby carriers are pure magic.
Pic of my husband wearing our youngest in our Baby Tula Explore during Covid times.
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