Pardon the lack of posting -- we've been traveling! This past week I attended the International Babywearing Conference in Washington, DC. It was our first long car ride/road trip as a family, but the event was well worth braving the confinement of the car, and -- once we arrived -- 100+ degree temps coupled with insanely turbulent midnight thunderstorms.
We set out on our journey well-stocked with things to munch on (the Roasted Seaweed snacks were inhaled within minutes), songs (the 2009 and 2012 Birth Mixes via iPod), and of course Mad Libs (Outer Space-themed). We arrived in DC none the worse for wear, and in good spirits, the kids having slept for over half the trip!
I loved being at the conference (I took Hazel along with me each day while the boys hung out with Grandma, who lives in the area). It was so cool to be surrounded by babywearing families and knowledgeable experts on everything from breastfeeding to cloth diapering to the history and science of baby carriers. I took the above photo while sitting in on a class called Psychological Outcomes of Babywearing which spanned primate research, child development, attachment theory, brain development research and the effects of neurotransmitters and hormones on the attachment and development process and included a review of the current scientific findings on the psychological effects of baby carrying and skin-to-skin contact in full-term infants. Taught by Dr. Henrick Norholt of Copenhagen, Denmark, it was utterly fascinating, and I could have listened for much longer than the allotted hour. Beyond the fact that Dr. Norholt presented incredibly convincing scientific research on the benefits of babywearing, it was just so darn cool to see a University lecture hall filled to the brim with mamas and their nurslings (many of whom were standing in the aisles rhythmically bouncing, taking notes on smartphones while he spoke).
Another class I loved was called The Culture of Babywearing, which delved into how time, place, climate and human behavior influence babywearing tools and practices. It was so much fun to be able to see beautiful examples of traditional carriers from an array of different cultures from an Inuit Amautik to a West African Kanga to a Welsh shawl, among others. It spoke to my inner Anthropologist in a big way. In Free Form Wrapping it was a delight to be in a room filled with parents sharing ideas and geeking out over the nuances of different improvised wrap techniques. I learned valuable information about the power of our external nervous system in Touch: The Mother of All Senses, and amazing tips for braving hot and cold temperatures in Extreme Weather Babywearing. For every class I took there were several others I hated to miss (I was so bummed to have to choose between Belly Dance With Baby and The Culture of Babywearing, let me tell you!)
The whole thing left me longing for more. With only a couple hundred attendees, I have a feeling that there is a huge population of babywearing devotees, novices, and even the carrier-curious that were not present at this year's conference who would benefit greatly from the class offerings and sense of community. I look forward to attending in the future and helping to spread the word in the meantime!
If you're reading this now and are someone who practices babywearing, I'm wondering: how did you get started? Have you ever taken a class on babywearing or attended a babywearing support group? Would you attend a babywearing conference? I'd love to know your thoughts!
I got started because my son had colic and acid reflux and *never* stopped crying. He calmed down once I wrapped him up in a Moby I got at my baby shower and we never looked back - I was hooked! My collection which started with that single Moby is now over 20 carriers strong (we prefer ring slings and SSCs these days) and I've been known to tandem wear my son (almost 3) and my daughter (nearly 6 months). I've never taken a class - I'd *love* to be able to attend a conference like that!
ReplyDeleteMy daughter is now one and although I carry her most everywhere, I do not (yet) own a sling. Holding her to my body just came naturally and instinctually since her birth. I am commenting here now to ask for your advice-
ReplyDeleteShe is heavier now and I am longing to get a sling but have no idea which ones are best. What brand do you like best??
Thanks!
Belle
www.petitebiet.com
My son is now over 24 months and at 15kgs is much too heavy for me to wear as I am of a very slight build. I did however 'wear' him (alternating between a sling and front carry-pouch) until he was a bit over 11kgs.
ReplyDeleteI knew before he was born that I would 'wear' him for as long as possible as that is what my parent's did for me when I was an infant. As time went on I also read more and more about the benefits of baby-wearing and am so glad that I did it as long as I was physically able to.
Even though I no longer 'wear' my son, I still make a point of carrying him in my arms and cuddling him a lot this way , even if its just from one room of the house to another.
I started because my sister used an ergo with her kids, and I would wear my nephew every once in awhile. So, I put an ergo on my registry. My neighbor used a ring sling, and taught me to use it. I took a vacation with my daughter when she was a month old and borrowed the sling. It turned out to be a lifesaver because she was suffering side effects from her vax shots, and the only time she didn't cry that whole weekend was when she was in the sling. I was really sold after that.
ReplyDeleteIt was wonderful to have you all here. I hope the next conference you attend will be in DC!!!
ReplyDeleteThat conference sounds informative and fun!
ReplyDeleteI started baby wearing because my doula runs a sling donation program to SE Asia. We used a sling during the pushing phase and now use it to carry thebaby :)
I'm very thankful to have a super-active baby wearing group in my city and visit them often for advice, to try out new carriers, and just be around like-minded mamas.
I started babywearing with my younger sister when I used to babysit fifteen years ago. I remembered how content and happy she used to be.
ReplyDeleteWhen I got pregnant last year, I started researching more about it. I registered for the bjorn but within the first week of my baby's birth I went and bought the Mobywrap. My baby is 8 months old now and we still use both depending on his mood and where we are.
He is at his best behavior when I wear him.
I have never taken a class. I am somewhat novice at it. But I try.
I would have attended the conference, bit I didn't know about it.
I am the only one of my friends that do babywearing and I would love to have a physical support system (I get the support from blogs like yours).
I started because it seemed so natural to me. Wrapping my son up in a sling on the 2nd day after his cesarean delivery has gotten me quite some looks from the hospital staff. He was a big baby with 4kg and 56cm and I shouldn´t be carrying him around that early....
ReplyDeleteMy 2nd son was also delivered by c-section and the same thing I did. And having nursed and carried my first son through the whole pregnancy as well, he was 19 months old when 2nd son was born.
I am tandem-nursing and as soon as I am strong enough again I will also tandem-carry my boys. And I am my own support group. Nobody around here, as I live quite on the outer outskirts of Hamburg, Germany, that is in reality 40km out of town. And of course I seem to be very alien in our small town with a little less than 20.000 inhabitants...
I´d love to attend big conferences but I´ll probably have to settle for a smaller one here in Germany to begin with. And I am my own lactation consultant as well - there was none around so I figured I might as well learn it myself and help others to succeed in breastfeeding. (Yes, I´m very hands-on with everything... If there´s no help around, I learn to help myself and other.)
You might be interested in hearing that the 2013 International Babywearing Conference is in the UK! :)
DeleteI started because my daughter wanted to be held, all the time. And I wanted her close! It fit.
ReplyDeleteI considered attending the conference, but time and resources prevented me.
I started because we leave in SF and do not have a car, going anywhere by bus was just so easy with her in the baby bjorn. Now she is 17 months and I still carry her, but on my back in an ergo, she calls it the "singe" (the monkey, we're French) after she saw a baby monkey on his mother's back at the zoo. It's so much easier and fun than a stroller!
ReplyDeleteI'm sure you know of these, but if you are longing for more, there are a few great online BWing communities ...thebabywearer.com, babycenter's babywearing board, the Facebook group called Babywearing Love and Support (my fave and I am an admin there ;)...and most of these have links to local BWing groups where you can meetup with other BWing families, try out different carriers and wraps, learn new techniques etc. :)
ReplyDeleteI wore my daughter in a bjorn almost 10 years ago...because wearing a baby seemed like the most natural thing to do...but i hated it. So when my son was born 2 years ago, I researched into better babywearing options. Started with a moby, then an ergo. Then moved onto a ring sling. Then I became obsessed with Woven wraps and dove head first into the babywearing world and now have piles of different blends and lengths and colors. I still wear my son in woven wraps and WCMT's, and he is 2...and I am 24 weeks pregnant. I already have a stash of wraps for my baby girl who is due in Oct. :)
I think I probably found babywearing through LLL 12 years ago when my oldest was a baby. My local group had a lending library which included slings. I borrowed a chambray over the shoulder baby holder, and I've been wearing my babes ever since. I've never taken a class, and we have a large local support group, but so many women I know here wear their babies that I can pretty much see any sling, carrier or wrap I'd like b/c some mama is sure to have it! My babywearing days are winding down, my two year old is all about running around and not being carried now. I have a friend who attended the D.C. conference, then she brought some of her wraps and mei tais to a playdate at Darcel's house, gorgeous. I was really amazed at the number of Ergos I saw on my last few visits to New York. 10 years ago, I was usually the only babywearer wherever I went.
ReplyDeleteBabywearing wasn't something i knew much about, pre-child (and here in suburban Australia, i don't think it's the most popular choice!) We'd bought a Baby-Bjorn during the pregnancy because all our other friends had one, but absolutely thought the baby would be happy in the pram. Once our son arrived it was pretty obvious a) he hated the pram, and b) i didn't want to put him down anyway! It really was a case of trying lots of different slings/carriers until i found one i liked. I love the idea of a babywearing clinic? talk? maybe (with our antenatal stuff). one year later & we're still babywearing alot & loving it.
ReplyDeleteLeigh, I recently saw some articles go by on facebook, etc. about the negative aspects of front-facing baby wearing. I wonder if anyone touched on that at the conference? I was searching around today for a good quality article on it (to send to a friend who front-faces) but couldn't find anything. Any references to suggest or perhaps a concoction of your own from the conference? Thanks!
ReplyDeleteWe bought both a baby bjorn and a moby before little G was born, as the Bjorn in particular seems very common here in the UK. We used it a lot in the early days (as I lacked confidence with the wrapping when G was really tiny) but retired it after just a few months as it really wasn't comfortable. I mainly use the moby now, (apart from the ad hoc linen bedsheet DIY I had to improvise on holiday in Sicily) but at 8months I just started researching mei tais and woven wraps as I'd like to transition to the flexibility of using a back carry too... I'd welcome the chance to attend a conference to speak to more experienced babywearers in person, as the simple volume of info online can be somewhat overwhelming!
ReplyDelete(which: if you have any recommendations they'd be hugely welcome)
I see a fair few banbywearers in London, a lot of Bjorns still (a*lot* on dads - anyone else find that dudes are super on board with the 'technical looking' carriers, but less confident with wraps/slings?) and - what inspired me a lot - a good handful of traditional African rebozo carries. Just looked so effortless.
I love being so close to G, and he is noticeably more chilled than when we use the pushchair, but I won't lie: a MAJOR reason I love to wear him in this town is the ability to move freely on public transport. I mean, a pushchair on the London Underground?! I get the sweats thinking of it - I feel so strong, confident and mobile wearing him by comparison.
Oddly, this seems to be a city just made for babywearing :)