My Spoiled Baby

I am guilty of spoiling my baby.

She expects to be picked up when she cries, and I do everything I can to comfort her.

I spoil her by nursing whenever she is hungry.

She is so spoiled, she sleeps with us in bed every night and I help her fall asleep every time she wakes.

She is spoiled with my attention, even though it means we won’t have a second income to buy her things.

I spend time entertaining her and trying to make her laugh just to make her happy.

She spoils me too.

She lets me hold her whenever I want.

She spends hours just cuddling and nursing.

She spoils me by letting me stay in bed all night.

She spends all day engaging and enchanting me and nearly every smile that crosses her lips is for me.

Maybe when we’re old and gray we’ll regret having spoiled each other.  But I doubt it.

spoiled

Choosing a Wrap; Choosing the size

I received this question:

“I’m looking for a wrap for my toddler and will keep it later for my 2nd child. She is now 18 months and at the moment I’m using ring sling to carry her. I often experienced pain on one side of my shoulder and that’s why I’m looking for a wrap. I’m quite new to this things and hope you can help me with the following inquiries:
i) What is the different between woven and stretch material? What is the purpose of both?
ii) I would like to carry my daughter in cross cradle, front wrap cross, pocket wrap cross, cross carry, back wrap cross, rusksack carry positions. Based on this position requirement what is the best length of the material should I purchase. I am 5 feet 3 inch (160cm tall). My daughter now is 24lbs.
iii) I’m staying in a hot climate country, what the best material to keep my baby cool.
iv) You have a huge collections, based on my requirement which one will you suggest to me??”
I’ve used many woven wraps, but only rarely used a stretchy wrap, so I am not an expert on stretchy wraps, but here is what I know about it:  Many people consider them easier for people who are new to wrapping.  Many people consider that they can only be used for the first few months of a baby’s life, and then the baby becomes to heavy to use a stretchy wrap comfortably.  Many people also consider stretchy wraps unsafe for back wrapping.
A woven wrap is fantastic for a newborn or a toddler and is the most versatile carrier, and so I would not recommend that you get a stretchy wrap.
A medium wrap (around 4.6 meters long) is perfect for the average person to do all of those carries.  If you are bigger or smaller you might prefer a bigger or smaller wrap.  Here is more information about sizing.
I am in a hot climate myself.  I’ve loved my EllaRoo wrap for years as it is very thin fabric.  The thinnest and airiest are the Bali Baby Breeze wraps which I now carry as well.  They will be even cooler.  Also read my advice for keeping cool while wearing a hot baby.  Either one of them should make you very happy, so shop for the color or pattern you like best.
I think you will be very happy with a woven wrap for carrying your toddler, your newborn, and for keeping the weight distributed across your torso and both shoulders.  Let me know if you have any more questions!

What size Bali Baby Breeze?

A customer has a wrap that she likes but wants a Bali Baby Breeze and wants to know which size to get.  Here are some things to consider:

The Bali Baby Breeze sizes are in half yard increments.

When you use your wrap, do you have much fabric left hanging? If you could do your favorite wrap-ups with less fabric, you can get away with a smaller size (measure the excess to make sure there’s plenty to tie with half a yard less fabric).

Alternately, maybe you wouldn’t mind an extra half a yard hanging down and you can get the larger size. Half a yard is 1.5 feet. If you had 1.5 extra feet, that would be 9 extra inches on each tail.

Water Wraps

This is the Gypsymama Water Wrap post.  Now available for YOU!

When Ada was a baby, I had fewer luxuries, but over the years we’ve acquired them slowly, and since we had all the baby things we needed leftover from Ada, this time we get to splurge on some of the baby things we wanted!

You know, like a nice wet bag instead of an old plastic grocery bag for wet diapers…

And a water wrap, for wearing Belle in the shower, pool, or at the beach!  Awesome!  Also, not so necessary with baby number one, but now that I have a five year old to keep up with, a water wrap for the five month old is so valuable!  I love this thing:

 

Belle is watching and learning how to become a handful.

Belle is watching and learning how to become a handful.

my beautiful family

my beautiful family

safe and comfy at the beach

safe and comfy at the beach

And it actually would have been VERY handy for baby number one, who was a never-put-me-down kind of baby, so I could have taken the occasional shower!  I don’t really need to shower with Belle, because she waits patiently for me, but it’s a fun experience anyway:

showerwrap2

Yesterday’s Moms Circle

I look forward to this group all week, then I drag my heels about leaving and have to apologize to Grammy who ends up watching my 5 year old for FOUR HOURS while she’s trying to work–yikes!

Yesterday Anna and 2 week old Naomi came to tell their birth story.  There is so much to learn from every birth story I hear, much to celebrate and sometimes to mourn, and every aspect is immensely educational.  Anna told the story of a serene birth which was not “under control”, because birth never is, but in which no one felt the need to try and control it and as a result things went smoothly and beautifully.

Anna and Naomi

Anna and Naomi

Anna and Naomi’s story lead to a discussion of midwives and unassisted birth.  Also a discussion of pacifiers and whether to use them.

Lindsay had questions about her baby’s irregular nursing patterns.  Tawny works with La Leche League and helped her out with her questions.

Lindsay and Capri

Lindsay and Capri

I wanted to know whether it was appropriate to start feeding 5 month old Belle, and if not, how to keep her away from the food and drink she is so enthusiastically after!  We discussed Baby Led Weaning.  Thanks Susan, Tawny, and everybody for input on that!

Belle looking for something to eat.

Belle looking for something to eat.

We discussed placentophagy–consuming the placenta after birth–different methods and benefits, worldwide and historical traditions, sharing our own experiences as well as what we’d heard from others.

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2moms26May10

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I’m sure there was more but I wasn’t taking minutes.  I did, however, have a fun babywearing session with Lindsay, Anna, and Julie!  We did a nursing FCC–tied our babies on, lowered the wrap, and, “One, two, three, nurse!”  Gives new meaning to “nursing on demand.”  Julie wanted to learn a fast, easy back carry, too:

Rucksack Carry in Elsa EllaRoo

Rucksack Carry in Elsa EllaRoo

Car Seats Are NOT for Carrying Babies

“But car seats aren’t a safe way to carry babies for lengthy periods outside the car, experts say.”

http://www.usatoday.com/news/health/2009-10-19-car-seats_N.htm

This article cites these reasons why car seats are not safe:

  • babies have been injured when car seats fell off of high surfaces
  • babies have been injured when carseats turned over on soft surfaces (like a bed)
  • babies have been injured falling out of car seats when not properly buckled
  • more babies have “container syndrome” or weak muscles and flat heads due to being carried in a car seat
  • it can be difficult for babies to get enough oxygen in a car seat, according to some studies

And here are some reasons why a baby carrier is superior:

  • babies cannot be worn without being supervised so they can’t fall out when you leave the room
  • the babywearer has hands free to catch self in case of a fall, so that baby is not dropped
  • a worn baby is getting the perfect physiological workout just by being held against you
  • worn properly, a baby’s face will be clear of the baby carrier, with head supported to ensure easy breathing

The fact is, babies are designed to be held, and study after study has shown that the more they are held, the more they thrive.  Whereas studies are also finding that babies in containers are subject to the above disadvantages.

Sizing Down For Summer

Sizing Down with a Short Wrap for Summer

One way to keep cool while you keep wrapping all Summer long, is to use less fabric:

Short Woven Wrap Back Carry is cooler in Summer

By learning one or two great carries that don’t use much fabric, you can get away with a short wrap that layers across yourself and your baby fewer times.  Fewer layers, means less hot!

Why a short wrap is the best Summer Babywearing option
for staying cool in hot weather.

☀️ Unlike some baby carriers, a woven wrap has no padding anywhere to make you sweat.

☀️ You can use a short woven wrap in just one thin layer like a Ring Sling, but you have more options for comfort to fit your body or your baby’s preferences.

☀️ You can do a comfortable back carry with a short wrap for your baby OR toddler – and back carries feel cooler for both of you!

Here are just a few short wrap carries you can try.

Short Wrap Front Carries for Summer:

Short Wrap Back Carries for Hot Weather:

If you’re thinking about using a short wrap for Summer, experiment with these carries with your long wrap.  See which ones you like best, then measure how much extra wrap you have to see how small you can go! For every 20 inches you can lose (10″ in each tail), you could go one size smaller.

I like a wrap that is 2 sizes smaller than my base size for a lot of short-carry options, but there are a few you can do with base minus 3 as well.

A size 2 wrap (under 3 meters) will work for most people to do a Traditional Sling Carry (TSC), which can be worn front, hip, or back, and for a few really good back carries.

FIND YOUR WOVEN WRAP SIZE

Woven Wrap Sizing Chart - What is My Base Size?

This graphic will help you identify your base size – the wrap length you would use for full length carries.

For Summer, choose a wrap that is 2 or 3 sizes smaller than your base size.

Now visit my store to buy one of these beautiful and comfortable wraps. My exclusive Girasol wraps are easy to use – great for beginners and excellent for newborn through toddlers 🙂

Want More Woven Wrap Help?

Want more hand holding as you pick out and learn to use a wrap, or for learning more advanced ways of wrapping? I built my membership Woven Wrap Guild just for you! Check it out.

I don’t know when you’re reading this, but I’m hoping it was the help you needed today. I would very much appreciate it if you drop a comment and let me know if this was helpful or what help you are looking for.

Happy Wrapping!
❤️ Diana

Today Show and Babywearing

Babywearing keeps babies closer to parents, and I’m always happy when the word is getting out.  So I was pleased to see the Today Show cover babywearing.  This was some great exposure that covered the recall of dangerous slings, but in general cast babywearing in a pretty good light!

Today Show on Babywearing

This is mainstream America, and I’m not expecting them to get HOW COOL wraps are!  I’m really pleased that the Moby wrap was featured as the most comfortable of the baby carriers they tried out!  For a back carry, though, please do get a sturdy woven wrap!  Why you don’t use the Moby for a back carry.

I do not recommend wearing babies facing outward, as was shown on the segment, though some babywearing pros consider it harmless when done mindfully and for short periods of time.

I do not recommend ever wearing babies with their legs dangling from the crotch, as an outward facing Bjorn positions them.  There’s no need to subject babies to this uncomfortable hanging position that is stressful on their developing spines–not when a good wrap will provide an easy way to make a seat under your baby in any position!

And those hiking backpack carriers?  Sure, they’re convenient for being able to go out with your toddler/preschooler, ditching the stroller (I’m always about ditching the stroller), etc.  But they don’t contribute to the major babywearing perk of staying close against each other.  So, I don’t object to them.  But just imagine adding cuddling time to the equation, and that’s why I love wraps above carriers like this!

In fact, I smugly noted that a good woven wrap can do everything that those carriers were recommended for.  One good woven wrap.

Warm Weather Wrapping in a Gauze Wrap

The biggest complaint I’d hear about wrapping was getting too hot in Summer.  So I got a gauze wrap and started using it almost exclusively.  I found that it really did make a difference!  The lightweight gauze is so thin, the airflow is much improved and my baby and I both stay cooler.

Now I’m selling Bali Baby Breeze–the most beloved gauze wraps on the market.  So here are some tips on enjoying your BBB wraps this Summer:

  • Use gauze wraps with multi-layer carries–the thin fabric will leave you feeling much cooler even in layers, and the thin fabric can be uncomfortable in single-layer carries.  I stayed comfortable hiking in 90 degree weather with my BBB wrap in a Double Hammock Carry last weekend.
  • Wrap carefully to avoid uncomfortable pressure points–the thin wrap can dig in if not spread and tightened well, but it makes a dream of a wrap job when you take the time to tighten all across the width of the wrap evenly.  A thin wrap can provide a very close, comfy wrap job that doesn’t budge as you and your baby wiggle through your day.
  • Lighten your load by leaving your big diaper bag in the car and carry only a few essentials in the pocket sewn into the tail of your Bali Baby Breeze.  No straps or bags will mean a cooler walk for you.  That pocket could also carry your water bottle.
  • Enjoy how small your Bali Baby Breeze wrap folds (or wads) up when not in use.  Stuff it into the built in pocket in the tail or the matching bag it came in and watch it fit easily into your diaperbag.
  • Pretend not to notice the looks of appreciation as you sport your stunning batik wrap out in public, striding confidently past onlookers like a cool, casual movie star!

Bali Baby Breeze Alice

Bali Baby Breeze Alice

Is a baby wrap too hot?

Tina wrote:

“I just had a question about using a wrap here in Florida. My daughter is 12 weeks old and loves being in the wrap, except she sweats so much! When I take her out she’s soaked in sweat, and I was just wondering if that was ok? Is there a better blend of fabric recommended for the intense heat we have here in Florida?”

Timely question, and I wanted to address it for everyone.  I’m in Florida too, and this is what I do with my five month old:

  • often she is naked or in diaper only inside the wrap.  Honestly, I don’t dress her for shopping, the park, or anywhere, when we go out in the Summer.  She’s a baby, and she can get away with it!  The exception is if I think she’ll get too much sun and I want to cover her skin.  When in the wrap, I often put a hat or scarf on her with no clothes since the wrap is covering her.
  • I keep her hydrated with plenty of nursing.  Water isn’t necessary for the exclusively breastfed baby.
  • I often use carries that put fewer layers of fabric over her.  For front carries, the kangaroo carry or the abbreviated FWCC put only one layer over the baby.  The front cross carry is very similar to the front wrap cross carry, but with only two layers instead of three.  The front wrap cross carry itself can be used with the crosses bunched on either side of her and only the one layer over her body.  A rucksack is the perfect cool back carry for mom and baby.
  • I tend to use an airier wrap–gauze is the thinnest, coolest wrap and the EllaRoo wraps are also much cooler than most of the popular German Style Woven wraps (such as Storchenwiege and Neobulle), and I find myself reaching for one of these during the hot months.
  • Sometimes I use a shorter wrap so there’s less fabric around both of us.  A shorter wrap can be used for a rucksack, abbreviated FWCC, hip cross carry, and some other great Summer wrap jobs.  It’s nice to have the option of different sized wraps.

She and I get soaked with sweat all the time in or out of the wrap.  When I nurse on the couch I have to peel her off me afterward!  And any mom who uses a carseat or stroller can attest to how hot their babies get in those.  Just make sure she is peeing normally, her soft spot isn’t unusually depressed, etc.  All the usual precautions for Florida!

Front Wrap Cross Carry with straps bunched for fewer layers.

Front Wrap Cross Carry with straps bunched for fewer layers.

Abbreviated Front Wrap Cross Carry--short wrap tied under the baby's bottom instead of in the back.

Abbreviated Front Wrap Cross Carry--short wrap tied under the baby's bottom instead of in the back.

Rucksack Carry

Rucksack Carry

May 19 Moms Circle

As predicted, I had a great time recharging with the moms and babies at our weekly moms group.  It is so nice to get together like this and talk with other moms in a way that is more conducive to discussion than your average park date!

We talked nursing (and biting), wrapping, and midwife recommendations and the merits of unassisted childbirth.  The babies were busy talking too, but none of us know what they discussed because we weren’t paying attention.

May 19 Babies' Circle

May 19 Babies' Circle

Wendy nursing Olivia and holding Journey

Wendy nursing Olivia and holding Journey

Yadira in her new wrap.

Yadira in her new wrap.

Angela and Josiah

Angela and Josiah

Gauze Wraps, and Works of Art

Bali Baby Breeze wraps have come to Wrap Your Baby and are available for sale in limited quantities.   I look forward to carrying them in all sizes very soon, but for now I am very excited to have them at all.  Here are a couple of the newly available Bali Baby Breeze wraps:

Tropical Haumea Baby Wrap

Tropical Haumea Baby Wrap

Ocean-themed Morgaine Baby Wrap

Ocean-themed Morgaine Baby Wrap

These wraps are made of lightweight gauze–perfect for Summer babywearing.  The fabric is thin and airy, both cooler and easier to manipulate than the heavier woven fabrics.

Best of all, these wraps are strikingly different from most baby wraps for sale in that they are batiked in gorgeous colors and designs along varying but consistently aesthetic motifs.  There is bound be one that is irresistible to anyone!  The perfect opportunity to add variety to your babywearing wardrobe!

Parenting Choices…Mothers Day Post

I’ve been so busy increasing inventory, putting up new web pages for new products, and sending newsletters out to my mailing list that I haven’t posted much.  I really wanted to get one in on Mothers Day, and now that the kids are in bed, I have at least half an hour left to do it!

I have realized that my parenting choices all work really well together.  Some of them would be very difficult without the others.  The choices I’m talking about, some of the things which are really important to me, are these:

  1. Unmedicated birth, especially homebirth
  2. Nursing (for more than a year)
  3. Babywearing (bet you saw that one coming)
  4. Meeting baby’s needs (not letting them “cry it out”)
  5. Taking care of my babies and children myself every day (stay-at-home-momming)
  6. Homeschooling (child-led, not curiculum-led)
  7. Not vaccinating
  8. Cloth Diapering

As mothers, we all want the best for our babies AND our families.  We can’t have happy babies without happy mommies, so it’s important that we not martyr ourselves for our children.  So there is no place to judge.

Homebirth is so much easier than hospital birth because the pregnant woman is in a comfortable place, and if she is alone or with supportive people, birth is not interfered with.  Mandated positions, food/drink prohibitions, monitoring, time-limits, and examinations can all lead to disaster–and those are just a very few of the most mild interventions that have become routine.

Nursing has never been hard for me.  One reason is that my daughters were born at home and no one interfered with our nursing.  Babies born in hospitals may be sabotaged from developing their natural nursing relationship by these means, among others: medicated birth, separation from mother (brief or long), being bathed, being swaddled, being offered bottles, and being subjected to a schedule.  Therefore homebirth made nursing easy.  The fact that the people I surround myself with are loving supporters of breastfeeding is also a huge factor.

Extended nursing–nursing until my babies are done–has been facilitated by my stay-at-home position, my group of nursing-supporting friends and family, and my babywearing, which allows me to nurse while doing other things.

Babywearing works because it is such a huge boon to my mothering that it would have been silly not to find a way to babywear.  As a stay-at-home mom I am with my baby every day, all day.  I know that holding her is best for her and she knows that she doesn’t like being put down.  Babywearing makes it all go smoothly, and allows us to nurse easily anywhere too!

I feel strongly that babies, in all their dependence, are supposed to be cared for constantly.  They are not supposed to be left alone until they can manage themselves.  They cry when their needs have not been met.  Sometimes it is impossible to meet their needs, and then we can hold them and let them know they are not alone while they are unhappy.  Constant care is not so intimidating when you realize that babies don’t need much.  Human contact and company, mother’s milk, someone to take care of their elimination and otherwise keep them comfortable, sleep.  Babywearing allows me to give my baby those things easily.  Staying home with my kids means I’m the one caring for them and I know that they get what they need.

I don’t like to say that I am lucky to be a stay-at-home mom because it’s so much more than luck.  Yes, my husband can support us with his income.  But we also live within our one-income means.  Some husbands make more money and their families cannot afford to give up the mom’s income.  Some husbands make less, and the family makes do with less.  Some people have kids and no husbands to support them.  We’ve built what we have in life, and we shape our lives around it to best fit our priorities.   One thing that makes it possible for me to take care of our kids is that we don’t pay for daycare or school.  Seems obvious, but it means that our children, so far, do not cost us much money at all.  Being a stay at home mom allows me to nurse my children as much and as long as we want.  It also allows me to hold my babies as much as possible.

Homeschool is very important to me for more reasons than I can reasonably list here.  Some biggies are that I think my children can learn more if they aren’t kept in a school all day; I don’t want to miss being with them every day; I don’t want them socialized by schoolkids; I don’t want strangers or the government choosing what to teach them.  My five year old loves learning, and so do I.  We learn all the time, and we don’t use a list to do it.  We learn out of order, anything we like, anytime we like.   We can do this because I am a stay at home mom.  This also means that we don’t have to follow a certain schedule, which means we don’t have to train our babies and children to schedules.  Instead we can see to their needs as they come up.

We don’t vaccinate because we trust and support our immune systems and we know there are many dangers in vaccines.  We try to eat well and take care of ourselves.  We do not put chemicals or medicines in our bodies if we can help it.  We are aware of and in control of these things much more because our kids are home with us.  Our children also start out with all the right immunological protection from nursing, and extended nursing means they continue to reap the benefits.

And finally cloth diapering is so much healthier for our babies, without even bringing our checkbooks (remember we’re on one income) and the planet into it.  Just as we don’t put chemicals into our bodies, we don’t store chemicals beside our babies’ genitals.  We stick to 100% cotton–natural and breathable.  And we take our babies to pee and poop in appropriate places (toilet, potty, bush) when we are in good enough communication to know that they need to go.  Because healthiest of all is not having your urine and feces on your skin at all.  Also cheaper, and easier (imagine not having to change diapers).  As a stay at home mom I am our children’s primary caregiver, and I get to choose what to put them in, and I choose NO DISPOSABLES!  Because I babywear and am usually with my baby, I am able to facilitate her elimination needs with elimination communication.

Because we spend our days together, and because we do not have an academic schedule, we are able to cloth diaper, nurse, and learn all the time, and everywhere we go, and I know that my baby or child is not left with unfulfilled needs.  At the same time, my needs can be met because we are that flexible with schedules and plans.

It works so well.  I wouldn’t change a thing!

First Foray into the Poppins Hip Carry

Belle is old enough now for me to start playing with hip carries.

I don’t know if I would even bother if I didn’t have a blog to keep up…I have never found hip carries to be as easy, comfy, or convenient as front and back carries.  I’ll try to make myself do hip carries until I love them!

When Ada was little, the hip cross carry was about the only one in the running.  Since then, some new inventions have become popular.  This one is a variation of the Poppins Hip Carry.   The Poppins Carry can be tied under the bottom with a shorter wrap, or have a second rebozo layer over the baby with a longer wrap.  With an even longer wrap, you might do what I did: I have one rebozo layer, then took my long wrap ends and reinforced it with a cross over the back and  between the legs, and tied behind.

Reinforced Poppins Hip Carry with Blue Didymos Wrap

Reinforced Poppins Hip Carry with blue Didymos Wrap

It worked well enough, but I didn’t care for the way the straps seem to frame one boob.  It doesn’t seem to be a good look (and the drunken look on my face doesn’t help).

Later I tried it in a tummy to tummy position.  Same carry, but she’s in front of me now instead of on my hip.  This seems to resolve the lopsided look.

Reinforced Poppins Carry (tummy2tummy) with my 4 month old

Reinforced Poppins Carry (tummy2tummy) with my 4 month old

Side view of the Reinforced Poppins Carry

Side view of the Reinforced Poppins Carry

The twist side view of the Reinforced Poppins Carry

The twist side view of the Reinforced Poppins Carry

The wrap spread across my back in a Poppins Hip Carry.

The wrap spread across my back in a Poppins Carry

Wearing a Three Year Old

Hanna Vogel wrote me this very nice letter that I wanted to share:

“I am so happy I stumbled across your website the other day. I am so passionate about babywearing, and now that my youngest is three have not been doing it much…and I miss it! Almost enough reason to have another baby, but when I started looking at your site it reminded me that she is still small enough to go in her sling. I got it back out last night when she was having a rough time, and popped her on my hip while making dinner. She loved it and so did I. It is amazing how light 30 pounds feels in a sling. I can’t carry her too long anymore otherwise. I am training to be a doula, and am hoping to buy more wraps and carriers to lend to my clients and help them practice with. Thank you for your wonderful website!”

I love letters like that.  Thank YOU, Hanna!  I hope you can spread the babywearing love, and I’m so glad there are women like you helping women bring babies happily into the world!

I don’t have a picture of Hanna and her daughter (wanna send me one, Hanna?) so here I am wearing my beautiful god-daughter in a one-shouldered back carry (oh, and I’m pregnant in this photo!):

Aurora on my back in a LaRae EllaRoo.

Aurora on my back in a LaRae EllaRoo.

10 Places to Wrap Your Toddler

3 year old Back Wrap Cross Carry (LaRae EllaRoo)

3 year old Back Wrap Cross Carry (LaRae EllaRoo)

  1. In a crowd–so you don’t loose each other.
  2. On a nature hike, across a creek.
  3. At the zoo, after a long day.
  4. At the beach, when you think it’s time to leave and he doesn’t.
  5. In a parking lot, when your hands are full.
  6. Anywhere, when your little one is feeling sick or vulnerable.
  7. On an errand, when you’re in a hurry.
  8. Away from home, at naptime.
  9. Wherever you are when there’s a hurricane, fire, or earthquake and you need to get your family to safety.
  10. At an event where you have to be over three feet tall to see what’s going on.

4 year old has a snack at Busch Gardens: rucksack in Mary EllaRoo

4 year old has a snack at Busch Gardens: rucksack in Mary EllaRoo

Keeping A Little Baby From Getting Lost in the Wrap

Sometimes a parent puts a little baby into a wrap carry and the baby disappears down into the fabric.  This can be upsetting to the baby and, most importantly, is dangerous.  You should always be able to see your baby’s face.  Your baby’s head should be high on your chest (in a front carry).  And your baby needs fresh air to breathe.

So here are some tips:

First, make sure you have your baby wrapped high and tight on your chest.  You should be able to kiss the top of your baby’s head easily.  My last post had some tips for tightening baby up to the right height.

Next, realize that your wrap is probably wide enough for a toddler, and that width may be swallowing up a little baby.  I personally like a wide wrap with a little baby.  The width is nice to have when you know how to use it.  You can choose where to spread it, and where to bunch it.  In the pictures below, the wide, alternating stripes of orange, green, yellow, and red, make it easy to see where I’ve bunched and spread the wrap.

The middle two stripes are spread, and the outer edges are bunched.

The middle two stripes are spread, and the outer edges are bunched.

The upper half of the wrap is spread, the two lower stripes are bunched.

The upper half of the wrap is spread, the two lower stripes are bunched.

The lower half of the wrap is spread, with the top half bunched.

The lower half of the wrap is spread, with the top half bunched.

The wrap can also be evenly bunched over baby.  The trick is to make sure that the tightness along the length (from your shoulder to opposite hip) is uniform no matter how it is bunched.  And if you find that the edges (orange and red stripes in above wrap) are tight enough, check to see if the middle of the wrap is also pulled tightly, otherwise you may have too deep a pouch that your baby can sink down into.

Another thing that you can do to keep your baby above water, is just to poke out one of your baby’s arms.  My tiny infant often slept against me with the wrap supporting her head while one arm and shoulder hung out.  When awake, both arms can be out if the baby is supporting his or her own head.

Baby's right arm is out of the wrap.

Baby's right arm is out of the wrap.

Both arms and shoulders are out of the wrap.

Both arms and shoulders are out of the wrap.

 

Getting a Snug Fit in a Front Carry

First, put your arm around your baby in the wrap and hold your baby at the position that you want him or her to be held.  While holding your baby right there with one hand, use the other hand to pull the fabric of the wrap tight so that it will hold your baby right there.  After tightening and tying the wrap, when you take your arm away from baby, your baby should not sink lower or change position.  If the baby’s position changed, you did not take all of the slack out of the wrap.  Try again.

This holding and tightening is demonstrated here in a front cross carry:

As I lift my baby, I can see where slack appeared in the wrap.

Holding baby with one hand to find the slack in the wrap.

Pull on the slack for a snug fit.

Pull on the slack for a snug fit.

I pull the slack all the way around to the knot and retie.

I pull the slack all the way around to the knot and retie.

And I have a very serviceable video showing the same technique here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ko2a_V3KmbY

One detail to note is that the width of the wrap can be tightened all together, as above, but one can also tighten just certain strands.  The wrap pictured above has four colored stripes: orange, green, yellow and red.  You could tighten just along the orange stripe, or any one of those colors, or more than one together.  For example, the green and yellow stripes (the center) might need to be tightened if baby is sinking too far down, while the edges–the orange and red–might be sufficiently tight already.

You will know where to tighten because you are taking up all the slack until the wrap is nice and evenly snug all around your baby.

Two Year Old Back Wrap

This post is just for Dannette, who wants to know how to wrap up her two year old.  First, I recommend a back carry.  By this age it gets unwieldy to wear them on the front and a back carry is more comfortable than a hip carry.

If your son is going to want to go up and down a lot, I recommend the Rucksack Carry, as it is the fastest to get up and down.  It is also great for the Summer with only one layer of wrap over your toddler.  This is the one I used when we were at the zoo when Ada was two and three years old.  Her legs would get tired so up she’d go.  A few minutes later she’d see something interesting and down she’d come.  A few minutes later she wanted to be carried again…

The Rucksack can be done tied around the waist, which is the fastest and easiest method for me and I demonstrate it with a toddler in this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=58nFvouWcfE&feature=player_embedded

The Rucksack can also be tied Tibetan style which you can see if you scroll down to the bottom of my rucksack page: http://www.wrapyourbaby.com/rucksack.htm

Or the Rucksack can be done with a short wrap (rebozo), and simply tied under your child’s bottom, instead of brought back around to the front to tie.  This way there is nothing going around your waist and you have less wrap to carry while your toddler is not up.  Here we are with a Rucksack tied under the bottom at the zoo when Ada was two:

rucksack-giraffe

For longer wearing, say if you expect him to stay wrapped up for a hike, a grocery trip, or if you expect him to fall asleep, a multi-layered carry might prove more comfortable in the long run.  Whereas the rucksack Carry supports your child with one layer of fabric, other carries that wrap around your child more than once often feel more supportive for a heavier child.  Try one of these:

The Double Hammock Carry is my favorite with a little baby, but it is extremely supportive with a bigger child as well.  The weight of your child is spread across your entire torso, waist, and both shoulders.  In this video I demonstrate the DHC with a sleeping toddler:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0h-QqZms9Qw

The Back Wrap Cross Carry is also very supportive, but the child may ride lower on your back, and not be able to see over your shoulders.  It’s great for a sleeping big kid, and I demonstrate it with a four year old girl: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jx_7rpzmDwY

Answering Questions About Babywearing

Take a deep breath and remember that some people are completely unfamiliar with babywearing.  The most important thing is not to let them upset you.  The best thing would be to let them see how wonderful babywearing is.  But the key is “let them.”  People are rarely persuaded by force!

Sometimes a casual, heartfelt comment hits a lot deeper than a list of resources or a defensive rebuttal.

Try out these simple, non-confrontational explanations of babywearing, and make them your own by talking up the biggest general benefit that you, personally, have enjoyed.

  • My baby’s happier this way, and that makes me happier!
  • Babywearing makes things easier for me.
  • I love showing off my baby and this way I can take her everywhere with me!
  • My baby enjoys this so much more than the stroller.
  • This way I don’t have to lug around that heavy carseat.
  • After going through labor, I think I deserve to keep my baby close!
  • Wearing her is so much easier on me, physically.

And, in response to any suggestion of a negative effect of babywearing (ie spoiling), you can always reply that babywearing is working great for you right now and you’ll make any changes if and when they become necessary!