Monday, April 13, 2015

5 Thoughts on Baby-Wearing from a Reformed Baby-Wearer.


I hardly ever wore my first two babies. As a matter of fact, I can count on one hand the number of times that I wore my first, four and a half years ago. It wasn't something that worked for me back then nor was it something that made my life easier, or something I was overly passionate about. 

But then I had a third baby and unlike I had wished, a third arm and hand did not sprout from behind my back. I had three kids under the age of five and only two hands and I still had a house to run. Lunches to be made. Heinies to wipe, sippies to pour and hell, sometimes I even wanted to drink my coffee lukewarm. 

Something had to give and so I began dabbling in the world of baby-wearing. 

When he was an infant, I wore Collins in the K'tan . It's a sling-like soft carrier (very similar to wrap fabric) that you slipped on and tucked baby easily and safely inside. I think what scared me off from baby-wearing my first was two things: lack of knowledge and the insane, overwhelming amount of fabric of the Moby. The K'tan eliminated all of that. 

Around six weeks in, I transitioned from the K'tan to an SSC or a soft structured carrier like the Ergo. For what it's worth, the K'tan can be used from 8lbs. to 35lbs. That's like from newbornhood through pre-school but in order to keep up with the big boys, I needed something with a little more structure to it which is why I changed over to the Ergo. I've used both the Ergo and the comparable Beco Gemini and Beco Soleil and hands down my favorite of the three has been the Gemini, mostly because Collins prefers to be carried on the front, facing out, something that I could only do with my Gemini. From back carry, front carry to hip carry, we've tried and loved them all. I love my Beco carriers so much that I even became an ambassador for their brand!

At nearly 12 months old, I wear Collins daily. Yes, you read that right. I went from having hardly worn my first two babies to wearing my third nearly every single day of the week. Whether I'm running into the grocery store to pick up dinner, taking a family stroll through the neighborhood or just trying to empty the dishwasher, wearing Collins has made my life so. much. easier. 

In fact, here are 5 quick thoughts on baby-wearing from a reformed baby-wearer: 

1. Baby-wearing places your baby at optimum head-sniffing height. This way, you don't even need to sneak a whiff of that sweet smelling baby-ness- it's right there in front of your nose the whole time! 

2. Baby-wearing hides the post-partum belly pooch. At nearly 12 months post partum I wonder how long I can go on calling it that. But whatever the case, wearing your baby hides that extra little fluff around the middle better than SPANX. After all, you can take deep breaths on the regular while baby-wearing, something you can't always do while wearing SPANX. 

3. Baby-wearing allows you to get shit done. Things like emptying the dishwasher, eating your lunch with two hands and zooming Hot Wheels cars along an imaginary track with your three and five year old. 

4. Baby-wearing keeps strangers (and unwanted family members) from touching and/or holding your baby. Headed to a family reunion and don't want people groping your baby? Stick him in a wrap! Problem solved. 

5. Baby-wearing is an easy workout. Have you every tried vacuuming with twenty-seven pounds strapped to your chest? Calories burned, my friend. That's all that matters! 

Oh and did I mention optimum head-sniffing height? Because come on. You know you want to. There are even studies out there that talk about the increased bonding that occurs during baby-wearing, promoting healthy brain activity and all that good stuff- it just makes sense sometimes! 


Recently I started wearing Collins in a ring sling from Rockin Baby. When I first started, it was my first experience using a ring sling and although it took a few YouTube videos to get it just right, I've been a smitten kitten ever since (and judging by his face up there, you can tell he's loving it, too!) 

So what's so great about Rockin' Baby, you say? Well, for every sling purchased, they give away a Hero Sling to mothers who are in desperate need in Haiti and Kenya. That's also pretty amazing, if you ask me. 

I really like the Rose of My Heart reversible fabric sling because it keeps my baby close and my hands free. I also love that it's the perfect pop of floral among a very testosterone-heavy household. Easy to slip on and adjust with just the tug of the fabric, I like to keep my sling in the car and use it when I'm out running errands, such as pick-up and drop-off from pre-school and running into the grocery store.    

The folks at Rockin' Baby love to give and to help others so much that they've offered to give away the very same Rose of My Heart sling to one lucky ILYMTC reader! 

You can enter below using the Rafflecopter widget. Good luck! 


a Rafflecopter giveaway


I received a sling free of charge from the kind folks at Rockin' Baby. 
All thoughts expressed are my own. Additional compensation was not received. 


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37 comments :

  1. I'm a fool for baby wearing and the more I do it the more I enjoy it! I haven't ventured into the ring sling world yet though... My poor first was stuck with a baby bjorn, better than nothing, I suppose.

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  2. I wish I never had my first son get used to falling asleep with me in the room when he transitioned beds!

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  3. One thing I currently wish I had done differently with my nugget is teach her to nap by herself. Since she was born she has napped on me in some way and now at 11mo she will. Not. Nap. Alone. (Seriously I tried for 8 days) she is strong willed this one. She will cry the whole time in her crib but if I lay with her (and remain for the entire nap) she will nap well...this will not be possible with a second baby....I will learn the ways !

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  4. I wish I would have let her sleep more in the beginning. I was so into feeding her every 2-3 hours because every one was saying babies shouldn't go longer than 3 hours, I would wake her up come three. Looking back I think if she wanted to eat she would have woken up on her own.

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  5. So far, nothing. 😁 am I allowed to say that? I'll probably change my tune when/if we are blessed with more babies.

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  6. One thing I wish I had done differently is teach my babe to nap by herself. At 11 month old she still needs me to nap with her. She will. not. nap. alone ! (I tried for 8 days once, thinking she would give in...) she's very strong willed and eventually would just wait for the opportunity to fall asleep on me while I held her or nursed her...this one went in the "mistakes not to make with second baby" vault

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  7. YES! I just started baby wearing this time around and LOVE it - especially the way it hides leaky boobs and a baby belly!

    P.S. I wish I hadn't obsessed so much about doing everything "by the books" - especially scheduling - with my first baby. This time, I'm not even using an app to keep track of feedings, I'm just going with it!

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  8. I'm on my first baby so I'm still learning everything and being completely obsessive about doing everything right...maybe that's what I need to do differently. I need to relax! Haha!

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  9. I wish I'd kept a better journal of milestones, and cute things they did and said!

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  10. Breastfeeding! I was a thousand times more patient with my second (and will be with my third boy) than I was with my first. I was physically and emotionally devastated when I was forced to quit with my second due to supply issues.

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  11. Love baby wearing! It's the only way to get things done.

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  12. I wish I listened to my gut more and forgot about what the books said! They grow up so fast

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  13. One of many things I wish I would have done differently is savor there littleness instead of wishing it away.

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  14. Wish I did differently… um, yelling? As in, NOT yelling? It's a daily struggle, especially after repeating myself 462 times for my 4 year old to put her shoes on or something equally taxing. Sigh. Yeah.. the yelling.

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  15. I wish I could learn to have a smidge more patience with my threenager. She is my Karma - just like me and knows exactly how to push my buttons.

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  16. I am still on baby number 1 but after last night I wish I had allowed him to fall asleep on his own occasionally so every wale up wouldn't mean boob time.

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  17. I am still on baby number 1 but after last night I wish I had allowed him to fall asleep on his own occasionally so every wale up wouldn't mean boob time.

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  18. I can easily see how they are useful with in getting things done.

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  19. My 1st baby isn't due until next month, so I don't really have regrets yet...unless you count not starting on his nursery sooner!

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  20. I to did not wear my 1st and now I feel late to the party! I bought the k'tan after you and some other IG friends raved about it but now I am trying to figure out the next 1 to get. I need something that will work in conjunction with me wearing her feeding pump on my back.....
    I wish I had done more research the 1st time around and not been so stubborn about baby wearing!

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  21. I just had my second and have been meaning to try out a few carriers but have felt so intimidated!!

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  22. I have a 5 week old son (my first) and I don't know if I would do anything differently necessarily… but I am constantly trying to tell myself to soak it in because he won't be little for long! He has already grown so much!

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  23. That sling is beautiful and I just want to share a tip with you. Try pulling the fabric over your shoulder and down your arm rather than having it all on your neck. This will distribute the weight much better and should help make it more comfortable for you. :)

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    1. Thanks so much Emily! I'm still learning! Another reader pointed that out and in previous pictures I've posted wearing the sling, I've done that- it just slipped my mind while I was wearing Collins and having my husband take pictures! Thanks for reminding me to slow down and be more cognizant! I need my back and neck to last me a looooong time! Haha!

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  24. I had planned on wearing my boy a lot more than I did. I'm thinking that when my second comes along I will be wearing him/her a lot more than I did with my first.

    I definitely regret beating myself up about low milk supply. I tried EVERYTHING, and nothing worked. I eventually had to switch to just formula and it was very hard on me. Now that we are about to start working on baby 2, I know that there is a good chance that I won't make enough milk and I am ok with that. Still going to try breastfeeding, but there will not be as many tears if it doesn't work out.

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  25. I wish I had tried harder at nursing.

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  26. had a smidge more patience when they were adamant that they could do something by themselves and it obviously wasn't working.

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  27. With Easton...babywearing would be one...although as he gets older, there are so many more things. Patience is a big thing for me. With Emerson, I wish I would have had more help with her early on. She's been ALL about me from day 1...and while that's wonderful and i'm glad i'm her fave...it's also exhausting to be ON 24.7. i love this sling...hope i win!

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  28. I hardly wore #1, got shit done while wearing #2, and fully expect to keep up with #1 & #2 while wearing #3! I would LOVE to own a rockin' ring sling!

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  29. I wish i had more time with my kids. And I will if I can wear my second while doing chores. He always wants to be held! Thanks for the chance!

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  30. I wish I wore both of my boys as infants more. Once they were about six months, they both enjoyed being in a carrier more.

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  31. I didn't baby wear with my first baby, but now that I am pregnant with #2, I am thinking it is going to be an absolute necessity!

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  32. I wish we would have had my hubby help more with Baby#1. She's almost three now and still wants only me. Baby#2 is much better b/c he had to help with her!!

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  33. I wish I would have taken more videos of there sweet newbornness.

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  34. I wish we had a bigger house for him to explore! Although now he is becoming more mobile, so maybe it's a good thing that he is corralled...

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  35. I wish I didn't slide down the slide at the playground with my 11 month old on my lap (just 4 short days from her first birthday). On the trip down her leg kicked out and got a toddler fracture and is now in a full leg cast. Talk about mommy guilt and what a first birthday gift :(. This sling would be immensely helpful right now as she just wants to be held.

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  36. I wish I snuggled more instead of worrying about insert silly thing here (dishes, laundry, cleaning, etc.)... She's only 5 1/2 months but snuggling in that perfect spot is getting less frequent!

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