Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Please Research: Babywearing

So, I've been a bad babywearing advocate. For the past week, babywearers everywhere have been celebrating International Babywearing Week! Of course, it ended yesterday, and I am only now posting about it. Such is the mother's lament. However, there has been no shortage of babywearing blog posts, especially since Motrin, in a genious move, decided to put forth an ad bashing babywearers. Don't even ask what they were thinking, but they have issued an apology...after the wrath that they dealt with via email. (Oh, yeah, I emailed them!)

Anyway, I would like to put forth my ever friendly reminder to -Please Research- babywearing. There are studies that show babies that are worn cry less, grow up to be more independent, and (believe it or not) are smarter! Plus, it feels so great to have your baby close by! There are TONS of fancy carriers to choose from, or you can just use a simple piece of cloth. I, myself, have a ring sling, a mei tai, and a couple of wraps. I love my wraps the best. And, I have made everything myself, so I didn't break the bank just to wear my baby.

There are so many reasons to wear your baby, I can't even begin to list them. If you wear your baby correctly, it should NOT hurt. There is a learning curve for using carriers, especially those like wraps. But, once you figure it out, you can get so much more done while you are wearing your little loved one! People all around the world wear their babies! It's sad that our Western culture is just now figuring it out.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

Oh yeah I was FIRED up about this one. Have you seen the suave ad that actually shows women babywearing. 3 hurrays for them!

Mallory said...

I actually HAVE seen the Suave ad. I am really glad that a lot more people are getting the good word out on babywearing. Even if, to our culture, it does seem like a fad...maybe more people will wear their babies regularly. They will learn how great it is, and it will no longer be just a fad, but a restored cultural aspect of parenting. Wouldn't that be wonderful!?! (Especially if the majority of people started practicing all aspects of attachment parenting!)