Strollerderby : babywearing

Danger Babies: Why Why Why?

Amy Kuras — Thu, 12 Mar 2009 20:01:00 GMT

I am heading into Toddlerdom: The Sequel so one would think I am fairly imperturbable by now, but not so much. Reading this story from USA Today about the terrifying near-misses toddlers get themselves into alternately made me laugh, screech in horror and knock every piece of wood I could reach, lest I tempt fate by finding any of this the least bit amusing.

We’re talking kids who unlock gates and toddle into the street – at 18 months of age. When they had been sound asleep in bed. Twins who boost each other over the baby gate.

This makes my near misses sound mild (my daughter pulled her toy shelf onto herself and a TV down on the floor, both of which still give me the twitches when I think about how lucky we were things were not much, much worse).

But there are some evolutionary reasons for this heart-stopping behavior, apparently. Gumming everything may expose them to tiny amounts of germs that help strengthen their immune systems, and eating dirt maybe gets them some iron (I don’t know, my daughter was borderline anemic and my funniest memory of her first mobile summer was watching her sit in the garden while I worked and just fling dirt over her head and attempt to eat it).

Of course, then you’d think evolution would breed this dangerous behavior out of them –but children in early hunter gather cultures were carried in slings throughout toddlerhood, giving hem less opportunity to get into stuff.

Honestly, I think it’s better for kids to be a little more free-range once they can stand on their own little feet. Even the most dedicated babywearers I know tend to let them down a little more once they are bigger, and both my kids have to be on the move to be happy.

But there are days when swaddling him in bubble wrap doesn’t seem like the worst idea. What’s your best “mear miss” moment with a toddler?

Babywearing Moms New Pain in Motrin's Side

JeanneSager — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 16:33:00 GMT

An ad that debuted on Motrin's Website during International Babywearing Week (which ends tomorrow in case any of you want to make a sling cake and celebrate) has the mom-blogosphere a-buzzing. They're giving me a headache.

Babywearing moms around the nation say the pain reliever is picking on them for choosing perhaps the most "attachment-oriented" of all attachment parenting methods. The ad says wearing your baby seems to be in fashion and "in theory, it's a great idea." It even lists some of the reasons so many moms have run out to buy a carrier or sling, from "going hands-free" to the various places you can prop your papoose (back, side, front . . ).

But the focus of the ad? It's on moms who experience pain while babywearing. ("These things put a ton of strain on your back, your neck, your shoulders. Did I mention your back?!") I know, total shocker coming out of a company that sells . . . wait for it . . .pain relievers. Did you really think they were going to spend money an ad telling you their product isn't necessary?

The moms have been tweeting away on Twitter about the need to boycott Motrin's parent company, Johnson & Johnson. They're using words like "disgusts me," "insulting," and "absolutely infuriating."

I found one sentence of the whole thing a little condescending - "it totally makes me look like an official mom." Being an official mom takes more than a look or a baby sling. But the rest of it? Talking about putting up with the pain because it's a "good kind of pain," and looking "tired and crazy"? That's pretty darn realistic for some moms. Notice I said "some," not all. In fact, a lot of babywearing moms report trial and error before finding a position that worked for mom AND for baby. For some, it just never works - despite multiple attempts, they're not going to find a carrier that makes the baby weigh less or makes the baby less likely to move around and throw them off kilter. I tried two different carriers and never was able to get the hang of it - eventually ending up in physical therapy thanks to the enormous strain put on my back first by my pregnancy and later by carrying my daughter. When the therapist suggested I just "not carry my daughter," I laughed in her face.

What I find condescending are the moms out there who insist that this will scare of would-be babywearers. Motherhood isn't glamorous. And we do sacrifice plenty for our kids (so do dads, by the way, who carry their kids in their arms, in carriers, in slings . . . ). But considering how many of us know childbirth is going to hurt and sign up for the whole she-bang anyway, I think we deserve a little more credit.

Image: Motrin

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Beware of Dangerous Slings

Amy Kuras — Thu, 10 Apr 2008 22:19:00 GMT

Once used mostly by hippies and crunchies, slings have become an extra trendy way of carrying babies and toddlers.

But as convenient, cool and snuggly as slings are, they may not be the safest choice to carry a baby. According to the Consumer Reports safety blog, standards setting organization ASTM International is starting the process to create standards for sling carriers, at the request of manufacturers.

Improper use or ring failure can result in bruises, fractures or other injuries when a baby falls out of the sling, and the Consumer Products Safety Commission has found a risk of "positional asphyxia" when a baby's head is too far forward in the sling and their airway is cut off. CPSC has recalled slings in the past, including, last year, the Infantino pictured.

According to the blog, "Most of the sling carriers demonstrated at the ASTM meeting seemed complicated to put on and prone to user error. Clear instructions and perhaps video demonstrations might help prevent mistakes."

Hah, I say. The brand of sling I use has video demonstrations right on its website. Do you know what they use to demonstrate? A doll. Which is smaller, lighter, and a hell of a lot less wiggly and floppy than any infant I've ever met.

What worked for me is always putting the baby in the sling over a soft surface like the couch or bed, so if I do slip up their fall will be cushioned. Also, I tend not to use the sling a lot until they are a little older and have more head control. And getting a friend who both uses the same kind of sling you do and has a lick of sense about positioning the baby in it is really helpful, since "complicated to put on" is a bit of an understatement for even the simple pouch sling I use.

"Beauty of Babywearing" Contest—Multi-tasking Is Pretty?

Kelly Mills — Tue, 18 Sep 2007 16:01:00 GMT

I've probably told you I never win anything ever, but maybe you aren't like me. Maybe you look beautiful with your baby in one of the slings sold at the Sling Station or Peppermint--so lovely that you could take a picture. Maybe you are "A multi-tasking woman whose hands are free to continue on about life," and your version doesn't include the kind of crabby expression and stained clothing my version does. You probably don't even use that free hand to flip people the bird because you are so tired and irritable from all your multitasking. If you are a beautiful babywearer, you could enter the "Beauty of Babywearing" contest and take home the prize--a $100 gift certificate to the Sling Station or Peppermint, and y'know, get your self a brand new sling. So brush the toast crumbs off your baby's head, strike a maternal pose.

Most of my babywearing moments were marked by me trying to get my wallet out of my giant diaper bag or attempting not to splash dishwater all over the sling as my child dangled precariously from my chest, but I bet that's just me. Remember: I'm not a winner. You could be. There's even multiple categories: Artistic (think black and white, folks); Creative babywearing location (the Andes!); Best baby smile; or Cutest child babywearer (meaning a kid wearing a baby, I think. I hope.) You just have to send in your picture by October 31st, 2007.

Babywearing: A Sling Wrap-Up

Karen Murphy — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 14:11:00 GMT

Slings are hip now, no longer hippie. I own, uh, eight of them. But that doesn't make me hip, just obsessed maybe. Anyway, babywearing has a long history. Used for centuries in many countries and cultures, in recent years in Western cultures it was mostly in the purview of those annoying attachment-parenting-practicing parents (Yes! I am one! sort of!) and championed by Drs. William and Martha Sears as a cure-all to practically anything that could possibly ail a baby.

So I get that wearing your baby, carrying it around all day, helps them feel comfortable and nurtured, and gives you time to get stuff done. I get that. The problem is, until fairly recently, babywearing gear was butt-ugly. When my older son was born, being the Good Mommy that I was trying to be, I asked The Ex to bring home a baby carrier. I had in mind something sleek and simple, like a Baby Bjorn. But no. I got a powder-blue Ugly Snugli. Which I could not bear to be seen wearing in private let alone in public, so that child ended up in the stroller. Which he adored.

The next baby got the Baby Bjorn. I knew what I wanted. Before that, I got all teary from reading too many issues of Mothering and bought a New Native Baby Carrier, which was much better-looking, in my mind, than those ginormous padded ring slings (which many mamas swear by! which is wonderful! I just couldn't get past the thing screaming HELLO LOOK AT ME I AM WEARING A BABY AND A LOT OF PADDING at me, plus when I borrowed one and tried vacuuming for 30 minutes with my daughter in it I wished later for a chiropractor, so let's just say it didn't work for me), and I loved how it folded up so small! so handy! so packable! And I used it a lot at the grocery store. But then she got the Bjorn and really found her niche. (I found out later that sling proponents say that the Bjorn-style carriers mess up a baby's hip development, and I have to say I'm a little bothered by the sight of very young infants in one, with their poor little dangly legs and wobbly heads.)

The next and final baby had the advantage of having all the kinks worked out on his siblings. This baby was going to have the best! Plus he was small so the sling thing worked for a long time. Our favorite, from its portability and adjustableness (that is too a word! if I say it is!), was the Maya Wrap Pouch. Similar to the New Native, yet adjustable in length so it fit my son in a variety of situations (coats on, coats off, various wearers, etc.), this one got a lot of use. Another great sling was the Didymos, basically a long length of fabric tied around you and the baby in various configurations to create different wraps for different babies' needs. This one is very comfortable when you're wearing it and holds the baby securely, but there's a huge learning curve in the various ties and wraps and it can be a bit daunting. Plus the Didy is a bit pricey, though there are lots of alternatives. A wonderful and easier-to-learn alternative is the Asian-style carrier, very beautiful and also comfortable, worn front or back. I got a custom Mei Tai from Free Hand Baby that I adored (I told you I was a bit obsessed), and found it easy to tie and comfortable, and my son really liked it.

Daunted by all the choices? The site that helped me the most was Peppermint.com, which has this great guide to choosing the best sling for you. Still don't see anything you like? How about this totally freaking expensive cashmere sling from Oopa Baby?