And my favorite carrier is…A ring sling!

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So, you’ve decided you want to wear your baby, (Why babywearing?)

Now, why use a ring sling?

6 day old baby in Maya Wrap sling gazing up at mother

Love that newborn connection!

Here are my top 10 reasons:

  1. Hides my mummy tummy.
  2. Infinitely adjustable and easily shared with other care givers of all sizes.
  3. Can be put on one handed without putting down my crying baby.
  4. Packs down super small in my diaper bag.
  5. Machine washable without any special considerations.
  6. Easy nursing access, with built in cover-up if desired.
  7. Comes in a great variety of prices, patterns and colors.
  8. No newborn inserts needed.
  9. No toddler extenders needed.
  10. Doesn’t bind or pinch or make my squishy parts bulge, or worse yet, sweat!
  11. Bonus, good in any weather, to the beach, to the pool, under a coat, over a coat, etc.

 

Not all people will find these reasons the most compelling, and I agree that baby packs, soft structured carriers, mei tais and wraps all have a place in the babywearing pantheon of wonderfulness. But in my experience, carrying 7 children over the last 17 years, a ring sling has consistently been the most useful and versatile in my vast collection of carriers. My 6th child is 4 years old and has Down Syndrome and currently weighs 35 pounds, and I can still carry him in a ring sling for as long as he wants to be carried.

newborn feet peeking out of a storchenwiege inka ring sling

Brand new, only 6 days old!

Preschooler with Down Syndrome in gold silk Sakura Bloom sling in front of Sakura Bloom display at JPMA ABC kids show

30 pound toddler

Why Babywearing?

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As a part of a just for fun contest in 2004 I wrote my top 10 reasons for babywearing:

  1. Puts that sweet little baby head in just the right spot to kiss.
  2. There’s no cuter accessory than your darling little one.
  3. Provides strength/resistance training that naturally increases in difficulty over time.
  4. Makes it easy to wiggle through crowds and department store aisles.
  5. Available in styles and colors to suit any personality.
  6. Makes hands free nursing possible.
  7. Frees you from the couch to regain your bathroom privileges.
  8. Prevents aching muscles during those marathon floor-pacing events.
  9. Fits easily into a SMART car, no Suburban necessary.
  10. It’s healthy for you and your baby too!

Seriously though, babywearing is the biological norm. What this means is that your baby expects to be held close to your heart, specifically, situated along the c-afferent nerves, stretching down from your chest to your umbilicus. Here, the baby can hear your heartbeat, feel your breath, and sync with your body rhythms. Your body similarly responds, releasing oxytocin (frequently along with a warm contented sigh!) and warming to just the right temperature for your baby.

Of course this can be done just by holding baby with your arms, and for as many days as you can remain in bed isolated from your other tasks, you will probably find great joy in doing so. But eventually the time will come when you need to use the bathroom, or make some food, or wash baby’s clothes, etc. At this time the sling can take the place of your arms, keeping baby in the safest place possible, while still allowing you to re-emerge into daily activity.

Because you have responded to your baby’s biological need, he will cry less, spend more time in quiet, alert observation and develop secure that his needs will be met.

As your baby becomes older and more able to spend time outside of immediate contact with you, you will find that she readily embraces new challenges, knowing that she can hurry back to you and her safe spot in the baby carrier. You will probably not realize the last time that you carry your baby, as you will be so distracted by your pride in how brave and independent she has become.