My husband and I became licensed foster parents in Feb 2003 and Rashad (born 12/03) came to live with us. We bought an Infantino baby carrier but used it little because of the ordeal of putting the baby in and out. Didn’t think of many other solutions, so built upper arm strength and dealt with crying when he had to be put down.

Fast forward. It’s August, time to take the kids from church to the Rennaisance festival. Now, I know that I’m not the most historically accurate person out there, but I DO know that strollers are dreadfully anachronistic. And the paths aren’t paved or flat. I convince (or trick) my husband to let me sling. I do my internet research (i.e. I find the mamatoto site after trying 3 others….it’s the BEST I found).

Rashad and I practice. He likes being close. I like having TWO arms free.

At the Fest, our favorites are the front cross carry and the hip carry – the kids find it fascinating, a merchant comments on how sling babies are happier, hers was a sling baby, did you buy that sling – No? It’s just a piece of cloth! Wow! Good for you!

I’m in love. I can hold Rashad while securing the sling. I can get him in and out and even (with practice) move him around when he’s sleeping. I have TWO arms that I can use to do things. I have many many options in something that folds very small and I can have around with me anywhere. My husband has observed that the child has never ever fallen out of the sling and was persuaded that knots, in general, tighten when tension is applied

That same piece of cloth lives in my car when not in use. It is the BEST thing for when I take the Metro in to my husband at work – he’s close to me, he’s comfortable, he’s maneuverable, he’s close but able to move, I can sit in bus and train seats and stand up. Recently we babysat another foster child, and Daquan in the stroller and Rashad on the hip worked very very well for getting where we needed to go.

I can NOT understand why I don’t see more slings in real life.

Rashad didn’t really have attachment issues. I can imagine that if I had thought of it and my husband had been tricked into agreeing earlier, Rashad probably would have felt more secure earlier on, and we wouldn’t have had the anguish of having to put him down to get things accomplished. He is calmer and more relaxed when in a sling. I can imagine during those first weeks with the crying and back arching and screaming that if he has been securely snuggled it would have had a shorter duration. For an infant who is feeling very abandoned by being away from his normal smells and routine, having an all day hug would make him feel more secure and start him assosciating comfort with the person who’s wearing him.

I don’t think it’s a much different testimony from any regular mother who wears her baby. But Rashad is foster, and hopefully eventually adopted, and any other child we receive who is foster or adopt, I plan to sling.

I am so glad that I did the research and know about slings. Tomorrow we take the train into the city. A stroller through turnstiles and up escalators? No way! A sling is the ideal, I can’t imagine a better way. (And they don’t recall 6 yards of fabric because a fastener is defective like the one baby carrier I just saw a recall on!)

Babywearing has made me a happier mommy!

~Sandee Cogan