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Happy Baby |
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Babywearing Should Be COMFORTABLE |
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Maybe you've tried one-shoulder carriers, such as a ring sling, a pouch or a shawl, and found them terribly uncomfortable. You may have tried two shoulder carriers with narrow straps and buckles and such, and found those equally uncomfortable. You may be tempted to give up on babywearing. This is understandable. Please know that the parents on the Mamatoto site are not martyrs. We do not wear our babies in pain. It is possible for you to find a babywearing solution that will be comfortable for you.
If you already have a one-shoulder carrier (ring sling, pouch, shawl) and you find it uncomfortable, I have several recommendations:
read the troubleshooting instructions for that type of carrier
contact the manufacturer for help
get help from a friend who has the same type of carrier
There are several carriers that distribute the baby's weight evenly over BOTH shoulders. A wrap is an excellent example. Other options are the ABCs and their cousins, the Ergo and Sutemi.
By far, the most comfortable baby carrier is a wrap. Much of the discomfort parents experience while babywearing is due to the baby hanging on the parent's body. With a wrap, the baby's body weight does not shift separately from yours. Instead, the baby is wrapped ONTO your body, not hanging from your shoulders. Also, the "straps" of the wrap can be spread out very well over your shoulders so they don't dig in like some other carriers do. Of course, it is possible to tie a wrap on in a way that is uncomfortable. If you tie the wrap on and find that you are uncomfortable, try again. You should expect that it will be comfortable. If it is not, you know that you need to tweak your technique a little or try a different position.
Another excellent option for supreme comfort is a torso carry. Mothers who work all day in the fields and markets around the world invented torso carries. Mothers in much of Africa as well as Asia do torso carries using their wrap around skirts (like pareos), a scrap of cloth, a towel or even a small blanket. In Korea, where it can get quite chilly, mothers have modified the original blanket carriers by adding straps. This is called the Podeagi. | ~Tracy Dower
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Get Help Learning Babywearing |
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Babywearing
is an art. Some people can learn everything they will ever need to know
about babywearing by viewing this site. Others need hands-on help. There are babywearing classes
around the world. Hopefully, there will be classes near you. If not,
perhaps you will become the expert for your community and begin
teaching classes one day. In the mean time, you have other options. The
Tummy-to-Tummy Babywearing DVD
is absolutely awesome -- it's nearly 3 hours of personal babywearing
instruction in the comfort of your home. You can pause, fast forward,
rewind as many times as you need. There’s also an excellent book by Dr.
Maria Blois on the art of babywearing in which you will find
step-by-step instructions for many babywearing techniques. Whether
viewing this site, using the
babywearing DVD, or The Babywearing Book,
you will probably find it helpful to have a learning partner. If you
find any of the instructions on this website unclear, please let me
know -- not only for your own sake but the for the sake of others who
may be too shy to speak up: maintenance@wearyourbaby.org.
Best Wishes,
Tracy Dower
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Got $5 & 5 mins?
Make a Carrier! |
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More Help |
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You are a Master Babywearer |
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In China, it is said that "A master is anyone who knows more than you do." So, you are all master babywearers compared with most of the moms in the world. You do NOT need to know everything there is to know about babywearing -- if you know even ONE carry with even ONE type of carrier, you are in possession of knowledge other moms desperately want -- even if they do not yet know they want it. ;-D Therefore, you should all feel confident enough to teach others! So, pick a public place, pick a day of the week, and start sharing your skills with other families! Then, list yourself here.
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Report a Problem |
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Broken link? Missing image? Misspelled word? Inadequate instructions? Please email maintenance@wearyourbaby.org. I cannot respond to every email, but I do appreciate your help. I will email you back if I can. Thanks, Tracy Dower
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