Is Babywearing for Everyone?

It's no secret that I kind of love babywearing. But many new parents may be reluctant to try it.

Some give it a go and then stop soon afterward.

Let’s have a look at some of the reasons why people might be reluctant to try babywearing, or to persevere with it if it doesn’t feel right initially.

We will also look at some of the best bits about babywearing and why it might be good for you and your baby to give it a try (with the right baby carrier that is!)

Is babywearing for everyone?

Babywearing has been around as long as men and women have walked upright. Long before prams and cars, people were nomadic and also quite busy. Parents still had stuff to do, and without the luxury of wheels, they strapped their babies to their backs and got on with life.

Now we have the convenience of wonderfully designed prams, as well as roads, footpaths and shopping aisles to glide them easily along. Why do we need to go back to babywearing again?

Sure, it worked for parents thousands of years ago, but is that any reason to keep doing it now?

Reasons why Parents are reluctant to start babywearing

My pram is all I need

Prams today are pretty awesome, I must admit. The more expensive ones can even be light, fold up tiny and are super-easy to drive.

I find that with babywearing however, there are so many more things you can do and places you can go that a pram still can’t get to.

These include:

• Going for a nature walk or an interesting hike
• Going to the beach
• Cooking dinner and doing jobs around the house
• Shops with narrow aisles or lots of people
• Going to the cinema or the theatre
• Whenever you need to walk with your baby and carry an umbrella at the same time.
• Or when living in an apartment block that doesn’t have an elevator, or a house that has stairs into the living areas or main sections of the house.

Plus, babywearing offers a level of comfort and connection for your baby that a pram simply cannot compete with.

There are too many carriers to make a choice

There is an awful lot of choice when it comes to carriers, but this should make the market more competitive, giving you more reason to buy one, rather than less.

But do your research – talk to friends, read online reviews and connect with customer service of the brands you like to make sure that your questions are answered before you purchase. New mum forums on websites and groups on social media can also be a good source of advice.

I’m not fit enough

Many women aren’t 100% after they’ve given birth (many…. I mean all!) so it’s reasonable to take a few steps to getting strong enough to carry your little one.

If you are recovering from childbirth it is important that you talk to your doctor about what you need to heal, and when it would be safe to try carrying your baby.

You may also find that your core strength isn’t what it used to be, and you may need some concentrated exercises to help you build this muscle strength up again. Babywearing around the house and on short walks close to home is a good place to start.

I don’t want to waste money on something my baby will just quickly outgrow

It is true that you are forking out quite a bit of money when your baby is born. In the lead up to the birth and in the first six months afterward your doctor’s bills and shopping receipts can get a bit painful to look at.

The right carrier should support your baby for at least their first 12 months however, with good quality ones and the right care they should still be good for any other siblings.

Reasons why parents might try babywearing, but give up easily

It was uncomfortable for me

The right carrier, when worn in the right position, should not be uncomfortable for you. But many of them are a bit complicated and easy to get in the wrong position, especially if they need to be adjusted for each individual wearer or are quite bulky.

Look for a carrier that is described as simple to use and read the online reviews about it as well to get the feedback from other parents. Read the user manual thoroughly and watch any online tutorials before you start using it to make sure you have figured out what to do (but a good carrier shouldn’t be that complex to begin with)

My baby didn’t like it

This is just the beginning of your wonderful wilful little child letting you know that she has her own independent mind. The key is to practice beforehand so that you feel comfortable and confident, and they will feel this reassurance from you and to try it when both you and baby are calm. Please also refer to the blog “Marsupi Tips: How to introduce your Carrier” for more info on introducing your carrier for the first time.

I don’t find that I need it – my pram is enough

Babywearing can be one of those healthy habits that you need to persist a little bit with, but that you always feel better about once you find your groove. Like taking up regular exercise or trying to cut out sugar, the rewards as so worthwhile that you really should give it a good try.

You may feel that your pram is just easier and can do what you need it to. But I have found that parents who try babywearing, especially with the Marsupi, find that the two products complement each other, and you have a lot of use for both. Often prams are quite bulky and can be inconvenient when just popping to the shops, or if you are going somewhere crowed. However, if you are out for the day or on a longer shopping trip taking both your pram and carrier often means you can be out a bit longer and your baby can alternate between the pram and the carrier.  I often will take both out with me. My pram was perfect at Xmas time to load up all the Christmas purchases while my daughter slept peacefully on me in her Marsupi.

When babywearing is great

You may find that babywearing makes the most sense for you when your second child comes along. A carrier likes the Marsupi lets you hold your baby close while keeping hands free to help with your toddler or push a small child in a stroller when they just won’t walk, or when you are trying to juggle it all like swimming lessons for the older sibling during your babies nap time. 

The time with your baby really does go too fast. Mums of older children will tell you that all too soon your child will be too big to pick up, or too embarrassed to cuddle you, and you will greatly miss these days.

Babywearing lets you connect with your child on a deeper level, and as often as you like, which establishes a wonderful bond you will carry with you in later years.

Marsupi: babywearing for everyone