I bought a name brand sling when I had my first child and found the experience to be very frustrating. The store I bought it from could not tell me how to use it, and I couldn’t get it to work properly. My son hated it, and I hated myself for blowing so much money just to hear him scream more. My sister-in-law started making slings and told me how easy they were to make. She swore by them and how much they helped with her son. So I, very reluctantly, decided to make one for myself when I was pregnant with my second child. All I can say to dear SIL is thanks more than you’ll ever know, lol. I started out with the pouch and then made a ring sling. I eagerly awaited his arrival so I could try them out. They weren’t an instant success, but I could already tell the difference. It wasn’t long and I was slinging like a pro. It wasn’t until my second child was almost 18 months that I decided to make a mei tai. I wish I was armed with this arsenal when I had my first child.
I am now a firm believer in the importance of parents bonding with their children. I believe that baby carriers are a great way to stay close to and provide for the needs of small children. There are a lot of good articles out there about how baby carriers are a great way to make the transition from womb (dependence) to the world (independence). I am going to try to cover the information that I have found most interesting and useful. My hope is that after reading this section about babywearing (a term coined by Dr. William Sears), you will feel confident in your decision to hold your baby. Babies are meant to be held. Compared with other mammals, we should have a 21-month pregnancy. This is why many people suggest that babies be given a fourth trimester in addition to frequent wearing for at least the first nine months of life.
If you have any questions or need any help (or just want to babble about baby carriers), please email me. I am always willing to talk about baby carriers.
