Babywearing is a beneficial type of kangaroo care that keeps babies close, stimulates physical, emotional, and mental development and helps babies, particularly preemies, where studies show they gain weight and are healthier than those who are not worn.

Many moms are getting into the trend of high quality carriers to ensure their child’s safety, but aren’t quite sure which one to buy.  There are a variety of carriers to choose from; finding your style only takes a little bit of research.  It is best if you can try a few before buying them, but here is a breakdown of the basic styles:

Wrap

A wrap is super soft and flexible with a lot of versatility.  There are adjustable types as well as pre-wrapped styles offering something for everyone.  These wraps distribute the weight very well, and have no points that compress the body creating extreme comfort at almost every stage of wearing.

The adjustable types consist of a very long piece of fabric that allows multiple wrapping methods and easily grow with the baby from birth (even preemies).  The pre-wrapped are easier to get the hang of, and have much less fabric, but only fit the baby well at one stage, and may not go between care givers easily because of body shape differences. 

Wraps are often the best for the newborn stages, but are not recommended for back-carrying because of safety. 

Sling

A sling style carrier seems less intimidating than a wrap and is worn over one shoulder and across the body.  These may be a pouch-type of just fabric, or may have a clasp, like a ring, to adjust and tighten to fid the child.  They often require some support of the care giver with an extra hand, but are super fast to get on and off.  Be cautious of low-grade slings that don’t allow the baby’s head and neck to extend or their back to be fully supported.  These may not be great for extended wear because the weight isn’t distributed, but make short shopping trips much easier, and safer, than carrying the baby in the car seat. 

Soft Structured Carrier

These carriers are typically the easiest and support the baby well – especially as the baby gets older and into toddlerhood.  These carriers are often preferred by the dads.  They usually have a large panel of fabric, some adorned with pouches and hoods, and are tied or buckled to stay secure.  These adjustable carriers are excellent for extended wear like hiking, and many are useable from newborn through about 45lbs (though many need a newborn insert for those smaller stages).  Be sure to avoid the “crotch-dangling” carriers that support the baby by the groin rather than separating the legs as they would naturally go when holding your child.  This is especially important for a newborn as it is easy to dislocate the legs/hips and prevent proper physical development.

Once you’ve found the style (or often styles) you prefer, there are just a few basic safety guidelines (which may seem a little too logical, but they need to be pointed out) you’ll want to think about when you wear your baby:

• Use your carrier according to the manufacturer’s instructions including baby’s height and weight and inspect for defects before wearing.
• Practice with a doll to get comfortable with your carrier.
• Be sure baby can breathe – their chin should not fold against their chest & fabric should not cover their face.
• Be careful of your activity using the same activity precautions as you would while pregnant.
• Do not wear your baby while driving or riding in a vehicle or sleeping.
• Be sure baby’s exposed areas are protected from outside elements.
• Be cautious of what baby can reach, and what can touch your baby especially while cooking or if baby is worn on your back.
• Be sure anyone carrying your baby can assess risk, knows how to use your carrier, and understands babywearing safety.
• Position your baby close enough to kiss & in a way that mimics how you would naturally hold them with just your arms.  Baby’s back should be straight & the head and neck well supp­­orted.

So, those are the basics.  My personal favorites are the Moby or Boba Wrap and the Boba Soft Structure Carrier, and if I were going to pick just one, I would pick a wrap like the Moby or Boba Wrap (formerly known as the SleepWrap).  I recommend parents attend a babywearing workshop, or get together with a group of babywearing moms and try on a few styles.  Esali Birth has the Tummy 2 Tummy: THE Babywearing DVD available for EB Students to view and practice, and you may contact us for babywearing & breatsfeeding while babywearing help.  You can also see the baby carriers we have available for loan on our Lending Library page.

Perinatal Educator Training Organizations

Note: Some organizations did not list their data clearly and we were unable to obtain that information. Currently we only have the Perinatal Educator chart, and are working on comparing our other training programs with organizations.

To help you track your nutrition, we’ve included this Health & Wellness tracker in an easy to use MS Excel format, FREE for download.  Should you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us!

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD COUNTER

Guidelines are based on a normal single-gestation pregnancy and for informational purposes only.  Esali Birth recommendations should not take precedence over the recommendations from your care provider(s) for your individual situation.

Every parent has the right to choose how they prefer to feed their baby, for any reason they choose.  With that said, prolonged breastfeeding (for the minimum recommendations of 1-2yrs) is often a simple choice: “I am going to breastfeed.”  A choice to be positive, to learn, and take proactive steps in reaching that goal.  The more education you obtain, the more equipped you are for success, and the more likely you are, in those instances that breastfeeding is not obtainable, to feel confidence of your decisions and necessary actions.  At Esali Birth, we provide information and support so that parents can make educated and confident decisions for their family’s future.  We know that breastfeeding can be successful, even for working moms, from personal experience.  We know that breastfeeding may be difficult, from personal experience, and support is often necessary (from all of society – particularly the medical/professional field) for that success.  There are countless books and articles on breastfeeding that we recommend, but below is a short summary of “breast vs. formula.”

This is not meant to make parents feel guilty, as an informed decision should allow parents that bit of confidence needed to know they made the right decision. This is a simplified list to explain to those uneducated about the benefits of breastfeeding on reasons why they can choose breastfeeding for their family. Yes, it is true, physically, it is very very rare to not be able to breastfeed, and birthing practices do affect the ability tremendously. However, emotions and personal situations can play a large role in the ability to have a successful, and enjoyable, breastfeeding experience. We encourage all parents to try breastfeeding with the support of a trained professional, or better, lots of research and support from experienced nursing moms. Having supportive and knowledgeable (which doesn’t always mean a certified lactation consultant) people surrounding a nursing mother can affect breastfeeding ability, especially in those first months when learning to breastfeed has the potential of being emotionally and physically draining. Breastfeeding is a beautiful and wonderful experience, but comfort and confidence is usually not achieved in most mothers until approximately 6 weeks to 3 months postpartum, so we suggest giving it at least 6 weeks before changing your mind completely!

We have discovered that the main points in choosing breastmilk or formula are the true risks of formula, and the true benefits of breastfeeding. The problem is, just as with hospital-birth, too many parents are miss-informed. Almost everyone knows how wonderful breastfeeding is for the baby – how antibodies are given to the baby through milk, how it’s the perfect temperature and the perfect mixture of nutrients. What they don’t know is how harmful formula can be, and all the benefits of bonding through breastfeeding, natural contraception, and benefits for the mother.

Risks of Formula
BPA in Containers
Increased risk of ear infections
Too much iron due to poor absorption
Too much protein due to milk made for cows
Increased gas & colic due to digestion problems
Blood in urine/bm for almost all formula-fed infants
Cost & Inconvenience
Increased risk of allergies
Increased risk of tooth decay
Increased need to use a pacifier
Too much sugar & increased risk of diabetes
Increases pH in intestinal tract
Decreased brain development due to lack of corrent nutrients

Benefits of Breastfeeding
Decreased gas/colic due to ease of digestion
Increased bonding in mother & baby
Convenience & low/no waste
Supply & Demand
Decreases risk of breast cancer
Hormonal balance for mother
*98% effective as a contraception for at least 6 months “natural baby spacing”
More sleep @ night for everyone
Babies are more easily comforted
Continuous antibodies received from mother for baby
Increased acceptance of solids because of flavors that enter the breastmilk
Decreases obesity
Shorter pre-pregnancy weight for mother
Mothers can express & leave milk w/ baby if needed

Those are just some of the differences, but, it is important to note that there are a vast variety of harmful affects of formula, and wonderful affects of breastfeeding. Most mothers that I have talked to have tried breastfeeding and lacked the support and education needed for a successful breastfeeding experience. Whether it was pain, supply concerns, or lack of emotional support, breastfeeding – in the beginning – can seem hard and much more inconvenient than a quick mix of a bottle. However, if you understand the beneficial properties of breastfeeding, and how formula really affects the health of your baby (emotionally and physically), you can appreciate the adjustments you will make in the beginning of your breastfeeding “career.” By contacting Esali Birth, your local LLL, lactaction consultants, or breastfeeding support specialists, you will give the best start for your baby, and continue to see affects in yourself as a mother. (Esali Birth hosts the Breastfeeding Cafe monthly – 4th Sat. of each month, 10:00am at the Borders’ Bookstore in Vienna, WV – full details a mamaology.com)  Breastfeeding benefits truly last a lifetime. Don’t give up – it get’s easier and becomes second nature before you know it!!!

*Lactational Amenorrhea (LAM) – The natural supression of a menstrual cycle due to breastfeeding (the hormone prolactin is what creates breastmilk, and is also the same hormone that supresses ovulation).  You will hear many comments (even by breastfeeding women) that “breastfeeding is not birth control.”  Breastfeeding ALONE is not; you have to follow certain guidelines.  If you were using birth control pills as your contraceptive form, would you only take a pill every other day and call it affective?  Remember, birth control pills are also not 100% effective.

LAM, also known as Natural Family Planning or Natural Child Spacing is 98% effective as a birth control method for at least 6 months IF you have not started your period and can answer YES to ALL of the following questions:

• Is your baby less than 6 months old?
• Are you breastfeeding exclusively w/ no artificial nipples** at all?
• Are you nursing on-demand both day and night without limited nursing sessions?
• Do you have at least 1 nursing session at night, particularly between the hours 1 & 6am (when prolactin levels are at their peak)?

**NOTE:  If you are using a pacifier/binky ( or any artificial nipples), you should NOT use LAM as a means of birth control.  ALL sucking – both for food and comfort – should be at the breast.