Babywearing: Lots of Ups and Downs

We started out on our babywearing journey with an Ergo I found on Craigslist while I was still pregnant with my little man. It was a great carrier and it served us well, but then my son started protesting it. He was never really content if I was just standing around, but things deteriorated until he was crying, running away, or putting it away every time I pulled it out. I thought he was done with babywearing altogether and that made me really sad.

Then I found Babywearing Around Tulsa and read the term knee-to-knee. I googled it and instantly realized the problem. Silly me, before that I thought that an Ergo rated for 45 pounds could actually be used until a child weighed 45 pounds. Once I knew that the Ergo was probably super uncomfortable for my 2 year old I dug out two ancient ring slings I’d been gifted and started trying those. They were not at all ideal for a 2 year old either. (I actually think one of them might be a converted bedsheet.) Caelan did tolerate them for quick ups but they were really, really unsupportive and uncomfortable. I started looking for other options.

I bought a Tula from a sweet BWAT mama and got a quick lesson on SSCs and tried out a wrap. And I was hooked. I started out slow but I’ve collected a stash of several wraps and a wrap conversion Mei Tai. I can’t claim that my toddler was always cooperative- each time we got a new carrier or wrap, I would be sooo excited to try it, And Caelan, with his inconvenient mind of his own, would tell me “No carrier!” or “No, THIS

carrier!” THIS carrier was never the new one I wanted so badly to try on. But we’ve made so much progress. Caelan has gone from refusing all carriers to accepting (almost) all of them. At first he only wanted to ride in front, but he’s willing to do hip and back carries now. And the big one: he tolerates wrapping! Front, back, or hip carries. He often still wants to choose, but I’ll take it. There were plenty of times when I was building that stash that I wondered if he would ever let me use them. My husband was amused at the irony of me having a new hobby that relied on the baby when the baby didn’t like it.

I have no words to describe how happy I am that babywearing is working for us. I hope our story encourages others to keep trying when they hit a rough patch. (I should note: a lot of white chocolate, marshmallows, and highly preferred activities have been used to encourage the little one to go up. It’s worked!)  

Babywearing is one way we can maintain the closeness of our bond as we approach weaning. As a working mom, I’m always looking for ways to connect with my little. Babywearing overall and BWAT has been a really fun way to do that and make friends while exploring a practically unlimited number of cute options.

Wear all the babies!

Lisa is an extended nursing, full-time working, full-time grad student mom of one ridiculously cute 2.5 year old boy. She actually can NOT do it all, but babywearing allows her to almost keep her head above water.

Travel and Babywearing Go Hand in Hand

Staring at the looming list of potential baby items I could potentially add to my registry was  overwhelming.  With our first wee one on it’s way and an international move in the near future following the birth, I knew that the majority of conventional baby products would not serve us well.  But I was confident that baby wearing accessories were a mandatory add to our wish list.

Waiting in the airport to board our International flight.

Our carriers served us well stateside (a Maya Wrap Ring Sling and Boba 3G SSC) as we did things around the house and ran errands, but I had no idea the absolute necessity for baby wearing while traveling and living abroad.  This is what we’ve learned traveling extensively with a baby, and I hope these wearing tips can encourage you to travel and explore with ease!

We left our hometown of Tulsa, Oklahoma when Finn was 5 months old to move to Bologna, Italy.  The 16 hour, 5000 mile trip with a teething babe may have been daunting, but our carriers served us well.

Our 'baby seat' using the tray table in front
with our osnaburg wrap.

Tip #1

Wrap when you fly.

I wore Finn in a size 5 DIY Osnaburg wrap all through the airport, security, and on board.  It was important that we avoided metal on our carrier to ease the security process (you can find out more about TSA rules here-they don’t  specify whether or not  you’re permitted to keep your baby wrapped), so I  was able to walk right through with Finn in a FWCC (ring slings or SSC would not  be recommended during this portion for that reason).  The domestic flight allowed Finn to stay wrapped during the flight as he was a lap infant.  The international flights mandated that he wear a secondary seatbelt for takeoff and landing.  It was an easy transition in and out of the wrap, and the wrap doubled as an extra blanket on board, a nursing cover, and even a baby seat!  The transatlantic travel was practically peaceful because of wearing.

Arrivals gate in Bologna, Italy.

Tip #2

Choose a carrier with long lasting comfortability for travel.

Venice, Italy

Our job involves extensive opportunities for travel, particularly day trips.  Strollers are no match against ancient cobblestones, a lack of handicap accessibility, or the thousands of stairs leading to majestic overlooks atop towers and bridges that sweep the European continent.  Therefore, a carrier must withstand an 10-12 hour day.  My ring sling was a favorite at home, but one shoulder support would have killed me trekking through Venice.  Our Boba 3G and now our Standard KP provided excellent comfortability for long days.  Finn loved riding on our fronts and backs and seeing the sights.  Its also easy for him to nap when both SSCs offer quick snapping supportive hoods.

Tip #3

Choose a carrier that can easily be worn by you or your travel buddy.

No matter how comfortable a carrier is, sometimes you or babe can get tired of each other.  Its important to bring something that your spouse or friend likes wearing as well. 

Milan, Italy

I looooved the ring sling when we moved, but my husband was not a fan.  So when we traveled, we brought our SSC (and still do).  Now that Finn’s heavier, my husband wears him most of the time we travel, but its important to be able to switch if Finn get’s picky about who’s wearing him.

Tip #4

Using the Boba to strap Finn into a standard
chair.

Don’t bring your prettiest, most expensive wrap unless you’re comfortable with it getting the tastes of travels on it.

Traveling involves eating out a lot.  Our carriers frequently double as ‘highchairs’ in the many European establishments that don’t offer one.  We often snack walking around.  I would’ve hated to get Belgian fry sauce on a wrap beauty.  I’m not as attached to the beauty of my travel carriers.  

Tip #5

Travel with your babe!

Wearing Finn has enabled us to not be limited in our work or travels or location of living.  We’ve seen more places in his lifetime than in ours before he was born.  He loves getting to see and taste incredible places around our globe, and baby wearing has made it seamless.

Corno Alle Scale, Italy

Brugge, Belgium

Florence, Italy

Verona, Italy

Lake Como, Italy

Rome, Italy

Mary Paulison is a Jesus-loving, babywearing, nurse-by-trade wife and mom transplanted from Tulsa, OK to Bologna, Italy.  Living life as an incognito hippy, she loves snuggling with her 14 month old son, Finn, circling the globe with her hunky husband, and working with college students at the oldest university in the western world.  In her spare time she can be found crafting everything in sight, decorating their apartment in a 320 year old building, scouring thrift stores, and reading Harry Potter for the thousandth time.

Don't Get Discouraged

I feel the need to write this blog post for those who may be discouraged about wrapping.  It can be very overwhelming and intimidating.

I began attempting to wrap in January 2013 and I am just now able to do it successfully.  So do not give up!  It is a mix of finding the right size wrap & the right material that works for you.  Thanks to the lending library I was able to borrow several wraps and try them out.  I found very quickly which ones I did not like for sure, which usually ended up being the new ones that weren’t broken in yet.  ;-)

I had the most difficult time getting a good seat.  Then I finally got that down after several teachings from the admins and lots of youtube videos.  There are a few methods to get a good seat but I suggest if you’re struggling to try them all because not all methods work for everyone.  Try them all and find the one that works best for you.  I like these two videos and found them most helpful:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6KOJkQaPwSo
https://www.facebook.com/video/video.php?v=746420530375
 

My next challenge was getting that first pass over my little Mia’s fluffy bum.   Again, after lots of help from admins, youtube videos and lots of sweat and frustration I finally found what worked best for me. 

And at last, the final challenge was getting everything snug and secure enough for it to be comfortable.  Finding that happy medium between too tight and too lose has been difficult but I’ve got this now.

So after approximately 9 months I can finally call myself a wrapper.  Don’t give up ladies (and gentlemen) with some patience and stamina you can get there.  Rely on the meetings, admins and the lending library.  This is why they are available to us to help us be the best babywearers we can be.  ;-)

                January 26, 2013                                                                            September 16, 2013

 

I am first a Christian then I am a babywearing, cloth diapering, work at home Momma to a beautiful 15 month old little girl, Mia.   We love to read books and go the park (I feel like I’m writing a singles add, lol).  We try to have play dates with like-minded parents and their little’s.   When I do get some “me” time I like to get a pedicure and maybe catch a movie or catch up on my Mommy shows (I am a reality tv junkie J )