When her first child was 1 month old, Faith Rayland taught herself to carry a baby in a pouch sling by visiting the website TheBabywearer.com.
Now Rayland, who lives in Fayetteville, is mother of three, ages 6 ½ , 4 ½ and 1 ½ years; creator of 39 instructional YouTube videos, available on her channel Babywearing Faith; and vice president of education for the nonprofit Babywearing International, whose mission is to teach people to carry babies happily and safely, much as La Leche League supports mothers who wish to breastfeed.
These days Babywearing International of Central New York, the local chapter of the group, which started with about 10 members, has more than 40 dues-paying members. Its meetings—the third Saturday of the month, 10 a.m. to noon, in retail store Basic Baby’s community room in Shoppingtown—typically have 20 families. Meetings are free to attend, and the group has a library of 60 wraps and carriers, which paid members can borrow for a month at a time.
All wraps and carriers pictured can be found at Basic Baby in Shoppingtown in DeWitt.
Meghan and Pippa
Pippa, age 17 months, is in a Maya Wrap ring sling, worn by her mother, Meghan Davis; they live in Watertown with Pippa’s father. Davis says, “Baby wearing has been helpful to get stuff done.” Pippa, who has Down syndrome, is not walking and has had to undergo heart surgery. During her recuperation, Davis was able to keep her close by wearing her in a wrap.
Sarah, Paul and Lily
Paul Feliu holds Lily, age 8 months, in a Maya Wrap ring sling. His wife, Sarah, learned about babywearing while at Basic Baby buying cloth diapers. The couple lives on Onondaga Hill with Lily and Paul’s children, Connor, 15, Alex, 14, and Kaelin, 8—who has been known to wear Lily herself. Sarah has eight carriers of different types. “It’s like shoes,” she says. “You don’t wear high heels to run.” Different carriers are better for warmer or cooler temperatures, or are more suitable for certain activities.
Andrea and Ezekiel
Andrea Medici carries Ezekiel, age 18 months, in a Boba soft-structured carrier, which can be worn on the adult’s chest or back. Zeke’s father is from Ghana; the family lives in Lyncourt. Medici has been a babywearer since Zeke was 1 ½ weeks old. “He takes his naps on my back usually,” she says. “I’ll wash dishes, sweep the floor, walk the dog, vacuum.”
Katie and Daniel
Katie Zawadzki has Daniel, age 2 months, in a Wrapsody wrap. They live in Clay with Zawadzki’s husband, and their older children, ages 2 and 4. Zawadzki learned to wrap a baby when a potential babysitter demonstrated with her first child. Now Zawadzki owns about 15 carriers. She attends local babywearers group meetings when her full-time job (including some Saturdays) as a pharmacist allows. “There’s a million and one different carries,” she says. “If I’m having trouble (group members) can help with that.”
Babywearing the Right Way
The most important thing about carrying a baby is doing it safely. Here are recommendations from Faith Rayland, a master babywearing educator, and Babywearing International’s website (http://bit.ly/1qL2Ogj). No article can cover every situation; ultimately you are responsible for your baby’s well-being, and your own.
GIVE YOURSELF A HAND
Anything you can do with a baby in your arms, you can do more easily with a carrier, once you get the hang of it. However, if you would not do it holding your child—cooking at the stove or driving a car—you should not do it with a baby in a carrier or wrap either.
BREATHING SPACE
A baby must always have two fingers of room between his chin and chest. Newborns cannot support their own heads; you must position them so their airway is clear. Keeping the airway free is critical whether the child is in a soft carrier, wrap, car seat or bouncy seat. In addition, never put fabric or anything else over the baby’s face.
CAR SEATS ARE FOR CARS
A carrier is not a substitute for a car seat. Babies in vehicles should be strapped into appropriate car seats in the back of the vehicle, never on an adult’s lap or in a wrap or carrier.
NO BOUNCING
Don’t carry or wear a baby while jumping, running or engaging in any vigorous activity. (Again, if you wouldn’t do it with your baby in your arms, you shouldn’t do it while wearing the baby.) In addition, if it’s something that requires protective gear, you shouldn’t do it while carrying a baby.
HOUSEWORK HELP
Wearing your baby is great for doing dishes, laundry, vacuuming or sweeping. A baby carrier can also allow you to play with your other children while holding your infant.
BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS
Babywearing can be helpful when a mother is nursing. Keeping her baby close helps build the supply of breastmilk, and wraps can easily be loosened to allow the mother to nurse.
DON’T DROP YOUR BABY
When you’re trying a new wrap or skill, do it kneeling on your bed or with another adult to spot you and catch the baby. (That’s one good reason to attend a Babywearing International meeting.)
