Celebrate International Babywearing Week
September 23, 2009 by Angela White, J.D., breastfeeding counselor
Filed under breastfeeding, mothering
International Babywearing Week runs from September 21 to September 28, 2009. Personally I celebrate babywearing all year long! It has been such a blessing to be able to wear each of my babies in a sling or other baby carrier from birth to toddlerhood and beyond. 
Babywearing and Breastfeeding
When it comes to breastfeeding, the benefits of babywearing are many!
!. Babywearing a newborn keeps the baby close to the breast during a critical time for establishing breastfeeding. Many babywearing advocates talk about how gestation lasts 18 months — nine months “in” and nine months “out” with both skin-to-skin contact and carrying close to the chest in a carrier.
2. Babies who are worn cry less, which reserves the baby’s energy for feeding and makes for happier parents and babies!
3. Breastfeeding while babywearing keeps the mother’s hands free to read a book or tend to older children who might otherwise be jealous of that time spent with the newborn.
4. For mothers who prefer more coverage while breastfeeding in public, a sling or other baby carrier can help a mother feel more comfortable.
5. Baby carriers are great for easily distracted babies who have a hard time settling down to nurse. Dr. Sears explains that the same is true for babies who have a hard time organizing their sucking:
Some babies breastfeed better on the move, especially those problem suckers who need movement to organize their sucking. Tense babies (those with a suck problem called tonic bites) and back-archers often breastfeed much better in the sling because of the organizing effect babywearing has on their entire physiology. As the baby’s whole body relaxes, so do the suck muscles.
6. Babywearing is especially helpful for babies who are gaining weight slowly and at risk of failure to thrive. It makes sense that babies who are worn are reminded to breastfeed more frequently. Babywearing can also help a mother become in tune with her baby’s feeding cues. Again the close contact itself can help the baby organize, relax, and thrive!
I recently mastered the hip carry with my home-sewn sling which is going on seven years of hard use now! (Instructions to make your own baby sling are here). My toddler discovered she could nurse in that position and often settles herself to sleep for the night while the family takes our evening walk.
Do you breastfeed while babywearing? Which type of carrier do you prefer for breastfeeding and babywearing?
I do not breastfeed while babywearing, although I do both separately. I have tried it a few times in a real pinch, but I haven’t had much success. I am very short-waisted, and so when I wear my baby in a carrier his mouth is 6 or 8 inches above breast level. One of the downsides to being all of 5′2″ tall.
I prefer to sit with my feet up while nursing
But also don’t mind doing it in my ring sling. I put her in cradle or clutch holds, or sometimes just have her sitting up and she can find the breast that way now too. I’m worried that she’ll be too heavy for me soon. At 5 months and 18lbs I’m sore every day 