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?

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Photo by Martin Burns

Here’s the best part of this photo of a woman nursing her baby in a sling while they both rode the train in South Africa — the comments by the wife (the woman shown) and husband (the photographer).

Wife: “Home made sling, home made baby, home made food.”

Husband: “Technically, *hotel* made baby ”

Thanks for the laugh guys, and thanks for showing how comfortably breastfeeding can be done while babywearing.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

I would love the Kozy Carrier Mei Tai Baby Carrier in Spotsylvania.

Kozy Carrier Mei Tai Baby Carrier in Spotsylvania

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

You choose the prize in this fabulous baby carrier giveaway from Baby Carriers Direct! You have up to three contest entries to win your choice of baby carrier, sling or wrap under $100! The contest is open to those with a home mailing address in the United States or Canada.

Have a look around Baby Carriers Direct. You can browse by brand, type, color, weight capacity or price (handy for staying under that $100 limit!) To enter the giveaway, leave a comment here saying which baby carrier you want to win! For a second entry, mention the contest on your blog and come back here to leave a second comment with the link to your post. For a third entry (or second if you do not have a blog), tweet with a link to the contest on Twitter @Breastfeed123 and come back here to leave a third comment. After that, you might wish to check out this helpful article from Baby Carriers Direct entitled Breastfeed While Babywearing.

The contest ends at the end of the day Friday, April 24, 2009 PCT. I’ll pick the winner at random on Saturday, April 25. The winner will be contacted by email and with a post here at Breastfeeding 1-2-3, and will have until Tuesday, April 28 to reply with a valid mailing address in the United States or Canada. Good luck!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Right from the start I learned that breastfeeding gave me the freedom to walk out the door without a care for when the baby last fed and when she would need to eat again. I do not mean to minimize any early challenges of breastfeeding or of nursing in public. I know that new mothers sometimes feel like the baby wants to nurse “all the time” (think growth spurt!) or that some mothers worry about breastfeeding in public. I do, however, mean to celebrate the freedom that comes when breastfeeding has been mastered, and mastered to the point the mother feels comfortable venturing out and about. For some women, that happens surprisingly quickly, and it only gets easier and easier.

Take today for example. My baby had played in every room, had eaten two meals, had taken two naps, and frankly, had become bored with everything I had on hand to offer. We were going stir crazy by 2 p.m.! So, I put on the ring sling, grabbed my keys, my cell phone, and a spare diaper liner, and set off on a hike — a four-mile hike that took us an hour and 45 minutes! Imagine attempting such a hike while carrying ice packs and bottles of formula!

We smelled the fresh air and the lilacs in bloom. On the trails, we saw squirrels, horses, and even three llamas. Far from being tied to home, with breastfeeding we were free to roam!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

2. Baby-Wearing: Along for the Ride is running a summer contest to win the essential babywearing stash, which includes one Gypsy Mama Wrap, one Hotslings pouch, one BabyHawk Mei Tai, one Beco Butterfly, and one ZoloWear Ring Sling – in your choice of any in-stock colors or patterns. The contest runs through July 31st, 2008.

3. Cloth Diapering: Nature’s Child is offering a chance to win a bumGenius 3.0 Starter Kit: 18 diapers, diaper sprayer, a dozen cloth wipes, and a bottle of odor remover. Contest open through July 31st, 2008.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

Apparently the choice of a sling or baby carrier is a very personal one because a full 15 different brands received votes. Clearly anyone in the market for a sling or baby carrier should test drive a few styles before making a decision.

Baby Bjorn topped the list. Personally I loved our Baby Bjorn and so did my husband (and more importantly, so did my daughters). One caveat: I didn’t find the Baby Bjorn helpful for breastfeeding (while I hear some people actually manage breastfeeding while carrying the baby in a front pack, I’ve yet to see it!)

The Ergo Baby Carrier and Maya Wrap tied for second place, followed closely by the Mei Tai style. Also popular were Moby Wrap, Hotslings, Snugli, EllaRoo and Over the Shoulder Baby Holder (OTSBH). Not shown in the graph below are the brands that each received one vote: Beco, Didymos, Kangaroo Korner, Karma Baby, New Native and NoJo Sling.

Eight people sewed their own slings. Four people had yet to find a style their baby liked and three people hadn’t tried any baby carrier.

Please take a moment to vote in the new poll in the sidebar!

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3

I realize that different slings/pouches/carriers might work better for different ages of babies and toddlers so please do leave a comment to share your opinions! Personally I liked the NoJo Sling when my baby was an infant but it got uncomfortable when my baby got older. My husband liked the NoJo as well but also enjoyed using the Baby Bjorn Baby Carrier once my daughter met the weight requirement and could hold her head up well enough. In honor of my second child my husband sewed a Maya Wrap sling from the free pattern and I liked that as well but still never felt comfortable using it once my baby became a toddler. I’d love to hear your recommendations! Feel free to “Add an answer” if you don’t see a particular style or brand mentioned and leave a comment as well!

For all prior poll results click here.

Post from: Breastfeeding 1-2-3