Frequently Asked Questions

What is Babywearing? 

Babywearing is the practice of holding or carrying a baby with the use of a sling or baby carrier. It is a great way to keep your baby close and secure while keeping your hands free.

As first time moms, we have already experienced many benefits of babywearing from the simplest things like brushing our hair and teeth or making ourselves something to eat, to tidying up the kitchen or doing a load of laundry. The freedom to have both hands free while having your little one close (and happy!) is priceless. Babywearing is also extremely helpful with more important things like being able sooth a sleepy newborn or a fussy teether, not to mention increasing milk production through skin-to-skin time and the ability to nurse of the fly.

Dr. William Sears has done extensive research on babywearing and has identified five main benefits:

• Sling babies cry less: Anthropologists who travel throughout the world studying infant-care practices in other cultures agree that infants in babywearing cultures cry much less. Parents of fussy babies who try babywearing relate that their babies seem to forget to fuss. 
• Sling babies learn more: If infants spend less time crying and fussing, what do they do with the free time? They learn! Sling babies spend more time in the state of quiet alertness. Researchers have also reported that carried babies show enhanced visual and auditory alertness.
• Sling babies are more organized: By extending the womb experience, the babywearing mother (or father) provides an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby. Babywearing reminds the baby of the womb and continues the motion and balance enjoyed in the womb.
• Sling babies get “humanized” earlier: Proximity increases interaction, and baby can constantly be learning how to be human. Carried babies are intimately involved in their parents’ world because they participate in what mother and father are doing. Baby is more exposed to and involved in what is going on around him.
• Sling babies are smarter: Because baby is intimately involved in the mother and father’s world, he or she is exposed to and participates in the environmental stimuli that mother/father selects. Baby is protected from those stimuli that bombard or overload her developing nervous system. 

Read more about it on his website: www.askdrsears.com/topics/health-concerns/fussy-baby/baby-wearing

Is Babywearing safe?

As with everything concerning your little ones babywearing requires extra attention and awareness to the safety of the baby.

Babywearing International provides many safety tips that we suggest reading carefully prior to wearing your baby. http://babywearinginternational.org/articles.php?article=2

Here is a synopsis of their “Absolute Rules”:

1. Make sure your baby can breathe. Baby carriers allow parents to be hands-free to do other things … but you must always remain active in caring for your child. No baby carrier can ensure that your baby always has an open airway; that’s your job.
   1. Never allow a baby to be carried, held, or placed in such a way that his chin is curled against his chest. This rule applies to babies being held in arms, in baby carriers, in infant car seats, or in any other kind of seat or situation. This position can restrict the baby’s ability to breathe. Newborns lack the muscle control to open their airways. They need good back support in carriers so that they don’t slump into the chin-to-chest position.
   2. Never allow a baby’s head and face to be covered with fabric. Covering a baby’s head and face can cause her to “rebreathe” the same air, which is a dangerous situation. Also, covering her head and face keeps you from being able to check on her. Always make sure your baby has plenty of airflow. Check on her frequently.
2. Never jog, run, jump on a trampoline, or do any other activity that subjects your baby to similar shaking or bouncing motion. “This motion can do damage to the baby’s neck, spine and/or brain,” explains the American Chiropractic Association.
3. Never use a baby carrier when riding in a car. Soft baby carriers provide none of the protection that car seats provide.
4. Use only carriers that are appropriate for your baby’s age and weight. For example, frame backpacks can be useful for hiking with older babies and toddlers but aren’t appropriate for babies who can’t sit unassisted for extended periods. Front packs usually have a weight range of 8 to 20 pounds; smaller babies may slip out of the carrier, and larger babies will almost certainly cause back discomfort for the person using the carrier.

What is a Sling meet?

A Sling Meet is a great opportunity to get together with other babywearers in our community. Whether you’re looking for tips and pointers, to test out a new carrier, or just to hangout with some fellow NLBWs, a Sling Meet is the perfect place!

Anyone is welcome to join so pop by our Facebook page for more details on upcoming dates and locations. We hope to meet you soon!

What is the Sling library?

NLBW has a great big goal to run a local Sling library to provide local parents with the opportunity to access a variety of carriers for week-long loans.