The Babywearing Knitting Solution

As I mentioned in previous posts, I have been getting a lot of use out of my baby carriers but as the weather is getting colder, I am struggling with not being able to close my coats. I feel that both AY and I could use a bit more warmth. I briefly considered buying a babywearing coat, but at a cost of 150-300 dollars, I felt they were too pricey for my budget.
But today I found a solution in an unusual way. We got a lot of presents for Baby AY. I thought it was so nice of people but the truth is I really don't need that much clothing for him and some of it is not the right size. So I have slowly started the process of exchanging things that came with gift receipts. Note to self and others- always include a gift receipt.
This morning, I decided to brave the cold and to head downtown to Buy Buy Baby. I was returning a snowsuit that was too big (size 9 months- by the time it will fit him, it will hopefully be summer!) and in exchange getting these great swaddle cloths/blankets by aden and anais that I have wanted for a while but could not justify spending 40 dollars on. Somehow, when it's someone else's money it is more palatable :)

Anyway, in the store I saw a woman wearing her baby in a regular coat with a great attachment that buttoned over the baby carrier. I asked her where she bought it and she told me she had knit it herself. After looking it over again, determined that I could definitely knit that. I came home, googled baby carrier covers and voila, my next knitting project

The original pattern is called seaweed and is  from an now defunct blog called Das Leben und so. As a bonus, the writer of the blog is German-speaking.
My only problem is that my coat has a zipper and does not have buttons but I am thinking of attaching snaps or hooks to it. This should be a relatively easy and quick project. I will post pictures when I am done and (hopefully) nice and toasty!

On a completely unrelated note- check out this article on raising half a dozen kids. Always nice to read positive thoughts about large families.

Baby Wearing

After yesterday's heavy post, I figured I would give you something more light-hearted today.
Today, I saw one of my neighbors with her newborn baby, incidentally also her fourth child. She was carrying her 3-week old girl in a wrap and it got me all enthusiastic and excited about babywearing again.
For the uninitiated, babywearing refers to carrying your infant/child in a baby carrier.
The truth is I have been thinking about babywearing for a while already, and every time I see a Mom (or Dad- have to say I think men who are confident enough to use baby-carriers are amazing!) with a baby carrier,  I check to see which brand/type she is using.
We have come a long, long way from the days of Baby Bjorns. I had one of those for Y and A and the truth is, I did not really use it that much because it was not comfortable. I have since learned, that the position of the baby in a Bjorn is considered far from optimal and not recommended.
When I was pregnant with M, I started looking into more options. And there are plenty. If you really want your head to spin, check out a store like Metro Minis or a site like The Babywearer, that has every wrap, sling and carrier under the planet.
The two types that I own, have used a lot and plan to use again this time are:
1) The Ergo Baby- it is a structured carrier with straps that is easy to put on and incredibly comfortable to use. M used to hang out in there for hours, especially when he was a newborn and the other two were both still sitting in the stroller. The baby can be worn in front, back or on the side.

 Similar options would be the Beco Carrier or a Mei Tai.

2) The Moby Wrap- There is a learning curve in figuring out how to wrap all this material snugly and safely, but once you have figured it out, it is another versatile and comfortable option. It is not as quick as snapping on a structured carrier, but it is softer and is great for snuggling the baby in a crade-like hold. There are multiple options for the wrap as well in terms of front, side or back-carrying. There are also many other brands of wraps, but I happen to like the fabric of the Moby. It is stretchy but still supportive.

Couldn't resist posting this- how cute is that?

New addition: Slings- I don't have any real experience using slings yet, but I took advantage of a promotion recenty and received a brand new Sevenslings in the mail for the price of shipping (about 10 dollars, retails at 38). I am excited to try it out.

I think babywearing is great for bonding with your child. Additionally, if you have other chidren to take care of, it is a great way to be able to hold the baby while still having your hands free to help your other kids. I joke around with a friend, that I am planning on sticking the new baby in a wrap and just continuing my schedule the way it is toting him or her around wherever I go...probably wishful thinking.
As always, make sure the baby is secure in the carrier and read up on safe baby-wearing. You can also read about the beefits of babywearing here and here. Happy Babywearing!

Safe Babywearing

I have to admit that when I first started "wearing" my kids in baby carriers it was mostly for utilitarian purposes. With my first two, I really did not use any baby carriers. When Baby M was born, I had a double stroller and 2 toddlers who refused to walk. I had heard rave reviews about the Ergo Baby Carrier, so I bought one and thus started my babywearing adventure. The Ergo was extremely comfortable and so I pretty much wore M everywhere for the first six months of his life. At some point I also bought a Moby wrap which I like too, but mostly I just used the Ergo.
Having become certified as a doula and done more reading on this topic, I was well aware of the benefits of babywearing- calmer babies, less crying and fussing, creating connection between mother and baby. I have to say that I really have seen that with M. He has always been a very happy baby and does not cry much unless he is hungry or tired. He is now 16 months old and while I mostly use the stroller now for him, I still wear him about two or three times a week, mostly when I am going on a bus with the kids or have other stroller-less errands to run. He still loves being in the Ergo. When he sees me put it on, he starts smiling broadly. I love wearing him because like this I still get to cuddle and be close to him. Wearing him in the front carry position is the perfect position to give him lots of kisses and hugs and to talk to him while we are walking.
Recently, babywearing has gotten a bad reputation due to the sling that was recalled. It is important to differentiate between one sling that was not safe versus babywearing in general, which is very safe, assuming one follows some basic rules.
At the workshop that I took last week, one of the women presented on the topic of safe babywearing. Most of the things she said are pretty much common sense:
1) A baby should be as upright as possible, whether one is using a carrier, sling or wrap.
2)The baby should be close to the mother, so she can see him at all times.
3) There should not be any fabric covering the baby's mouth or nose.
4)If you are using a wrap, make sure the fabric is not loose, rather pulled rightly towards your body and be sure that you have secured the wrap well with a tight knot.
5) Most importantly one should make sure that the baby's chin is not tucked in towards his or her neck as that can obstruct breathing. If you tuck your own chin under, you will notice that it is harder to breathe that way.

For more information on babywearing, check out Metrominis on the Upper East Side. They give free classes in babywearing and have every carrier/wrap/sling imaginable. Speaking of Metrominis, there will be a Doula Open House there this coming Thursday night. Doulas from Birthfocus, myself included, will be there from 7 pm to 8 30 pm to meet potential clients and answer any questions you may have. Come check us out!