It’s You and Me Baby

Drop that plastic baby bucket.  The one that serves as a car seat too and take up your fabric baby carrier or sling.  It may be tricky at first getting used to putting it on but once you’ve got the hang of it you will reap the rewards for a much longer time than you will toting around that plastic baby seat.  With each pound that baby gains that car seat carrier seems to get exponentially heavier.  Also, there are weight limits for its safe use in the car.  It’s usually posted on the side of the carrier.

Instead, try wearing your baby in a fabric baby carrier or sling.  Some popular versions are the Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Cuddly Wrap, Kangaroo Korner.  See our other posts on How to Choose.  Each one has it’s advantages.  There are so many benefits to wearing your baby.  1.  It keeps baby safe and secure so he is able to focus on learning about his environment.  This helps with his cognitive development.  (It also keeps a toddler from running into the parking lot or street or climbing out of the stroller.)

 2.  It is convenient.  It frees up your hands.  3.  Babywearing promotes bonding.  You feel the rhythm of each other’s heart beat and breathing.  It helps you feel close and contected.  4.  It soothes a fussy baby.

Parenthood is a journey about bonding with your children and guiding them through the ups and downs of life.  If you want a relationship where your child trusts that you’ll be there for them then you set the ground work from day one.  One of the fundamental ways a child knows you will be there for him or her is by responding to his or her needs right from the start.  That’s why you need to ignore criticism from people who say “you’re going to spoil that baby if you always pick him up.”  Babies need to be held alot in the beginning and you can’t spoil a baby by just meeting his or her needs to be held.  If fact there is a whole camp of believers who advocate holding your baby alot or “wearing” your baby in a baby sling.  This approach to child-rearing has been called attachment parenting.  It has many benefits and many happy parents and children.  In the 21st century with all its demands and distractions building strong family bonds is more important than ever.  So remember, you can’t spoil a baby.