“Baby Wearing” was a style of parenting I was essentially unfamiliar with. Sure, my ‘cluck’ had been activated anytime I caught a glimpse of a mother with a bouncing bundle of joy strapped to her chest (double the effect if it was the father carrying the baby!). I just didn’t think I was the baby wearing type. I certainly wasn’t the earthy looking mother featured in some advertising, and definitely not the fit, tanned, outdoorsy hiking mama featured in others. As I researched further though, it became apparent that the benefits to the child of an ‘in arms’ phase, far outweighed any reservations I held about type casting.
From the moment I lowered Alex into his wrap style carrier, I was overwhelmed by a feeling of ‘rightness’. I quickly realised that I wasn’t the ‘baby in his own room’ kind of mother I thought I would be. Feeling his heartbeat, sharing his warmth, and the sight of those little feet poking out the bottom just melted my heart. Alex slept soundly when in his carrier and I learned how to do everything and nothing with him attached. Our first solo outing to the local shop, startling in it’s intensity after weeks at home, was made less anxious for me by his proximity. He was safe. We were a single unit. Christmas Day was a noisy, family filled affair. Six week old Alex slept contentedly against my chest the entire time! Aside from the evening I choked on a piece of steak and had to alternate trying to free Alex from the wrap while giving myself the Heimlich Manoeuvre, wearing Alex became as natural as getting dressed in the morning.
Sundays in our house mean early mornings spent at the local Farmers Markets, stocking up on seasonal fruits and vegetables for the week ahead. Free from the peril of navigating through crowds and the constant ‘oops, sorry’ as I run into yet another stranger’s heels with the pram, I can wander the markets, hands free, casting the odd sympathetic look to frazzled pram pushing mothers, Alex on my back happily sucking on a chunk of banana. Not to mention the added bonus of all that boot space freed up by leaving the pram at home. More room for shopping!
As he nears his first birthday, Alex is anything but the clingy, spoiled child that is so often thought a carried child would be. He is used to being at the centre of attention, without being the centre of attention, so happily transfers this security to his play and rapidly increasing independence. If he is having an off day, I can pop him in the carrier and he calms quickly. What I didn’t expect though, is when he’s on my back, I get a strange urge to don khaki shorts and hiking boots and hit the trails! Just like breastfeeding, carrying Alex isn’t something I plan on giving up anytime soon. The bond is too strong, the benefits too great, although as you can see, it renders the “I can’t do the housework, the baby was fussy’ excuse, completely useless!
For those interested in the carriers seen in my pics - they are the Sleepy Wrap, Baby Bjorn and Ergo Sport Baby Carrier.

























