The Babywearing OT

Fit Check Friday: Onbuhimo! Tip 1: General best practice for onbuhimos is for baby to be arms out while awake with the panel sitting high on their back at armpit level. This is part of why the criteria is an older baby who can sit unassisted with good core control. Having baby sitting higher in the panel will also allow for you to more easily have their shoulders level with yours. (Certain brands of onbuhimos have modifications to allow for carrying younger babies with arms in, so always check your specific brand’s user manual to see specific guidelines and safety info.) Tip 2: Your onbuhimo may have more or less options (PFAs) for adjusting and tightening the straps. Explore different combinations and directions of tightening as they’re available to find the fit that feels best for you. Some PFAs can be hard to tighten while wearing because of the angle and direction you pull, if you find that to be the case, tighten them before putting baby in, as loosening is generally easier to do than tightening. Be patient and willing to try multiple times to find the best fit. Tip 3: Your chest clip is not meant to be a load bearing strap, so if you do feel like it is pulling tightly against you and holding the weight of the carrier, it means you need to make some adjustments. The chest clip should lay comfortably flat and straight on your chest without feeling tense or like it’s pulling. What onbuhimo questions do you have? Leave them in the comments! 💛

If you’ve shopped the babywearing section at Target or Walmart, you’ve seen the Infantino carriers. They look attractive because they’re significantly cheaper than the other options you see, and they’re at Target, so they’ve gotta be good… right? Not so much. The Infantino is an inexpensive option because it is cheaply made. It provides a poor level of support and fit for many parents, is almost impossible to breastfeed in, and many babies outgrow the seat width before they hit 6 months. I highly recommend a different carrier, if that is an option that is available to you. If you have questions about how to find the right carrier for you, let’s book a consultation and find your perfect fit! But also, let’s talk about how to adjust the Infantino Flip to get the best fit possible, for safety and comfort. Watch this reel to see my recommendations, and leave your thoughts and questions in the comments.

Pre-pregnancy, I was never a ✨gym girlie✨ or someone who found joy in working out. But as a mom, I’ve found that if I don’t intentionally build structured movement into my days, it won’t happen. It becomes just another thing on my mental to-do list that causes me guilt when it doesn’t get done. Lately, I’ve really been enjoying the Expecting and Empowered app. As an OT, I love the focus on progressive strengthening, total body movements, and the encouragement to modify based on what your body needs. As a mom, I like the variety of options from yoga to cardio, and the ability to choose a quick workout or pause a longer one without losing my place if I get interrupted. I also really like that I can do a lot of the exercises while babywearing my son, and that there are guided upper body stretches that feel so good after a long carrier nap. @expectingandempowered is having a Labor Day Sale this week, and the code THEBABYWEARINGOT gets you a yearly subscription for $119.99 (which is less than $10/month!) If you’re interested, comment “MOVE” and I’ll DM you the link to check it out! But regardless of how you choose to move your body and what support systems you rely on, make sure you’re prioritizing daily movement as part of your self care. It’s important, and it’s worth it 💛

A sick and teething toddler, sleep deprivation, and feeling under the weather myself is the perfect storm for dysregulation and irritability. Here’s what I’m doing to help myself stay calm: 1. We’re outside and making a point to spend time in the sun, which can lower cortisol levels and boost serotonin. 2. I’m wearing my son in an onbuhimo. This serves three purposes: •I am honoring his need to be held and be close to me, which is helping him stay calm and allow us to better co-regulate •He is on my back, which makes me feel less overstimulated and less likely to feel touched out •The onbuhimo is a shoulder-only carrier, so the high load and increased weight on my upper back is acting as heavy work and deep pressure input, which feels organizing and grounding to my nervous system 3. I am pouring cold water on our flowers and intentionally running water on the insides of my wrists, which is triggering my vagus nerve and pulling me out of fight or flight mode. 4. I am using ear plugs to give myself a sensory break after a lot of toddler yelling and crying, and using this time to empty my mind and recenter. 5. I am caring for my plants and engaging in a task that feels calm and productive to me and allows me to take a small break from focusing on parenting. Do you have the strategies you need to take care of yourself on the hard days? If you’d like help understanding what your specific sensory needs are and how to honor them, comment “SENSORY” for a link to schedule your Sensory Wellness consultation.

Everyone worries about their baby’s comfort and safety (and you should.) But I often see parents ignoring pain, discomfort, and fatigue in their own bodies while babywearing, for the sake of keeping their baby close and happy. It shouldn’t be that way. Babywearing shouldn’t cause you pain or discomfort. And if it does, that means there’s an underlying issue that we should solve. Some common issues I see: •The carrier isn’t being worn properly •The carrier isn’t the right choice for your body type •Baby has grown and it’s time to try new positions •Your body is healing from birth and you need to slow down/need to build endurance progressively •You have a chronic injury or health concern and need modifications or a different carrier •You need education and training on body mechanics to prevent back injuries Are you experiencing any of these issues? Let’s problem solve them together! Comment “SUPPORT” to schedule a free 15 minute discovery call. 💛

“How are ring slings newborn friendly when they don’t have head support?” It’s because they actually do! Infants develop from their core, out. They need stability at the spine and trunk to have stability at their neck. If you have your ring sling properly tightened with baby properly positioned with a curved spine, M seat, and hands up near their face, their head and neck will be very unlikely to flop around or fall back! It’s also true that we might have postpartum anxiety that makes it hard for us to feel secure without visible head support, and that some babies have lower tone and need extra support. So while I’m going to highly encourage you take the time to learn your ring sling well and achieve that ideal use, it’s nice to have other tricks available to help! Pay attention to the safety guidelines I mention in this reel to prevent unsafe scenarios that could actually push baby’s head forward and down into a chin tucked position. It’s also a good idea to remove the rolled up tail when nursing to allow baby the freedom to move their head and neck for better latching. Have you ever tried a ring sling with a newborn? Did you like it?

The transition to thinking about our children as deeply emotional and thoughtful beings instead of infants is one I don’t see people talk about much. I definitely don’t see people talking about children less than 2 this way. We talk about motor milestones and language development. But we should talk more about what to expect in terms of emotional development, outside of things like tantrums and learning to share. When I was thinking about why my son was having a hard morning, I went through the checklist: maybe he’s teething, maybe he didn’t sleep well, maybe he’s bored or hungry. But I didn’t think, maybe he’s nervous. Maybe he’s worried. Maybe when I told him we were going to Story Time today, he remembered getting hurt and scared there last time, and didn’t want to go. No “incident” happened this week. But reflecting on it, he wasn’t acting as outgoing and playful as usual. He sat on my lap the entire time, and avoided the toy area (that he usually runs to) where he got hurt. I feel like oftentimes, we don’t give our younger toddlers credit for how much they absorb, and the depth of thoughts and emotions they experience. I haven’t been, but I will now.

Even before I was a babywearing educator, I always kept a designated “car carrier.” Something easy and fast to get on that stayed in the car for when we needed it. And now, as a toddler mom, the car carrier still saves our butts multiple times a week! Here are some examples from the past week when having a carrier available was a game changer: ✨At walking group, when another mom realized her stroller was broken, and I was able to offer her my stroller and plop my son on my back. No one was left behind and everyone got to enjoy the walk together! ✨At a plant nursery, where the carts didn’t have a safe place for my son to sit. I put him in a carrier and was able to walk around the nursery and grab what we needed, and he got to enjoy the view of all of the plants. ✨At the post office, when I needed to be able to focus on paperwork and packing. I put him on my back and took care of everything without worrying about him running around or getting into something. ✨During our adventure at the arboretum. I stuck the carrier in my bag in case he got tired of walking, and sure enough, after running around for almost an hour, he wanted to be carried while we walked back to the car. Do you keep a carrier in your car? What’s your favorite easy carrier for outings? Featured in this reel: @hopeandplum Lark- Night Garden

Get the answer to these questions and more at our Babywearing in Postpartum virtual meetup this Saturday, August 24 at 2:00 EST! Babywearing is a skill, but it’s not one you have to learn alone. You deserve to feel confident and empowered while keeping your baby close. 💛 Sign up @nurture.motherhood to join us!

Woven Wrap Tutorial: Knotless Front Cross Sling (Sorry for the weird edits on this, it was really hard to keep it under 90 seconds and get all the helpful pieces of info in there 🥲) This is done with your base size, and it is super helpful to have a wrap with a color gradient so you can keep track of your edges with the dual sided shoulder flips and the cross in the back. It’s also really important to have a good understanding of strand by strand tightening with this carry to get everything situated and safely tightened. Finishing by adjusting both sides at the same time keeps things tight and even. Would you try this carry? I found it super comfortable once adjusted!

A marketing trend I see with baby carrier companies: “Our Carrier Reduces Infant Crying Time!” …Is it true? Yes! (But the way they say it can be a little misleading.) Babywearing has been studied and proven to reduce infant crying, in both frequency and duration. So, it’s not a specific, special carrier that does it. It’s the act itself! Let’s talk about the science behind it! For the infant: 1. Babies sometimes cry when we put them down, because they want to be held and be near us. Babywearing stops their need to cry to communicate that, because we’re carrying them. 2. Babywearing is regulating. We know that when we wear our infants, their vital signs (breathing, heart rate, temperature, etc) regulate, and can even match up with ours. That’s part of co-regulation! Being heart to heart with us helps them stay calm. 3. Babywearing meets a lot of their needs. Babywearing even helps with things like reflux, gas, and digestion, which lessens or eliminates common issues that cause babies to cry. For the caregiver: 1. You respond faster. You don’t have to walk to another place to pick them up, they’re right there where you can respond almost immediately. This shortens how long they cry. 2. You learn their pre-crying cues and respond to those instead of waiting for them to cry. When you wear your baby and they’re right near your face, you notice nonverbal cues, facial expressions, and body language that happens before crying. You’re more likely to respond to those cues and attend to their needs before they need to cry to communicate, which lessens how often they cry. So, while there isn’t a magical carrier that is specially made to reduce infant crying, there is babywearing itself! (And if you feel like your infant is always fussy while babywearing, there’s definitely more going on there, so let’s schedule a consultation to fix that.)

Sometimes, what you and your baby both need is to slow down and find a moment of connection. It can be so easy to get lost in the automatic processes and steps we do on repeat to care for our children. For it to feel robotic, and something that just “needs to get done.” Babywearing isn’t meant to be rushing to stick your child in a carrier. It’s about bringing your baby onto your body, feeling that moment of connection when you’re heart to heart, and using the carrier as a tool to maintain that bond. All the other benefits are just bonuses. 💛

Did you know as many as 67% of women suffer from hand and wrist pain during pregnancy and postpartum? This pain is usually caused by repetitively loading more weight than our body is used to onto our hands, wrists, and forearms during tasks like carrying and caring for our babies. Babywearing can be a great tool to help alleviate some of the pain and symptoms, since it allows you to stop carrying your baby’s weight with your arms and keeps you from holding your wrists and hands in flexed or extended positions for long periods of time. But what can we do if the act of putting our baby in a carrier is difficult, painful, or contributes to our symptoms? Modify how we do it! Check out some simple modifications for using a ring sling to avoid positions that may contribute to thumb and wrist pain. These positions and movements might feel strange or take practice at first, but taking the time to implement these modifications is worth it!

Same Carrier, Different Bodies Part 2: @wildbird Aerial Something to note: we’re both wearing the XS-XL size, but my husband is almost maxing out the waistband length (but has plenty of length left on the shoulder straps.) What other carriers would you like to see in this series? I’ll be adding other friends and family in as models from time to time!

Why you should add shoulder flips to your stretchy wrap: it keeps your baby safe! We want baby to be breathing fresh air, especially when they’re asleep, so we don’t want them stuffing their face into a pocket of fabric and rebreathing the same air (and CO2) over and over. *You should always be able to easily check and see your baby’s entire face when wearing them, to properly monitor their well-being.* You may find the shoulder flips easier to spread and maintain position with a two way stretch (Solly Baby, Moby, etc.) versus a four way stretch (Boba, Beluga Baby), but a properly tightened horizontal pass will help maintain the spread and position on any wrap. Stretchy wrap featured here: @belugababy Did you know about shoulder flips and how to do them? If not, will you try it? As always, leave your questions and thoughts in the comments! 💛

If you’re looking for a sign to let some things go and soak in the small moments, here it is. ✨ The best version of yourself is the one that is rested, calm, and happy. Our children learn from the examples we show them. Let’s show them how powerful it is to prioritize restorative activities, self-care, and emotional well-being. 💛 What is your favorite way to give yourself rest?

Did you know… …your meh dai can be used for a variety of different carrying positions to support you and your little one from birth to toddlerhood? …that the wrap strap style meh dais can be tied in a variety of fancy finishes to provide enhanced comfort and support? …that meh dais are one of the carrying choices that safely supports back carrying before baby can sit unassisted? Meh dai featured in this reel: @didymos_babywearing Didytai “Lisa” Have you tried a meh dai? If not, do you want to? 💛

Systems to prevent overwhelm: the menu system Divide tasks that are on your to-do list for the week into the 4 categories explained in the reel. Be realistic about which category things belong in. Cleaning toilets is important, but it’s a snack, not an appetizer. And is your Target run a dinner or is it a dessert? Prioritize at least one appetizer and dinner every day. If you’re in a good head space and have extra energy, add a snack or two. If you’re in a bad headspace or need a pick me up, add a dessert and ignore the snacks. By the end of the week, your goal should be to cross off all of your appetizers and dinners, and hopefully you were able to cross off some desserts and snacks as well! If you’re struggling with overwhelm and sensory overload, let’s schedule a Sensory Wellness consultation and get more systems, tools, and coping strategies like this set up to make your daily life feel better! Comment “SENSORY” for more info. 💛

Here are some of my recommendations for carriers that will minimize pressure on your abdomen/allow for room for your bump to grow if you want to babywear while pregnant! As always, listen to your body and do not babywear if it causes discomfort, pain, fatigue, or any other negative effects on your body, and talk to your care provider if you have any concerns. 💛 Carriers featured in this reel: @hopeandplum Lark “Night Garden” @wildbird linen ring sling “Lita” BabyHawk meh dai (no longer in business) @loveheld woven wrap “Lena” @lennylamb onbuhimo “Promenade” Leave your thoughts and questions in the comments!

Hair pulling: most babies do it at some point when being carried, and many parents say it’s a sensory trigger for them that can lead to snapping. So let’s talk about what we can do to fix it. To prevent hair pulling: 1. Attach an interesting toy or teething to your shirt or carrier using a pacifier clip (you can see an example clipped onto my wrap in this video) to offer baby something novel and fun they can pull on that isn’t your hair. 2. Clip a claw clip onto your shirt and let baby play with it. If that stops working and they move to your hair, use the claw clip to pull your hair up and out of the way. 3. Engage them in what you’re doing. Get their attention off of your hair and onto the task in front of you, even if it’s something simple like laundry. Talk to them, show them, let them touch things to keep them busy and entertained. 4. Redirect. When they do grab your hair, calmly remove their hand and direct it to something else, without giving a ton of attention to them pulling your hair. A neutral non-reaction will extinguish the behavior better than a big negative or positive reaction (but that doesn’t mean you need to let them pull your hair in hopes of extinguishing the behavior by not reacting at all.) If they do pull your hair and none of the above are working: 1. If you can put them down and take a second to breathe and recenter yourself, do so. Take a few minutes to fill your sensory cup with positive input and find your calm before picking them back up. 2. If you can’t put them down, find a way to relax as best you can. Take a deep breath (a true deep breath, not a tense, half hearted deep breath) before responding to them. Find something to get you out of fight or flight mode: a sip of cold water, alternating nostril breathing, humming or singing a favorite song… whatever works to help you calm down and get through the moment. Does your baby pull your hair, and does it bother you? What do you do to redirect and stay calm? Let me know in the comments!