Babywearing Mythbusting
from Hannah Wallace of Wear My Baby
Hannah Wallace is the owner of Wear My Baby, the UK’s specialist babywearing store and advice service. Follow Wear My Baby on Instagram , TikTok and YouTube for more expert advice and tutorials.
Doesn’t that hurt your back? They’ll never learn to sleep on their own if they’re always napping in a baby carrier. Why don’t you just use a buggy?
Ever wondered about these things? Or have others challenged you about your baby carrying? If so, I’m here to bust some babywearing myths.
‘BABY CARRIERS HURT YOUR BACK’
A well-fitted, well-designed baby carrier that suits your body – and your baby’s age and stage – shouldn’t hurt your back. At all. If it does, it likely just needs some small adjustments. It’s all about making sure your baby’s weight is evenly distributed across your body. If your carrier is just a bit too low or too loose, your baby’s weight can pull away from you, putting a strain on your back, shoulder or neck.
A well-fitting sling actually can help improve your posture and core strength, as it encourages you to stand up straight and engage your core muscles. Pushing a buggy, often weighed down by heavy bags or the weekly shop, can definitely make your back hurt. As can lugging car seats in and out, or carrying them awkwardly on one arm. Many people find babywearing a comfier alternative.
‘BABY CARRIERS ARE DANGEROUS BECAUSE YOU MIGHT FALL OVER WITH A BABY STRAPPED TO YOUR CHEST’
Most people find they walk more slowly and carefully when babywearing. If you were to trip, most people would instinctively fall to the side to protect your baby. It can be risky to carry babies in your arms when you’re rushing as they can still be dropped or be thrown in the air if you trip (I know this from personal experience!)
‘YOUR BABY WILL NEVER WANT TO BE PUT DOWN IF YOU ALWAYS CARRY THEM’
It is biologically normal and hugely beneficial for babies to be carried: they’re literally designed to be held close to their parents or caregivers in those early months. Bag loads of close contact is actually crucial for their neurological development. All babies will eventually want to be put down as they get older and gain their independence. Carrying them will help them become more confident and in time will be even more secure; even if to begin with they become particularly fond of being carried. You can read more about building secure attachments in this article.
‘YOU CAN’T BABYWEAR IN THE SUMMER – YOUR BABY WILL GET TOO HOT’
Yes, it is safe, so long as you take some safety precautions and use your common sense. People all over the world wear their babies in all sorts of climates, including very hot ones. Being close to your body actually helps babies regulate their own temperature, helping prevent them from overheating. Make sure you and your baby stay well hydrated. Dress yourself and your baby in minimal clothing, but make sure your baby is well covered in thin, natural, breathable fabrics.
Your baby will be mostly covered by your sling/ carrier, but it’s likely that their legs, feet and head will be exposed – possibly arms too – so you’ll need to take extra care to protect these from the sun. Mesh baby carriers can also help keep air circulating and reduce stickiness.
‘YOU CAN’T BABYWEAR IN THE WINTER – YOUR BABY WILL GET TOO COLD’
In winter carrying your baby close will keep them warm due to your body heat. As a rough rule of thumb when babywearing, you count as one layer of clothing for your baby, and your sling counts as at least another. If you walk into a warm house, shop or restaurant, that’s like putting a third layer on them. Always bear this in mind when dressing yourself and your baby. In our experience, parents here in the UK are often more likely to over than under-dress their babies in cold weather, whether in slings or buggies! You can read more about cold weather carrying here.
‘IT’S REALLY DIFFICULT TO USE A SLING’
Like most aspects of parenting, babywearing can take some degree of practice, trial and error and patience – but it’s worth it. Many slings take just seconds to put on and take off – even stretchy wraps, which can at first look a bit like full-body origami. Different people find different slings more straightforward than others, which is why it’s worth trying a few to see which one(s) suit you. Even more complex carries/carriers can be mastered in a short time and be worth the effort.
At Wear My Baby, our expert team offers one-to-one consultations so we can help you master your carrier with ease. If you can, visit us at our London Boutique or just call us for advice (0345 222 9004). We also a postal sling hire service, so you can test carriers before you buy – AND we offer a free video fitting service with every purchase from our store.
