Today, I have something different for you. A friend of mine recently purchased a basic cotton full buckle after getting inspired from many on Instagram. I was so happy that I decided to interview her and share her experience with you all.
Note: She bought Full Buckle (standard) Carrier in the colour Lacre from Soul Slings, India.
1. What was your reaction when you first opened the box?
When I first saw the colour of this carrier (Lacre), it made me fall in love with it instantly. It’s sophisticated maroon and has a dash of shine on it which makes it look so rich. It absolutely gives the carrier a royal classy touch and can be carried to the parties/weddings or events too!
I was truly impressed with it’s material too. As seen and heard, Soul is surely a hit when it comes to quality. I had not expected this high quality carrier before I experienced soul carriers. And the same goes with this cotton carrier.
Also, it came with a very nice instruction brochure that helps you wear your baby step wise with the do’s and dont’s mentioned, serves as a help to the ones trying baby wearing for the first time 🙂
2. How did you find it when you first tried Baby-wearing?
More than anything else, what I think has to be an important trait in a carrier is how comfortable and wearable it is. Very crucial to each one of us and this has to go with both- the baby and the mother. Only then baby wearing gets easier and is a joy! I must say, whenever I try this carrier, my baby goes off to sleep 🙂 It is equally comfortable for me too. It distributes the baby’s weight throughout my upper body, hence I’m able to use it for a longer time period too.
3. What’s your take on the quality of the fabric/s used?
As the material of the carrier is 100% woven cotton, it is surely comfortable to the baby. Especially in a place where I stay (Mumbai has a hot humid weather almost most part of the year!!). Hence the material that is used is apt and helps the baby to stay relaxed in the carrier, and feel comfy throughout the baby wearing journey.
4. What feature are you excited about?
Lacre Full Buckle supports both “front carry” and “back carry” features. Which means you and your child have an option of using the carrier either ways. I can’t wait to try back carry when she’s a little older 🙂
5. Why did you choose Soul?
For me, my child’s safety is pivotal. When I read about how safe Soul carriers are, it instantly took my heart. This feature shows how much they care for babies! I read that their waist buckles has to go through the safety loop (elastic), that ensures your baby’s safety on a higher level, which is pretty awesome.
6. What’s one advise you’d like to give for first time babywearers?
I feel one should not carry the baby for hours together in the first initial weeks. Your body needs to get habituated too 🙂
What’s your final verdict?
If you are new to baby wearing and would love to start with a basic standard carrier, comfortable and cozy enough to help both you and your baby experience baby wearing, then surely give this a try!
Additional information of this carrier (Taken from Soul’s website)
*Material : 100% woven cotton
*Weight Recommendation : 7 to 18 kgs.
*Adjustments:2-way shoulder adjustment + PFA + sliding back/chest straps
*Price : 3,750 RS.
*Colour : Maroon (range of colours available too).
P.S. Images are taken from Soul’s Official Website
Interviewer: Elina Wadia
Interviewee: Mumtaz Surani (www.instagram.com/tinysoul.za)
BabyWearing Basics: Carrier Fabrics
Narrowed down on category of the carrier-you want to purchase i.e. Buckle-less or Buckled? Check
Chose the type of carrier you want to go ahead with? Check
But just when you’re about to place your order, you’ll notice that there are a tons of options in each category, each priced differently!
Is it just the colour or the print/weave which is different or are they functionally disparate too?
If you’re stuck, I’ve got the answers to all the queries that you may have! 🙂
Firstly, in all the categories, the basic structure and the function of all the carriers remain the same, regardless of the price! They’re priced differently due to the fabrics used.
If you’re unable to decide the kind of fabric you should go ahead with, then here’s what you can do. Decide your carrier on basis of:
- Climate of Your City
If you’re put up in a hot and humid city, choose a carrier which is thinner and moisture absorbent. If I had to explain in short- choose linen, handwoven cotton, Ikat cotton or just woven cotton (Placed in the decreasing order of thinness- based on what I observed). But if you’re put up in a colder region, I’d suggest choosing jacquard which is thicker.
Now, this is only for those who want an elaborate explanation-
If you’re inquisitive to know the extent of thinness or thickness of the one you’ve chosen, search for the same fabric in wraps category (applicable on handwoven, linen and jacquards only) and look for the term- GSM which means Grams per Square Meter. It’s basically a parameter to gauge the thickness of fabrics, especially wraps.
You can use this as a reference to understand what I’m talking about:
Image courtesy: www.sheenslings.com
Less than 180 gsm = really thin
180 – 220 gsm = thin
220 – 260 gsm = medium
260 – 300 gsm = thick
greater than 300 gsm = really thick
This will help you understand how thick thr fabric of your carrier is and will prevent you from buying something that you might regret later.
- Budget
BabyWearing can be an investment for many. If you check the website of these carriers, you’ll notice that there’s a myriad of options available at various prices.
Now the question is- What are the different types of fabrics used and why is there a massive price difference between them?
The prices of these carriers are set based on the quality of fabrics used and the extent of effort that goes in manufacturing these fabrics.
For instance, linen and handwoven cotton are expensive because they’re not easy to produce. However, machine woven cotton is easy to manufacture, hence it’s relatively inexpensive.
Like I mentioned earlier, regardless of the cost, their functionality remains the same.
Here’s an elaborate explanation of the types of fabrics you’ll usually find:
1. Linen
Linen is one of the most toughest to produce and hence it’s one of the most expensive fabrics available in the fabric world.. This is the reason why linen carriers are generally priced way higher than other carriers. Moreover, it is known to have anti bacterial properties and can absorb moisture, which makes them one of the best options for Indian summers, or generally speaking, Indian weather.
The only downside is that it’s only produced in solid colours. So, if you’re looking for a prints or designs, this may not be your pick.
2. Handwoven Cotton
Handwoven cottons, like linens, are difficult to produce. They’re weaved manually by artisans and take a lot of time and effort to manufacture, hence are slightly expensive. However, they’re available in stunning weaves and give a very classy look when used. Since they’re weaved by hand, they’re great flexibility and mouldability. If you check the list of full buckles made with handwoven cotton, you’ll notice that there are two options- one in the mid-range and one, high-range. This difference in the price is because of the amount of fabric used in the carrier- which is in BabyWearing terminology called- Full conversion and semi conversion.
Understanding Full Conversion and Semi Convesion Carriers:
Now, the thing with handwovens made from wraps, and hence are categorised in two types. The Full conversion one has only handwoven cotton used- in the body, waist strap, shoulder straps etc. But, semi conversion carriers have handwoven used only in the visible part of the body while the waist strap, shoulder strap and the main body which is towards the inner side is made of machine woven cotton.
Semi conversion carrier are a great option for those who want the rich look of the handwoven weaves but don’t want to burn a hole in their pocket.
3. Jacquard
Jacquard fabric requires a different loom which helps in manufacturing complex patterns and weaves. This is why, you’ll see a variety of designs and colour combinations in the jacquard category. It’s usually the thickest of all fabrics and this property helps in making carriers more firm and strong.
4. Ikat cotton
Ikat is basically a dyeing technique where the yarns are tied or bundled in the design intended and then dyed so that a beautiful pattern is obtained. This process is also time consuming as the fabric may have to go through several rounds of dyeing to reach the desired level of colour fastens and pattern. Which is why, Ikat cotton is sightly more expensive than the basic cotton variant.
5. Cotton/ Machine woven cotton or Printed Cotton
Woven cotton or machine woven cotton is the easiest to produce and hence is the most inexpensive variant. It’s not very thick nor very thin, making it a great option of Indian weather. It is firm yet mouldable and is comfortable to use too. In short, it’s a great budget friendly variant for begginers.
I hope this article helps you make the right choice! Hope you enjoyed this series
Thank you for all your love!
Happy BabyWearing to you!
Love,
Elina
BabyWearing For Beginners: Which Carrier is Best for You? (Part 2- Buckled Carriers)
In my previous article, I shared a comprehensive list and details of buckle-less carriers, so if you’re looking for one, you can check my article here.
Let’s move on to the second category: Buckled Carriers
There are four main types of buckled carriers:
1. Standard Full Buckles, also known as Soft Structured Carriers (SSC’s)
A full buckle is one of the most widely used carrier. It’s preferred by most of the population because it’s the easier one to use and also has an aesthetic appeal. Like the name suggests, it’s got several buckles for adjustments. This is the reason why they look more structured than the others.
Age range: It’s meant for babies over 7kgs or 4 months to 18kgs
Difficulty level: Easy
Price: Starting from ₹3750/-
Pros:
1. Super easy and convenient to use. It’s almost like wearing a school bag
2. One can nurse on the go with the help of hood, which also acts as a shade from the sunlight
3. Can be used for back-carrying too
Cons:
1. Front facing carry isn’t possible
2. Takes slightly more space in the bag than other carriers
3. Not meant for babies who do not have torso control.
2. Toddler Full Buckles (Toddler SSCs)
Toddler sized Full buckles are functionally and aesthetically similar to the standard ones, the only difference here is in the size. They’re meant for older/heavier kids i.e. those weighing 11kgs to 25kgs.
Price: Starting from ₹4750/-
3. Onbuhimo
Onbuhimos are Japanese style carriers which are meant for back carries only. They do not have a waist band at all. Instead, they have adjusters called PFA (perfect fit adjusters) on the shoulder staps to ensure correct fitting based on your and your baby’s size.
Age range: Ideal for kids over 8 months or 70cms in height with good torso control
Difficulty level: Medium to hard
Price: Starting from ₹3100/-
Pros:
1. It’s a great option for pregnant moms who already have a baby to carry. Since these do not have waist bands, it makes it easier for the expecting mother to wear and hold her child.
2. It’s a great option for moms of tall kids, since front carrying them may not be very feasible.
Cons:
1. Can’t be used for front carry. It’s use is confined to back carrying only
2. Can’t be used for smaller kids.
3. Children who want their mother in sight always, might resist at first.
4. AnoonA
AnoonA is a signature carrier of Soul. It’s a revolutionary invention since it can be used right from birth until todddlerhood! Not just that, it’s very versatile too and can be used in 5 different ways- newborn carry, front carry, front-facing front carry, hip carry and back carry.
Age range: Newborn (3.3kgs+) to toddlers (20kgs)
Difficulty Level: Medium
Price: Starting from ₹5570/-
Pros:
1. If you’re looking for one carrier that can be used right from the beginning until toddlerhood, then AnoonA is a great option for you!
2. It can be used in many ways- front facing out being my favourite
3. It has several levels of adjustments to match your growing baby’s size.
4. It has a small pocket on the waistband to keep your phone or keys and also a detachable hood which can be removed and kept when not in use.
Cons:
1. Learning to use the adjustments might take longer for beginners.
2. A full buckle is slightly more comfortable and convenient to use
3. Some people notice that the waist bands folds a little if not used properly. So that has to be taken care of.
If you’ve narrowed down on the carrier you intend to purchase but you’re confused about the fabric you should opt for, then here’s a news- I’m writing on that super soon! 🙂 So keep an eye on this page!
P.S. Image Courtesy: Soul’s Official Website
Until then,
Take care!
Love,
Elina
BabyWearing for Beginners: Which Carrier is Best For You? (Part 1- Buckle-less)
If you’re new to BabyWearing and you happen to check the types of carriers, I’m sure all of it may appear to be very confusticating, especially if you have never seen or tried any before.
I had the exact same feeling when I first came across the concept. I was so unsure of the whole thing and even hesitated to invest in one. Seriously.
If you’re apprehensive too, then this article is for you! 🙂
To make it easier to understand and less confusing, I’ve divided this topic into 2 parts: Buckle-less and Buckled Carriers.
Let’s just discuss the buckle-less variants in this article to simplify it. I share more about the buckled ones soon.
Types of buckle-less carriers:
1. Ring Sling
A Ring Sling is one of the most inexpensive and widely used options of all carriers. It’s basically a long cloth with rings on one end. The other end of the fabric goes inside these rings, making a pouch for the baby to sit in.
Age range: Newborns to preschoolers
Difficulty level: Medium to hard for beginners. Once you get a hang of it, it’s a lot easier.
Price: Starts from ₹1,500/-
Pros:
1. If you’re looking for a budget friendly and durable option, this one is for you.
2. It can be wrapped creatively by those who love playing around with various finishes.
3. Takes less space in diaper bags.
Cons:
1. Slightly more time consuming to use.
2. If you and your partner both plan to carry, take his consent first. Men generally don’t like using Ring slings.
3. Not the most comfortable option to breastfeed. Atleast I didn’t find it very user-friendly. Although it can be used as a cape to cover yourself while nursing.
2. Wraps
Wraps are one the oldest types of carriers. They say there are two types of babywear-ers. 1. Wrap-lovers and 2. Others 😝
Yeah, the ones who love wraps don’t opt for anything else. Because a wrap gives the most cushion-y feeling, snug fit and mouldabity like none other. Although I’ve never tried, but I honestly can’t wait to try one. Probably very soon, once I master all the other types.
Age range: Newborns to preschoolers
Difficulty level: Medium to hard for beginners
Price: Starts from ₹2,800/-
Pros:
1. One of the biggest pro of wraps is the fact that they can be used with ample of creativity. You can make bows, knots and finishes that look absolutely stunning.
2. They grow with the baby. Meaning, theycan be used right from Day 1 until the baby decides to finally stop being worn!
Cons:
1. Beginners may find it a little difficult to wrap, but once they nail it, there’s no looking back.
2. It takes relatively more time to wear in a wrap. May not the best option while dining out or going to a market for shopping, especially in India, because if the baby insists on coming out of it, wearing it again might be a task.
3. Meh Dai
A Meh Dai is a hybrid of a wrap and a Full Buckle. It has a proper body, like that of a full buckle and straps to knot for firmness and sturdiness, like a wrap.
Age range: Babies weighing 7kgs and above
Difficulty Level: Easy to Medium
Price: Starts from ₹3,500/-
Pros:
1. Its a perfect carrier for people like me and who like the versatility and mouldability of wraps but are to hesitant to try them.
2. Far more adjustable than Full buckles
3. Takes lesser space in diaper bags while giving almost the same look as that of a full buckle.
Cons:
1. Slightly more time consuming as compared to Full buckles
2. If worn incorrectly or loosely, might cause back ache. Although that’s applicable for all carriers. But I experienced this, hence shared.
3. Might require tightening if the knots get loose.
I hope you found this helpful. Please like, comment, subscribe and leave some love!
Thanks for reading.
Elina
BabyWearing for Beginners: Basics
What is BabyWearing?
BabyWearing basically means carrying/wearing your baby in a sling or any cloth carrier. It’s a practice that has been prevalent for centuries now!
BabyWearing liberates the mother and makes the child feel secure and comfortable too. It’s not just this, but there are many other advantages of BabyWearing. If you wish to know more, you can check my articles here.
There are many pocket friendly carriers available in the market, and there are some which are relatively expensive too. What’s the difference between the two and how do I decide which one to purchase?
Whenever you buy a carrier, look for two things:
1. Safety Testing:
Purchase a carrier from a reputable manufacturer to ensure that it meets all current US safety, testing, and labeling standards. Most of the ones available in the local shops and markets are not tested for safety and are hence inexpensive.
2. Ergonomics
We don’t just want the baby to be snuggled up with us but we also want them to be in the right position such that his hips, spine and pelvis are supported correctly. Using a non-ergonomic carrier puts the baby’s weight on his crotch this making it difficult for them to stay seated. It also affects their joints thus causing hip dislocation.
Hence, make sure to buy an ergonomic carrier which makes a natural ‘C’ curve with their back and a deep ‘M’ with their legs.
What are the things I’ve to be careful about while practising BabyWearing?
How can I ensure my child’s safety? Are there any cautionary steps that I should take?
- Until 4 months of age, baby’s airway is not completely mature. While practising BabyWearing, make sure her airway is clear and open
- Try with a demo doll before you carry your baby if you’re a first timer. Alternatively, you can visit a local sling library to get trained.
- Keep checking the carrier for wear and tear periodically.
- Avoid making your baby wear footed rompers or pants. That can create a pull which can her uncomfortable.
What’s the ideal age to start BabyWearing?
You can start it from Day 1! There’s no need to wait if the two of you are comfortable. Just make sure to choose the right carrier for the age.
Until when can the baby be worn?
As long as you want! Although once the baby discovers the joy of running around, holding her might be a task, but wearing surely comes in handy during travelling and shopping trips.
To know more about types of carriers and fabrics, keep checking this corner!
Thanks for reading!
Bye!
Love,
Elina
Reasons Why Some Infants Resist BabyWearing
I vividly remember how exhalirated I was by the fact that I’d be soon BabyWearing when I purchased my first ring sling. My eyes were glued to the door after placing the order. If you’ve ever purchased one, you can probably relate to this feeling 😉 I almost jumped like a child on its arrival!
But after all that research, hours of browsing, contemplation, finally placing the order and then waiting, when it arrived and I first tried wearing her, something happened which I didn’t expect. My little one not only resisted, but cried her lungs out whenever I wore her! Can you imagine my disappointment? I was broke. I felt it was a wrong decision all the money I invested was a waste.
I then contacted a friend who told me that resisting at first is very normal. Most babies do that. She suggested a few tricks which worked for us. I too tried to read a little on this issue and found a couple of more tricks. Gradually both me and my daughter got comfortable with the carrier 🙂
Many new moms leave the thought of using a carrier/sling when they see babies resisting and crying. I would have been one of them too but thankfully we didn’t stop! Today, after 9 months of successful BabyWearing, my little one jumps with joy on seeing a carrier 😍
But the question remains: Why do babies resist BW at all? Or is it something merely in our head?
I’ve jotted down some reasons and also solutions that I think would help you tackle the issue:
1. When the mother is new and uncertain, babies sense it and are uncomfortable too. They quickly take on the stress of their mother and get cranky.
Solution: Try out at home with a doll to be comfortable.
2. Babies resist when it takes too long to wrap, tie or bucke the carrier or if the the process is too fiddly. This may possibly happen when the mother is learning or is new to the concept.
Solution: Practice with a doll till you can manage wrapping/buckling it smoothly and quickly.
3. When the type of carrier chosen is wrong, babies get uncomfortable and resist.
Solution: Be sure which type suits your baby as per the age and weight of the baby. Alternatively, you can go to a sling library and try all the variants to see what works for you.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Instagram page
4. Material of the carrier matters a lot too and this depends on the climate of the place you live. Wrong fit, size and design will make the experience less than ideal.
Solution: Read a little about the fabrics used. Make a smart choice based on the climate of your city of residence.
5. When your baby is hungry and tired, they may resist being worn.
Solution: Be sure that you feed them well and they are relaxed before popping in the carrier.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Instagram page
6. Babies hate being disturbed or carried when they’re pooping. That can make them cranky and irritable too.
Solution: Let them do their business, change their nappy and then wear them. They need to be fresh before you wrap them tight.
7. Don’t try your your carrier for the first time when the baby is cranky or unwell. This is one of the major reason they resist. If they get cranky, don’t force them, you can try later.
Solution: Let them be in a good mood, they will surely co-operate better.
8. Many babies hate being worn when the wrap or carrier is too loose, or not adjusted comfortably enough by a new mom.
Solution: Let a friend tweak in and help you adjust with the strap up / down.
9. There are babies who don’t like the process of getting into a carrier. But the moment they are in, they feel nice.
Solution: Relax and start walking once you tie the knot. This will soon settle your baby too .
Image courtesy: 45hl3igh’s Instagram photo that got featured on Soul’s Instagram page
Baby Wearing is sure no rocket science. It’s just that the initial phase can be a little challenging for a new mom. A little change to see what suits your baby, will surely help you get through the initial phase and then there is this long lovely journey of carrying your soul attached to you, where ever you go!
Give it a try, moms. Happy Baby wearing 😉
Regards,
Elina
The BabyWearing Workout|Ft. Bongi Hill, Soul Slings
Parenting brings along many drastic changes but one of the major paradigm reorientations of motherhood is having insufficiency of alone-time for ourselves. This is one issue I’m yet to get fully adapted to. Moreover, my little one is going trough a terrible separation anxiety phase, which leaving me no time to even breathe properly, let alone work out.
But here’s the thing I’ve learnt in my journey- rather than looking at our babies as obstacles, why not include them and wear them during workouts? This will not only make our workout more effective but will also increase our bonding time with our child/children!
Image courtesy: Sharon Moss
Benefits of BabyWearing during Workouts
- Since you’re carrying additional weight, the effectiveness of your workout increases and so does the rate of calorie burning.
- Provides bonding time with your little one, especially if he’s going through a clingy phase.
- Gives you relatively more time to workout: If your baby isn’t worn, there’s a possibility that he’ll disturb you or might stop you from exercising. Wearing him prevents that.
Here are a few great exercises that you can practice while babywearing which will improve your upper body strength and tone your muscles:
1. Forward Lunges
Method: Keep your upper body straight and relaxed. Step forward with one leg until both your knees are bent at a 90 degree angle.
Benefits: Helps in toning glutes in your hips and hamstrings in your thighs. Also strengthens the calf and abdominal muscles.
Reps recommended: 15-20
2. Lateral Leg Lifts
Method: Hold your left foot above the ground and lift it as high as you can. Try to lift it close to 45 degrees from the floor. Once done, do the same with your right leg.
Benefits: Defines the core muscles and works on abdominal fat.
Reps recommended: 20-25
3. Squats
Method: Stand with your head facing forward and your feet shoulder width apart. Hold your hands near your chest to help you keep your balance. Sit down as if you’re sitting on to an imaginary chair. Hold yourself in that position such that you’re thighs are parallel to the ground. Wait until you can abd once done, bring yourself back to starting position
Benefits: Squats help in building leg muscles and also strengthens both upper and lower body. It is known to burn substantial calories in less time.
Reps recommended: 10-15
4. Brisk Walking or Hiking
Image courtesy: Courtney Caranguian
Benefits: Walking/Hiking lowers your risk of heart diseases, reduces blood pressure and stabilises blood sugar levels by regulating insulin activities. It also burns calories and helps in losing weight.
5. Yoga
Star pose (Arda Chandarasana), side angled pose (Utthita Parsvakonasana) and corpse pose (savasana) are the three best Asanas for beginners. All the three can be performed by babywearers easily.
These were a few quick workout ideas for BabyWearing beginners. Thank you for stopping by and reading! Try to practise these on a regular basis and share with us the difference you notice in yourself!
Before signing off, I’d like to thank Bongi Hill for helping me by sharing these stunning workout photos! This blog post wouldn’t have been possible without you, Bongi.
She’s an amazing human and a pro at BabyWearing. Follow her to see outstanding BabyWearing techniques/tutorials on all social media platforms. I’m sure you’ll come back and thank me later! You’ll find her here: Instagram , Facebook and Blog
Have a great day!
Elina
xx
5 Ways in Which Ring Slings Beat Full Buckles!
If you know me, you can tell I’m a Full Bucke person 😁 But there are days when I reach out to my Ring Sling only. Today is one of those days. In fact, right now, my little one is sleeping in our RS comfortably while I’m typing this. Perfect timing to jot down this article, no? 😉
Believe me, this blog post wasn’t a planned one. It’s one of those spur-of-the-moment decisions which happened because my day today was maddening. My 9-month old is going through a crazy separation anxiety phase and wasn’t leaving me even for a micro-second to breathe. I didn’t know what to do, so I pulled this Ring Sling out of the closet and walked around the house wearing her. She instantly calmed down, played, giggled, clapped and eventually slept 🙂 I couldn’t be happier! So, now as she sleeps on my chest, I thought of grabbing my phone to share some awesome ways in which an RS beats a Full Buckle!
1. A Ring Sling effortlessly converts into a nursing cape
As much as I support the ‘normalise breastfeeding’ campaign, I’m too shy a person to nurse in public without hesitation. In fact, I can’t even nurse in a Full Buckle because it gets me all conscious. So when I’m in public and I don’t have my cape, I generally use my RS as a nursing cape and feed worry-free 🙂 I love how perfectly long and thick it is for the job!
2. It can function as a snuggly and soft blanky
I know this is an abstract expression but baby carriers do have sleepy dust in them, especially after repeated use. If my little one is too fussy, I bring out my RS, cover the rings with a sock and use it as a blanky for her. It really helps in putting her to sleep quickly! Obviously a Full Buckle can’t do this! 😉
3. It’s Reversible and a ‘Paisa Vasool’ option
Ring slings are generally reversible, which means you’ll get to wear two colourways at the price of one 😉 (ofcourse if there are two colours on both the sides, most jacquard RS’s have)
Moreover, Soul has a double layered collection which has two absolutely distinct colours on both sides. How awesome is that?!
4. You Can Hip Carry too
A full buckle can be used only to front carry and back carry, but a ring sling can be used for hip carries as well. Today, since my little one was too clingy, I hip carried her so that she gets maximum skin-to-skin and also the right position to rest her head on my chest! Worked like magic!
5. It’s Fit from Birth
Full buckles can’t be used for infants (although the ingeniously designed AnoonA can) but a Ring Sling is fit for newborns too. My first carrier was an RS and at that point, my daughter weighed 2.3kgs only!
Ideally, you have to wait until the baby is 6-7kgs to start using a Full Buckle but a RS can be used right from Day 1 🙂
Featured here is Lavender Corallium Ring Sling from Soul.
P.S. I’m still a Full Buckle person 😉
Thanks for stopping by and reading this article! Have a fantastic day ahead 💐
Love,
Elina
Why Should You Baby-wear Too?- Part 1
Long before I was bitten by the babywearing bug, I always thought it was one of those no-so-essential-yet-raved-about things, perhaps meant for hippies of the haute monde. But when I delivered my little baby and tried a carrier for the first time, needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised! 🙂
To be honest, in the beginning, when she was tiny, I could easily carry her in my arms and that was a lovely feeling, but being the fragile little human that she was, I always lived in fear and doubt about her safety. It was then that I realised that babywearing isn’t a mere hype! There’s a lot of rationale and purpose behind this concept. This realisation was just the thrust I needed. Like every other new mom out there, I managed to take out time and dig into the World Wide Web to gain some knowledge about the same. Moreover, I wanted to be satisfied that my baby gets the best. I’m sure there are many like me in the new moms world, and hence I am here to share a few benefits with you all 🙂
There are several benefits of BW but to target the main ones, let us see them in two types – Health Benefits and Practical Benefits. In this article, I’ll talk about the health benefits only, so that it’s short and precise. Keep an eye here to read my next article on practical benefits.
Health benefits:
1. BW helps in development of spinal cord. Babies are born with C- shaped spine and develop into S-shaped (like adults) in 12 to 18 months. It is very important that their flexible c-shaped spinal cord at the back gets proper support that keeps them stiff all the time, in order to help them develop. BW gives that required support to the back !
Image Courtesy : Souls official website
2. BW is a form of tummy time ! Yes, you got me right. Tummy time can be vertical too 🙂 This aids the baby’s colic issue.
3.BW helps in regulating baby temperature.You must be wondering how? The skin to skin contact with the wearer helps regulating their temperature.
4. BW helps in physical and mental development of the child. Babies learn to balance faster, can see all aroun them (sides) etc. Constantly carrying the baby makes them happy and reduces stress harmones and therefore they are much happier and actively involved.
Image Courtesy : Souls official Facebook page
5. 30-40 minutes of upright position to your babies who have reflux is a way to help them suffer less. A good carrier makes sure that your baby is held in an upright position, hence reducing the reflux affect.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Facebook Page
I hope you were left jaw-dropped by these points, because that’s exactly how my reaction was when I read too.
If you’re not babywearing yet, go and get one carrier now. Trust me, you won’t regret!
Thanks for stopping by and reading!
Keep coming back here. I like it 🙂
Love,
Elina and Mumtaz
Baby-wearing Myths Busted- Part 2
Heylo, everyone! Thank you for all the love and appreciation on the first part of this series. Many of you could relate to those myths and also agreed to the answers, so I thought of sharing a few more common misconceptions on this topic 🙂
1. Babywearing will ruin my back and shoulder
Some carriers do, especially non-ergonomic carriers, but not the ergonomic ones, because they’re padded exactly where they should be or made in just the right way, which is why they give the required support to the back and the shoulders. Also, if you’re using an ergonomic carrier and still sensing the pain, that’s an indication of incorrect wearing technique, correcting which, won’t hurt your back and shoulders anymore.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Official Facebook page
2. Babies might feel suffocated in the carrier
I was asked this by a friend who saw my daughter sleeping in the carrier, obviously out of concern. However, if you carry your baby while keeping the safe carrying techniques in mind, your baby won’t feel suffocated at all. Have you heard of T.I.C.K.S. rule? I recently stumbled upon this website called Baby Sling Safety and found out about T.I.C.K.S. rule. Here’s what it is:
3. My baby resisted in the carrier I tried. Babywearing is not our thing.
Babies might resist at first, which is pretty normal. I’ll soon write about why some kids resist and how to deal with that. But one major issue I wanted to address here is that some babies might not like the carrier they are in, but that doesn’t mean they don’t like to be worn. There’s quite a possibility that they might happily accept being worn in some other type of carrier; it’s all about trying and testing. I’d strongly suggest visiting a local library to find your best match or opting for a traveler program before purchasing one.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Official Facebook page
4. It delays walking and other developmental milestones
I would have given you a million scientific evidences here, but I’d rather I’d share my daughter’s experience. I’ve been wearing her ever since she was over a month old, almost regularly. Now, shes 9.5 months old, standing by herself and should hopefully walk too within a fortnight. Hence, I’m pretty sure it doesn’t delay developmental milestones achievement.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Official Facebook page
5. Babywearing is expensive
Honestly, at first even I thought so, and probably it was earlier. With new release of basic cotton variants and EMI schemes, the scenario is no longer the same. If you’re looking to babywear on a budget, click here to read my article and find some tricks.
Image courtesy: Soul’s Official Facebook page
Thanks for stopping by!
Have a great day ahead.
Love,
Elina