Before Mia was born I didn't even know babywearing was a "thing." I saw my friends and family carry their babes from time to time and we registered for a carrier along with everything else one gets when a baby is on the way, but it was only after she arrived and I started to pay closer attention did I learn about the beauty and diversity in babywearing here in the United States and around the globe!
Here we are using the Baby K'Tan at the Conservatory of Flowers in Golden Gate Park. Strollers aren't allowed inside so babywearing is a must!
Turns out babywearing is awesome for about 1,000 reasons (just ask Dr. Sears). It's highly beneficial for babies to be close to their mamas and papas from birth for many reasons, including keeping little ones calmer while also giving parents a free hand. Babywearing allows a lot of flexibility for parents on-the-go. I often put Mia in our carrier for everything from a quick trip to the drug store down the street to a trek across town. We now own three carriers: a Baby K'Tan, an Ergobaby, and a Lillebaby Complete. Each one has different benefits and we haven't even delved into the world of slings and wraps, but we are excited to try some soon!
If you're like me and just learning about babywearing culture, now is the perfect time to dive in! October 5-12 2014 is International Babywearing Week. This year's theme, Share The Adventure, is super appropriate for babywearing because the freedom it offers makes it possible to take your baby to a lot of places where strollers just won't go.
To start the celebration on Sunday October 5th we'll join a bunch of other families to set a babywearing world record at Shorebird Park in Berkeley Marina. Kickoff time is 10:30am and all the details are available via Facebook. The event is hosted by Babywearing International of the Bay Area, a group that hosts monthly meetings across the region and runs a highly active and supportive Facebook group. The meetings also allow you to try different carriers and there's even a lending library to try the carriers, slings and wraps out for a longer period of time.
Daddy's a fan of babywearing too—here they are at Alemany Farmers Market, a popular babywearing spot!