When each of our first two kids were little, I liked the idea of baby-wearing but didn’t really know much about it. I tried to put them in a soft-structured front-facing carrier (because that was what seemed popular at the time) but they didn’t fit well due to their large baby thighs and that was the end of that.
So our remaining options were to use strollers or carry them. We found strollers to be cumbersome and to often limit the very mobility we were attempting to gain. More often than not, we would use a stroller and end up carrying them AND pushing an empty stroller. In the end, we decided carrying the kids was better for our overall health anyway and we usually chose to ditch the stroller.
When we found out we were expecting our third baby, we had already gotten rid of the bulk of our baby gear. We made the decision not to invest in a lot of the things we had felt were necessities with the first two. Baby number three is now 18 months old, stroller-free, and never once have I regretted our decision not to buy a stroller.
I cannot stress enough the value of baby-wearing, especially if you plan to stay active as a family. The list of benefits is long, but here are five reasons to wear your baby on your next outdoor adventure:
1. No more strollers.
How many times have you caught the wheel of your stroller on something in a crowded public place? Or bumped it into a shelf in a store, causing one of those embarrassing avalanches of toilet paper or whatever was on display? Accidentally rammed your stroller into a stranger’s heel while trying to exit Disneyworld at closing or, even worse, caused them to lose a shoe? Been there. Done that. I had a love-hate relationship with our strollers. Okay, mostly hate.
They were bulky and awkward and I constantly felt like I was in everyone else’s way if we were in a public setting that was the least bit crowded. I wouldn’t have dreamed of doing something remotely adventurous – like a nice hike – with a stroller. It would have been nearly impossible. By wearing your baby, you are allowed to go places you could never go with a stroller AND your hands aren’t occupied with pushing a stroller or holding a baby.
2. It’s good for you.
If done correctly, baby-wearing is great for your posture and for strengthening your core. Put your 25-lb one-year-old on your back for your next hike and feel the burn!
3. It’s emotionally and socially stimulating.
I’ve heard plenty of conversation about the emotional and psychological benefits regarding attachment and bonding with baby-wearing for both mother (or father) and child. But have you considered the social effects and benefits?
Babies that are worn are almost at eye-level with other adults and definitely at or above eye-level of older children. There is a noticeable difference in the amount and type of interaction between other people and our youngest baby that is worn most. She is more interactive with adults when compared to the older two that were stroller babies. Maybe it’s because people don’t have to bend down awkwardly (to stroller level) in order to talk? Or maybe it’s because she’s right in their face and they can’t ignore her? But whatever it is, people talk to her more. Our children are in the middle of adult interaction and conversation. They hear more words, and see more faces and expressions. They observe more social interaction. Surely, this is good for their growing brains, right? I think so.
4. Your baby will nap.
If you wear your baby from birth and you wear him regularly, you will find that it becomes the easiest place to get him to nap. If you’re in an unfamiliar place – like a campsite – your little one may not be wild about taking a nap in a tent, but I can guarantee he will fall asleep in your wrap. Are you and your husband planning a quick hike during the baby’s naptime? No problem, put her on your back and off you go! Wearing your baby guarantees that little bundle is going to sleep.
5. It keeps a busy baby safe.
Campsites and hikes are filled with potentially problematic situations for curious babies and toddlers. From poisonous plants, a hot campfire or cookstove, to a nearby stream or larger body of water. The list continues. While I love to let my kids explore and get dirty, sometimes it’s nice to strap the little one to my back so that I can help set up camp, cook, etc. rather than spend the afternoon toddler wrangling or asking her to spit out a mouthful of rocks for the seventeenth time.
