You’ve seen them around: colourful carriers plastered with rainbows, butterflies, polka dots, moustaches, or stripes. Babywearing has definitely become the “in” thing to do for new moms – I admit, it’s pretty fun. But there’s more to it than just that.

Babywearing saved my first year of motherhood.

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Those early days of motherhood. I miss them, and yet in my still-sleep deprived stupor, I’d call anyone crazy to go through that again. My experience in those first days, and weeks, involved breastfeeding, pumping, tube feeding, and an apartment smaller than the baby section at Walmart – where I could never really get a silent break, or time to myself, even with my little one sleeping peacefully in his swing or crib.

That navy wrap, that went over my shoulder and crossed this way – or was it that way? – saved me in those early days. It gave me a sense of freedom: the ability to make a cup of coffee, or a familiar meal, to enjoy the latest Netflix show with my husband (and have hands for a bowl of chips!), and to have some semblance of normality in our life.

That navy wrap allowed me to have the warmest and sweetest of cuddles when I needed reminder that if I did indeed go crazy from lack of sleep, it was for a pretty squishy little reason. It gave me a sense of comfort when I wanted to attend a church event, a friend’s birthday party, or go shopping. Even though I was taking time for me, I was able to give my little one a comfortable place to snooze where he, too, was happy – next to my heart which was his comfort for 9 months.

That navy wrap protected my little one from germs. I worried about those early weeks and everyone and their dog wanting to hold my precious bundle of joy, or get a good look (and how would I politely say please don’t reach in the stroller and breathe on him!?). I mean, you’d have to be crazy to ask me to wake a sleeping baby strapped to my chest, right? (Wrong. It happened more than once.)

When my little man was big enough, I graduated to a soft structured carrier. And later, he graduated to being worn on my back where he can see the world from the best seat in the house.

That blue buckle carrier gave me extra oomph as I walked, or hiked: still, today, I can’t beat a good long hike with an extra 27lb strapped to me to help fight the mom-bod. My carrier protects my little one from grocery store cart germs, and my grocery bill from growing with grabby hands that want to pull everything off the shelves.

I wouldn’t have survived flying three times by myself, between Ontario and New Brunswick, lugging all that a baby needs, and myself through the airport, if it wasn’t for that buckle carrier.

I added a third carrier to my “stash” when my little one was around 8 months old. My ring sling has allowed my little one to sit comfortably on my hip on clingy days, teething days, nosy-what-are-you-doing-mom? days, and the everyday. He’s happy to snoop and be on my level, and I’m happy for hands-free meal prep, cleaning, folding, and living.

Babywearing has saved me from long to-do lists over naptimes, packing everything into the post-7pm bedtime stretch, and from the inevitable “I can’t do this!” breakdowns of the first year of motherhood (ok, who am I kidding…I still have those. But I like to think I have fewer!).

But it goes beyond that, too.

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Babywearing is second nature in Africa: babies are worn constantly. They’re fed while worn, they nap while worn, they stay close and comfortable where a heart beat brings comfort and familiarity, where mamas have important roles in villages, and wearing a baby brings ease, but also fierce bonding to grow in their community. In some countries, mamas are waited on the first several weeks, not allowed to leave their homes but rather, made to focus on the their #1 task: bonding with their baby.

In Canada, we’re spoiled with swings and rockers, swaying every which way and with the intense pressure to have and do it all. And yet at the same time, baby wearing mamas are met with hesitation and concern: “that won’t make him independent,” or “he needs to stretch his legs, explore, be free.”

Call me old fashioned, but the wisdom of hundreds – no, thousands – of years of women wearing their babies to bond and get tasks done seems like the best model of parenting.

Laura

Nice to meet you! My name is Laura Cooper, and I’m a New Brunswick (Fredericton) runaway that just couldn’t stay away: after a few years in the big cities of Nova Scotia and Ontario, my little family has settled back into Moncton. By day, I’m a content creator and social media marketer for a travel agency, and a 24/7 mom to one little. If we were getting together to meet, I’d most definitely ask to meet over coffee, or maybe a local New Brunswick beer, and I’d be sure that our conversation had lots of laughter in it. 

My background is journalism, but I’ve lucked out and found my dream job in the travel and social media industry. I love to cook, buy local at the market, and hike and enjoy our beautiful province.

A before-kids version of me wouldn’t believe I’d be saying this, but I love cloth diapers and would gladly sit and talk your ear off about them, and am passionate about the benefits of breastfeeding, and babywearing. I grew up loving history and I often say I was born in the wrong century, and it rings true in my mom-ing.

Likes: A good latte, chicken alfredo, agendas and planners

Dislikes: PB&J sandwiches, milk, doing dishes