What Exactly Is Babywearing?
Have you ever seen a young mum with her baby seemingly strapped against her body with what looks like a tablecloth?
Welcome to the modern take of the ancient art of babywearing!
Babywearing is a way of both carrying and comforting babies and toddlers and is as old as time. Yet, while most cultures around the world have continued the practice uninterrupted, the western world lost its way when prams were invented. In many countries, wearing babies became associated with hippies, incense and mung beans!
Thankfully, Australia worked out that baby slings gave busy mothers free hands to get on with things way back in the 1960s! The Founder of the Nursing Mothers’ Association of Australia (NMAA), Mary Paton, created a scene when she was photographed for the Herald newspaper with her baby on her back in a sling while she vacuumed! The newspaper office was flooded with enquiries and NMAA went on the produce their Meh Tai baby carrier for almost 50 years!! Europe caught on when another mum brought South American tradition to modern Germany and the US came on-board in the 1980s when a paediatrician brought ring slings to the mainland from Hawaii and the Over The Shoulder Baby Holder was born!
I was one of those mothers turning heads, when I wore my own babies born in the 80s and early 90s. And despite the warnings of clingy, dependent children, I watched my children grow into confident, independent adults! It turns out babywearing helps form secure attachments between parent and child and is recognised for reducing crying and unsettled behaviour.
Now a new generation are enjoying this special bond. Since those early days, baby carrier designs have evolved and changed, drawing on the wisdom of traditional cultures as well as the wonders of modern materials. Today, social media and internet retailers have seen a new wave of interest in babywearing. There is even an International Babywearing Week held each year!
Safe and comfortable babywearing is the focus of educators and consultants, who have developed guidelines known as the T.I.C.K.S. Community groups, like South Eastern Babywearing Group, run sling meets where parents can come together to share tips and techniques, help newcomers choose from an overwhelming range of options and learn about babywearing safety.
So – back to those metres of tablecloths! Woven wraps, often 5m long, are just one type of carrier. From budget-friendly mass production to bespoke hand-woven works of art, these eye-catching pieces which wrap origami-like around the adult body actually hold both babies and toddlers securely and safely. Practiced techniques amaze onlookers who wonder if they should offer to help – but it’s okay, mum or dad knows what they are doing.
Other options include shorter fabric pieces locked at the shoulder by metal rings or traditional Asian designs where a simple rectangle with a strap at each corner. And for those confused by all that fabric, modern designers come to the rescue with ergonomics, buckles and straps providing the support of a traditional carrier with the convenience of modern back packs!
And if the idea of strapping a baby to your chest and walking along the beach front sounds a bit tame, then there are even exercise classes which incorporate babywearing into routines designed to get new mums off the couch and moving back towards fitness!
So, next time you spot a local mum deftly securing her baby before setting off through the farmers market pram-free and ready to shop, give her a smile and admire her style – she’s wearing her baby and continuing an ancient tradition in a modern world.
