When we are new parents, we generally spend the first days, if not the first weeks, glued to our newborn. We revel in its warmth, its soft skin and its unique smell. Sometimes we would like time to stop because these moments pass much too quickly.

On the contrary, sometimes we would like time to speed up and for baby to be a tad less interdependent on himself. It's completely normal to be divided between your desire to find a little freedom and the desire to continue clinging to your still brand new baby.

That said, after some time, the resumption of activities is inevitable. Frozen meals are running out, laundry is piling up and the desire to step outside and see friends again is on the horizon. But let's face it, baby lived 9 months warm in the pit of his parent's belly, swaying to the rhythm of his steps. Maybe (well, most likely) he's not ready to leave the warmth of your arms, of your body. Carrying is a beautiful continuity of this bond of attachment which develops very slowly. It is to meet baby's needs for proximity, security and comfort.

But, your baby, you are already carrying it! 

You've been carrying it in your arms for days, weeks… Maybe it's even gained a few pounds and your back or neck are sending you signals that it's time to adapt your babywearing. First of all, here are some little tips to continue carrying your newborn optimally and for him! And for you!

First, engage your pelvic floor. Think of an urge to urinate that you are trying to hold back. Or, imagine a parachute well stretched upwards through its center. Then, engage the abs by tucking the navel towards the spine. Avoid arching the lower back and keep the pelvis in a neutral position. Then add a slight bend in the knees to promote good posture. Remember to keep your back straight. These small, simple actions will save you from nasty injuries.

For a safe carry

Both for the parent and for the baby, the latter must be worn high. Otherwise, you will tend to arch your back to support its weight. They say it should be “at kiss height” and be close enough for a hug. If you are able to bring baby closer to you, the fit is not optimal.

A well-supported base will offer more support to the neck and will allow a good tone in the newborn. The position squatting, i.e. the knees higher than the buttocks, will allow him tograb to your body andwrap, that is to say, to have a very round back when carrying.

Last notion of security: free the baby's face, it must be clearly visible. If his chin sags against his body, you must readjust the portage in order to clear his airways.

Come and practice in our workshops, the port often comes back to it!

Find the right information; an adventure.

It is so beautiful! It seems so easy! Thus, you seek advice from the Internet, scroll through a few pages of porting enthusiasts and watch a few tutorials on YouTube. Hello headache. It's to get lost with all these knots more complex than each other and this too long scarf that never ends. Scarves, baby carriers, do you want some? Here you go! The variety of carrying methods is quite wide. There's plenty to get lost in! So, let's unravel it all together.

scarves

From the outset, my favorite baby carrier is thesimple woven scarf such a Mexican traditional rebozo or a better known model, the ring sling. This porting allows a simple and fast installation. In addition, it allows a portage in suspension which will protect the organs and the pelvic floor of the parent who has given birth.

It is a portage quite suitable for the newborn. It is ideal for short-term carrying, because being asymmetrical, it places the weight on one shoulder. Short in size, it can be installed without dragging the ground. It also allows breast-feeding as long as it is well established. These scarves are woven and, having a very good resistance to weight, will be able to follow the growth of your baby. In addition, as baby grows older, his growing curiosity will be satisfied by installing him as an off-center carry or even on the hip.

L'stretch scarf is very popular. It allows a very easy adjustment due to its elasticity. Being very light, it can be transported very well in the diaper bag and the knots remain relatively simple. The enveloping aspect is often reassuring for the new carrier parent and allows safe skin-to-skin contact at home without necessarily investing in a sweater designed solely for this purpose for the first few weeks. However, it is less and less supportive as the baby grows. Indeed, when the baby's weight approaches 7-9 kg (15-20 lbs), a change of carrying tool should be considered.

But what about the long woven scarves? Varying in length from about 3 to 6 meters depending on the manufacturer, the woven scarf is the tool that allows the greatest range of knots and positions. It requires that said a little more willpower and learning time. It remains a very safe tool that can carry up to 20 kg (45 lbs). You will be able to carry in the same scarf your very small newborn and even your toddler. With a precise fit, it allows you to wear long and comfortably. Woven wraps are carrying tools that adapt perfectly to baby.

The preformed baby carrier

Le preformed is the porting tool that seems the easiest to use. Although it is said to be designed for carrying newborns, it does not generally allow optimal and physiological carrying in the position squatting baby tightly gripped and rolled up. It remains that said very practical when baby grows a little because of its ease and speed of use. Creating a belt around the waist and depositing the weight there, it is best to wait until a health professional has evaluated the pelvic recovery before using it postnatally.

The Mai Tei; the in-between

My second favorite port. Yes, I saved it for the end! the Mei-Tai. The what? The Mei Tai is a carrying tool of Asian origin. This is the comfort of the soft wrap and the ease of installation of the preformed. It's a wonderful in-between, because it suitable from birth until baby gets older and wants to be worn on the back. Many even make it into early childhood. Ventral, off-center, hip and back carry, that's my opinion the most versatile baby carrier. Just like the preformed, it will be practical for parents wishing to take beautiful walks or go on slightly more sporty hikes.

Babywearing is a whole universe once you get started. The important thing is toidentify your needs of porting in order to target the tool which will be able to answer it better. If you still have doubts, questions, remember to make an appointment with a carrying instructor who will listen to your needs and concerns in order to guide you and make you safe. Or, why not sign up for a babywearing initiation workshop and thus experiment with different porting tools in a user-friendly way?

Ah! and one last bit of advice: a lot of baby carriers on the market are very pretty and trendy, but consider getting a baby carrier easy to maintain. Cotton remains the easiest material to maintain. We already have enough washing like that to manage, don't we? 😉

Emmanuelle Castonguay
Doula, babywearing instructor and breastfeeding godmother