By Meghan Mahar
Dara Freed has never used a stroller. She and her husband have carried their 18-month old baby Haakon in slings since he was born. “I can’t imagine using a stroller in the city,” says Freed, a Williamsburg resident. “It is so much easier to use a sling. I would never bring a stroller on the subway.”
Baby wearing has gained popularity in New York in recent years, as many new types of slings have come on the market and the benefits of baby wearing have become more known.
In Dr. William and Martha Sears parenting guide The Baby Book a whole chapter is dedicated to baby wearing. Dr. Sears, a pediatrician, says, “Because baby wearing resembles the womb as closely as is humanly possible, it fulfills a style of parenting that baby would have anticipated and helps a new baby fit into their environment.”
Williamsburg and Greenpoint have a large community of baby wearing parents. Michelle Nagai of Greenpoint has used slings since her son Uta was born four months ago. “I didn’t get a stroller when Uta was born because I thought it would be much easier to carry him,” says Nagai. “I thought babies in slings looked beautiful, and I feel very connected to Uta when he is in one.”
Dr. Sears believes there are many benefits to baby wearing. “Carried babies show enhanced visual and auditory alertness…Researchers have found that the human face especially in this position is a potent stimulator for interpersonal bonding.” Parents who wear their babies are able to read their babies’ queues more easily than if they were in a stroller. Babies in countries where being carried is the norm, such as many African and South American countries have little to no colicky babies. Babies who are worn do not need to cry to get their parents attention.
Lisa Fortin, a Williamsburg mom to eight-month old Clara, uses her sling in addition to a stroller. “When I go out the stroller ends up being used for carrying packages while I carry Clara in my Mei Tei carrier.” Fortin finds the sling convenient for breastfeeding in public places. “It’s nice to have the sling for breastfeeding, I can feed her everywhere in the Mei Tei, it’s so easy.” Dr. Sears writes of the advantages of breastfeeding babies in slings, “Baby wearing allows breastfeeding on the move so that busy mothers can nurture their babies with the best nutrition, yet continue their active lifestyles.” Many slings offer enough fabric to allow breastfeeding to be done discreetly wherever necessary, giving breastfeeding mothers more flexibility to leave the house with their babies.
In New York there are many resources for baby wearing. Bianca Fehn, a Manhattan resident, formed her own baby-wearing group “Slings in the City” after her son Matteo was born three years ago. Fehn found using a sling to be a tremendous help with caring for Matteo. “The baby carrier helped me to nurse Matteo and I was also able to do work, run errands, do laundry and take care of my son at the same time. I honestly have no idea how I would have made it without the sling.”
In 2005 Fehn started a Yahoo! Group for New York baby wearers. They had their first meeting in April 2005 with over 20 baby wearing attendants. In addition to running “Sling in the City” Fehn also runs an online business where she sells baby carriers full time. “In my opinion a sling or baby carrier is just more practical in many situations. Of course we are not anti stroller, most of us have as stroller as well, but we do have some people in the group who have never owned one.”
Baby wearing is a way for parents to bond with their babies. Dr. Sears writes, “By extending the womb experience, the baby wearing mother or father provide an external regulating system that balances the irregular and disorganized tendencies of the baby.”
A friend introduced Rebecca Preston-Campbell to slings when she got pregnant. “We used our sling all the time because our baby would not sleep in the car or the stroller, only the sling. When he was little, I would put him in the sling while I vacuumed.” Using a sling can help babies to fall asleep easier and stay asleep longer, as they feel safe being so close to their parents “The sling made a huge difference in the amount of time Haakon sleeps and he cries less. The bodily contact is just so natural and it is easier to anticipate his needs,” says Freed. “I just think that it’s a really great way to bond with the baby and I think he is more secure and independent because he was worn since day one.”
Resources:
Slingsinthecity.com
Nineinnineout.org
Mamatoto.com
Brooklynbabyhui.com
Drsears.com
