William Sears, MD and Martha Sears, RN came up with the phrase “Babywearing” which refers to carrying your baby in a carrier close to your body, while you continue with your activities of daily living. They did not invent the concept, which has been around since the human species evolved and is a common sight in many developing countries.

Why should I consider carrying my baby in a carrier?

There are many benefits to carrying your baby in a carrier. Studies indicate that babies who are carried in a carrier CRY LESS compared to those that aren’t. When you carry your baby in a soft carrier, you are mimicking the baby’s environment in the womb, which will help baby to make a smooth transition from womb to world. In our modern society of expensive and trendy strollers and other “containers”, it is a pity that many parents are unaware of the concept of carrying your baby in a carrier, which costs a fraction of the cost of most strollers and offers many more benefits. We do believe that there is a place for strollers, particularly when baby reaches a year and becomes fairly heavy to carry for long periods.

Stroller vs soft carrier

If we compare Baby A, aged 2 months in a stroller and Baby B aged 2 months in a carrier worn close to mom and dad’s body. Lets examine the sensory and motor experiences of both babies. Baby A is in his stroller, away from mom/dad, he can’t see his parents, or smell them or even hear their voices. He lies passively on his back in his stroller, and may be confused and even disoriented, with no human touch to soothe or reassure him. Baby B is worn close to mom/dad’s body. He can feel their heartbeat, see their faces, hear them talk, smell them and is reassured by their touch. Bonding occurs without any hassles and successful breastfeeding is more likely, with baby being carried against mom’s body. The baby in the carrier is not lying flat on his back, but rather in a range of positions which will place less pressure on his skull, reducing his risk of developing plagiocephaly. He moves with mom/dad and in turn receives vestibular stimulation. He is actively engaging his muscles as he shifts to maintain his balance as mom/dad move. He is working on developing his head control and strengthening his muscles, unlike Baby A, who remains passively on his back. He is receiving what is essentially a swaddling like effect in the soft carrier which calms him via proprioceptive input to his joints. Mom/dad are more in tune with his needs, as they are very close to him. He can look up and see their faces.

There are many types of carriers on the market including:

* Ring Sling
* Pouch
* Wrap
* Asian Carriers
* Structured Carriers
* Hip Carriers
* Torso Carriers

Today, we will be highlighting a structured carrier form Kelty. In 1952, Kelty started making it easier for friends to enjoy the wilderness, and that’s what they are still doing today. Kelty offers a full range of products for the outdoors. Kelty Kids, a division of Kelty, offers an award winning selection of carriers, strollers, bags and accessories. Today we are highlighting the Wallaby Infant Carrier.

The JPMA-certified Wallaby is a structured carrier which is very simple to use, and allows caregivers to wear a baby facing in or out (see insert for guidelines). Parents will really appreciate the solid design and engineering of the carrier. The carrier is easily adjustable for parents and caregivers of different heights and body frames. The Wallaby Carrier is made from a 100% cotton fabric and is fully padded, ensuring all day comfort for you and your baby. The carrier weighs in at just over a pound, making it lightweight and easy to manage. The Wallaby has a handy central zip pouch to store small essentials such as keys, or a cellphone which means that you can continue to remain hands free during short walks. The Wallaby has a sewn in loop at the top of the carrier which allows you to hang your carrier for easy storage.

The unisex design will appear to both men and women who will feel confident wearing their baby. Available in a variety of colors including Blueberry, Black, Grape and Cherry. The Wallaby is a good choice for breastfeeding moms and it is uniquely designed not to compress the chest region.

Where the Wallaby baby carrier truly excels is in relation to reducing colic or reflux. The Wallaby carrier allows a baby to remain in a vertical position with minimal bending at the hips which together with additional strategies outlined in the book“Colic Solved,” by Bryan Vartabedian, M.D. to help to reduce colic and reflux.

To learn where to buy online or at a store near you please click here

For more information, please visit: www.kelty.com