One of the favorite parts of my job/life is getting to teach other people about babywearing. Sometimes when I mention that my business is about babywearing, people give me funny looks. “What do you mean, dressing babies?” Usually when I explain that I’m talking about an ancient tradition of wrapping your child close to your body, I still get funny looks. It’s unfortunate that the art of babywearing has been lost in our culture. I wonder how things would be different if more people wore their children close to them? Would our children be different?
The number one fear I hear from parents thinking about babywearing is that their children will be clingy and dependent if they are constantly held. “Babies need to learn to be independent and to soothe themselves.” Research actually shows quite the opposite. Babies who are held actually show independence sooner than their non-carried counterparts. Your child will develop a deep sense of trust when held that she will transfer to the world around her.
I began holding Ruby when she was five days old. Her Granny Sarah gave me a wrap as a gift. I had no idea what I was doing, as I had never been around parents who carried their children. What was awkward the first couple times I attempted it became quickly easy, even automatic. Ruby was in the wrap most of the time. She slept there and nursed there. She hung out and watched the world around her.
In this picture she is in the sage/hazelnut Hug-a-bub, the wrap that began my adventure. Of course, it doesn’t look like that good of a wrapping job. I think this is the second time I put her in it. Not too bad though. She is fast asleep and going on her first hike. It didn’t take long until we were expert babywearers–always using the wrap and branching out to different carries and holds.
I have to say, I’ve always felt like a ninja when Ruby isn’t in the wrap but it’s still wrapped to my body, cloth all around me. I like the ninja feel.
So the title of my post is “Babywearing Class Planning” but I’ve yet to do more than elude to teaching babywearing classes. In order to complete the post’s not-so-large circle, I’ll return to the title…
I really love teaching people about babywearing, especially those who look at my funny ninja outfit and wonder how the heck I’ve got my baby in there! It’s fun to see all the soon-to-be parents and then to see many again after their child has been born. I want to teach more classes. I am going to spend much of this year trying to make connections to mid-wives, doulas, and childbirth educators. In the past I’ve come into childbirth classes and given a 30 minute presentation on babywearing, showing the carriers and the different ways to carry children. Often times I’ll hear from parents after the class, wanting to learn more about wearing their babies.
I’d like to do a lot more than this. I would like to offer more workshops, where caregivers can try on different carriers and learn different holds. These can be a lot of fun and also let new parents meet other new parents. I’m hoping to keep my eyes open for good places to host these events.
Keep checking the website: www.naturebabyonline.com for up-coming workshops and lectures. And please let us know if you have any suggestions for spreading the good word of babywearing.
Peace, love, and babywearing-
Becca
