When I became a mother, I was a college junior majoring in education and creative writing. I had plans to travel the country after graduation then move on to graduate school. I was working on a thesis about integrating gifted children into the heterogeneous classroom effectively. I loved to sew and read.
Exhausted and ill from my pregnancy, I dropped a class and scaled back my extracurriculars. My friends dropped away as my lifestyle changed. When my baby was born, I lost my writing voice and found myself, for the first time in my life, wordless. I knew no other mothers of babies. I felt isolated and alone.
Finding myself and remembering myself
I realized as time went on and I graduated from college and settled into being a mostly at-home mom, as I brought more babies into this world over the years, that babywearing gave me the freedom to find myself again in the midst of my mothering.
I went out. I walked the babies to sleep while I read.
My baby sling allowed me to stay in college, carrying my child to classes and keeping her happy while I worked and listened. I saw movies with my husband. I wore her at my wedding, during my honeymoon, during my college graduation.
Best of all, I met other babywearers. In fact, the lady who sold me my first sling would also become my first real mama-friend, inviting me into her community of beautiful parents.
March into a new you: How babywearing can keep you connected with yourself and your communities
This March, many of my friends are struggling in a difficult political climate, feeling increasingly isolated. Along with our Ambassadors, we decided that Wrapsody would celebrate the ways babywearing can support parents in staying connected not only with their babies and children, but also with their partners or friends, their community — but most of all, with themselves.
It’s easy to lose ourselves when we have children, to become consumed with the work of daily task lists and diaper changes and meal preparation and bedtime routines. Yet, remembering ourselves is some of the most important work we do. In fact, one of my favorite songs was introduced to me during my years as a single mother. It’s by Dar Williams, and the lyric is, “I remember myself; that’s the work that I do.”
How can babywearing keep you connected with yourself?
Over the years, we have shared several articles about this very topic, and to celebrate March, to celebrate spring, to celebrate International Women’s Day (although the work of mothering, as we all know, is NOT the work only of women), I thought I’d compile them here for your reading pleasure. Enjoy your company this month and always! You are beautiful. You are wonderful. And you are still yourself, in addition to the important role you have as a parent.
Self Care
Peanut Butter Jelly in a Baby Sling
Feed yourself. This post talks about one woman’s delight when she realized that babywearing meant she could make herself a sandwich! Read more …
Drink plenty of fluids.
This entry from our babywearing hack contest describes one babywearing mother’s son who realized he could tuck his beer into the pocket of his Wrapsody Breeze. This will also work for your water bottle! Read more …
Showering or swimming
Some days, getting a shower feels like a HUGE accomplishment and difficult to achieve. Learn how to shower with your baby or even take your baby to the pool or lake in this article featuring the WrapDuO water and sport wrap. Read more ….
Exercise
Here are three 10-minute yoga routines you can do while wearing your baby. Read more and watch the videos …
Living with Challenges
ADHD
ADHD affects about 5% of the population. Jaleen shares the story of how babywearing influenced her parenting as a mother with ADHD. Read more …
Postpartum Depression
Postpartum Depression affects approximately 14% of new mothers. This is Lisha’s story about postpartum depression and how babywearing helped her. Read more ….
More on postpartum depression
Babywearing is not a magic cure for postpartum depression, but often, it can help. Here are 13 ways babywearing can help with postpartum depression. Read more …
Parenting a baby with Down Syndrome (or low tone)
Babies born with Down Syndrome often face a host of health and physical challenges. Rachel shares ways that babywearing helped her connect with herself and her family while caring for Tesla. Read more …
Relationships
Romantic relationships
If staying connected with your partner helps you stay connected with yourself, babywearing can help! Here are 8 ways babywearing can make your marriage better. Read more …
More on romantic relationships
And again, if connecting with your partner nourishes you, here are ways babywearing can bring more romance into your life. Read more …
Connecting with local friends
Elizabeth talks about how babywearing helped her connect with local groups of moms in this post, “Set in Motion with Babywearing.” Read more …
Vacations and outings
Going on vacation
Babywearing can help you have adventures, like vacations, whether they are local staycations or involve more travel. Read more …
Having amazing personal moments
Holly took an epic vacation that ended in a babywearing marriage proposal! Read more ..
Gift the gift of self-love and connection to others!
Want to share this amazing gift — the gift of remembering yourself — with friends, family, or even get it for yourself? Here are some tips for choosing baby carriers as gifts. Read more …
How has babywearing helped YOU stay connected to yourself and the world?
We’d love to hear from you in the comments! And don’t forget — if you like this post, share it with your friends, so they can learn all the benefits and joys of babywearing can bring to their own families.
Kristi Hayes-Devlin
Latest posts by Kristi Hayes-Devlin (see all)
- Inside Canada’s Oldest Breastfeeding and Babywearing Store - April 27, 2017
- Babywearing keeps you connected with yourself - March 9, 2017
- Even the best baby wraps wear out — but when? - February 22, 2017
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