Wearing June

Excuse me while I blow bubbles on top of my soapbox...


So, there are some things that I've done as a parent that I take pretty seriously. Like most parents, I try to make the best informed decisions I can, while simultaneously trying to be flexible and laid back, allowing my intuition guide me. As a graduate student, I having too much information at my fingertips and I have worked very hard to not go crazy searching evidence-based practices for parenting, when I know better. Being a good mama is about being selective and blocking out the noise (and the annoying people) that don't resonate with you.  I feel (mostly) confident listening to my heart in most matters because I have worked hard to seek out advice and answers from people and sources that I trust.


When June was born she was so tiny- 4 pounds, 12 ounces, see the pic for a reminder of her little sweetness. 



I never thought of her as fragile. I knew her spirit from the start. She had already fought so hard to survive and she and I and her Papa would do what we knew was right for our family. I strive not be one of those parents who shoves their values in other people's faces. I try to make choices for our family that are the best for us, and I do no presume to know whether that same thing would be best for someone else's family.  Babies who are born low birth weight, like June Apple, are at risk for many physical and cognitive delays. It was very important to me that I do whatever I could to help her grow and be as strong as she could. After doing extensive research (it helped that I was taking a human growth and development course the semester she was born) I found some solid steps I could take to help insure that she thrive. These steps include breastfeeding, babywearing, skin to skin contact, baby sign language, exposing her to music, and reading to her.


My soapbox on the wonders of breastfeeding will be saved for another day, so today I will talk about the wonders of baby wearing.


                    

Now you may be asking yourself, "Why Katy, are you preaching about babywearing today, of all days?" Well, last week I was having lunch with my new co-workers at the community mental health clinic I am an intern at. I started talking about National Babywearing Week and the flashmob I was planning on taking a part of that Saturday. (Thats right, there is a week to celebrate carrying your baby, and yes, I was in a flashmob. Jealous?) Anyhoo, one of the therapists was like, "Babywearing?!" I explained to her quickly  (because who want to hear my 45 minute spiel? Oh, wait, isn't that what your reading now? Well, I guess your could stop reading if you lose interest........Still with me?) that babywearing meant carrying your baby in a sling or carrier. I mentioned that there is a lot of research out there that supports that wearing your baby improves cognitive functioning. I threw in the word "research," because I thought, you know, this lady has her master's degree in counseling. Apparently that meant nothing to her. Instead she looked at me like I just said, "I love to surround my baby in crystals and smudge her in sage while I read her palm and read to her from The Mists of Avalon."

For the first couple months of her life I wore her tucked into a Moby wrap or sling. Research supports that wearing babies who are low birth weight or born early help continue a baby's time in the womb, by simulating the environment with a cozy wrap.  Babies who are worn spend less time crying and more time in a quiet, alert state, which allows them time to pay attention to what is going on, thus boosting brain power. Also, it helps promote secure attachment. I mean come on! Hello! You are literally attached to each other, so how could that not promote attachment? 

I have four different baby wearing options at my disposal- a Moby wrap, an Ergo Baby carrier (as seen below) and two slings. The Moby has proven to be the most versatile, as June can be worn in many different ways. Currently, she loves to face out, so she can kick her legs and allow everyone to admire her cuteness. The Ergo is great because I can easily take it on and off, making it a good choice when we are running errands and are in and out of the car several times. Amos also wears the Ergo, as it is the most "manly." The slings are good too, but only when I have a sleepy June Apple, as its very conducive for napping.

                   
Sometimes I combine music and babywearing, for a double whammy. 

Clearly baby wearing made June Apple a genius who can hold drum sticks at 3 days old. And just to prove that baby wearing does not make me a perfect mother, this picture was taken in a bar. When she was three days old. That goes to show that a parent's good decisions are usually balanced by plenty of questionable ones. Seriously though, so far, June has met all of her milestones and is as smart as a whip (Are whips smart? Okay, amend that- Smart as a Nobel Peace Prize winner when they were a baby) and I definitely attribute this, in part, to my choice to wear her so often.

So I could go on and on, and in fact, if you are thirsting for more academic flavored candy, I will email you the research paper I wrote on improving cognitive outcomes for low birthweight babies. The Dr. Sears Baby Book is also a good resource for finding out more about the benefits of baby wearing and attachment parenting. 


The take away from it all is this: I LOVE to have June close. I know doing so has contributed to her growth and to our relationship. As a mama, it is my number one goal to raise her to be a smart, independent woman who loves her mama and papa dearly, but doesn't move back in when she's 35 with her collection of embroidery floss and toy poodles, sleeping on our couch and eating all our food. I know that my days of carrying her so close to my heart are numbered, so I cherish them so very dearly. Because soon she'll be running and skipping ahead while I meander behind and watch my girl go, go, go.