Babywearing - Daddy Style

Happy Sunday, Midlands Babywearers!

Mr. H at the Zoo

With the weather warming up, we've seen a lot more Babywearers in the wild, so to speak. We have enjoyed seeing some new faces, and catching up with others we haven't seen in a while. This spring weather is perfect for babywearing - especially for longer periods of time - like going to the zoo, nature hikes, traveling, festivals, farmer's markets, flea markets, and more. It's often in these venues that I see more men wearing their babies, and toddlers, too.

In the past, most things child related were women's domain, but as men have become more active participants of the child-raising process, becoming stay-at-home-dads, or just wanting to be more in touch with their children when they are home in the evenings and weekends, they want a piece of the babywearing pie, too, but it's hard for anyone to know where to start, especially if you haven't really seen any other men babywearing. If you are a dad, reading this, you may be wondering, "do other dads REALLY do this?" The answer is: yes, yes they do.

Some men will wear whatever their wife or mother of their child picks out for them or has already, some want a carrier specifically for them, others do their own research and choose their own carrier. No matter what type of dad you are, wearing your baby is as practical as it is for your baby's mom, and offers all the same benefits. You are hands free, so you can get things done, you are close to your baby, so your baby is happy, and you both get time together to bond, which is priceless.

SSCs (Soft Structured Carriers or Buckle Carrier) - this is the carrier I most often see dads use. Dads choose it because it's easy to figure out, many are available in manly patters or basic colors, and they are very comfortable. SSCs are also a good carrier to choose when you have more than one person wearing the baby, as it easily adjusts to fit multiple wearers. Examples of common SSC are Ergo, Boba 4G, Kinderpack, Tula, Beco Gemini and Soleil, and the Infantino Union.



Mr. M at the Flea Market

Mr. F at the Flea Market

Mr. S at World Market

When I was pregnant with our first baby, back in 2009, before I knew a whole lot about babywearing, my husband and I went to go register for baby stuff at Babies R US, like 99% of expecting couples we knew. Babywearing made a lot of sense to both of us, so my 6 foot 6 inch husband tried on what they had in store, which was mostly Baby Bjorns and Chico carriers. On his large frame, the Baby Bjorn looked ridiculous. It also did not look like it would be very comfortable for a long period of time - both in regards to age of baby and duration of wear - so my husband decided to research online. He researched a bit and found Ergobaby, which in 2009 was probably the most ergonomic SSC available widely. It also got good reviews from larger men who found it fit them okay and was comfortable. We got good use out of the Ergo, sized up when our first baby was one to a Boba 2G, which had a taller back, sold it for a random SSC I found on a For Sale or Trade board that I loved the look and price of (a Nana's JetPack), which I sold when I was offered another SSC - a Babyhawk Oh!Snap - in trade . . . . and now we own three SSCs, that Oh!Snap, a standard size Kinderpack, and a custom toddler SSC. We also now have three kids, and like to have options for each of them, and having one both in the house and in the car is convenient. We love our SSC's!

Mr. B at the Fair

Mei Tai - often abbreviated MT - this options is very similar to an SSC, but instead of buckles, there are long straps you tie. No adjusting the buckles for the perfect fit on different people, just tie it to your comfort and secure your baby. Common brands include Babyhawk and the Infintino Sash Mei. This sort of carrier is great for newborns to toddlers and is very affordable. Since there are no buckles to adjust, many parents find it is a better option for a carrier for both parents to wear.

Mr. T on a hike

Frame Carriers - or Hiking backpacks - these sort of carriers are great for that purpose. They are the perfect choice if you spend a lot of time outdoors and want to carry just one thing - many frame carriers have extra pockets and pouches for carrying diapers, gear, water bottles, and anything else you may need for a day on the trail. The downside to these carriers is that they are a bit unwieldy for daily use, and baby should be sitting independently - six to eight months - before you can use it. They are a great option for many dads who want to take baby with them hiking and camping.





Mr. D -wrapping at home

Wraps - yes, real men wrap, too! There are two kinds of baby wraps. Woven Wraps and stretchy wraps. Stretchy wraps, like the Moby, are meant for young babies (newborn to 3-4 months), and are very long pieces of stretch knit cotton. I know men that have used and loved stretchy wraps as a way to snuggle and be close to their newborn. Others find the fabric keeps them a little too warm and others find wrapping with all that stretchy fabric too be more of a challenge than its worth.  However, once you get the hang of it, wrapping with a stretchy is a great gateway into the world of woven wraps.

Mr. N - wrapping at home

Woven wraps  - like stretchy wraps, these are long pieces of cloth, but the fabric is woven, not knit. It's like the difference between your favorite jeans and your favorite t-shirt. Your t-shirt is stretchy and cozy and comfy. The jeans are soft, sturdy, and strong. Woven wraps can be used for all ages of babies -from newborn to toddler- and come in a wide variety of lengths, fiber blends and patterns. This carrier has the longest learning curve, but has the most versatility of any carrier, since it can be worn on your front, hip, or back - high or lower - and with any age or size of baby. It is definitely a learned skill, but it is a skill worth learning. Woven wraps often feel like swaddling your child and often produce a similar calming effect. If you have a fussy baby or tantruming toddler, it's a great tool to use to calm your baby in a way that keeps them close, safe, while still allowing you to be hands-free.

Wearing your baby is a wonderful way to bond with your baby, get things done, and get brownie points with your wife, all at once - don't be surprised if your wife insists on taking a picture of you wearing your little one every chance she can. We love seeing daddies wear babies! Come join the conversation in our Facebook group and share your favorite daddy pictures, and tell us what your favorite daddy babywearing carrier is.

Upcoming Events:

Weekday Meeting - Thursday, April 24th, at the LDS Church on Broad River Rd. We'll be talking about how to stay cool while wearing your baby in the South Carolina heat.
Natural Mama Expo/Great Cloth Diaper Change - Saturday, April 26th, at the convention center in Downtown Columbia. We will be there helping troubleshoot carriers, display the lending library, and hoping to set a new world record for cloth diaper changing, all at the same time! Come join us and many other local vendors at this one of a kind event!