Multitasking 101: Feeding Your Baby While Babywearing

It's Sunday, Midlands Babywearers!

What a long weekend it's been - I hope ya'll have enjoyed it as much as our family has. There has been a ton of things to do this week, and I hope you enjoyed some of them. We spent a day at the Lake Murray Dam beach park, went blueberry picking, walked around the zoo, and watched a lot of fireworks. With all of this time out of the house, you better believe we spend a good bit of it babywearing. At one point  I had a sleeping toddler on my back, a nursing one on my front, all while trying to shop for discount organic produce. It was one of those times I was so grateful for having babywearing in my parenting toolbox! *for those that do not know: 14 Carrot on 378 in Lexington puts all of their produce on sale every Thursday and Sunday afternoon from 1-5 p.m. Discount is 30%*



We get a lot of questions in our Facebook group about how to nurse in a baby carrier. We even partnered with La Leche League recently and had a meeting devoted to that topic, and most of the pictures I'm sharing are from that meeting. Nursing a baby (or bottle feeding for that matter) while wearing your baby is a skill that once learned, you will wonder how you ever managed without it. I truly believe anyone can nurse in a carrier, no matter how big or small your breasts are, the size of your baby, or what kind of carrier you have. That said, it is a skill; one you need to practice a bit to get the hang of and figure out what tips and trick work best for you and your baby.

 

 

*a note for bottle feeding moms and dads: this post is for you, too. While many of the positioning techniques are aimed at a nursing mother needing to find that sweet spot for feeding her nursling, most bottle fed babies prefer similar positions for eating and you will likely find those suggestions helpful.

Getting Started

You will notice when nursing in any carrier, lowering and loosening the carrier is usually one of the first things you do in order to bring baby into a better position with the breast. Even so, please keep TICKS in mind:

Tight (your carrier will likely be looser than normal while baby is feeding, but should still be snug enough to be secure)
In sight at all times
Close enough to kiss (this can be fudged a bit while baby is eating)
Keep chin off chest (take note while baby is eating that you can see/feel sucks, swallows and breathing)
Supported back

Once baby is done eating, it's best to bring baby back up to kissable level and snug up your carrier, so that baby doesn't slouch down in the loosened carrier. You want to ensure that baby is in a position from which you can easily monitor their airway and breathing, especially newborns and younger babies that don't communicate as loudly or as readily as their older counterparts.

A note on clothing: Most find it easiest to wear either lower cut tops or button downs and just pull boob over the top when nursing in a carrier. As I go through nursing in each type of carrier, I'll include tips to helping to stay discreet while nursing in a carrier, for those moms and situations that prefer to be more covered.

Before I begin, if you are a member of Babywearing 102 on Facebook, they have already done a handy file on this topic HERE.

Ring Slings

Emily demonstrating
nursing in cradle hold

Ring Slings are one of my favorite carriers to nurse in. They are relatively easy to wear, there is not a lot of fiddling and adjusting to do between nursing and not-nursing positions, and they are great for both newborns and toddlers. Cons: you can only easily nurse from one breast while wearing (in order to nurse from the other side, you need to take the carrier off, adjust the rings, put baby back in . . . ), and it isn't completely hands free, especially for newborns or women with large breasts (true for nursing in most carriers, unfortunately).

With a newborn: you can nurse in cradle hold or upright. In cradle hold, you will loosen the top rail enough (by lifting and separating the rings) to tilt baby to the breast opposite the rings. Baby should be laying perpendicular to your breast, just as he would as if he were in your arms for cradle hold. You may feel the need to support your baby's head with your hand or arm on the same side as the breast that is being nursed from. Now your hand that is on the ring side is free to help your baby latch, support your breast, or do other, non-nursing related things (like shop, or hold your coffee, or eat!). While this is not completely hands free, it is much easier than nursing with a babe in your arms while you walk  around or do other things that need doing. Nursing upright: if your baby has a big more head control, you can nurse baby upright while in a ring sling. Your baby is most likely already upright in the tummy-to-tummy position when you are using the ring sling. You want your baby to maintain that same position, just lower, and moved to the side a bit, for nursing.

With an older baby or toddler: If you are using a ring sling for your older baby or toddler, you are probably wearing them a little lower and more on your hip. Nursing from this position is fairly simple: just lower/loosen the sling until baby is at the right level to nurse, get baby latched, and then snug up the sling by tightening along the top rail and center of the sling to make things more secure.

Tip for discretion: use the tail of your sling as a nursing cover to hide the top part of your breast if desired.

Video HERE (sorry, embedded video isn't working for some reason. grrr)

Mei Tai and Buckle Carriers



Katrina nursing in a SSC

With either of these carriers, you want to buckle or tie the waistband lower than you normally wear. If this is your first time trying to nurse in a buckle carrier or mei tai, first hold your baby at nipple level, upright, without a carrier on. That will give you an idea how low you will be wearing your carrier. Now, I'm a very short person - 4 foot 11 inches - and I'm pretty big chested (38F) so trust me, I understand how challenging finding the sweet spot can be, and it will change as your baby grows.
Once the waist is secure, seat your baby and secure the shoulder straps, allowing enough slack to adjust your clothing and room for baby to lean to which ever side he is nursing from, but not too much that he is no longer secure. Once you are in a good position, allow baby access to the breast and you are pretty much hands free.

Jackie shows how
using a hood provides added coverage

*tip* - even with older babies and experienced nursing moms, you may find it helpful to use one hand to support/aim your breast for baby. Some well endowed mamas use a rolled up receiving blanket or burp cloth under their breast for more support.

As with any carrier, once baby is done nursing, bring him up to kissable level again by lifting him up and tightening first the waist band and then the shoulder straps.

*tip*  babywearing seems to work really well for babies to release gas - especially burping. You may want to keep a spare cloth handy for any spit up that might occur. And relax, all carriers are washable, and breastmilk and formula will definitely come out.

*tip* for discretion - sleeping hoods that come with most mei tai and buckle carriers make great nursing covers. They also support baby's head if he starts to drowse while eating.

Video HERE

Woven and Stretchy Wraps

nursing in FWCC

You will most likely be doing some variation of Front Wrap Cross Carry (or Pocket Wrap Cross Carry) if you are starting out trying to nurse in a wrap. Whether you are using a woven or stretchy wrap, the idea is the same. I like to start with baby at a kissable height, nice and snug, and then I untie the tails at my waist or back to let a little slack, and then bounce baby down until they are a good nipple height, and then tie the tails again.











Hip carries are also a great alternative in a shorter woven wrap (like Robins or Poppins) because baby is generally already at the perfect nursing height.

Laura nurses in a rebozo carry using a pink wrap

Video for nursing in a semi FWCC
Video for nursing in a stretchy wrap
Video for nursing in Robin's Hip Carry

*tip* for bottle feeding in any carrier: instead of angling baby in towards your body, angle them slightly out so that they can easily get the bottle.

Bottom line - you can do this! Keep practicing, and it will become second nature - it helps to get really comfortable with your carrier first, and with nursing in these positions before trying to combine the two skillsets.  The more you do it, the easier it is, before it just is part of what you do. I remember the first time I tried putting my baby in a 5 point harness. I fumbled so badly my hands were shaking and I was sure the nurse looking over my shoulder was judging me. Now, I can practically do and undo a 5 point harness one-handed with my eyes closed. Nursing in a carrier is no more challenging a skill to learn.

Upcoming Events:

Want to get your hands on, and babies in, some of these carriers? We will help you find what works best for you at one of our meetings or play dates. Meetings are held twice a month - one on Thursday, one on Saturday.

Saturday, July 12th at 10:00 a.m. - Come join us for babywearing yoga. Our Thursday meeting was a great success and I can't wait to join the fun at the Saturday meeting. This short session is suitable for all fitness levels and ages. There will be ample time after for discussion and questions. You will find us at the LDS Institute of Religion, 610 Assembly St, Columbia, SC 29201

 

Thursday, July 24th at 10:00 a.m. - Intro to wrapping.  - We'll be leading the grown ups through basic front, hip, and back carries, and our Junior leaders (the daughters of Chris and Jackie) will be showing any children that want to learn how to wrap, too. Check out how to make, and where to buy, kid carriers HERE. You will find us at the LDS church on 7449 Broad River Rd, Columbia, SC

Every Wednesday night, at 8:30, is our live chat. We get online to catch up with each other and see what's going on - both babywearing and not-babywearing related.  

We also have play dates scheduled on an as requested basis, stay tuned in our Facebook Group for more details.

 

 

The Summer of Yes

Happy Blog Day, Midlands Babywearers!

As the month of May draws to a close and the thought of June and summer approaches, many of us are spending more time wearing our babies (and toddlers) than ever. Festivals, farmer's markets, vacations, errands, berry picking . . . there are plenty of opportunities to make use of those carriers. Whether you wrap, tie, or buckle, I'm sure you'll be doing lots of it this summer.

The more we wear, the more questions seem to come up, and I wanted to take this opportunity to go over a few I see commonly among our own community and those I (and maybe you) have seen on other babywearing pages, like Babywearing 102, Everyday Babywearing, Tandem Babywearing, and others. Most of the questions start out: "Can I babywear if . . . " or "Can I babywear when/while . . ." and the answer to many of these is yes. This particular post will offer brief answers to most of these (which usually is YES, you can!" and in future blog posts this summer, I'll delve into most of these questions more in depth.

Can I babywear while pregnant?

Jenna, rocking toddler wearing
while 30 weeks pregnant

Yes, you can! (Caveat - unless your doctor or midwife has put you under a lifting restriction due to pregnancy complications. In that case, please take your health care provider's advice over mine, or any other random person on the Internet)

How do you do babywear while pregnant? That depends. Have you been wearing prior to pregnancy? How did you do it when you are not pregnant? If you are already an experienced babywearer, continue as you did prior to pregnancy. Some adjustments you might want to make due to your growing bump are to wrap/tie/buckle above your bump whenever possible when carrying your toddler on your back. For some women, tying or buckling is more comfortable under the bump - try both and see what is most comfortable for you and your toddler.

Some toddlers are adverse to being on your back. Or they may decide to go on back carry strike. Or maybe you are not comfortable wearing your toddler on your back. You can still wear your toddler on your front, but of course it may become less comfortable/possible as your pregnancy advances. In these cases, you may want to move to a hip carry - ring slings are great for this, especially for toddlers that want up and down a LOT. Hip carries are quite safe while pregnant; as your pregnancy advances, you may notice the babe in the womb adjust his or her position when you carry your toddler on your hip - unless your heath care provider shows concern over your baby's position, I'd continue to wear your toddler as long as you are comfortable doing so.

Can I babywear if I'm plus sized?

Ashley and T
in a toddler/plus KP

Most people know they can babywear while plus sized; this question is usually a little more specific regarding certain carriers or lengths of woven wrap. As a plus-sized mama myself, married to a big and tall daddy who babywears, trust me, Yes, you can!

Plus-friendly SSC/Buckle carriers - Kinderpack, Olives and Applesauce, Boba, Tula, and many others are plus-size friendly
Brands I'd avoid: Ergo (unless you buy the extender), Lillebaby (unless you are on the borderline plus-size end), Baby Bjorn, and most others that you can buy in a store. I recently tried on nearly everything you CAN buy in a store in Columbia, and while I could buckle every carrier, it was a near thing in many cases, and I'm *only* a size 16.

Plus-friendly Mei Tai - the Infantino Sash, Babyhawk, and Catbird baby all work fine. Many Mei Tai makers (WAHM or Etsy, etc) offer different strap length options for plus-sized wearers, which make this carrier a great option.

Woven Wraps: You can use any size woven wrap. Yes, even a size 2. Your base size (what you can do most carriers, including a FWCC or Double Hammock in) is probably a size 7 or even 8. Yet, you can and should try other sizes. Wrapping with a woven wrap is much less daunting when you can use less fabric. In a size 2, you can wear on your front in a rebozo carry, on your back with Ruck Tied Under Bum or Rear Reinforced Rucksack Rebozo (RRRR), and many other options. Size 3 will let you do all of those and others, with different tie off/finishes. You can use a size 4 for most hip carries and most of the shorter back carriers, and a size 5 for all of those with a few different variations. Just because your body is bigger than average, doesn't mean your wrap collection has to consist solely of bigger than average wraps  - trust me - or better yet, come to a meeting and try a few sizes. You won't regret it!

Ring Slings: You probably want at least a size Medium sling. The benefits to a size Large or X Large is mainly in the length of tail. A longer tail is handy for a nursing or sleeping cover, wrapping the rings to cushion them, or just because it's pretty. Do not base your Ring Sling size on your shirt size! Pick one that's pretty and you'll love it.

Bottom line: Yes, you can wear any sort of carrier - the only limitation might be your budget (or your creativity, if you decide to DIY a carrier or two) I love seeing people of all sizes wearing their babies!

 

Can I wear while I travel? What do I pack?

Jennifer, at Disney

Yes, you can! Frankly, I don't know how anyone travels WITHOUT babywearing. In the airport, you may want to choose an option with no metal pieces, in case of x-rays, etc. Depending on the day, the airport, the mood of security, you may or may not need to take your baby off when you go through the various checkpoints, but being able to wear baby MOST of the time is still a great help when going to the airport.

What to pack? How much space to you have? - Just Kidding - I'm a minimalist, I don't want to pack everything I own, but I do want to be prepared. I'd pack at least one carrier per kid that might be worn, a water carrier if you are going to the pool or beach, and maybe a spare, just in case. Unless your baby or toddler uses or prefers a specific carrier, I'd pack my workhorse carriers that I know can handle a lot of use and abuse and nothing that needs babying, since you'll be using it in parking lots, airports, parks, and lots of other outdoor spaces.

Bottom line: a worn baby is a happy baby (most of the time), and everyone loves happy, traveling babies!

 

Can I wear while I work out?

Babywearing Yoga

Yes, you can! Actually, we are going to have a meeting just on this topic. The main thing to remember, or consider, is keep your common sense. Running, biking, horseback riding, and other very vigorous activities should not be attempted while wearing your baby. This is when the rule "If you wouldn't do it holding your baby in arms, then you shouldn't do it while wearing your baby" comes in handy.

That said, light dance, yoga, walking (even brisk walking), are all activities in which you can incorporate babywearing. It's a great way to keep your baby happy, add some resistance to your work out, and burn a few extra calories doing it! Come join us Saturday, June 14th or Thursday, June 26th to learn more about Yoga and Babywearing.

 

Can I wear both my baby and my toddler?

Melissa, using two woven wraps
wearing H on front and R on back

Yes, you can! Otherwise known as Tandem Babywearing, it's very possible to wear two babies, two toddlers, or any other combination at the same time. Now, this is probably considered an advanced skill - you want some experience wearing ONE baby before you go trying to wear TWO. Now, sometimes life throws you a curve - like twins - and you need to learn how to wear two babies at the same time in a hurry. Never fear, it can be done! just take it slow, ask for help if and when you need it, and you will be tandem wearing - like a boss.

How do you do it? Do you need one carrier or two?

You can wear two babies in one woven wrap. You need usually at least a size 6 (if you and your babies are small) but a size 7 or 8 is even better. You can use two woven wraps at the same time. You can use a ring sling and a woven wrap. You can use a ring sling and a buckle carrier. Or a mei tai and buckle carrier, or two mei tais, or two buckle carriers, or two ring slings . . . You get the idea. If you have two babies and two carriers, you can wear them both AT THE SAME TIME. 

The how really comes into play when figuring out the logistics. In general, I put the baby (or toddler) on my back that doesn't want to get down and up seventy million times. If you are using a woven wrap for the baby on your front, get that mostly pre-tied first (like a FWCC ), otherwise, put the baby and carrier on your back first, get them situated and snug, then add the front baby and carrier. Since it's much easier for the one in front to be put up and down seventy million and one times, this is the kid I wear on the front (unless the other one is needing to eat . . . in which case, boobie baby has the front seat out of necessity. The boobs don't work from the back seat) This has been a life saver for me, I'll be honest. I do not love wearing 50 lbs of kid in the South Carolina heat, but I love knowing that I can, if I need to. It's a valuable tool to have in your toolbox.

 

Speaking of breastfeeding . . Can nurse baby in my carrier?

Katrina, nursing T
 in a buckle carrier

Yes, you can! It's not the easiest and most natural thing in the world (but neither was breastfeeding for many of us), but once you figure it out - you and your baby will be so glad you did! This is one of those things where it is so much easier to show you than to tell you in a blog, so please come join us this Thursday, May 22nd at the LDS Church on Broad River Rd at 10 a.m.  - we'll explain, demonstrate, and troubleshoot with you how to get you nursing in your carrier.

 

 

 

Have other questions? Speak up! Our Facebook group is almost at 300 members, and we love questions. One of us is bound to have an answer for you, I promise. I'm also willing to bet that if you are brave enough to speak up , you aren't the only one with the exact same question, the ones that aren't brave enough to speak up will be so glad you did!