Parenting: Celebrate New Zealand Babywearing Week

Jane Trask wears her toddler Rico, 18 months.

How do you transport your baby or toddler? Do you struggle to squeeze your buggy into shops? Do you have a toddler who has a meltdown and suddenly would prefer to be carried?

This week is New Zealand Babywearing Week and next Sunday mums and dads can get hands-on advice on how to babywear safely and comfortably.

Babywearing sounds fashionable and hip, but in reality it has been around for thousands of years and is still seen as the norm in many countries. Before the early 1900s, parents worldwide used a variety of long cloths, shawls, scarves and even bedsheets to snuggle up to their babies and get the chores done.

Even today many traditional types of carrier are still used in developing countries, although this is usually restricted to indigenous communities where babywearing is a necessity and way of life.

For many Rotorua mums it is normal and the Rotorua Babywearers hope to encourage more to give it a go. They will meet at the Redwoods Visitor Centre from 11am and then go for a walk on the Waitawa (Blue) Track.

The event is being organised by Jane Trask, whose son Rico is 18 months old and has been worn regularly since he was an infant.

"I started wearing Rico from the beginning as I had seen the benefits of my sister wearing my niece," she says.

"I liked the fact that this tiny baby who had grown inside me could remain close to me. It helped a lot in the early months for things like settling Rico quickly and calmly, exercising with him and getting little jobs done. He was happiest in my arms and this was a safe and comfortable way to do this. He napped safely."

She says there are many benefits to babywearing and these are two-way.

"Benefits include a happy baby who feels close to the mother, freedom for your hands, quick and easy for trips to the shops etc and for exercising. I guess a confident baby is a huge benefit as they know their mother is so close by. Rico would transfer easily from carrier to cot and it helped with windy tummies as well.

"With practice you can easily breastfeed discretely while on the move. It's also handy to fit where a pram cannot.

"Most people are great and think it is really cute and handy, others find it strange that the baby is facing into the mother, however this is the safest way to babywear.

"Carriers need to fully support a baby and mother's spine and baby's hips, and carriers that forward face out can be quite harmful."

Many carriers are available, ranging from ring slings, pouch slings, stretchy wraps, and woven wraps to soft-structured carriers. Each parent and child is different, so a carrier which may work for one may not be suitable for another, which is why the walk on Sunday is ideal for those starting out.

"I was lucky I had my sister's knowledge," Jane says. "Find a carrier that suits you and make sure it is a safe babywearing kind that fully supports your baby's hips and spine, as well as your own. When a baby is worn well it is so comfortable for mother and child and the benefits are enormous. People often moan about price but good ones have easy resell and/or you can pass them on to others and use for many years.

"I started out using a moby wrap with Rico. It was awesome and super comfortable once you got the hang of wrapping it up. YouTube was awesome with instructional videos. This was great until about 8 months, when Rico got stronger against the stretchy fabric. During that time I also used a meitai wrap which was quick and easy to use, especially at home.

"Finally I bought a Manduca carrier, which is a carrier that is closest to babywearing while still having buckles and straps. It can go from newborn to 18kg of weight and is super comfortable for the parent. It can have a front inward facing, side hip or backpack hold. I love it, it's so quick and easy to use. It's perfect for walks, trips and supermarket. Rico loves it and regularly falls asleep, so naps can be a breeze.

"Whatever you choose, ensure your baby uses it from an early age so they get used to being worn."

* For more information on babywearing, visit www.slingbabies.co.nz and find Rotorua Babywearers on Facebook at www.facebook.com/pages/Rotorua-Babywearers.

* The Rotorua Babywearers Walk is on Sunday, October 13, at Redwoods Visitor Centre from 11am.