This Is How We Do It

Yes, two of us have matching slings.  Great minds think alike.

I just love this picture!  We went to the zoo last week with a few friends and had a great time.  As the older children played, a few of us found a spot to sit down, rest and nurse the little ones.  All of us made use of slings or wraps during the trip and strollers were used primarily for diaper changes, storage or for giving a lift to a tired older sibling.  Babies?  They rode in style wrapped tightly to their Mama.  

I am able to do so many things that I wouldn't otherwise be able to do because of babywearing.  I recently began taking harp lessons and the harp teacher (who just happened to be a La Leche Leage Leader when her own children were young) is, lucky for me, very supportive of babies coming along for the ride.  She took some great video of my friend and I at our last lesson with our babies wrapped on.  If you would like to see some short clips check it out here.  Someday I'd like to write a book about this subject, but for fun right now I'd like to brainstorm just some of the places that I've worn and nursed my babies.  The list looks something like this:

On planes, trains and boats (including a catamaran in Mexico).

At athletic events.

Work events.

Religious events.

Community events.

Church.

While bowling.

While cleaning and cooking.

At weddings.

At parties.

At the Dentist.

At Doctor appointments.

In the grocery store.

At the mall.

At the movies.

While playing Rock Band.

While showering, brushing teeth and putting on makeup.

While swimming.

While playing piano.

While teaching piano.

Eating.

Using the bathroom.  (You know you have, too.  You do what you gotta do.)

Leading support group meetings.

Writing.

Reading.

While helping other children with homework.

While volunteering in school.

While moving.

While doing yard work.

During walks to the park.

I've used ring slings, pouch slings, wraps, the Ergo and mei tei's.  I probably get stopped at least once or twice a day with someone asking me about my slings and commenting, "I wish they had those when my children were young."  I always want to respond that they DID exist then--slings have been in use for thousands of years.  I think what most people are referring to is that slings and wraps didn't become mainstream until recent years, sadly.  I consider myself incredibly lucky that I discovered La Leche League and babywearing while I was still pregnant with my first baby (I think I will write about that story another day).  If not for those early experiences, who knows where I would be now?

I'm writing this blog post right now with a tired, fussy, teething baby in the sling.  I really don't know how I would survive without being a babywearer.