The thought of packing to go somewhere with an infant - the stroller, the bouncy, the swing – is enough to make parents want to never leave the house. But many modern moms are saying ‘enough is enough’ and going back to basics with a years-old practice.

Babywearing – the practice of wearing or carrying a baby or child in a sling or other carrier attached to the body – once enabled women to tend to the chores or work in the fields knowing her baby was safe. In some countries, like Africa, the practice is still widely used, partially because it is cheap to buy and can be easy to make.

Babywearing doesn’t require a lot of equipment. In fact, all it takes is a long piece of strong material (about 55-60 inches).

While they have been around for ages, in the industrialized world this practice has only recently become popular.

The resurgence is due to the fact that babywearing is a great way to keep your baby with you and have your hands free to cook, clean, or do whatever else you need to get done.

More importantly, some moms believe that it promotes and strengthens the mother/child bond.

“The kind of closeness babywearing gives your baby a sense of security and safety,” says Amy Gabriel, co-leader of City Slingers, a Chicago based babywearing support group. “Like breastfeeding it helps you and your baby bond. And carriers and woven wraps can be exceptionally helpful if your infant is colicky or if you just need your hands free.”

“I’m not sure that I would say that wraps make a bond between a mother and baby stronger than that between a mother and baby not using one, but there are definite benefits,” says Debra Gilbert Rosenberg, a licensed clinical social worker and author of The New Mom’s Companion: Care for Yourself While You Care for Your Newborn, and Motherhood Without Guilt: Being the Best Mother You Can Be and Feeling Great About It.

Gilbert spent many years running discussion and support groups for first time mothers, and she says that putting your baby down while you get some things done is not bad and will not lessen the bond. In fact, babies need a little time way. However, Gilbert says that babywearing is great for moms. Gilbert practiced it with her three children when they were babies.

“For some moms, there is such a strong need to be close to their babies that they feel guilty if they put them down, like they are neglecting them,” says Gilbert. “A wrap or carrier is a great way for this mom to get that closeness but still be able to be efficient. There is no longer a conflict between holding the baby and doing the laundry.”

Marni Matyus, of Dallas, Texas, loved wraps and used one all of the time with her second child. “I felt such a freedom with my second child that I didn’t feel with my first,” says Matyus. “Having to go somewhere like the store was easy, all I needed was a diaper and some wipes in a Ziploc® bag tucked into my purse and my baby wrapped tightly on me. At the store my hands were free to push the cart or grab items from the shelves.”

Matyus says she had such a hard time finding information on carriers that she opened up The Baby Sling, an online store and informational site specializing in babywearing. She also started a babywearing support group and is now preparing for the grand opening of a retail store in the Dallas, Texas area.

If you are thinking of becoming a “babywearer” there are some things you should know. The type of carrier will determine the success and unfortunately there is no one size fit all answer as to which one that is. Because many types can not yet be found in retail stores, online is a good option. However, online you can’t try it on for size. That is where support groups like City Slingers come in handy. They meet monthly and the group members are very generous with letting each other try their slings, as well as instructing them on how to use them – which is good because the wrap can be tied in 15-20 different ways producing a different carrier each time.

The 4 most common types of babywearing carriers:

1. The Ring Sling is best known. The material goes across one shoulder, and because of the rings, it is easily adjusted to fit a wide range of body sizes - allowing both parents to use it.
2. The Rebozo is a short woven wrap used much like a Ring Sling except instead of rings to size the carrier, it is adjusted by a slipknot. The nice thing about the Rebozo is that you can make your own quite easily.
3. The Mei Tai is a two shoulder carrier which enables the baby to be carried in the back or front. With the Mei Tai, the weight is more evenly distributed so it can be great for older babies.
4. The Woven Wrap, a long piece of woven material that can be tied in a variety of ways. You can buy one ready made or purchase material and make one yourself. Make sure you are careful to choose a strong material. There are 15 different carries you can do with a woven wrap. Multiple hip carries, one- or two-shoulder carries … it is the most versatile if you know how to use it.

Local Support: To join City Slingers, go to Yahoo groups and enter the words “City Slingers” or e-mail Amy Gabriel at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address). Other online support and communities:
www.theslingstation.com (offers a live chat)
www.peppermint.com (offers a live chat)
www.babyslingblog.com

Great Gift Idea!

After a successful launch in Europe, moms in the U.S. can now join in the fun of personalizing their baby strollers with a BabiePlate, by MTRD Partners, LLC. According to the company’s Web site, the “cute and quirky stroller license plate” can be personalized with a name, phrase, birth date, and even the baby’s picture (up to 11 letters). Made of aluminum with reflector foil, the plates also give a reflection, adding additional safety when strolling at night. Company reps say the BabiePlate is mounted using plastic straps (which are supplied) and suits all models of baby strollers. The plates also can be used on a bedroom door or wall or just about any other place you choose. Prices range from $39.95 to $49.95 and shipping runs $8.00 to anywhere in the world. The normal delivery time for BabiePlates is 2-3 weeks. For more information on the product, visit www.babieplates.com.