Lullaby Baby Carriers Blog

If you’ve recently had a baby, are about to have a baby, or even if your child is already in preschool – this is a really awesome thing you can do to commemorate their birth and make time stand still.

The moment your baby enters this world is a special time that you’ll want to remember for years to come. A newborn time capsule is a great way to honour your baby’s birth and share with him a snapshot of that special time when he is grown.

To create your time capsule, you need to gather several things that reflect the events of the day.

Newspapers make a great addition to any time capsule. Local papers tell the story of what was happening in your community on the day he was born, while national papers provide a glimpse of then-current events. Both offer the opportunity for you to stroll down memory lane, as well as give your child a brief history lesson when the capsule is finally opened.

Money and stamps provide fun signs of the times, too. Throw in a few different coin denominations and a sheet of stamps. If possible, make a list of prices for goods and services, like milk and bread or gasoline. Whether done on the computer or simply handwritten on a sheet of paper, this is a nice addition.

You can personalize the time capsule by adding things like baby’s first picture, the outfit he wears home from the hospital and even his hospital beanie and bracelet. Take time to write a special letter welcoming your child and sharing your hopes for his future to give the capsule even more meaning.

Although my son is now 3 years old, I’ve got many of these things stashed away that I’m going to put together into a time capsule.  As for the newspapers, I’ll look for news articles of the day online and print them out. You could also do a time capsule for any other special day in your child’s life, such as a milestone birthday or first day of school…whatever!  It doesn’t have to be for his birth.  Doing something like this is a wonderful tribute to your child and shows them how special they are to you.

You are limited only by your imagination – and the size of your capsule container.  Have fun with it!

A friend of mine just had her first baby and she’s feeling a little distraught about the adjustment for both herself and the baby. I remember feeling really out of sorts and a bit nervous about being able to meet all the needs of my new baby too.

The truth is your newborn goes through a lot right after he’s born. Whether the birth was natural or assisted, he experiences a great deal of stress as he copes with the abrupt change in the world as he knows it. No wonder he’s a little out of sorts.

Remember to be kind to yourself too. It’s not uncommon for moms to feel out of sync with their babies in the first few weeks. You’ve also experienced a lot of stress and big life changes.

The first days home with baby can be trying. He’s adjusting. You’re adjusting. Everyone is a bundle of nerves. If you stay calm, however, these simple tips will ease the transition for both of you.

*Sing and talk to your baby. Your newborn begins to hear your voice while still growing inside you. By the time he is born, the familiarity of that sound has a remarkable calming effect. Talk to him, sing your favorite lullaby, and read books to him, especially stories that rhyme.

*Make eye contact. While baby’s do not have 20/20 vision at birth, they can see you. By making eye contact with your baby when you talk to or massage him, you are communicating with him, and if you watch his cues, you”ll learn how he communicates with you.

*Touch your baby. It’s natural act, yet so powerful. Stroke his arms, legs, head, and back. The sensations relax both of you and enhance your bonding. If possible, learn about infant massage techniques and incorporate them into your daily routine. Research suggests that simple massage strokes relieve colic and constipation, as well as help infants establish regular sleep patterns and form stronger bonds with their caregivers.

*Hold your baby close, often. Research shows that keeping your baby close is good for him. Of course you know I advocate for babywearing, so remember an easy way to help your baby thrive is to carry him in a baby carrier sling or baby wrap. Cuddled next to you, baby feels your warmth and the comforting beat of your heart. The familiar rhythm helps him relax and feel secure.

Using a baby sling also frees your arms and hands so that you can do a few things around the house, while still enjoying the benefit of snuggling with your baby. And that might help you feel calmer, too.

*Respond to your baby. It’s that simple. Though crying can be nerve-wracking, it’s the only way your baby has to let you know he needs something. He cries when he’s hungry; he cries when he’s wet; he cries when he hurts or doesn’t feel well; and he cries when he just doesn’t know what else to do.

While this barrage of bawling might make you feel like crying, too, the best thing to do is simply to respond to his needs. Pick him up, cuddle him, and try to figure out just what it is he needs. Soon you’ll recognize his cry for hunger over his pain cry and be able to soothe him by quickly filling the need.

Worried that you’ll spoil him? Don’t be. Meeting your baby’s needs is not spoiling him. By regularly responding to your newborn, you’re forming a healthy bond that makes him feel secure.

Don’t worry too much if you feel out of sync with your baby in the first few weeks – it’s a natural transition period. But communicating your love to him through all his senses goes a long way toward calming those delicate newborn nerves.

Babywearing is not new.  It’s not a fad.  Babywearing has been around for hundreds of years and it provides lots of great benefits for both parents and babies.

One obvious benefit is that babies are comforted by being kept in close contact with their mom or dad (or caregiver). Sure, you could put your baby in a stroller, but using a baby carrier allows your baby to be snuggled up to you and enjoy your warmth and familiar smell.  It is less intimidating for them to view the world from there, than from a stroller where they are being pushed towards the unknown and they can’t even see you.  Babies are less likely to cry when you wear them, because they feel content and secure.

Studies have shown that babies who have been “worn” are more likely to develop their communication and social skills faster.  Keeping them close to you allows them to see the expressions on your face and learn about body language.  They often learn to speak faster as well; you more likely to talk with your baby as you go through the day, which will help them to develop faster socially.

Another benefit of babywearing is that your baby is less likely to develop plagiocephaly or ‘flat head syndrome.’  This occurs to babies that spend too much time in strollers or car seats in addition to sleeping on their back. While babies should sleep on their back to prevent SIDS, you need to be careful how they are positioned while they are awake because the baby’s head is so soft.  This can be prevented by using a baby carrier.

Babywearing offers lots of benefits to parents as well.  Wearing your baby allows you to have your hands free, so you can get things done that would otherwise be difficult to do without interruption. When you go out, instead of dealing with that big stroller, you will only have a piece of cloth to keep with you, which easily folds up when you are not using it. You can even breastfeed hands free. Moms also benefit from the closeness of their baby, which can help to alleviate problems with postpartum depression because babies are kept close without having to interact with them all the time.  The bond that is created will benefit both mom and baby in the long run.

So, make sure that you take the time to look into babywearing closely; it may be just what you and your baby need.  For more information, please check out the posts under the babywearing and attachment parenting categories on the right.  Also check out www.babywearinginternational.org.

Let’s face it, no matter how many parenting books we read or how many well-meaning, advice-giving relatives that we have, parenting is just not easy.  It can be hard to nurture our little ones as much as we would like while still having enough time to do the things that are important to us, or even the things that need to be done. It can often feel as though you need four arms, or a thirty hour day to do everything that you need to do, but the truth is that you just need to start considering what tools can help you out.  Babywearing, the practice of keeping your baby close to your body in a baby carrier of one design or another, is one great way to start maximizing your time, and you’ll find that it has plenty of other benefits as well.

Your baby needs attention.  He or she needs to be close to you at all times; maybe they can’t be quiet when you are not in close, touching proximity, or maybe they’ll just get into mischief.  It’s adorable, it’s heartwarming, and it can be a real pain when you have things that you need to get done!  Being close to a parent is something that babies require to be really content and when they’re out of contact with you, it is only too likely that they will become fractious and fussy.  When you start wearing your baby, you’ll find that you can stay in bodily contact with your baby while still doing other things.  You will have both hands free and you can move freely as well.  You won’t need to balance your baby precariously under your arm or on your hip, and your baby will feel snug and secure.

When you are babywearing, you’ll find that you can get things done when your baby is sleeping and content or even when they are up and happy.  You can use a baby carrier while you are gardening, doing your chores, reading, or going for a walk.  You will be able to tend to your other children and they will not feel neglected with a new baby around.  It can allow you to breastfeed with your hands free, and you may even find that this is a great way to dance with your baby as well.  You won’t feel trapped by your baby because you’ll be able to go places and do things without feeling guilty. Moreover, you will be able to go places that are difficult with strollers, such as stairs or escalators, on grass, sandy beaches, wading in a pool or lake, through crowded malls, street festivals, a busy airport, a bus or subway. You have none of the juggling and struggling of a stroller.  Get other members of your family involved in babywearing, and you’ll find that they’ll start loving it as well.

While babywearing is something that is very advantageous for the parent, remember that it is even better for your baby!  Your baby will love being snuggled up next to you.  After all, babies are easily spooked by new things and new experiences and you’ll find that letting them snuggle up to you with their whole bodies will be very comforting to them.  They can stretch against your torso and be comforted by the sound of your heart.  They will feel safe and bonded with you in a way you couldn’t imagine.  You’ll also discover that this is a great way to keep your baby warm.

Also consider that you are going to be able to keep your baby with you much more than you would if you were just carrying them.  Babies, no matter how small, are going to get heavy over time, and there is only so much your arms can take.  With babywearing, you’ll put your child in one of your favorite baby carriers slings or a baby wrap and carry them around.  Your ability to keep them with you won’t be based on the strength of your arms, and instead, you are going to be able to supervise them while still going on with your life.  Consider how great it will be for your baby to go anywhere you are going.

One impressive point in favour of babywearing is that it actually helps your baby learn more.  When we think of babies crying, we think about how distracting it is to us, but also think about how distracting it is to them, as well. Babies who aren’t wasting their energy crying and fussing will focus much more readily on the things around them.  Moreover, remember that crying is exhausting; how many times can you think of your baby going right to sleep after they have had a crying fit?  A baby who is worn will cry less and sleep better.  They will also be much more alert and well rested over all.

Remember that with babywearing, your baby is going to get a wider array of experiences and enhance their social development as well.  When you can take your baby places more easily, you’ll simply go out more.  Babies who are exposed to more interesting stimuli and social interactions will be more apt to take in all the sensations around them.  A child in a baby carrier is closer to people and can study facial expressions, learn languages faster and be more familiar with body language.  This is far better than babies whose only stimuli come from the mobile above their crib or playpen!

Developmentally, babies who have early experience with babywearing do much better than babies who are left to their own devices.  It is commonly believed that babies do only half of their “prenatal” developing in the womb.  Once outside, they continue to develop crucially for another nine months.  Your constant motion is important for your baby’s continued brain development, gastrointestinal and respiratory health and to establish balance and muscle tone.  Also, babywearing allows them to regulate their body’s irregular rhythms to your calming rhythm of touch and movement, thereby easing the transition from the womb to life in the outside world.

Emotionally, babies need to feel attached to you. Some people may wonder if holding a baby close all the time makes them more needy. On the contrary, if they can see and touch you whenever they want to, they are reassured that you will be there when they need you. Independence is usually established earlier in these children because they are more confident when it comes time to explore on their own.

Don’t forget that babywearing is ideal for special needs babies as well.  Researchers have found that babies who are experiencing a failure to thrive, preemie babies and handicapped babies all benefit greatly from it.  The close proximity to mom helps these babies thrive. Being close to mom entices them to feed more frequently, keeps them warmer, and keeps them calm so that they can spend their energy growing instead of crying. It was also found that the mom’s breathing movements stimulated the baby’s breathing, sort of like a respiratory pacemaker, so that these babies had fewer stop-breathing episodes.   Babies of mothers with postpartum depression will find they can develop a deeper bond with their mothers, and mothers with postpartum depression can overcome it faster because progesterone (the mothering hormone) is increased through physical contact with your infant.

Babywearing can bring out the best in you and your baby, so whether you have a little one or you are expecting, now is the time to look into this ancient and highly useful practice! For more information on different baby carriers check out our “Choosing a Baby Carrier” category or shop for a great selection of baby carriers and accessories.