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How Babywearing Saved Me
by: PAXmommy Mel
I always knew I would babywear, my mom wore me, my aunts wore my cousins… it just made sense. I wore my first in a homemade ring sling (and then later in a Babyhawk), and fell in love. He was such an amazing baby, nursed, slept, smiled… was a complete dream. I foolishly thought, hey motherhood isn’t so hard now is it?!? Babywearing for us, was just a way to bond, for him to see the world, and when he was bigger, a way to keep him safe so he did not run into the street etc.
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paxbaby
Then I had my second…
Life changed.
She was the complete opposite of my son.
She never slept, she wanted to nurse 24/7, and could not sleep without being held.
Babywearing completely saved my life, and that is not even an exaggeration.
The fact that I was completely exhausted emotionally, and mentally did not phase my 2.5 year old son… he was FULL of energy, and the moment the sun was up – he was up and ready to go!
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paxbaby
I learned to do everything with her attached to me: cooking, cleaning, lunging around the living room to get her to sleep, family functions, birthday parties, hiking, eating, weddings… everything.
The more I wore her, the more pictures I had on my Facebook of her in a carrier. People began noticing, and making comments, asking questions… they saw how happy babywearing made my daughter, and wanted to try it for themselves. I began researching babywearing more in depth and discovered babywearing communities online, PAXmommy Jillian and the other PAXmommies, and realized there was SO much information out there, so many different types of carriers out there, and so many other mamas just like me.
Babywearing not only became a necessity for me, but a way of life; a passion.
I remember selling a whole bunch of old purses and boots, and baby stuff so I could purchase my very first woven wrap conversion ring sling… and it was all downhill from there. *wink*
My love affair with baby carriers had begun.
paxbaby
paxbaby
Now with three “babies”, and one more due any day, I cannot imagine NOT babywearing, I really do not know how families with multiple children get by without it.
Being a babywearer does not mean you have all the fanciest, expensive carriers, it means finding something you and your baby love and making it work for both of you, all the rest is just extra.
paxbaby
paxbaby
There are few things greater than helping someone find the babywearing love, and seeing it actually click for them.
How has babywearing helped you as a parent or caregiver?
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paxbaby
