Comfy ways to carry your little one
If you’ve heard of Attachment Parenting – the movement founded on the notion that babies thrive on physical contact and closeness with their parents – you’ve probably heard of “babywearing.” As parents explore natural ways to nurture their children through touch and a sense of closeness, many of them are rejecting strollers and choosing to carry their children close to the body, where they can be lulled to sleep by the sound of their parent’s beating heart. According to second-hand baby items trader Karen Patterson of NU2YU Baby Shop, here in Beijing more and more parents are beginning to inquire about slings, wraps and other babywearing products. Karen invited American mom and babywearing expert Liora Pearlman to teach tbjkids about some of the many different ways you can wear your baby.
Meitai
In Asia, it’s not unusual to see mothers in more remote areas carrying their infants in wicker baskets or inside folded padded blankets slung over their shoulders. But the most common and comfortable traditional baby carrying item in this part of the world is definitely the meitai. Now very popular in the West, the meitai is a broad cut of fabric with four straps that tie around the body. It’s highly portable, easy to put on, and provides a privacy shield for nursing. Because it enables your baby’s head to rest comfortably against your chest, it’s also highly conducive to bonding. The drawback to the meitai is that the baby’s weight is borne completely by the back and shoulders. See below for a step-by-step guide to putting on a meitai.
Slings and Wraps
There are a number of babywearing products made from simple lengths of cloth or tubes of fabric that can be buckled or wrapped around the body. Many of these, particularly wraps without rings or clips, take some time to learn to use, but once accustomed to them many parents find slings and wraps to be comfortable, adjustable and convenient tools for supporting children who are awake, nursing or sleeping. Experienced wrap users can use a simple long cloth to tie a five-point harness that will distribute a child’s weight evenly from shoulder to hip and allow you to hold him in a number of different positions. Older babies (6 months and above) can be positioned facing outwards to watch what their parents do with their hands. See below for a step-by-step guide to putting on a side sling.
Soft Packs
The most oft-requested brand of soft pack is the BabyBjörn – a highly structured baby carrier that supports the baby in an ergonomic position in front of the parent. They’re more expensive than other brands on the market but are generally found to be far superior and safer, despite feeling a little heavy to wear. They are adjustable and feature a hood for sleeping babies. A smaller Japanese version, the Chichi, is lighter, foldable and appeals to moms looking for a more feminine carrier.
Backpack Carriers
This style of baby pack is usually bulkier and frumpier than the soft pack style. As with a real backpack, weight is well-distributed thanks to a hip belt and shoulder straps. (NU2YU has a few of these items for hire for weekend hikers who want to take baby along for a day out at the Great Wall.)
Don’t know how to say it? Can’t understand what you’re hearing? tbjkids to the rescue!
to carry
bàozhe
抱着
carry the baby
bàozhe yīng’ér
抱着婴儿
close to the breast
jǐnkào xiōngqián
紧靠胸前
parent-child bonding
qīnzǐ guānxì
亲子关系
attachment parenting
qīnmì yù’érfǎ
亲密育儿法
curled up
quānsuò bào
蜷缩抱
lying flat
hēng bào
横抱
sitting up
zuò shì bào
坐式抱
facing inwards
miàn chāonèi bào
面朝内抱
facing outwards
miàn chāowài bào
面朝外抱
hugging
shù bào
竖抱
snuggling
yīwèi bào
依偎抱
breastfeeding position
bǔrǔ bào
哺乳抱
too loose
tài sōng
太松
too tight
tài jǐn
太紧
well-supported
láogù zhīchēng de
牢固支撑的
stretchy fabric
tánxìng bùliào
弹性布料
support the baby’s head
zhīchēng yīng’ér tóubù
支撑婴儿头部
breathing space
hūxī kōngjiān
呼吸空间
baby carrier
yīng’ér bēijù
婴儿背具
harness
yīng’ér bēidài
婴儿背带
meitai carrier
yīng’ér bēidōu
婴儿背兜
sling
yīng’ér diàodài
婴儿吊带
wrap
yīng’ér guǒbù
婴儿裹布
soft pack
yīng’ér bēibāo
婴儿背包
backpack carrier
yīng’ér bēiyǐ
婴儿背椅
