Would you believe that this past weekend I along side 1000 fellow babywearing enthusiast help to set The Babywearing World Record? It was amazing to be surrounded by so many like minded parents and friends, but it was more than that. Being part of The Babywearing World Record event was a way to share my love of babywearing and that it is more than something I do, it is part of who I am!
My journey into babywearing was what I like to think of as a natural instinct with a guided hand of mothers who had been there before me. My instincts told me that I wanted my children close to me, that I couldn’t spoil them by holding them, that wearing them was not only beneficial for them, but for me as well. I bought a stretchy wrap and a Bjorn. While I loved having my child close to me, both carriers were uncomfortable.
The stretchy wrap was awesome, but June in Las Vegas reaches upwards of 110 and I was already hot all the time with post partum hormones, so that wasn’t working… I gave up wearing my son anywhere but in my home for short periods of time. To me at the time, babywearing was only something you did outside the home. So in many ways I was thankful it was too hot to wear baby outside, because it taught me I could wear anytime!
My 10 lb baby was growing quickly and pretty soon he was passing 16lbs and I wanted more support than a stretchy wrap! At 3 months of age I pulled out The Bjorn. While my son loved it, I wasn’t very comfortable and couldn’t stand it for longer that 30 minutes before my shoulders and back was screaming at me.
I could have been done with babywearing right there, but fate stepped in twice in one week. First I was spotted wearing the Bjorn by a mother who complimented me on wearing my child, and how happy my son looked to be so close to me. She then suggested that I look for other carriers that might be more comfortable. I was very intrigued! There were other carriers out there?
The VERY next day I was headed out to a cloth diaper seminar at a local baby shop, and fate stepped in again. It wasn’t just a cloth diapering seminar, but also a babywearing seminar. A local woman who made Mei Tais was also in the store sharing her carriers. The moment I put Baby K into a MT, I was hooked. He was comfortable, I was comfortable, and I wanted to learn more. I soon learned to breastfeed in the carrier (can you say FREEDOM!), and then back carry! All with the help of youtube! It was then and there I knew I wanted to wear my babies as long as they’d let me and share babywearing with anyone who wanted to learn more.
Every day I step out in a carrier I am stopped and complimented or asked about babywearing. It is to the point of a running joke with my husband. “How many people will you talk to today about babywearing?” With the birth of our second son I again stepped away from the known and comfortable and tried new carriers. I realized then that not all carriers were created equal and not all carriers fit right on every body. I began to try things out of my babywearing comfort zone in an effort to learn. Instead of only knowing 2 carriers, I now can wrap, ring sling, mei tai, or superman toss my baby up in a soft structured carrier with ease. AND I’m still learning!
When I was given the chance to attend The Babywearing World Record with lillebaby carriers I practically jumped up and down! Not only was I going to be able to be part of a world record setting event, but I would have the opportunity to share my love of babywearing and the lillebaby COMPLETE baby carrier with other moms. Baby D and I packed our bags and jumped on a jet plane in search of a world record!
The weekend was more amazing than I could have asked for. Everywhere I looked were moms who loved babywearing or wanted to learn more about babywearing. Every mom I encountered had a story to tell. I tried so hard to soak it all in.
It was so neat to learn from other moms. At the same time, I loved sharing the lillebaby COMPLETE and Airflow with moms and dads who were interested! There were SO many dads eager to try out babywearing! I even helped fit a sibling with a carrier! It was really cool to watch their response as they put on the lillebaby COMPLETE. 99% of everyone who put it on said “OH! WOW!” or “Ahhh! I can barely feel the weight of my baby!” It was such a privilege to be that guiding hand in someone else’s babywearing journey!
Baby D did his best to share the “visable and kissable” message to all the babies in attendance!
When I wasn’t working with lillebaby I was able to meet some pretty amazing and inspirational people! Celebrities in the baby world!
- Dr. Sears or more specifically – Dr. Bob Sears.
- Abby – The BadAss Breastfeeder who turned me into a blubbering mess… But that’s another blog post!
- January – Birth Without Fear. I was very awestruck getting to meet this fabulous and super down to earth mama who works so hard to support moms and their birth choices!
- The Guncles and their beyond adorable daughter Simone.
- The Baby Guy NYC I’ve met Jamie a few times now. He is always a blast!
- Ashlee – The 4th Trimester Body Project. IF you don’t know Ashlee’s work – you NEED to familiarize yourself with it now. This one woman is fighting to share real moms, real bodies, and self acceptance!
I was also SO excited to meet some of my IG mamas! Moms who I have been following on Instagram and loving seeing their daily lives in pictures. Finally I was able to meet some of these ladies (who are even more awesome in real life), and it really rounded out the whole weekend for me! I even had a few mamas approach me to let me know they follow/read Our Knight Life. That was super humbling and I’m pretty sure it will never get old to hear someone enjoys reading what I put out on the internets!
With the help and generosity of lillebaby I was able to help round up an AMAZING group of moms and dads to form #teamlillebaby! Not only did the ladies of lillebaby work no stop to make sure everyone who wanted to was fitted with a lillebaby carrier, but Team lillebaby walked around all day sporting this amazing carrier that I really can not say enough good things about! Thank you everyone who was part of team lillebaby!
Together we walked down a long hallway surrounded by literally a thousand fellow babywearing moms, dads, siblings, grandparents, caregivers, and more! Together we set the World Record! Together we helped to make babywearing more mainstream!
Never in a million years would I have ever thought that 4.5 years ago when I put on my stretch wrap that I would participate in The Babywearing World Record. With amazing sponsors like MommyCon, BECO, clek, and sloomb events like this matter. Who knows how many people attended that event who wanted to learn more about babywearing and keeping their children close, but were unsure how to do it, or like me just needed a little extra guidance into what they knew to be natural?
Events like this not only impact people in attendance, but so many who might have been following someone via social media and were introduced to a concept that they were unfamiliar with. Every time we make a choice to parent naturally, wear our babies, keep them close we share that with someone either directly or indirectly. It shows parents that babywearing is more than what you do, but it is a part of who you are!
I’m already having #teamlillebaby withdrawals. I wish I could meet up with all these amazing parents every single weekend, but for now I will settle with continuing to share my love of babywearing on my blog. In fact, I’ve been inspired to start a new feature on my blog. (Stay Tuned!)
In the meantime – Happy Babywearing!
If you would like to purchase your own lillebaby COMPLETE or airflow you can use CODE OKL20 for 20% off any carrier!!
Thank you so much to lillebaby for sponsoring my trip to The Babywearing World Record. You are all amazing and I couldn’t be more grateful for the opportunity to share my love of babywearing and lillebaby!
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Why is this new? It’s not. Moms have been “wearing” their kids since time began. I know I had a front pack for mine (I made it) and hiked with her when she was less than a month old.) She will be 27 soon.
Cheryl,
I don’t think I said it was new… It is just not as mainstream here in the states as other things. In other cultures and countries it is more common. I get asked about it pretty much every time I wear my baby so while it’s not new people still don’t know about it. I don’t get asked about my stroller when I use that. I think it is awesome that you wore your baby 27 years ago! And that you made it!! 🙂 My mother had a backpack carrier that she used 32 years ago as well. 🙂
Baby O and I are still working out the kinks. She loved our Moby, but lately fusses in it like she’s uncomfortable. Need to work with it more and try some other carriers I think.
I think you’d love a soft structured carrier like a lillebaby, beco, or ergo!! <3
What a neat experience. It sounds like you had a fabulous time.
Wow – that is so awesome! Way to go and keep up the good work. 🙂
Looks like a great time was had by all!
Sounds like you had a great time!
I love wearing my baby too. At this time we’ve used the Moby, Baby K-Tan and the Mei Tei. Love how I can be close to him and have my hands free and how he loves to fall asleep while being carried. He’s still small enough that the stretchy wraps work well, but will move to a soft structured carrier when he gets older – would love to know which carriers you recommend for older babies that work well for both mom & dad!
I knew from the get-go that I wanted to wear my baby. I had all these grand visions of how amazing it would be. Not until I actually had my baby did I get a wake up call to reality and realize that my baby is a little person with a BIG personality. Babywearing wasn’t as smooth and peachy as I had imagined it would be, but I still manage to get her close to me most of the time in our Ergo 360. What I take away from all this is that no matter what you prefer to wear your baby in, it really comes down to your own baby’s character and how a carrier can best suit their preference.
I’m glad you found a carrier that worked for you. You are right it is all about working as a team to get the right combo!
I’m curious I can’t decide between lillebaby complete air flow, boba 4g, or beco soleil I want comfort on back and hips as well as pocket and padded leg room for daughter. What do you recommend
I have pretty much sold all my other SSCs or given them away in favor of the lillebaby. It is the most comfortable SSC I have ever tried. The only one I haven’t tried is a KP. 🙂