Hold That Baby

by Julia Parker, from the June 2005 Newsletter

At the end of April, J.D. and I traveled to Mexico to meet a baby girl who, if all things go well, will be OUR baby girl, Aliana Rosa. Aliana, born March 21, awaited us for a month before we were able to take her in our arms. For five days, we traveled from government office to government office, and around Mexico City with the baby snuggled against our hearts. We were able to do this easily and comfortably because we took a baby sling. I can think of few things lovelier than touching the curve of her back, peeking at her sweet face, or fluffing her abundant black hair. Holding a baby – adopted, biological or borrowed – has so many benefits for both baby and caregiver that I am completely dedicated to it.

Today, it seems that it is possible to touch a baby only to change its diaper. Babies can go from home to car to stroller to shopping cart in their very own plastic Barco-lounger (a.k.a. baby seat). “The all-enclosing womb is replaced by functional contact and quick kisses,” says Deborah Jackson, author of Three in a Bed. Surely, this limited contact isn’t good for the baby’s physical, intellectual or emotional development, not to mention the contortions parents go through to carry babies in those awkward plastic carriers.

Infants need physical contact. Touch is a stabilizing force in a strange new world. When babies are held or worn in a sling or carrier, normal everyday activities of walking, sitting, cooking “symbolically return the baby to the womb” according to Jackson. These activities provide children with an early security that they can draw upon when they venture into the wide world.

Although I had a “front pack” for our son and our first daughter, using a friend’s sling while caring for her baby convinced me that these were simpler and more comfortable. I tried on slings made commercially, and felt that they were too bulky and too expensive. Before we left for Mexico, I made a sling to carry our new baby. My sling instructions are based on the Maya Wrap published at mayawrap.com.

It should take less than an hour to make this sling using a sewing machine.

Materials
• 2 to 2.5 yards of cotton fabric (depending on how tall and wide you are)
Not too slippery and remember both sides of the fabric will show
45” wide fabric is ideal, if you use wider fabric you’ll need to cut it and hem one whole side
• 2 – 4” sturdy metal rings
I got some at a craft store.

Directions
• Measure first!

Wrap the fabric around your chest and over one shoulder. Make a pretend pouch for a baby (put a stuffed toy or small pillow in it to estimate).

Make sure you have enough fabric to accommodate you and the baby and to have at least 15” extra.

Do the same for both parents so you can both carry the baby in the sling. J.D. and I are 5’11” and 5’1” respectively so I had lots of extra fabric when I used the sling.

• Hem the ends of the fabric.
• Fold the fabric lengthwise in 5 or 6 fan folds. Folds should be 4” to 6” wide.
• Pull the folded end through 2 rings and fold over about 3” or 4”
• Move the first folded panel out of the way and securely sew the folds down enclosing the rings.

To wear this sling put it over one shoulder and across your chest. Pull the free end through two rings then back through one ring pulling through a long tail to secure baby. The sling should rest across your shoulder and back distributing the baby’s weight evenly. For babies make a pouch with your hand and lay the baby inside. Make sure both sides are high enough to keep baby safe and comfortable. As children grow, they can keep their heads out to look around, or ride in the sling on your hip.

Look at www.sleepingbaby.net and mayawrap.com for other instructions.

After submitting this article, Julia Parker and her family learned that Aliana Rosa's birth mother had a change of heart. The baby was returned to her birth family. Julia and her family thank everyone for their support and kind thoughts through this difficult process.

Copyright: Copyright on articles and recipes are jointly held by the Moscow Food Co-op and the respective authors, except were otherwise noted.

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