I learned about attachment parenting when I was a teen. I always new I was going to be an AP mama. One of my earliest experiences with babywearing was while babysitting my niece. I was probably 18 or so, and she was 18 months old at the time, and I refused to put her into her crib to cry it out the way her parents did. Instead, at bedtime, I found a flat sheet and fashioned a sling out of it by tying it in a knot at the top of my shoulder. It worked like a ring sling, except without the easy adjustibility! But it worked! I stuck her in there, and bounced her on an exercise ball in a dark room. She drifted off to sleep peacefully and with no crying. Then, I transferred her to her crib. She would always wake up and look at me, but then would just go back to sleep by herself, with no crying! (And there would definitely be crying, and lots of it, had I just set her down in her crib to begin with). It completely confirmed all my beliefs about attachment parenting. The fact that even though she woke up during the transfer, she easily settled back down without a fuss was proof that the gentle "wearing down" was a positive way to help her sleep, and that she would in fact sleep better without crying it out.
Before I had my own baby, my mind was made up! I loved wearing my sweet tiny newborn. So much more practical and convenient than carrying around a bunch of "stuff". I would think of her as "my little side kick". And with toddlers, well, I honestly don't understand how other mamas who DON'T put their toddlers on their backs can function in public! :) Even in my 3rd trimester of pregnancy, there have been a handful of times where a back carry with my 35lb toddler completely saved my butt in a public space where running around was just not appropriate. Looking forward to wearing baby #3, who is due TODAY!
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