Babywearing is a trend that does not look like it is going anywhere anytime soon and for good reason. When you wear your baby, you can promote bonding and closeness while still having your hands free to do other tasks. It enables you to be more mobile and take your baby places you may not be able to get a stroller, like a hiking trail.

Best of all, babywearing creates a convenient way to breastfeed your baby. If you are going to wear your baby, it is best to do it safely. Not only does this protect the baby, but it makes caring for your child more convenient. Here are some tips you should keep in mind when wearing your baby and breastfeeding.

Benefits of Babywearing

Wearing your baby has many benefits for you and your baby. For starters, being near you helps to keep your baby calm. The result is that she develops into a secure and confident toddler.

Having your baby close, especially if you can manage some skin to skin contact, can help her to regulate her own physiological rhythms. That nearness can also be useful in facilitating nursing. If you wear a nursing-friendly top, you can breastfeed easily without much adjustment or even being very obvious about it. Activities like grocery shopping, window shopping with friends, brunch, or just taking a walk can simply be done while wearing your little one...and best of all, breastfeeding done at the same time!  You simply make sure your baby is in a comfortable position for the both of you and make sure that her head is properly supported.

These are benefits for mom, too, because self care is an important ingredient for a happy relationship with yourself and baby. Having a baby does not mean that the world will stop for you. There are still chores to be done and errands to be run. There may even be other children who need care. If you can wear your baby, you may find that you have your hands free to accomplish other tasks. In fact, you may even be able to manage other tasks while you are actually breastfeeding.

Methods of Babywearing

• Sling- A piece of fabric that loops around one of the mother's shoulders, across her body to the opposite hip. Your little one may begin taking an interest in the world around him while in this type of carrier. A sling is an easy option to facilitate nursing as the baby is able to be brought down by adjusting the sling strap through the ring. Re-adjust to bring baby back to "kiss the head" position when finished feeding. 
• Wrap- A wrap is also a piece of fabric. In this case, however, just as the name says, the fabric is wrapped around the mother's torso and, generally, both shoulders. It creates a secure place for the baby to rest.
• Soft-Structured Carriers- These are more like backpacks. They can be worn on the back or the front and offer a more structured seat for your baby. They have straps that go over the parent's shoulders, giving them their backpack-like appearance.

How to Breastfeed In A Carrier or Sling

One of the great things about wearing your baby is that he is always close enough to make breastfeeding convenient. Here is a step-by-step guide.

• If your baby is old enough to sit up, you generally want his bottom at or above your navel during general wearing. Ensure his head is close enough to kiss.  During breastfeeding, he can sit lower in order to access your breast then re-adjust to the proper higher position when finished. 
• Keep an eye out to make sure that his face is not smashed into you and that his airway is not blocked.
• Once your baby is in position, it is usually pretty easy to be discreet about opening your top's nursing access to feed her. If you are wearing a nursing tank top or nursing hoodie, the design can make quick access that much more simpler and more convenient. These specially designed tops for breastfeeding are also great for promoting skin-to-skin contact with your baby outside of using the carrier.

A Few Safety Tips 

One of the big concerns about babywearing is safety and positioning the baby to be ergonomic correct. Safety is especially important if you are also breastfeeding while wearing your baby. It is possible to do all this if you follow a few rules.

• Make sure your baby's head is supported. If his head flops around she can be injured and have difficulty maintaining her airway. Keep his head close enough to kiss.
• It is okay for your baby to be in a lying position while nursing if you are stopping to sit somewhere, but you need to support his head. When you are not breastfeeding, it is best for your baby to be in an upright position and again, sitting high enough in the carrier.
• Practice carrying your baby over a soft surface like a bedside until you are confident about your carrying method and securing the carrier.
• Check your carrier for signs that it is becoming worn. If it is carrying your most precious cargo, you want to make sure it is in working order and everything is in tact.  Overstretched wraps and slings should be replaced. 
• When your baby is not nursing, make sure she is positioned properly in a sitting position with legs supported to the knee. The knee should be higher than the hips.  When legs are dangling from the hip, this can result in hip dysplasia.
• While having your hands free may allow you to do other things while caring for your baby, it is best to do activities that allow you to sit while your baby is feeding. Or doing something that is more leisurely like a slow walk when baby is feeding.  Being up and moving around can increase the risk of choking.  

Wearing your baby has many benefits. It promotes bonding and allows you to care for your baby while having your hands free. The closeness of wearing your baby can give you skin-to-skin contact and also makes breastfeeding easier and more discreet. If you are careful about your baby's safety and comfort, there is no reason you cannot enjoy the convenience of wearing your baby.

Prenatal Massage or Salon Gift Certificate

Aches and pains are part of a normal pregnancy, which is why she'll really appreciate an occasional prenatal massage to soothe a sore back and aching legs and feet.  Ensure if you are thinking of getting this, splurge on a place that has top notch qualified massage therapists.  The wrong place can cause harm to mom or baby (there are many no no pressure points they should be aware of) so be sure to do your research on the best places in her area. If you are unsure, opt for a manicure pedicure at her fave salon, or a Dry Bar blowout. 

anekantsquick/Nursing Hoodie

When you're pregnant, comfort is foremost in your mind. anekantsquick offers adorable -- and on-trend -- hoodies that she'll wear all through her pregnancy and nursing months. The game changer is that these styles even look good when she is done with her nursing days!  Ditto for an array of colorful tank tops (in both classic and "swing" styles) that feel soft and comfy and are nursing-ready! And be sure to check out anekantsquick's Relaxed hoodies. (She'll want to live in them!).  Gift cards are perfect if you don't know her size. 

Tip: If you want to step it up another notch, and you know she's planning to nurse, check out our Breastfeeding Gift Basket idea. 

anekantsquick Cozy Hoodies stay stylish and smart for pregnany, nursing, and well beyond. Click the image to see more.

A Monthly Beauty Package

A subscription to a service like Birchbox ($10 a month) can provide something to look forward to each month of her pregnancy and will be perfect for a time when her beauty routine -- among other things -- is likely to undergo some changes.

Foot-Pampering Slippers

Carrying around all that extra weight can be tough on a mom-to-be's feet. Why not gift her with some soft, high quality, stylish slippers to provide comfort throughout her pregnancy? Ugg has some comfy and fashionable styles like their Coquette and Pom Pom slip-on styles. They're super-cute and offer a little support too.  She will probably be using these for a very long time. 

Help Her Communicate With Her Baby

Beginning at 20 weeks, a developing baby can hear sounds, and by the third trimester, her hearing is well-developed, so why not help the new mom-to-be communicate via a recorded message or soothing music using BellyBuds speakers, designed just for this purpose?

anekantsquick Photo 3-Session Package

Pregnancy is such a special time in a woman's life! Why not help her to document her growing belly with a series of professional pregnancy photo shoots. Book three shoots that show her at various points in her pregnancy. This is a keepsake gift that Mom, Dad, and growing child can enjoy looking at again and again throughout the years.  The frame worthy pictures will offer endless years of memories, and she'll be thanking you each time she looks at them.

Get Her an Unexpected Book About Motherhood

Chances are, she's already reading about how to care for her new baby on all the baby apps like What to Expect, Babycenter, and The Bump, but why not inspire her with a beautiful book about motherhood itself? Especially during the third trimester she will be resting more and more so a book will come in handy.  Real Simple recommends Waiting for Birdie by Catherine Newman, a touching and funny read about a mother's first years with her child. Another of their recommendations is Bloom, which was a New York Times Best Seller, and is touted as both a beautiful and inspiring story about motherhood.  

A Grocery Delivery Service

Umm yes sign me up!  This one of our favorites.  As the big day draws near, she's probably not going to feel much like grocery shopping, and she'll feel even less inclined once the new baby's at home.  A grocery delivery service timed to coincide with the last few weeks of her pregnancy or the first few weeks of new motherhood will be a gift she'll really appreciate. (Instacart, Peapod, and Amazon Prime and Fresh are a few good ones to consider.) . She can get all that she needs without leaving her couch!

Help Her Show Her Skin Some Love

As her belly grows, her skin can become tight and itchy. Some great products to combat those problems? Mum Bub products by Aden & Anais are all natural, soothing, ultra-moisturizing and gentle on stressed skin.  100% Shea Butter always is a good go to because she will be using it long after baby arrives and it is completely natural as well as extremely effective. 

Tip: Step it up a notch and make her a DIY Homemade Belly and Boobie Butter. She will be wowed by the thought and how delicious your concoction is! 

She's sure to appreciate the fact that you took the time and effort to help make her pregnancy as comfortable and enjoyable as possible! But making her feel special, pampered and supported is your ultimate reward!

"Wearing" a baby is not a new concept. It's something that women around the world have been doing for centuries. Even here in America, we know that native American women wore their babies in papooses on their backs so that they could go on about their work while keeping their babies close to them throughout the day. Of course, wearing your baby today is more in tune with the needs of both baby and mother, with carriers that support the baby out to the knee, in the same way you do when you hold him. Plus, today's front-facing carriers hold your baby against your chest, where you can attend to him and where he can sleep against the comforting sound of your heartbeat, the same steady, reassuring sound he's been hearing throughout his nine months in utero.

Better for Baby

There are physical reasons why wearing your baby is so important. Newborn babies have curved -- "c-shaped" -- spines, which make lying them on their backs for most of the day unnatural. In fact, too much time lying flat in a carriage, stroller or table-top baby carrier can actually lead to muscle-tone problems as well as flat-head syndrome (plagiocephaly). Because it's safer for your baby to sleep on her back, you really don't have a choice at night. But it makes perfect sense to limit the time she spends her waking hours in that position.

It's also better that babies with GERD be held in an upright position and also better for them to experience your full range of motion, which some experts say will lead to fewer space-related phobias later in life.

But perhaps the best thing about "wearing" your baby is that the baby gets to see more of the world, see your face and read your expressions, and retreat into his carrier if he's overstimulated. He's also receiving almost constant "touch", which is so important emotionally and psychologically as numerous studies have shown.

Of course, there's nothing wrong with using a stroller on occasion, and car seats are vital to keeping your baby safe in the car. But the majority of your baby's time is best spent close to your heart -- both literally and figuratively speaking. But what about the fact that babies need to nurse every few hours? Can you "wear" your baby and nurse at the same time? Yes, you absolutely can, but there are right and wrong ways to do that.

Breastfeeding While Wearing Your Baby

One of the wonderful things about breastfeeding while "wearing" your baby is that you're already right there so your baby doesn't have to waste energy summoning you. Just make sure you understand how to properly baby wear your newborn and breastfeed at the same time. Here are some important tips about nursing while wearing your baby:

• Support - Make sure your baby carrier is tight enough so that your baby can snuggle close to you. Avoid the carrier or wrap to be too loose that the baby slips down.
• Baby's Face is Visible - You should be able to see baby's face at all times. In order to breastfeed, adjust and cradle your baby so he is looking more upward rather than down because that can lead to spilled milk, and no one wants that! Readjust after baby is finished.
• Keep Baby Up High - Keep your baby's head close enough to kiss just by bending your head down toward him.
• Keep His Chin Off His Chest - Make sure that your baby is not curled so much that it presses his chin up against his chest since that can restrict his breathing. Keep a finger-width space between his chest and his chin as a guide.
• Keep His Back Supported - In an upright carrier, your baby should be held comfortably but firmly close to you so that his back is supported in its natural position and his chest and tummy are close to you. If a sling is too loose, the baby can slump which partially closes off her airway. You can check his position by putting your hand on her back and gently pressing on it. She should neither uncurl nor move closer to you. If she does, you need to readjust the carrier until the back is properly supported. While you're cradling him to nurse, his bottom should be in the deepest part of the sling, which will prevent him from curling too much and pressing his chin against his chest.

Make Your Job Easier With the Right Clothes

It's essential to wear a top that's made for nursing since it eliminates the awkward need to struggle with your clothing while you're wearing your little one. It's not easy to life your shirt up or down when already strapped in a carrier or baby wrap.  It's not only easier for you, it's also easier and safer for your baby who won't be subjected to your scrunched up sweater or tee pressing against the top of her nose, at worst restricting her breathing, and at best being uncomfortable for both of you! anekantsquick has a beautiful selection of American made tops and dresses that are colorful, stylish, and designed to access each breast individually (or both at the same time) to make nursing as easy and natural as possible. 

Soft nursing tees and easy snap down tanks that keep the chest covered let baby have access to his lunch anytime and anywhere. If its cold, try the Bun Cozy Nursing Hoodie for the nursing convenience and uber mama style combined.

Kudos to you for nurturing your new baby in the most natural ways possible -- by baby wearing him as you go about your day and providing him with a nourishing meal at a moment's notice!

Learn more basic tips while baby wearing here.

Keep going mama!

Practice this little by little and you will soon have it down. If you are unsure, always reach out to a lactation center with IBCLC's to help you start babywearing while breastfeeding.

Babies want touch – they practically thrive on it. Various studies point out to how babywearing your infant for just 3 hours a day can actually make them that much happier. From liking the touch of their mother’s skin on theirs, to the warmth they feel and everything else in between, there are plenty of benefits of babywearing; and not just for the baby, but for the parents too.

Studies also reveal that holding the baby close and skin to skin allows mothers to keenly monitor their movements, which in turn makes them feel more confident that they really know what is going on with their infant.

While there may be many benefits to babywearing for both parties to enjoy, things can, at times, get a little difficult for the mothers, especially if they are breastfeeding the babies. It takes a certain amount of skill (and lots of practice!) to get your baby in just the right position so that they can take their feed conveniently, allowing you to do your work all at the same time.

Babies can be a lot to handle; forget being glued to your baby’s rocker or staying hunched over the couch for hours on end while they take their feed, and just follow our simple tips on breastfeeding while babywearing.

Getting Started:

Before you attempt breastfeeding while babywearing, it is essential that you consider the babywearing safety precautions that you must follow at all costs during this process.

You need to position your baby in a way that it is easy for them to breathe. There should be enough distance between the baby’s face and your clothes at all time, so that their face does not get pressed into them. This would make things very suffocating and potentially dangerous for the baby.

It is also important that you do not cover the baby’s face when you are breastfeeding them while babywearing. Many mothers in search for some privacy resort to covering the baby’s face which can be dangerous. When you cover the face, you are making the baby rebreathe the air they have just exhaled which is very dangerous. So, if you really want privacy, a better option would be to use easy nursing tee shirts and tank tops like the ones from anekantsquick, or a nursing hood, to cover yourself if you feel like doing so, not the baby.

Kissable Height:

What is the right position in which the baby should be placed so that they can breastfeed conveniently? The easiest way to remember this is that whenever you are nursing during babywearing, lower down your baby to nurse and adjust accordingly where you can bring them to a height where you can easily kiss their head (consult your lactation consultant if you are having difficulty finding the proper adjustments).  Make sure you bring them up to a position where they can rest their head comfortably if they sleep while nursing.

Remember TICKS as a great checklist for babywearing. Are they?

• tight
• in view at all times
• close enough to kiss
• keep chin off of chest
• supported back

Pay Attention to Noises:

There are certain typical nursing sounds that you get to hear while you breastfeed the baby. So when you are nursing them during babywearing, it is important to pay attention to what kind of noise is the baby making. Non typical nursing noises like snoring or grunting can be a sign showing that the baby is in distress and that you need to shift gears.

Two fingers width of space should always be present between the baby’s chin and their chest. This is the ideal head/neck position for the baby while you nurse them during babywearing, as it mostly guarantees that their airways do not get blocked.

Practice Babywearing and Breastfeeding Separately:

Another tip that can really help you breastfeed your baby while babywearing them it so practice both the things separately. Babywear your baby, but do not breastfeed them while you are doing so. Get comfortable with roaming around while having the baby attached to you in a sling. At another time, just practice breastfeeding your baby, while not carrying them around in your sling. Once you have gotten the hang of both the things separately, it is then time to combine them together.

Wear Breastfeeding Friendly Clothes:

Not all necklines are helpful when it comes to breastfeeding your baby. For hassle free breastfeeding, it is important that your outfit also co-operates with you. Bun's stretchy tank tops with easy snap straps that can be done with one hand, or double panel nursing tee shirts, allow moms to easily breastfeed, as the need arises.

Delay the Hands Free Approach:

Most nursing mothers want to be able to master breastfeeding during babywearing so that they can do other things at the same time. However, we recommend that if you have just started to babywear and breastfeed your child, it is best that you keep your hands busy holding the baby only. You can go hands free once you have become super comfortable with the process. Until then, use your hands to hold the baby’s head or neck and offer them more support as they take their feed.

During your first few trials with breastfeeding while babywearing, you might also have to use your hands to position and reposition your breast. Nursing hands free is the goal, but do not try to get it only at your second turn. Take your time.

Slings and Carriers:

You can use either slings or carriers to carry your baby around. However, you might have to do things a little differently depending on what you are using for babywearing. For example, if you have your baby in a carrier and you want to breastfeed them, you might want to play around with the adjustable straps until you get the perfect position which allows the baby immediate and easy access to the breast. If you happen to be using a sling for babywearing, make sure to always have one arm supporting the baby’s weight as you loosen the rings on the sling with the other.

Whether you are using a carrier or a sling for babywearing, always remember to reposition the baby properly once you are done nursing them.

Interested in more? Check out the source of the first main image here and what they have to say at http://www.babydoousa.com/babywearing-in-the-first-year/

Before baby wearing consult your physician and Certified lactation consultant for any concerns, questions, and if this is a choice you should be making.  You can also find certified baby wearing consultants in your area here.

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