Before I became a mom, I envisioned the ideal mother as someone effortlessly striding through town with her baby snugly wrapped against her. There was something so nurturing about the concept of babywearing; it felt like a declaration that you were acing motherhood while juggling life’s demands. Naturally, I added a baby wrap to my registry, eagerly anticipating its arrival. When it finally did, I was shocked to find it stretched nearly the entire length of my apartment in Brooklyn. Seriously, this thing was 20 feet long! Confused but determined, I set out to master it.
After an hour and five YouTube tutorials, I was sweating, frustrated, and convinced I was failing at motherhood. Trying to figure out how to secure a teddy bear in that wrap while eight months pregnant was a bit like attempting “body origami”—and not very successful at that. Eventually, I managed to get the hang of it, but I never felt completely secure. I ended up opting for a backpack-style carrier instead. It became clear to me that babywearing is not for everyone.
That’s why it’s frustrating when companies selling baby wraps push the narrative that not babywearing makes you a lesser mother. One company goes so far as to refer to babywearing as “exterior gestation,” suggesting that humans are akin to marsupials who need to stay attached to their mothers after birth. Seriously?
The pitch from the creator of one popular wrap, The Cozy Carrier, states: “Kangaroos set a precedent that many humans should learn from. A joey stays in its pouch until it’s fully developed, just like human infants rely on their mothers.” But let’s get real—kangaroos are born immature and rely on that pouch to survive. Humans are not kangaroos.
The narrative continues, lamenting that many newborns are “left alone” in containers and cribs, as if we should all be carrying our babies around 24/7. Really? Are parents now being accused of abandoning their children for using everyday items like strollers? It’s absurd!
Can we promote baby wraps without making mothers feel guilty? If you’re selling a baby wrap, focus on how it simplifies life and offers comfort for both the parent and the baby. Don’t imply that choosing a stroller makes you a disconnected mother. I’ve never seen a stroller ad that claims, “Strollers: Because you’ll raise a giant man-baby if you don’t put him down.”
New mothers are already navigating a sea of uncertainties; they don’t need additional guilt about their parenting choices. Tools like baby wraps should enhance parenting, not complicate it with feelings of inadequacy. And let’s not ignore the fact that this guilt-laden marketing primarily targets mothers—how sexist is that?
Yes, babies thrive on being held, but suggesting that modern conveniences like strollers equate to emotional neglect is simply uncalled for.
For more insights on parenting and options available for home insemination, check out our other posts like this one on the at-home insemination kit. If you’re looking for comprehensive information, ACOG offers excellent resources on treating infertility.
Summary:
Babywearing can be a wonderful practice, but it doesn’t define your worth as a mother. Companies should promote their products without inducing guilt and should recognize that different parenting styles work for different families. Ultimately, it’s about making choices that best suit your life and your baby’s needs.
Keyphrase: babywearing and motherhood
Tags: [“home insemination kit”, “home insemination syringe”, “self insemination”]