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As the oldest of six children, I was the portrait of confidence during my first pregnancy. I felt sure motherhood would come naturally to me. As my husband and I shopped in preparation for our new arrival, I was puzzled to see so many new-fangled baby-care gadgets on the market. Was this going to be more complex than I thought? I didn't remember my mom using these contraptions: baby swings, baby bouncers, baby seats of all kinds, audio baby soothers, automatic bassinet rockers, UGH! I really don't remember my mother even using a stroller! I suppose there were so many of us, there was always someone available to "hold the baby."
Once our beautiful daughter arrived, my confidence level dropped considerably, and I began seeking guidance and reassurance from other moms. I wanted to be sure I was giving her my best, and that I was mothering her the "right" way. However, their advice seemed counter-intuitive to me. They told me to let her cry it out. That she was manipulating us and that I needed to "train" her. I was told that if I held her too much and nursed her for too long, that she would get too attached. At one point, my husband told a dear friend in a joking way, "She's not a puppy. We are not giving her away in 6 weeks, so we really don't mind if she gets attached." It was very confusing because my heart told me one thing, but everyone else told me something different.
But I still did not know how to follow my heart. On one of our first grocery shopping trips, I dutifully carried her into the store in her car seat. Having weighed more than 9 pounds at birth, she was a bit heavy in that seat. Within seconds of shopping, she was fussing and crying. I ended up pushing the cart around with one hand while holding her in the other. The frustration and sense of failure was overwhelming.
At home, I tried to use the baby swing and bouncy seats that we had received as gifts. She lasted for about 30 seconds in them before she started crying. So, I held her in one arm and tried to maintain a household with the other. Not easy. It was difficult to get things done, and my husband traveled for work quite often. Almost every time I put her down, she cried. The whole thing was an exercise in frustration and it made me want to cry as well!
Luckily, a few weeks after she was born I attended my first La Leche League meeting. Breastfeeding had been going well, but I was anxious to meet other mothers and to get more information. I will never forget the woman leading the meeting that day. She had an older baby that sometimes played on the floor and sometimes nursed or just hung out in the sling she was wearing. I was so impressed - she never missed a beat! When she put him in the sling he calmed down immediately. She even nursed him in it and had her hands free. Intrigued and a little excited, I left the meeting that day with my first sling. It was the last one the group had left. A bright green sling with white polka dots - not my favorite color, but I didn't care. I was so excited that I stopped off at my husband's work on the way home to show him. We still were learning how to use the sling, Taylor & I, but it felt natural.
My life really changed from that moment on. My relationship with my baby grew tremendously. I had always held her a great deal before I had a sling, but now I was able to wear my baby while carrying on with the usual tasks of life. It was truly empowering to be able to comfort, nurse and get her to sleep so easily. My baby seemed more settled and calm, as did I. My stress level dropped and my confidence soared! I felt as if my baby had entered my life and had become a normal part of my day to day activities. She enjoyed being with me, and was so stimulated by our activities together.
Since then, I have seen many mothers discover babywearing, and each time I recognize that same look and feeling I had when I held my baby in a sling. It really was a life-changing experience that continues in our family today.
I hope you will consider using a TaylorMade Sling. Please feel free to write in to us and let us know your story. If you allow us to, we will share your story on this site to hopefully inspire other moms and babies.
Yours sincerely,
LeAnn Contessa
Owner, TaylorMade Slings
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