I recently had a chance to have a virtual coffee date with Alex Sparrow of The Well Carried Child recently, and it was great to chat with her! It is always great to connect with others, and especially interesting to be able to learn so much. Alex specializes in educating new parents about babywearing and cloth diapering.
The biggest take away from our conversation is how important it is to get someone with expert knowledge to help make minor adjustments needed as that can make the difference between comfort and discomfort. Which is also the same for many aspects of pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period, right? And as her businesses name implies, there is a difference between Well Carried and Carried.
For me personally, it was really interesting to learn about babywearing because it wasn’t really something that I did when my son was little. I always said, “oh my four month old weighs 20 lbs, how could i wear him when he is heavy?” Well, the answer is that I didn’t have the right system! Alex shared that she still wears his 7 year old sometimes!
And, as a little teaser, she shared some exciting new developments coming to her and her business in November, so stay tuned to learn more!
Without further ado, let’s get to know Alex and her business.
What made you first become interested in babywearing?
I became interested in babywearing when preparing for the birth of my first child 8 years ago. My husband and I wanted to stay active, especially outdoors activities like camping and hiking. We knew that we couldn't continue these family adventures with just a stroller. I also became an active member of the local nonprofit group that educates people about babywearing. Working one on one as a volunteer is what ultimately led me to become a professional educator in the local parenting community.
What do you think the greatest benefits to babywearing are?
For my family, the greatest benefit has been the ability to respond quickly to my children's needs, especially now that we have three! I know if they are hungry or need a diaper change or just want to cuddle, usually without a lot of crying. My preschooler and elementary school child still love to cuddle in the carrier.
Overall, there are so many benefits to babywearing! Infants use skin to skin interaction in a carrier to regulate their core temperature and breathing patterns. Even toddlers and preschoolers get oxytocin from being worn. This can help with teething pain, or feeling big emotions, like frustration and disappointment, that they might not be able to verbally express yet. Ultimately, this kind of connection strengthens the bond between children and their caregivers.
What do you wish more people knew about babywearing?
I wish people knew the global history and cultural importance of babywearing. Most people know about big name brands of buckle carriers, like Tula or Ergo. Every culture in the world has used babywearing in some form as a caregiver tool for millenia. Most of the fabrics used are handwoven, with significant cultural, familial or monetary meaning, and are used as a multitasking tool, not just for carrying babies. These multigenerational and cultural connections are a really beautiful thing to think about in our fast paced, screen based world.
What does a babywearing or cloth diapering consultation look like right now?
Right now all of my consultations are virtual for the safety of my family and my clients. First, we talk about what goals you want to accomplish, short term and long term.
Then we might have a quick demo or fit check, depending on your experience with those carrier type(s). I can also recommend a specific type or brand of carrier depending on your body type or desired carrier features.
Before we end, I try to make sure my clients don't have any other pregnancy, birth or postpartum needs, in terms of resources. I want them to feel supported as a whole person because they will not feel comfortable babywearing if there is something else really stressful going on in their lives. Many of these additional resources are other small local businesses that I want to support. I am also available after the consultation for questions via email.
When you are not working with clients, where can we find you?
Outside! We love to hike as a family, even if right now that means lots of neighborhood walks instead of long weekends in the mountains. We are lucky to live near a stream, so we've done a lot of 'nature schooling' and species identification recently. I also like to bake, and my kids like to help, mostly with tasting all the ingredients, lol. There is nothing a bit of chocolate can't fix!
