Showing posts with label babywearing. Show all posts
Showing posts with label babywearing. Show all posts
2010-03-23
Lifestyle Diversity and Choices
I was the guest speaker to the City University course "Lifestyle Diversity and Choices" on the past Monday, and talked about fatherhood to over 40 students. How wonderful during the whole 80 minutes of my sharing, DS was so calm sitting in the front of the class and playing his excavator and jigsaw puzzles!
2009-08-02
Baby親子雜誌 第189期 對我的訪問原文
1. 你現在有多少個孩子，孩子有多大呢？
我們有一個16個月大的孩子。
2. 是從第一個孩子就開始實行母乳餵哺嗎？餵了多久？
是的。我們參考世界衛生組織的指引，頭六個月以純母乳餵哺孩子，由第七個月開始成功引進固體食物，現在孩子每天大約吃七餐：三餐固體食物 + 約四餐母乳。我們希望讓母乳餵哺能持續至最少兩歲。
3. 你和你太太的家人是否支持她餵哺母乳呢？
我們的家人口頭上都支持我太太餵哺母乳，不過他們由於對母乳餵哺的認識不深，往往會把對奶粉/奶瓶餵養的有限認識套用在母乳餵哺上，有時會對我們造成壓力。例如孩子初生時，他的胃只有他的拳頭仔般大小，但母乳很易消化，孩子每一、兩小時便要餵一次，我們聽了多次「是否媽媽奶水不夠，BB肚餓，要不要補奶粉?」之類的疑問。就算是現在，太太餵了孩子十多個月，而孩子的體重發展一直甚佳 (與同月份出生的嬰兒比較，曾經達97個百分位數(Percentile)呢！)，還是有人會武斷地說：「孩子晚上睡得不好，一定是不夠飽的緣故。」
4. 你和你的太太都是從一開始就決定以母乳餵哺BB嗎？懷孕的時候有沒有商量過照顧孩子和餵哺母乳的事呢？
對，我們以前曾閱讀過許多文章，認為配方奶粉容易令BB敏感 (而太太的弟弟小時又的確對奶粉嚴重敏感，故我們可能有家族敏感史)，而母乳是對BB健康的最大保障，故此在懷孕時我們已經下定決心以母乳餵哺BB。由於我本身曾經從事勞工政策研究工作多年，對「香港的職場是否促進母乳餵哺」有一定的了解，加上我們的親友幾乎沒有人有母乳餵哺的經驗，我們已有心理準備需要兩人互相依賴、並肩作戰。為了能成功餵哺母乳和照顧孩子，我們做了一些預備。
當時的我既有一份受薪工作，又正在唸一個學位，我擔心沒有時間參與育兒的工作。由於太太在非政府機構從事一份對她職志有發展機會的工作，我決定辭去原先的工作，準備BB出生後日間在家照顧孩子和晚上繼續寫研究論文。此外，我們原本住在新界東，但太太的工作地點卻在港島東，為了讓回到職場的母親下班後與嬰兒有多些相聚時間，我們賣了原先的小房子，並在太太的工作地點附近租了一個單位居住 ，這些在太太產前已經準備好。
5. 你太太餵母乳的過程順利嗎？中間有沒有遇到什麼挫折或者困難？
挫折的來源有幾方面，首先親友對母乳餵哺的認識很少 ，他們的言語往往無意中加大太太的壓力(如前述)，令太太更加懷疑自己的能力。而太太和很多香港人一樣，自小腦海裡對餵養嬰兒的印象便是奶粉/奶瓶餵養，產後仍在醫院時又沒有有經驗或受過訓練的人士在現場指導正確的「埋身」餵哺姿勢和嬰兒吸吮技巧 (latch-on)。
在沒有人指導的情況下，太太在技巧方面也自行摸索了個大概。雖然我在互聯網上找了不少相關文章和影像給太太看，但有些精髓單憑閱讀始終很難掌握。在孩子兩個月大時，太太的乳頭因經常與他的口腔摩擦而破損，每次餵哺都叫她痛楚難當，我鼓勵她去諮詢一些授乳顧問，結果立即改良她的一些姿勢，使嬰兒有正確的吸吮，乳頭不再痛楚，並使她的信心大增。我們從此明白到坊間說法以為「哺乳必然是痛的」的謬誤。
6. 你如何幫助太太持續母乳餵哺呢？
當太太放產假時，我便高度投入育兒的工作，包括料理家務、參與育兒 (例如沖涼、換片、哄BB睡覺)等工作，讓太太可專心餵哺。我希望為太太營造一個方便餵乳的環境。我常常鼓勵太太依照母親的直覺把孩子帶在身邊 (包括外出)，孩子有需要時便可立即授乳 (若太太有需要獨自外出，例如剪髮，則由我稍後把孩子揹出街與太太會合)。由於孩子天生是位反應激烈的性情兒，晚上曾睡得很差 (最壞時每半小時或一小時醒來一次)，兩個月大時我便索性把嬰兒床拆掉，把雙人床加上腳踏橫放改成一張闊六呎的安全大床，鼓勵太太實行親子共眠，孩子半夜醒來母親無須起身便可躺著授乳，兩人未完全醒來便可再度快速入睡，結果大家的睡眠質素都有顯著改善，晚上我們更從來未曾「補過奶粉」。
太太放完產假後，本來打算每天把母乳泵出來放入雪柜冷藏或冷凍，讓我在家以奶瓶餵給BB，但我嘗試了整個月和多個牌子的奶咀，BB也對奶咀有強烈的抗拒 (他卻較接受用杯餵)。幸好我們住得近太太的工作地點(快步行約十分鐘)，結果不是太太在午飯時間回家，就是由我用揹帶揹起BB到太太的工作地點讓她直接授乳 (她的辦公室在港島東區，但若她需要到西區甚至九龍區開會，我也會把BB揹到她的面前)。這樣維持了差不多一年 ，每天下午我也先在公園裡哄依偎在我胸口上的孩子小睡一會，孩子醒來時張開眼睛便馬上見到媽媽，直到BB超過一歲，進食固體食物顯著增加，我才減少了揹他去吃奶的次數。
7. 在餵哺這方面，你覺得丈夫能幫到太太的地方多嗎？有那些方面可以幫到？
我覺得就算不是全職爸爸，仍可以在很多地方幫到太太餵哺母乳。首先要了解妻子產後疲累和賀爾蒙的改變，對自己的「興趣」可能比以前冷淡。其次丈夫不要給太太太多的餵哺壓力 ，反而應該常常為妻子打氣，及聆聽她的困難和擔憂。遇到有些親友不體諒或無知的評語，丈夫應該勇於為妻子擋駕 。當然，若丈夫能於下班後參與育兒的工作 (若在假期，最好還包括夜半育兒，讓妻子終於可睡個好覺)和主動分擔家務，這些實質幫忙對你的太太是十分重要的，這些關心的行為只會使你在她眼中變得愈來愈性感 :-)。
若爸爸能參與育兒工作、發揮他的父愛，他就能培養對弱小生命的敏感度，使他的人格發展更健全。
有一件事丈夫要緊記，就是降低對家居整潔的要求！產後的時間，妻子的責任是康復和學好照顧寶寶。如前所述，家務最好由你親自動手或主動分擔，或安排一些清潔工作在遲一點進行，當然若真的沒有時間，應該考慮僱用家傭或家務助理。
8. 你認為能幫助太太成功餵哺母乳，對你自己和你的家庭有什麼好處？
若太太能成功餵哺母乳，其實是有很多好處的。首先當然是昂貴的奶粉支出大幅減少！其次，母乳餵哺對寶寶的健康較有保障，與奶粉餵養比較，嬰兒的敏感病、濕疹等機會減少 (又無需擔憂「三聚氰氨」等毒害和污染問題)，母乳內的抗體使寶寶較不易生病，這樣家庭的醫療開支和雙親因請假而少收的工作收入亦減少。當然，爸爸、媽媽和嬰兒三者間更親密的關係，不是用金錢可以量度的。
Franklen
我們有一個16個月大的孩子。
2. 是從第一個孩子就開始實行母乳餵哺嗎？餵了多久？
是的。我們參考世界衛生組織的指引，頭六個月以純母乳餵哺孩子，由第七個月開始成功引進固體食物，現在孩子每天大約吃七餐：三餐固體食物 + 約四餐母乳。我們希望讓母乳餵哺能持續至最少兩歲。
3. 你和你太太的家人是否支持她餵哺母乳呢？
我們的家人口頭上都支持我太太餵哺母乳，不過他們由於對母乳餵哺的認識不深，往往會把對奶粉/奶瓶餵養的有限認識套用在母乳餵哺上，有時會對我們造成壓力。例如孩子初生時，他的胃只有他的拳頭仔般大小，但母乳很易消化，孩子每一、兩小時便要餵一次，我們聽了多次「是否媽媽奶水不夠，BB肚餓，要不要補奶粉?」之類的疑問。就算是現在，太太餵了孩子十多個月，而孩子的體重發展一直甚佳 (與同月份出生的嬰兒比較，曾經達97個百分位數(Percentile)呢！)，還是有人會武斷地說：「孩子晚上睡得不好，一定是不夠飽的緣故。」
4. 你和你的太太都是從一開始就決定以母乳餵哺BB嗎？懷孕的時候有沒有商量過照顧孩子和餵哺母乳的事呢？
對，我們以前曾閱讀過許多文章，認為配方奶粉容易令BB敏感 (而太太的弟弟小時又的確對奶粉嚴重敏感，故我們可能有家族敏感史)，而母乳是對BB健康的最大保障，故此在懷孕時我們已經下定決心以母乳餵哺BB。由於我本身曾經從事勞工政策研究工作多年，對「香港的職場是否促進母乳餵哺」有一定的了解，加上我們的親友幾乎沒有人有母乳餵哺的經驗，我們已有心理準備需要兩人互相依賴、並肩作戰。為了能成功餵哺母乳和照顧孩子，我們做了一些預備。
當時的我既有一份受薪工作，又正在唸一個學位，我擔心沒有時間參與育兒的工作。由於太太在非政府機構從事一份對她職志有發展機會的工作，我決定辭去原先的工作，準備BB出生後日間在家照顧孩子和晚上繼續寫研究論文。此外，我們原本住在新界東，但太太的工作地點卻在港島東，為了讓回到職場的母親下班後與嬰兒有多些相聚時間，我們賣了原先的小房子，並在太太的工作地點附近租了一個單位居住 ，這些在太太產前已經準備好。
5. 你太太餵母乳的過程順利嗎？中間有沒有遇到什麼挫折或者困難？
挫折的來源有幾方面，首先親友對母乳餵哺的認識很少 ，他們的言語往往無意中加大太太的壓力(如前述)，令太太更加懷疑自己的能力。而太太和很多香港人一樣，自小腦海裡對餵養嬰兒的印象便是奶粉/奶瓶餵養，產後仍在醫院時又沒有有經驗或受過訓練的人士在現場指導正確的「埋身」餵哺姿勢和嬰兒吸吮技巧 (latch-on)。
在沒有人指導的情況下，太太在技巧方面也自行摸索了個大概。雖然我在互聯網上找了不少相關文章和影像給太太看，但有些精髓單憑閱讀始終很難掌握。在孩子兩個月大時，太太的乳頭因經常與他的口腔摩擦而破損，每次餵哺都叫她痛楚難當，我鼓勵她去諮詢一些授乳顧問，結果立即改良她的一些姿勢，使嬰兒有正確的吸吮，乳頭不再痛楚，並使她的信心大增。我們從此明白到坊間說法以為「哺乳必然是痛的」的謬誤。
6. 你如何幫助太太持續母乳餵哺呢？
當太太放產假時，我便高度投入育兒的工作，包括料理家務、參與育兒 (例如沖涼、換片、哄BB睡覺)等工作，讓太太可專心餵哺。我希望為太太營造一個方便餵乳的環境。我常常鼓勵太太依照母親的直覺把孩子帶在身邊 (包括外出)，孩子有需要時便可立即授乳 (若太太有需要獨自外出，例如剪髮，則由我稍後把孩子揹出街與太太會合)。由於孩子天生是位反應激烈的性情兒，晚上曾睡得很差 (最壞時每半小時或一小時醒來一次)，兩個月大時我便索性把嬰兒床拆掉，把雙人床加上腳踏橫放改成一張闊六呎的安全大床，鼓勵太太實行親子共眠，孩子半夜醒來母親無須起身便可躺著授乳，兩人未完全醒來便可再度快速入睡，結果大家的睡眠質素都有顯著改善，晚上我們更從來未曾「補過奶粉」。
太太放完產假後，本來打算每天把母乳泵出來放入雪柜冷藏或冷凍，讓我在家以奶瓶餵給BB，但我嘗試了整個月和多個牌子的奶咀，BB也對奶咀有強烈的抗拒 (他卻較接受用杯餵)。幸好我們住得近太太的工作地點(快步行約十分鐘)，結果不是太太在午飯時間回家，就是由我用揹帶揹起BB到太太的工作地點讓她直接授乳 (她的辦公室在港島東區，但若她需要到西區甚至九龍區開會，我也會把BB揹到她的面前)。這樣維持了差不多一年 ，每天下午我也先在公園裡哄依偎在我胸口上的孩子小睡一會，孩子醒來時張開眼睛便馬上見到媽媽，直到BB超過一歲，進食固體食物顯著增加，我才減少了揹他去吃奶的次數。
7. 在餵哺這方面，你覺得丈夫能幫到太太的地方多嗎？有那些方面可以幫到？
我覺得就算不是全職爸爸，仍可以在很多地方幫到太太餵哺母乳。首先要了解妻子產後疲累和賀爾蒙的改變，對自己的「興趣」可能比以前冷淡。其次丈夫不要給太太太多的餵哺壓力 ，反而應該常常為妻子打氣，及聆聽她的困難和擔憂。遇到有些親友不體諒或無知的評語，丈夫應該勇於為妻子擋駕 。當然，若丈夫能於下班後參與育兒的工作 (若在假期，最好還包括夜半育兒，讓妻子終於可睡個好覺)和主動分擔家務，這些實質幫忙對你的太太是十分重要的，這些關心的行為只會使你在她眼中變得愈來愈性感 :-)。
若爸爸能參與育兒工作、發揮他的父愛，他就能培養對弱小生命的敏感度，使他的人格發展更健全。
有一件事丈夫要緊記，就是降低對家居整潔的要求！產後的時間，妻子的責任是康復和學好照顧寶寶。如前所述，家務最好由你親自動手或主動分擔，或安排一些清潔工作在遲一點進行，當然若真的沒有時間，應該考慮僱用家傭或家務助理。
8. 你認為能幫助太太成功餵哺母乳，對你自己和你的家庭有什麼好處？
若太太能成功餵哺母乳，其實是有很多好處的。首先當然是昂貴的奶粉支出大幅減少！其次，母乳餵哺對寶寶的健康較有保障，與奶粉餵養比較，嬰兒的敏感病、濕疹等機會減少 (又無需擔憂「三聚氰氨」等毒害和污染問題)，母乳內的抗體使寶寶較不易生病，這樣家庭的醫療開支和雙親因請假而少收的工作收入亦減少。當然，爸爸、媽媽和嬰兒三者間更親密的關係，不是用金錢可以量度的。
Franklen
Interview in Babynews
My interview in Babynews magazine (Baby親子雜誌), Issue 189, 08/2009, pp.26-7. Click image to enlarge.
(Baby親子雜誌 第189期 對我的訪問原文)
2009-06-29
Weaning from wearing down to sleep
As I mentioned in a previous post, my secret weapon of "nursing" has always been wearing DS down to sleep (nap) in a sling. Because DS has a very intense character, catnapping and sleep deprivation is always my concern. But swinging him with the sling can wind him down and make his wild body calm, and swaddling him in that sling while laying it in the bed with him (when he's about to fall asleep) provides the sense of security which in turn ensures that his catnaps are replaced by more restorative one-hour, seventy-five- or even ninety-minutes naps.
In recent weeks, some important things have happened. Because DS has begun to feel the semi-upright position that I have been putting him into the sling too confining (it is not easy to wear him down if he is being carried in other positions, such as the snuggle hold, because the change of body positions is considerable which easily wakes him up), I feel that perhaps it's time to wean him (at least partially) from the sling when nap time comes.
So after bringing him to the bedroom, singing "ABCD" or "twinkle twinkle little star", reading a book or two to him, and reminding him that it's time to sleep (the intervals between his windows of falling asleep, after first waking up in the morning, are about 3, 3.5 and 5 hours respectively), I put him directly into the sling in a cradle hold position (with his legs leaned out, so the sling essentially just becomes a wrap around his waist), then immediately lay him down awake, but stay with him.
While staying with him, I keep on singing the lullaby "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (or just humming the melody), and gently pat his legs, arms and/or shoulders (to relax the muscles which are still tense and wiggling). Usually he will lie quietly on the bed, but still resists to close his eyes. I then massage his forehead using my thumb and index finger, and even gently cover his eyes with my palm so that he is not distracted by the pictures on the wall. He will go to sleep in no more than 10 minutes, and unless being bothered by teething or other physical problems, he can usually stay asleep for the entire nap (without my presence) until he feels "enough" ( he will stand up immediately after waken up)!
If you think that the above sounds interesting, don't forget that I have practiced laying him down for 14 months continuously- and only until recent months he does not scream when his body touches the bed (while he is awake)! The lesson I have learned is that for a high need spirited baby like DS, learning to sleep independently can only be a very gradual and supported process, but eventually s/he will attain it when the time has come.
I am now just hoping that I can transfer this learning to nights.
Related article: no cry nap solution for an intense baby
In recent weeks, some important things have happened. Because DS has begun to feel the semi-upright position that I have been putting him into the sling too confining (it is not easy to wear him down if he is being carried in other positions, such as the snuggle hold, because the change of body positions is considerable which easily wakes him up), I feel that perhaps it's time to wean him (at least partially) from the sling when nap time comes.
So after bringing him to the bedroom, singing "ABCD" or "twinkle twinkle little star", reading a book or two to him, and reminding him that it's time to sleep (the intervals between his windows of falling asleep, after first waking up in the morning, are about 3, 3.5 and 5 hours respectively), I put him directly into the sling in a cradle hold position (with his legs leaned out, so the sling essentially just becomes a wrap around his waist), then immediately lay him down awake, but stay with him.
While staying with him, I keep on singing the lullaby "Row, Row, Row Your Boat" (or just humming the melody), and gently pat his legs, arms and/or shoulders (to relax the muscles which are still tense and wiggling). Usually he will lie quietly on the bed, but still resists to close his eyes. I then massage his forehead using my thumb and index finger, and even gently cover his eyes with my palm so that he is not distracted by the pictures on the wall. He will go to sleep in no more than 10 minutes, and unless being bothered by teething or other physical problems, he can usually stay asleep for the entire nap (without my presence) until he feels "enough" ( he will stand up immediately after waken up)!
Row, row, row your boat,
Gently down the stream.
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily,
Life is but a dream.
If you think that the above sounds interesting, don't forget that I have practiced laying him down for 14 months continuously- and only until recent months he does not scream when his body touches the bed (while he is awake)! The lesson I have learned is that for a high need spirited baby like DS, learning to sleep independently can only be a very gradual and supported process, but eventually s/he will attain it when the time has come.
I am now just hoping that I can transfer this learning to nights.
Related article: no cry nap solution for an intense baby
2009-06-27
DS was on the radio!
DW and I (shamefacedly) talked about parenting on RTHK Radio 2. The topics covered included: breastfeeding, babywearing, baby-led weaning, continuum parenting and social participation, discipline, etc. The program was broadcast on 26th 8:00pm: http://www.rthk.org.hk/rthk/radio2/89/20090626.html
2009-01-16
Franklen's no cry nap solution for an intense baby
Franklen's no cry nap solution for an intense baby (copyleft ) (based on the ideas from Pantley's NCSS and Sears's Nightime Parenting)
=======================================
0. When he (she) is tired (mine is every 2 hours if his last nap lasted only 1 hour or if it is the morning first nap) - watch closely for signs of tireness (e.g. red eyes, yawning, rubbing eyes, etc.)
1. Rock (or swing etc.) him until he is almost asleep;
2. During rocking, pat him and sing a lullaby (or say something soothing), repeatedly;
3. When he is almost asleep, put him on the desired place very slowly, during the process continue to pat him and sing the song;
4. If he wakes up when touching the bed, without picking him up, continue to pat him and sing the song, until he closes his eyes. Continue to pat and sing for a while. You may place your palm on his head or back (experiment with different positions) to provide extra security.
5. If he fusses too much in step 4 (which may make him unable to sleep altogether) (e.g. more than 30 seconds - you judge), you may pick him up and repeat step 1 - 4 one or two more times.
6. If you really can't put him down this time, try again next time, or the following day, or several days later when you are not tired.
My intention is to help him replace the previous rocking-sleep association (which is one and only one) with patting/lullaby-sleep associations (which is variable). If you succeed, when he wakes up during the deep sleep- REM sleep transitions (mine is the 30th-45th minutes interval), you may just pat him and/or sing the lullaby (but your action has to be quick and preventive) to make him go back to sleep again. Eventually you may not need to do this too. (I have arrived this in a month's time)
I had tried this successfully with my intense and sensitive DS (I wear him to naps since the 2nd month every day) and it worked brilliantly between month 5 - month 8, before he was painfully teething and started to develop separation anxiety in the 9th month (poor DS...).
Prior to the 5th month, I wore him continously for 1 hour for each nap but he always woke up when being put on the bed. I was so tired and this caused me to think about ways of change.
My current method is slightly different, still wearing him in a sling when nap routine (reading 1 book, singing 3 lullabies, and putting to sling) begins, but I only wear him for 200 more seconds after he has closed his eyes (I guess his sleeping pattern has become more mature however high-need and so he enters deep sleep more quickly) (usually I need to walk/swing 5-10 minutes to make him sleep), and he can enjoy a total 1-1.5 hours nap without waking up and without me doing anything. I am also able to nap with him again (I feel tears in my eyes when writing this) but stay wide apart on bed because we are easily mutually triggered.
Perhaps I should (if I can) help him "wean" from the sling very positively one day (because my back is sometimes painful - he is 22lbs [18lbs at the 4th month]), but he needs me at the moment so maybe months later.
Mei Tai
It's very interesting to know how babies are crawling, walking or even climbing! Babies are all different (and I guess the timing of walking is partially related to the baby's temperament), whether they are early or late walkers soon they all will walk and run like a pro!
Most people in Hong Kong use strollers, though I see in recent years there is a slight increase of people wearing their babies (using packs or structured carriers). Personally I think managing a stroller in a highly densely populated small (and the world's most capitalist) city like HK is a torture. It's far less convenient esp when travelling with the stroller in transport.
But I guess in many lower-class families in HK, the stay-at-home parents (usually moms) still wear their los in Mei Tai (we pronounce "Meh Dai" - "Meh"=wear, "Dai"=belt) on their backs when doing household chores like cooking
In many Asian countries (I guess more usual in "less" "modernized" parts) a baby is constantly carried. I also know that in the Philippines many women also just carry their children on their hips. In Indonesia, babies are often carried in a fabric - it's tied and used skillfully like a sling but without a ring (magic!). The sling or the wrap, etc. has a history maybe as ancient as human's.
(I usually see foreigers in Hong Kong pushing their babies in strollers - I don't know why, but the brands of the strollers are always the same - Maclaren - which local people seldom use - is it that good?)
The traditional Chinese Meh Dai requires the baby to sit in a frog-leg position, straddling the tummy or the back of his/her parent. This is believed to provide adequate spine and hip support (I think that the crotch piece of most structured carriers sold on the market is too narrow , the weight of the small baby is being put on his/her spine too early [in addition, the legs just dangle - will the hip joints be stretched too much?]). When I was very young, many children (and their parents, grandparents, ... ) here were still carrried in this way. However, when I first wore DS and went out, one of the questions asked by today local stroller-users was "will you make your baby's legs malformed?" I forget how I responded.
2009-01-09
What is Continuum Fathering?
I try to integrate the principles described in the book continuum concept into my (as a father) style of parenting:
http://www.continuum-concept.org/
I try to involve myself as much as possible in (supporting) breastfeeding, co-sleeping, baby-wearing, and being responsive to my babies' needs with respect, and I see children as inherently cooperative and social and capable of living in harmony with Nature, etc.
People may call this "attachment parenting" (some may even consider it a fad), but actually these principles have been practised by many traditional cultures for centuries, and so are not a modern ("Western") invention as is often assumed.
I am still learning what I want myself to be, so I'd better stop here :oops:
2009-01-07
Re: is it too late for a sling with a toddler? (what to do when cooking?!)
My initial response was a Mei-tai-like soft carrier, but after rethinking I'd suggest a ring sling (hip carry), because it allows your toddler to observe in a close distance without feeling too confined.
Personally I use a sling for DS's naps and household chores like vaccum cleaning, and a mei tai usually for outings and anything I don't want DS to reach.
Here are some good photos on the common problems of using a sling. I choose them because they were taken of a father and a son!
http://www.thebabywearer.com/index.php? ... ngproblems
By hip carrying I mean your son's legs will straddle one side of your hip.
I agree that cooking and wearing a toddler can be dangerous esp you are dealing with hot oil etc. When the work involved is not that dangerous, you can improve the safety more by shifting him backward so that he is behind you. But you still have to be careful: he may grab a sword without you knowing it!
A final note: your body may take some time to (suddenly) adjust to the weight of your son , and you may feel rather hard initially (OK if you just wear him for a while). Remember to spread the fabric on your back evenly so that the weight is not just distributed on the shoulder. I hope this helps.
2008-11-20
Re: Helping baby adjust to Mei tei wrap
Just like using the sling, I've found that my action has to be quick when using a mei tai, before DS becomes impatient.
I have used the sling since the 2nd month, and the MT since the 4th month. I am still using both.
To the contrary, DS likes the MT quite tight (snug fit). If it is too loose (e.g. so low that his bottom is below my tummy) he will fuss. Tightness seems to give him security. If it is too tight DS will let me know, so I am not afraid if I have squished him.
My trick: when DS starts to fuss, I make a few bounces and cheer him up. It usually works.
I have used the sling since the 2nd month, and the MT since the 4th month. I am still using both.
To the contrary, DS likes the MT quite tight (snug fit). If it is too loose (e.g. so low that his bottom is below my tummy) he will fuss. Tightness seems to give him security. If it is too tight DS will let me know, so I am not afraid if I have squished him.
My trick: when DS starts to fuss, I make a few bounces and cheer him up. It usually works.
2008-10-09
Re: question for babywearing DH
I don't know if my experience applies to your DH. I am very thin, and chest muscles are weak. However, DS naps quite easily on me if I wear him in a MT (front carry), despite wife has far better "cushions".
When it's close to time for a nap and I am wearing DS, I will stop talking, take a good walk outside (around the park, the pier, etc...or just the pavement if there is no choice - but I hate the noise and air pollution) and walk very steadily (non-stop). I will pat his hip lightly to aid him too. Normally he will fall into sleep in less than 10 minutes. Then I can sit down (e.g. on a chair in the park - but make sure that no one is smoking or shouting beside) and enjoy a book's chapter or the sea or just feel the little one's breath.
I do this almost everyday for DS's third nap (late afternoon). For his first and second nap, I use a sling and wear him down to bed (previously after he entered deep sleep but now just put him down when he is sleepy). He is now 7.5 months and I have done these daily for 5 months.
I think the cue is to let the baby get used to Daddy's difference and accept Daddy as the comforter. So just keep practise! (and tell your DH he is not alone !
When it's close to time for a nap and I am wearing DS, I will stop talking, take a good walk outside (around the park, the pier, etc...or just the pavement if there is no choice - but I hate the noise and air pollution) and walk very steadily (non-stop). I will pat his hip lightly to aid him too. Normally he will fall into sleep in less than 10 minutes. Then I can sit down (e.g. on a chair in the park - but make sure that no one is smoking or shouting beside) and enjoy a book's chapter or the sea or just feel the little one's breath.
I do this almost everyday for DS's third nap (late afternoon). For his first and second nap, I use a sling and wear him down to bed (previously after he entered deep sleep but now just put him down when he is sleepy). He is now 7.5 months and I have done these daily for 5 months.
I think the cue is to let the baby get used to Daddy's difference and accept Daddy as the comforter. So just keep practise! (and tell your DH he is not alone !
2008-07-21
2008-04-16
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