Babywearing and Montessori
“All the great human groups, nations, and races have their individual differences; for example, they have different ways of carrying the baby.”
Babywearing was a step I never thought I would take. Like it seemed cool maybe, but I didn’t think I was that type of crunchy, making my own baby food mom. Let me backup, I should say these were my thoughts during my first pregnancy. You know when you’re still thinking and dreaming of the type of mom your going to be. Needless to say my thoughts of motherhood and the reality of motherhood were very different for me ( a post for another time).
When my oldest turned 6 weeks old I pulled out my moby wrap for the first time. I was going to a picnic and I didn’t want everyone asking me to hold him, I figured if he was on my body they would get the clue not to ask…and it worked. As I wrapped him for the first time, I was scared the wrap was too loose and then I was scared that it was too tight. I asked my mom to help me and we figured it out and it was WONDERFUL! Having my baby on me and knowing he was safe did so much for my first time mom jitters.
I started baby wearing because it made sense. There were no Pinterest’s boards involved and I didn’t know what Instagram was and I hadn’t even begun my Montessori journey.
Fast forward 6 years. I don’t use my Moby wrap anymore, but I’ve been rocking my Lillebaby with my 2nd and 3rd children.
The question of “ Is baby wearing ‘Montessori’?” is a resounding YES from my point of view. Also I hope you know by now that there are no Montessori Police. Don’t let anyone try to shame you for not doing something the Montessori way. You have to live your life and you are not bound to the ideals of Montessori, unless you chose to be.
The primary concern I’ve heard against baby wearing in the Montessori community is that baby wearing doesn’t allow the child “freedom of movement” which is partly true. If a child is in a baby carrier they are not able to run, walk, roll over, scoot or other gross motor movements.
However a child in a baby carrier can use fine motor movements and still can swing and kick their legs. They also can reach for items, grab, pull and bring items to their mouth.
Their movements are different because they are moving with you and not independently, which may be more of a challenge for older babies or toddlers.
Baby wearing gives babies a different visual perspective. For babies with developed eyesight they are able to see the world from several feet up versus the floor.
Language Acquisition
If your baby is sitting or laying near you she may have heard our language and seen our lips moving. But during baby wearing she will also be able to feel your diaphragm moving, your lungs expanding and contracting and how the body moves when we speak.
“The child shares the mother’s life and is always listening. Mothers are often said to be talkative, but this also must be a help to the child’s development and to his work of adaptation...It is when he hears the full discourse of grown-up people, and can see their actions which make their meaning clear, that he grasps little by little even the construction of sentences”
Familiar Environment
A consistent safe environment is paramount for all children. Our body can be that safe, consistent place even when we go somewhere new. Some children may love to explore but others are more tentative, and baby wearing can provide peace in storage environs.
“In almost all countries, the baby accompanies his mother wherever she goes. Mother and child are inseparable. All the while they are out together, mother talks and baby listens.”
Respect your culture
Baby wearing is not a trendy phenomenon, it might be trending but not because it’s trendy. It’s practical, baby wearing keeps babies safe and allows for adults to do their essential work. You know I love a good children’s book and A Ride on Mother’s Back was equally informative to me as it was my children as we read about how parents baby wear around the world.
Photo credit Amazon
So if you needed it, I hope you took this as a license to Babywear with confidence. You can do it Mama!