Hold Me Close

Is it just me, or is one of the top 5 reasons we have babies just so that we can wrap them up close to our chest and snuggle them, feel their light breath against our skin and the warmth of their little bodies, finally outside of our own? The newborn stage is of course exhausting in no shortage of ways, but also intoxicating! Bear is already 4 months old and I’m wanting to burst into tears every time I have to pack up a piece of his clothing or move up a diaper size - it’s all just going WAAAAAY too fast! It’s like a warp speed that only accelerates with each child you add to your family; which I suppose means he will literally be 17-years-old next week (insert all the cry face emojis!)

Snuggling Bear at 10 days old.

OK, but back to holding our precious babies close: enter babywearing. If you’re not familiar with the term babywearing, it is as simple as it sounds. Babywearing is literally wearing your baby close to your chest, something mamas all of the world have been doing for centuries.

The benefits to babywearing are plentiful, ranging from fostering a strong bond and connection between mama and babe (baby can hear your heartbeat as they are held close, the closeness stimulates natural oxytocin production and can even boost milk production), allows you to be hands-free with baby still alongside (probably my #1 reason for tossing babe in the wrap!), and it also provides the safest little nest for babe during this time of COVID by discouraging others from touching your precious new baby.

I’ve always loved that feeling of having baby close to my chest, and I’ll admit that I own a small army of various carriers from the bulkier ergobaby/Baby Bjorn carrier to ring slings and even other wrap-style carriers. But for the earlier months when babe is small and you want the closest connection you can, I’ve found the Beluga Baby carrier to be my go-to wrap.

Finding a wrap carrier with stretchy fabric that won’t loose it’s elasticity is key. We’ve all received the hand-me-downs that have stretched so many times they’re not willing to hold a baby even once more. I’ve loved the fact that the Beluga Baby carriers are telling me, “yeah sis, you could have 3 more babies, we got you”.

Also, this will probably only excite those of you who are fastidious organizers like me (raise your hand if you have to re-organize the dishwasher if someone else loads it?! Ok, that’s another blog post…), but I love that the tail end of the Beluga carrier has a little pocket so that you can fold it properly when you’re not wearing it. Again, unless properly folded things are our jam, this may not get you excited, but I was very appreciative of the proper folding situation!

Lastly, but not least, Beluga Baby makes matching baby/doll carriers for tiny humans which means if this is your second, or third (or fourth!!) baby, then older siblings can match mama and carry their own “baby” just like you which I LOVE. Hazy and I had a twinning moment one of the first times I wore Bear in my carrier and he was so proud! I felt like it was such a special moment on his big brother journey and was so so precious.

And as if we needed yet another reason to love and support this brand, then I’ll share that Beluga Baby is, of course, founded and run by an all-knowing local mama (they also make swaddles, and yes, we love those in house too).

Happy babywearing mamas! Let’s hold our little ones close. They are in fact only tiny for such a short moment.

xo.

Gretchen