Sunday, October 3, 2010

A Beautiful Thing

We love the closeness.
We love the freedom.
We love the comfort. 
And I know my boys love that I can still take care of them, play with them, walk with them, while keeping their sister snuggly warm, safe, happy, and content right next to me. 

I still use that sling with Grace.  She sits in the sling, resting her head on my chest when she gets tired.  She looks around at the world.  I see what she sees.  She can feel my heartbeat.  She knows she is safe with her mama.  And all is right in the world.

I don't know what I would do without that sling.  And now the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) is going after all slings, pouches, mei tais, and the like.  It makes me so sad.  And as much as I feel for the parents who experienced such tragedy I know that slings are safe, healthy, wonderful additions to parenting if used correctly. 

Stephanie at Adventures in Babywearing is asking for a call to action.  Post your stories and pictures about babywearing.  Show your support. 

24 comments:

Stephanie Wilson she/her @babysteph said...

Chills all over.

Thank you so much for joining hands with me in this! It means so much.

Steph

Mom24 said...

It is absolutely a beautiful thing. I admire the CPSC for trying to keep children safe, but sometimes they go way overboard and this definitely seems like one of those times.

Unknown said...

Love the pics! I have a maya wrap that I purchased when I was pregnant with my little man but have only used it several times because it's slightly confusing:/

Kat said...

Kayla- I get way confused by those wraps too. That is why I just got the pouch sling. So much easier. And I can't believe how comfortable it is. So awesome. :)

Anonymous said...

I love slings, when my oldest was born my husband requested one for "tall people", he wore all of our kids and when our baby was born our 2 year old still loved the sling so what did my husband do? He went and bought ANOTHER sling and would wear both at once.

Rima said...

A ban on slings? I mean, haven't babies been carried around in slings since time immemorial? It makes me sad, too. I think our culture has gone a little berserk.

Karen MEG said...

She looks so snug in there - it is too bad when authorities are so overreaching. There have been millions of babies who've enjoyed them, and of course, if worn properly there shouldn't be an issue.
I wish I could have figured these out when my baby was a baby. I miss that period of snuggling.

Kat said...

Rima- EXACTLY!!!!! Other cultures and countries have been doing this for centuries. Since the beginning of time, really. Ca-razy!!!!

tracey.becker1@gmail.com said...

Wait, what? Banning them as in, ALL of them?

Off to check this out...

designHER Momma said...

How can we not act? Right? Babywearing is so important to me. And like so many things, there is a learning curve. Which means, it's possible to do it wrong. But, with a little education, it's an amazing art!

dawn klinge said...

Banning slings!? That's crazy! I loved mine.

Lisa @ Crazy Adventures in Parenting said...

Oh gosh, I love this post. I love her sweet face! I also love your "cheering section" on the side, we're huge football fans, too!

Riahli said...

Ack!!! I've used a sling with all my kids...I'll have to look and see if I can find some pictures and post about it too, wish there was more we could do.

sitting on the mood swing at the playground said...

I had no idea...I'm off to check it out.

Anonymous said...

So much of this is common sense--if the baby doesn't feel "stable" in a sling--put the baby in a better one!!! I know so many moms (and dads) who love the slings/snuggies.

Kat said...

Green Girl- Exactly. I feel like so much of the CPSC is trying to protect people from themselves. Same thing with taking cold medicine off the selves because people overdosed their kids. Follow directions!!!! Read the ingrediants!
Same with the slings. Follow instructions! Make sure they can breath! Look down at them often, they are right there!
Sad.

Karen Deborah said...

I am so sick of the government thinking that we need them to control every decision we make. Another freedom under attack. You know it's amazing that the American people are not totally furious over this attitude that comes down every day from all kinds of agencies. It seems our government thinks we have no minds cannot read and are unable to make "safe" decisions. We the people are not we the idiots.

Tonya said...

I will have to put a post together as well. I need to find a few pictures first!

Lindsay said...

It's really sad to see all the toy/crib/whatever recalls they have going on these days. I mean really, can't anyone take responsibility for THEMSELVES these days? It all goes back to that darn McD's case of spilling the (yes, HOT) coffee on the pants. Um yeah...you ordered coffee....and coffee is hot. Who wears their baby and doesn't look down more than 10x/minute anyway? Do bad things and accidents happen? Of course. But one person should ruin it for the rest of civilization.

Ok. I'm off my box. ;-)

Kat said...

Linday- Yep. Exactly. I couldn't agree more!

natalie said...

Love it! I absolutely love my mei tais, podaegis, ring slings, and stretchy wraps and it breaks my heart that we might loose access to good carriers!

Krystyn @ Really, Are You Serious? said...

So cute and snuggly. I can't believe they are going after them! They should see the ones we have in comparison with what they use in other countries.

Grrrr.....now we are going to have to buy slings and wraps on the black market?

Unknown said...

Aw, I love that you posted these pics and linked to Steph. Look at sweet little Gracie!! :)

I hope this does not deter people from wearing their babies. It's such a wonderful thing!!

lime said...

these sorts of devices have been used since the dawn of human history. kinda crazy reaction.

Words To Live By

Be grateful for each new day.
A new day that you have never lived before.
Twenty-four new, fresh, unexplored hours to use usefully and profitably.
We can squander, neglect, or use them.
Life will be richer or poorer by the way we use today.
Finish every day and be done with it.
You have done what you could;
some blunders and absurdities crept in;
forget them as soon as you can.
Tomorrow is a new day.
You shall begin it well and serenely and with too high a spirit to be
encumbered with your old nonsense.

-Ralph Waldo Emerson