Carry That Weight

Carrying your baby in a sling at first feels about as natural, and safe, as holding a vase on your head while walking a tightrope over the Grand Canyon. Add to that the fact that it leaves your back and shoulder in a knot, and you have something other than parental bliss on your hands. But working out the kinks of “baby wearing” is worth it on a few levels. For one, it takes pressure off in terms of entertaining baby, who, it turns out, finds household chores done by mom or dad mesmerizing. Second, you derive the physical warmth and security of contact with baby, as does the wee one herself. Third, if you do it enough, you will see baby fall asleep in the midst of your chores.

When baby did just that while her mom was at a community meeting this evening, it was just the second time for me. Baby  had been following my movements as I unpacked from the big trip and moved the laundry around in the basement, turning her head from side to side according to what was most interesting in each room we entered. Before long, she was making the sounds she makes to try to keep herself from falling asleep, hating as she does to miss anything that might happen while she’s napping. Shortly after that, I walked into her nursery and noticed that her head didn’t turn to look at what was worth seeing. After holding her against my chest on the couch in my office to produce the deep sleep of a good nap, I lowered baby into her bassinet for a quick snooze. It had been a warm and productive evening.