Carrying children during pregnancy

Whether you have a babywearing enthusiast at home or just an occasional carrier, two lines on a pregnancy test are by no means an obstacle to babywearing retirement; on the contrary, babywearing can be very beneficial for all of you. Why wear your older child during pregnancy, and how can you do it comfortably?

Why wear an older child during another pregnancy

When we say babywearing, you can imagine carrying on your arms or wearing in a carrier or sling. Carrying a child in your arms will probably not be avoidable during pregnancy, because there will be times when they want cuddles or to be carried a little, especially if they are still small. You do not need to worry at all that it is a heavy burden or that you could hurt the baby in your belly. On the contrary, it is very natural; you just also need to think about yourself, and if your back starts hurting a lot or if you even start bleeding, then it is time for a change. A big advantage of wearing in a sling or carrier is having free hands, which all mothers appreciate. So why wear an older child?

• An older child won't feel pushed aside if you keep telling them that because of your belly you can't carry them; on the contrary, you could be setting yourself up for trouble with not accepting the younger sibling.
• Thanks to closer contact with you, the child is filled with love and reassured that you still love them and that everything does not revolve only around the growing belly (the baby in the belly is very perceptive).
• If the older child already walks but occasionally wants to be carried, then an onbuhimo (a carrier without a hip belt) is great for that, because it is compact and the child can quickly hop in and then out. Alternatively, a ring sling, with which you can also easily carry the child and do not need to learn complicated wraps for it.
• For example, carrying a child on your back can help with falling asleep if the mother can no longer manage long walks outside with a stroller (great fatigue, constant feeling of needing to go to the toilet) and the child can be moved from the sling or carrier into bed.
• It is great preparation for tandem carrying, when you have the older child on your back and the younger one on your belly, whether both in slings, both in carriers, or each in something different; babywearing can be done in many different ways.

How to carry an older child during pregnancy

Babywearing in the 1st trimester

As long as it is comfortable for the mother, it is possible to keep carrying on the mother's belly, whether in a sling or in a carrier; most women do it this way at the beginning, in the first trimester. However, some women no longer find it suitable from the start because of nausea, so they move the child onto their back or to their side.

Babywearing in the 2nd and 3rd trimester

In the second and third trimesters, a ring sling is more suitable, as it is better for shorter carrying and carrying a child a little, because it puts weight on only one shoulder. However, nothing prevents carrying on the belly either, if it is comfortable for the mother.

Alternatively, you can carry in a carrier on your back; the woman just needs to position the hip belt as high under the breasts as possible so it does not press on the growing belly. If the hip belt is a major obstacle, it is worth considering an onbuhimo carrier, which does not have a hip belt, but it puts more strain on the shoulders and is like carrying a heavier backpack. Onbuhimo is therefore more suitable for soothing a child to sleep or for carrying a little rather than for long-term carrying.

An alternative to carrying on the back is then carrying in a sling, because there are many wraps that do not go over the belly and therefore do not press anywhere - for example backpack carries, cross carry with an inside pocket on the back, or double hammock. On YouTube you can find lots of great tutorials on how to get a child onto your back and what each carry looks like.

If you do not feel up to carrying a child during pregnancy, listen to your intuition and take it easy instead. Discuss options with your older child about how you could do things differently so that you are both happy, and you will surely come up with some solutions. It can also change during pregnancy. For the first few months, you will manage to carry the older child every day, and gradually the frequency of carrying will change until maybe in the last month you will not carry at all, and it will arise naturally from the situation, without pressure on the child. Alternatively, you can involve dad, who will surely manage to carry much more than you as your belly grows.

We wish you pleasant babywearing and a beautiful bonding experience with the new baby.