Baby Wearing 101 with Bay & Bee

Babywearing is big these days. From the moms I see at the grocery store, to celebrities toting around their little ones, it seems like everyone loves wearing their babies. Recently I sat down with Monica, Co-Founder of Bay & Bee, to ask her a few questions about babywearing and what Bay & Bee has to offer Jacksonville parents.

Bay & Bee just turned 2, you’ve gone through some great changes and growth. One of the big things I notice is that babywearing gear has become a focal point in the shop.

Monica: The last 2 years have gone by so quickly. When we opened, I didn’t expect us to expand and have a retail area. The Jacksonville babywearing community has certainly had a big influence on us, which is reflected in our shop and classes; from getting certified as babywearing educators to offering educational and fun babywearing classes.

I’ve seen people using all kinds of carriers, how do you choose which one is the right one?

Monica: There are 3 things you should think about when choosing a carrier.
1. Does the carrier support your child’s back, so the child is well supported and in a natural position?
2. Does the carrier support the legs in the spread-squat position. The spread-squat position is where their legs are supported knee to knee, and the knees are higher than the child’s bum.
3. Does the carrier distribute the chid’s weight evenly across your body?

Is there a best carrier, or one that your recommend?

Monica: We get that question a lot, and the answer is no. There is a different carrier for every body. Bodies of caregivers and children come in so many shapes, sizes, that no baby carrier is going to be able to fit everyone the same way. Which is why being able to try on a variety of carriers is the best way to figure out what is right for you. In February, Bay & Bee hosted the Center of Babywearing Studies and our staffed gained confidence in how to teach people to use different carriers including ring slings and woven wraps.

What kind of carriers do you have in store?

Monica: We carry a wide variety of types of carriers that are great for newborn to toddlers, and different levels of activity. Currently, we carry Tula, Beco, Boba, Lillebaby, Wrapsody, Sakura Bloom, Chimparoo, Cassiope Wovens and Tekhni.
Our available inventory is always updated online. We encourage caregivers to come in and try on any types of carriers; we are happy to help find the right one for you.

That sounds great, I love the variety and being able to try them on. Can you tell me a little bit about the kind of classes do you offer?

Monica: We host a free monthly 2-hour meeting for First Coast Babywearing. This is led by the First Coast Babywearing admin team, where they bring the Lending Library. We also offer a babywearing basics class and a baby wearing classes for specific carriers monthly. These classes are lead by Bay & Bee staff, they are included in playspace membership or a $12 drop in.

We have some fun babywearing classes, that’ll get you moving with your little one as well. Every other Friday we have a Babywearing Workout lead by Bikini Bootcamp instructor Miwa Fiore. Miwa is a certified personal instructor and baby wearer. She developed this course while modifying her workout while wearing her son. We will also be introducing Babywearing Dance lead by Melissa Loreen McGill Cooper. Melissa is a trained dancer and babywearing educator. You can visit our calendar of events to see what class we have coming up.

So why do you think babywearing is so popular?

Monica: I asked some people in the babywearing group why they baby wear. Their responses ranged from “because if I don’t it becomes complete chaos and I’m a very bad stroller driver” to “because I can kiss and hug my baby all day long.” Babywearing gives caregivers the freedom to get things done while still maintaining closeness with their babies. It really is no surprise so many parents and caregivers embrace babywearing.