 | As an expectant first-time mother, I was a little anxious about what it meant to be a parent and to be fully responsible for the care and comfort of a newborn. I had read that carrying your baby in a sling helped promote bonding and reduce crying and fussiness. So I bought a sling thinking it would be a practical thing to have around, another gadget to add to my growing arsenal of baby gear. After Zach was born, my husband and I really enjoyed wearing him throughout the day and evening, and found that Zach, too, preferred the sling to to his oversized stroller. It didn’t take long for us to realize the wonderful benefits and simplicity of babywearing. Wearing Zach made it easy for us to carry on with our daily activities and respond to his needs at the same time. We knew right away when he was excited, scared, bored, tired or hungry. Babywearing also helped me gain confidence as a mother and gave me a deeper understanding of my baby’s innate need to be held, nurtured and comforted. Meanwhile, my sling collection started to grow ... and grow and grow. Before I knew it, I had a different carrier for every activity. Everywhere we went people would comment on how happy Zach looked in his sling and ask where they could get one. I gladly gave intrigued mothers impromptu demos in stores, parking lots and parks, and encouraged them to check out babywearing resources online. I realized then that there were few places locally for parents to shop for carriers, or more importantly, try them on and learn how to use them. So, Backpack Baby was born. Now, I spend much of my free time helping others discover the wonderful world of babywearing. And I'm having a lot of fun doing it! ~Karen |