My son Brice is an adorable, hilarious, happy 5-year old little boy. He loves to laugh and have fun—maybe even a little too much.
So most people are surprised to discover that this sweet, fun-loving little boy was once upon a time the most difficult baby in the universe. (OK, maybe that’s an exaggeration, but he was seriously tough!)
The diagnosis went from colic to acid reflux to simply “extremely sensitive.” The poor little guy cried all day, every day, no matter what was going on. He hated riding in the car. He hated his swing. He hated bright lights or noise of any kind. He hated everything. After about two months of this, I found myself crying almost as often as he did. I felt helpless—it’s devastating when your baby is obviously extremely uncomfortable and you can’t figure out what to do to help him.
While Brice continued to be a tough baby well past his first birthday, we did start to figure out things that could make his life a little easier. He got over-stimulated very easily, so we avoided large crowds and potentially loud situations when we could. He also found it soothing to be held—if I was holding him, he might fuss, but nothing like he would when he was in his crib or car seat. However, it’s pretty much impossible to hold a baby all day, especially when you have older children in the house. Who is going to do the laundry, or help with homework, or buy the groceries? When I expressed my frustration to our pediatrician, she recommended a pouch carrier. What she said made sense: “If he needs you, hold him. Find a carrier that allows you to keep your hands free and do things but also allows him to feel safe and loved.”
This was several years ago, before the big carrier boom, so I had only seen a couple of slings and didn’t know anyone who had one. I went online and did some research and found New Nativecarriers. I immediately placed an order for a basic black pouch and prayed that it would solve at least some of my problems. And thankfully, it did. I found that I actually loved baby-wearing—Brice was happy, I was happy … it was a very, very good thing.
We used our carrier at home, so I could get some things done around the house, and also while we were out running errands. (When he was small enough to tuck down in it, the pouch carrier worked wonders for Brice’s over-stimulation problem). It honestly, truly made my life about a zillion times easier, and it’s the first item I recommend to my friends who are expecting.
There are several great carrier companies on the market, but I still love New Native since they were the makers of that first pouch I bought back when things looked so bleak. Now, my little guy is zooming around the soccer field, learning to read, and smothering me with sticky hugs and giggles. My how things have changed!
Price: $42 and up
Buy it: newnativebaby.com
