As moms, there are so many universal experiences we share. Sleepless nights. Messy diapers. Countless feedings. The list goes on (and on) (and on). But there are certain aspects that are unique to where we are raising our babies—and in the case of this post, we’re talking bustling metropolis.
City moms don’t typically have a minivan with a covetable amount of cargo space to fit a stroller and groceries…and probably small pony, if we’re being honest. There aren’t superstores with wide aisles or reliably working elevators at every turn. (Okay, fine. We can see why suburbanites live where they do!)
Instead, urban moms are navigating public transit, bumpy sidewalks, and crowded, well, everything.
So, how are they doing it—bringing up a baby in a city and somehow looking effortlessly cool while doing it? Allow us to let you in on their best hack: babywearing.
Sure, moms around the world rely on babywearing to keep their hands free while they prep a meal, tackle the laundry, chase after their toddler, or make naptime happen on the go. But as a city mom, babywearing takes on a whole new level of practical—nay, essential. Here’s why:
1. You can wear your baby anywhere.
Steps? Escalator? Subway? Comically small elevator? Not a problem for the babywearing mom. No need to fold the stroller and juggle it plus baby while huffing up two flights of stairs. No need to stand at the bottom of them, either, trying to make contact with someone—anyone—who might be willing to grab the front while you take the back and awkwardly traverse the steps together. Oh, and you can slide into that rush hour subway car just as you typically would. Same with the small elevator, although we typically avoid those because doesn’t everyone?
Know where else you can babywear? The corner store. Your favorite boutique. Your neighborhood coffee shop. There is no “hold the door with your bum while carefully pulling the stroller through as if you’re playing a game of Operation” song-and-dance to master. There is no risk of knocking over that display of prohibitively expensive perfumes. And there is no apologizing for taking up so much space while you wait in line with your oversized load.
(Although, to be clear, there is no need to ever apologize for taking up space. You and your baby—and your stroller, if you so choose—very much have a right to be here and take up all the space.)
2. It’s the smoothest ride.
If you’ve ever pushed a stroller over a neighborhood sidewalk with a wobbly newborn tucked inside, you know how jostly every crack and curb and acorn can be. Add in beautiful-yet-wildly-impractical cobblestone or a construction zone, and you’ll be tempted to abandon your stroller right then and there. (I, in fact, did this once in Lisbon.) While you could argue for a stroller with better shocks (some are excellent!), you often sacrifice a lightweight and compact design in turn, which becomes a problem with those aforementioned subway stairs.
The ideal alternative, in our opinion, of course, is babywearing. Secured close to your chest, baby moves with you as you expertly negotiate uneven terrain and inevitable detours. They’re none the wiser as you dodge puddles and step into the street briefly to go around the crowd gathered around the troubadour. For baby, the ride is smooth sailing—so much so, the motion is likely to lull them to sleep. Have we mentioned how dreamy babywearing is for naps on the go?
3. It brings calm to the chaos—for you and baby.
The truth is: The hustle and bustle and people and sensory buffet that make a city so vibrant are also the things that can stress a new mom and baby out.
Horns honking. Restaurants (and the occasional sewer) wafting. Dark tunnels. Bright lights. Wind blowing. It’s a lot of unfamiliar input for a freshly arrived human to take in. But wrapped up close to mama, they can feel and hear her familiar heartbeat, be comforted by her signature scent (a custom blend of breastmilk and sweat most days, no?), and even glance up to meet her adoring eyes. In the midst of the madness, they’re safe and snug and right at home with their person. Another reason those out-and-about naps tend to happen so effortlessly.
As for you, your baby is in kissing distance, so you can easily talk them through what you’re up to and quickly comfort them with your melodic voice. And since they’re right there, you’ve always got eyes on them, making it so easy to continuously check in and respond. (That can be trickier to do when baby is in a stroller, especially if they’re facing forward or the sun shade is down.)
Wearing your baby keeps them up at your level, which is well above what my mom used to call “cigarette level,” referring to the height at which most little ones sit while riding in a stroller—oy. Thankfully, smoking isn’t as common as it was back then! Nonetheless, having baby closer to you keeps them out of the reach of strangers—in most cases very sweet and well-meaning grandmothers who are desperate to pinch baby’s perfect cheeks despite it being the height of cold and flu season. Babywearing conveys the unspoken message of “hands-off, please,” which is a handy (and, in fact, hands-free) way to get the word out when you’re surrounded by folks at every crosswalk, bus stop and newsstand.
RELATED: The (Many!) Benefits of Babywearing
4. It fits seamlessly into your style.
City moms are notorious for their cool mom vibes and they have a knack for making even things like babywearing look chic. By choosing a baby wrap in a neutral hue or beautiful print that complements their outfit, the wrap becomes more like an accessory than a piece of baby gear—like a scarf or a handbag to complete the look. And as baby grows and they’re ready to switch to a more supportive buckle carrier, a sleek baby carrier made with premium fabrics and a slim profile invites the city mom to continue wearing baby comfortably while still feeling like herself, just with an irresistibly cute baby in tow.
