Baby-wearing expert teaches parents

There are more ways than ever to carry an infant. Companies have found solutions for parents via baby carriers that mimic the sensation of being carried and allow for making eye contact with mom or dad while they use their hands for other tasks.

According to the Baby Carrier Industry Alliance, a nonprofit trade organization that represents manufacturers, educators and retailers, wearing a baby keeps the child in “the safest place possible,” especially during the first four months after birth. They can be convenient, but the organization reminds new parents that constant vigilance is required to make sure little ones don’t suffocate while being carried.

With so many different types of carriers and multiple ways in which baby can be positioned using each one, it’s only natural for some parents to feel a sense of trepidation when selecting the right product. Even after making a purchase, questions can come up regarding the right way to place baby inside the carrier or how to adjust it for a customized fit. Websites and YouTube instructional videos can go only so far — some people simply need one-on-one instruction.

That’s where certified baby-wearing expert Kellen Garcia comes in. She is an active participant in Babywearing International of Oahu, a local organization that offers free workshops and tips for new parents in a group setting at monthly meetings. Garcia learned that the group had partnered with New York’s Center for Babywearing Studies to offer national certification. After attending a four-day intensive class in January, getting her CPR certification and obtaining the proper insurance coverage, she became one of just two Hawaii residents recognized as a baby-wearing expert.

“They’re all used differently, and nobody is inherently born with the ability to know how to use (a carrier),” said Garcia, 29. “It’s nice to have in-person help. And what’s great about a consultation, especially during those first few weeks of life, you don’t have to leave home.”

Garcia’s interest in baby-wearing was motivated by her desire to continue walking the beach in her Kailua neighborhood after giving birth to her first son.

“For my first child I just loved the closeness that it brought. It also let me read his cues faster. If he was hungry, he was right there. If he was lonely or whatever … (the carrier) worked really well as a soother and let me still do all the other things I needed to do, like eat or do dishes or do laundry.

“While they’re being worn, they’re working on their neck muscles, they’re working on trunk control, their balance, it helps with digestion. And it helps with bonding.”

Garcia, who owns approximately 20 baby carriers, offers a variety of services through her company, Closely Carried. Along with individual consultations at $60 per hour, group classes are also available for about $15 to $20 per session. She provides basic introductory “Babywearing 101” classes and a “fit check” service to make sure carriers are being worn correctly, but can also cover advanced wrapping and back-carrying techniques, how to properly use a ring sling carrier and specialized techniques for preemies, twins and other situations.