The Cultural History Of Baby Carriers
There are different cultures around the world that patronizes the practice of carrying babies in one's arms. In the Western world, this art has been remodeled and given a new face. However, hundreds of years ago, basic and simple carriers or devices were made to enable foraging nomadic mothers to carry their babies with them and also carry food alongside.
One of the influential factors pertaining to baby carriers and its types is the climate because it helps in deciding the baby's position, the fabric's thickness, etc. In places with very hot climates, the baby needs to be fed at least once every hour in order to prevent dehydration arising from heat and diarrhea, which is a primary cause of death in case of babies.
In places having colder climates, the babies do not have to be fed very often because they can retain fluid for longer. Thus, the babies can be placed in cribs instead of mothers having to carry them close to themselves to facilitate feeding.
Until the Middle Ages, swaddling was practiced in Europe. It was first carried out by the Romans, Greeks and Jews. This practice also prevails in case of countries following Japanese, Eastern Europe and indigenous American cultures. In Germany and France this practice was noticed till the nineteenth century while the practice stopped in America and England after the eighteenth century.
After swaddling the babies, they were tied to the front of wooden boards and hung on a high position to be left like that for hours. Women from America and Sweden followed this practice while they were working, they would use trees for hanging their babies. This way they can focus on their work, besides the thought of carrying a baby while one was working is simply tiresome and troublesome.
European history – current one
In Europe, especially Germany people love to use long woven wraps. These wraps are generally used till the time the baby reaches six months of age. Many maternity hospitals in Europe also present these long woven wraps to mothers. Strollers and wraparounds are also utilised here.
The idea of carrying a baby sans carriers, i.e. with one's arms is considered to be something that is meant for poor people or people with low economic and social status. Hence the Westernized culture of using carriers like swings, seats and baby strollers are followed more. However, there have been attempts to revive the traditional cultures of carrying babies. Hopefully this process would become more popular in order to benefit different cultures and the babies.
Culture in Guatemala and Mexico
A lot of cultures patronize the use of short wraparound slings. Barabara Wishingrad started a Robozo way project to promote Gautemalan or Mexican Rebozo which is nothing but a shawl. These shawls are used for protection against the sun's harmful rays. They can be used during the process of childbirth in order to convenient support the mother while she assumes different positions. It can also be used by pregnant ladies or expecting mothers in order to reposition their babies while still in their wombs.
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