Davao Moms Promote Babywearing

Davao City (PNA) — Mothers of different walks of life bond together to promote “babywearing” on Thursday.

Karen May Padawag of Babywearing Philippines Davao said there is more to it than just about carrying a child in a carrier. “It promotes bonding and builds confidence in new parents,” she said.

Padawag said babywearing is celebrated worldwide during the month of October. She said the first event in Davao was joined by new parents wanting to know more about the benefits of babywearing.

According to her, there is joy of keeping babies close with the proper way of babywearing. She said that they wanted to continue with this advocacy in order to raise awareness on the benefit of babywearing.

Babywearing is common practice among indigenous peoples and recently it is gaining popularity in the mainstream.

Padawag said just like breastfeeding that is widely known for its benefits, babywearing has many health, emotional and psychological rewards both for the parents and baby. She said parents may know about the advantages of babywearing but many are not aware of the proper and safe way to do it.

Cris Alqueza, Babywearing Philippines Representative for Davao said it is amazing to see a mother or a father who can still get things done and care for their child at the same time.

With the trend of babywearing, carriers are available in the market but Alqueza reminded parents to use only safe tested products or are ergonomic for them and their babies.

She said, “This is where we come in as a support group. We educate them on the proper way of babywearing and encourage them to use only those that are safety-tested carriers.”

Babywearing Philippines (BWP) is a non-profit group with more than 20,000 members in Facebook to support families and caregivers to practice safe, comfortable and responsible babywearing. (PNA) RMA/LCM/DIGNA D. BANZON/LDP