Have you ever bought shoes in a store without trying them on? "My friend recommended these pumps to me, so they must be good.".
But what if it's the wrong size, or if you find it uncomfortable because your foot is a different shape than your girlfriend's? Sounds funny? It is, because nobody would buy shoes without trying them on, and not everyone fits the same shoe. Of course, you can buy and try them on online, but with the sheer number of options, you can quickly become overwhelmed, or you'll have to search for ages, plus you'll have to send the shoes back.
Why am I talking about buying shoes? Because buying a carrying device is just as individual a matter as buying shoes.
There's so much to consider when buying a baby carrier or sling. Not everyone will find the same carrier or sling length suitable. One person might find carrier X too tight, another might find sling Y too thick, and so on. There are also health aspects to consider, such as for premature babies or parents with back problems, and much more. If different people with varying clothing sizes also want to carry their babies, the sheer number of options and choices can quickly become overwhelming. Are you a sling person, or do you prefer a structured carrier? Which carrier do you prefer: half-buckle, Mei Tai, full-buckle, or onbuhimo? As you can see, it's not as simple as it seems.
A babywearing consultation provides you with comprehensive, personalized advice tailored to your needs. A trained professional from a babywearing school will impart both practical and theoretical knowledge about carrying babies and toddlers. This will ensure you know what to look out for to carry your baby comfortably and healthily. Most babywearing consultants are also experienced babywearing parents and share their personal experiences, which can be invaluable.
A personal, manufacturer-independent babywearing consultation will provide you with maximum knowledge about the correct way to carry a child and will show you, depending on your wishes, how to tie a baby sling or various suitable baby carriers, perfectly adapted to your body and your needs.
You can, of course, also go to a store that sells baby carriers and ask for advice on specific models in their range (Note: Please make sure that you are only advised by trained babywearing consultants. Some large chain stores have no such qualifications). While buying in a physical store can be convenient, you don't have as much time and you can't always get personalized advice.
That sounds good, doesn't it? Sometimes, though, the price of a consultation can be daunting. But with a babywearing consultation, you can save not only time and stress, but also money, as it can prevent many costly mistakes. Another advantage of a consultation is that many consultants offer home visits, so you don't have to leave your house during the postpartum period and/or with multiple children.
Whether you actually need a babywearing consultation is entirely up to you. A preliminary phone call can certainly answer many of your questions and dispel any doubts.