It is nearly 4am and I am currently wearing my 3 year old in our new LILLEbaby Toddler Carrier, walking around our quiet, moonlit room as he slowly drifts off back to sleep.
My sweet boy (with a speech delay) woke up at 3am and was fussy and really wanted something but I didn’t know what it was. I kept trying to hold him and have him lay back down with me, but he was insistent and very upset. He kept pointing out my open bedroom door and I thought he was pointing towards his brother’s room or the living room thinking he wanted to go play. I kept telling him “no, it’s not time to play, your brother is sleeping and it is night time, so we have to go back to sleep.” He was getting more and more upset and I knew I just wasn’t understanding what he wanted. I asked if he was thirsty or hungry, but he just shook his head no and continued pointing and fussing. He would reach over my shoulder to tap my back and point again and again… until I finally realized that he was pointing at my Lillebaby Complete Carrier that was hanging in my living room doorway! I had just washed it earlier in the day and had hung it to dry because I am gifting it to my son’s old nanny who is a new mom. I finally figured out what he was trying to tell me for the past 20 minutes!
As soon as I realized this, I said “Do you want uppies? you want to get in the carrier on my back?” He smiled, nodded yes and sighed in relief… my poor boy was trying to tell me he wanted to be held in his carrier.
Now this is new to us because from the time he was 9 months old, I was halfway through my second pregnancy and was not baby wearing him at this point. I hadn’t really gotten the hang of baby wearing back then and really only used a carrier while we were out and about and once the baby came, I would mostly wear him, not my oldest son. Now, within the past year, I have stepped up my baby wearing game after getting some fit check help from the Lillebaby Love community on Facebook. But now my boys are 3 and 1.5 and my youngest is not a fan of being worn… (or holding hands or being held, because apparently he is a big independent boy!) 😂
However, my 3 year old is very sensitive, affectionate and needs constant reassurance and comfort. He is especially clingy to me, and always wants to be held. He does enjoy being carried, but since he is so tall, I needed to get him a larger carrier meant for toddlers, for Lillebaby, this means a Carryon Toddler Carrier. So when a 40% off Amazon Deal of the Day happened, I took the plunge and bought a Carryon Airflow Toddler Carrier. When it arrived the other day, I put my son up on my back that first night to get it adjusted and try it out, it was perfect! Little did I know just HOW perfect it was for us and what an impact it would make on my son.
As I got out our new carrier to strap him in, he was instantly happy, relaxed and relieved… and so was I. ❤️ I knew this toddler carrier may help me hold him more hands free, but I didn’t realize how much comfort and security it gave him being in it. For a child who is Speech Delayed with possible ASD, I realize that being held in a carrier like this must give them the same type of comfort as a weighted blanket or how a tight embrace can help calm them. What a great way to be able to bring them this comfort while building our bond and staying hands free! The joys of toddler wearing!
This is such a great start to our toddler wearing days and if wearing my son brings him comfort and joy, I am definitely not stopping anytime soon. As we go through his special needs journey, with a possible ASD diagnosis and while starting developmental preschool, I am comforted knowing that we have this option that can help ease any anxiety and being him comfort on his worst days.
My sweet boy, mommy loves you. Thank you for showing me what you needed to make you feel comfortable. Sweet Dreams my Son.
Flying by the Seat of My Mom Jeans 