Carrier strike and carrier refusals

At the same time, other unusual difficulties may appear:

• With breastfeeding.
• With calming down.
• With being put to sleep.

In a carrier, this may look like:

• Straightening the legs.
• Pushing with the hands.
• Banging the head.
• Arching the back backward, etc.

This is exactly the age when many mothers stop breastfeeding and many parents stop carrying their babies in a carrier.

Because “the baby doesn’t want to” or “the baby doesn’t like it.”

This phenomenon is also well known among lactation consultants as “breast refusal” or a “nursing strike.”

However, it is possible to work through some of these behaviors and get through this period successfully — without stopping babywearing (or breastfeeding).

This usually happens at an age when babies begin developing new cognitive abilities and much more curiosity, along with new opportunities to discover the world around them.

However, at this age, a curious baby still cannot calm themselves down independently, and they have a long way to go before they learn to transition from a state of intensive learning to a state of relaxation and sleep.

They also don’t yet know how to recognize when it’s time to rest.

Often, it may seem as though the baby has become fussy, wants to see more and more things, complains and then immediately smiles, constantly turns around when being held, seems restless, wants to face outward, pushes against the parent, etc.

Sound familiar?

First of all, calm down! This will pass.

As we mentioned earlier, our little ones are only beginning to learn how to calm themselves down, and we are beginning to learn how to recognize when they are tired but aren’t showing it.

This allows us to help them transition smoothly from one state to another (without them even noticing that we’re putting them to sleep, yes, really).

• Calm down and take a deep breath. Nothing helps a baby calm down more than a calm parent breathing together with them.
• Catch the moment before it happens. Don’t wait for crying or for the baby to start fussing. Instead, notice signs of tiredness (dissatisfaction, touching the eyes, banging the legs and arms, etc.) a little earlier.
• Help release tension when putting the baby into the carrier: immediately massage the legs and shoulders using deep, noticeable touch, talk, and sing.
• Calm the baby in the carrier: speak quietly, play white noise, enter a dark room. Once the baby has calmed down a little, you can breastfeed in the carrier or offer a pacifier/bottle, depending on how the baby is fed.
• Don’t fight to achieve the correct position in the carrier. Let the baby calm down in whatever position they are in, and only then correct the position.
• Calm the baby in your arms for a few minutes before putting them into the carrier. Talk to them, enter a dimly lit room, play white noise, and only then put them into the carrier.
• Increase the baby’s field of vision in the carrier (fold down the upper part of the panel, free the arms, move the baby to a hip or back carry).
• Go outside for a walk.
• There is also the option of preventing the baby from moving around too much by tightening the carrier so that they cannot move around wildly inside it. This is possible with most tie-on carriers or structured carriers that are larger than the baby’s measurements.

Strong head banging against the mother’s chest = “Mom, I want to breastfeed!”

(This also happens with babies who have never been breastfed.)

Yes, even if the baby ate five minutes ago.

The smell of milk right under their nose encourages the desire to suckle.

It’s just like going to a restaurant and being served your absolute favorite dish, beautifully presented and smelling wonderful, but not being allowed to eat it.

So yes, breastfeed. Why be stingy?

Or offer a bottle / pacifier / finger if you’re not breastfeeding.

Or hand the baby over to Dad. He doesn’t smell like milk.

Straightening the legs = “I’ve built up tension in my legs, help me relax.”

Young babies have very few ways to deal with accumulated tension.

This is where they need our help.

Through a parent’s hands, gentle massage touches, and patting.

When the baby straightens their legs, it’s important to gradually get them used to the correct position.

At this stage, you don’t have to insist on the correct leg position until the baby has calmed down.

Once the tension is released, the baby will be able to relax, and then you can place the legs in the correct position and adjust the carry.

Pushing with the hands = “I have tension in my shoulders and neck.”

A gentle massage around the neck and shoulders really helps.

Check that there is no fabric restricting head movement.

Arching the back backward = “Don’t restrict my upper body! Help me relax.”

In this case, it’s worth freeing the upper part of the body a little from the carrier (for example, by shortening the carrier panel).

Make sure the head is not fixed in place and that nothing is putting pressure on it.

Bouncing upward = “I want a wider field of vision.”

Make sure the head is not covered by fabric and that the baby is not hanging by the back of their head.

For babies over four months old, the arms can be freed when carrying in a front carry.

Or you can switch to a hip or back carry.