Ukraine Resident Wins International Award for Babywearing Advocacy

MARIUPOL, UKRAINE – Natalia Shpak of Mariupol, Ukraine, is the winner of the Jennifer Rosenberg Babywearing Advocate of the Year Award from the nonprofit organization Babywearing International, Inc., as part of its International Babywearing Week 2009 awards program.

The term “babywearing” means carrying a baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier. Babywearing allows parents to have both hands free while carrying their children, and research indicates that this practice has numerous benefits for children.

A study published in the journal Pediatrics in 1986 found that 6-week-old babies carried at least three hours a day in a soft carrier cried and fussed 43 percent less than others overall, and 51 percent less in the evening hours. Another study, published in the journal Child Development in 1990, found that mothers who were given cloth carriers at birth were more responsive to their babies and had babies who were more securely attached than mothers who received plastic infant seats.

“International Babywearing Week is a wonderful time to recognize the advocates who are helping parents learn about and become successful at babywearing,” explained Susie Spence, president of Babywearing International, Inc., the nonprofit organization that coordinates the event.

Mrs. Shpak organized a public breastfeeding support group in her community and actively promotes babywearing through that group as well as in parenting classes she teaches in a hospital. Also, she and her husband founded a website to promote babywearing. She also provides babywearing help to members of her community by telephone consultation and participation in online discussion forums.

Mrs. Shpak organized local celebrations of International Babywearing Week in her community, including competitions, a photo-exhibition, a babywearing workshop, and a babywearing “quiz.”

International Babywearing Week 2009 was celebrated by nonprofit groups around the world. “We had Official Celebrating Organizations in fifteen countries around the world,” Spence said. The groups hosted babywearing workshops, photography exhibits, walks, picnics, and other events to raise awareness about babywearing and help parents and caregivers learn babywearing as a skill.

International Babywearing Week is supported by funding from presenting sponsor ERGObaby Inc., and general sponsors Moby Wrap, Inc., and DIDYMOS Erika Hoffmann GmbH.