Wondering if you can sew while babywearing? The answer is yes– with precautions taken. Let me share with you my story of how I became a daily babywearing/sewing mama, as well as some practical tips to make it easier!
When my first daughter was born I started an Etsy shop as a way to have a creative outlet. I sold products that I designed and sewed myself.
My newborn baby was not content unless I was holding her, but there isn’t really a great way to sew with only one hand.. (Believe me I tried!) Babywearing while I sewed became a daily occurrence for me.
It is totally possible to babywear while sewing. But there are several things you need to consider to ensure the safety of your baby while you do it.
Lets dive into the practical tips you need to know to sew and babywear, at the same time!
Please keep in mind that these are tips from one mom to another, I am not a safety expert of any kind! (refer to my disclaimer for more details)
This post may contain affiliate links. Read the full disclosure here.
Considerations For Babywearing While Sewing:
1. Keep Sharp Objects Away From Baby
This goes without being said, that sharp objects should never be near a baby!
While sewing, you frequently switch between using shears, pins, needles, as well as pointed seam rippers. These objects are dangerous and could hurt your baby, and you should keep them away from the baby’s face.
This is especially true when you are seam ripping because of the occasional quick jerky cuts the seam ripped can make.
Wearing your baby on your back will ensure these sharp objects are not near your infant!
You can turn your chair sideways to sit while wearing your baby on your back.
2. Wrap Tails Can Get In The Way
The long tail ends of your wrap, carrier, or sling have the potential to get in the way while you sew. Heaven forbid one of them gets caught in your sewing machine while you sew, or even accidentally cut with scissors!
Keep loose ends tucked or tied away from the sewing machine and scissors. Sometimes I use one of my homemade hair scrunchies to help tie the two ends of my wrap together around my hip or back if they are too short to tie in a knot. Otherwise, I tuck them into the wrap job.
3. Leaning Forward While Babywearing
Leaning too close to your machine is bad sewing posture, but I confess, I sometimes do it! While you are babywearing you need to be extra cautious about bonking your baby’s head on the table, so try to avoid leaning in to see the stitched better.
Of course, the solution to this problem is once again to wear your baby on your back! Backwrapping will make reaching and seeing your work much easier, anyways.
4. Consider the noise of the sewing machine.
Sometimes while my baby is asleep on my back and I start to sew, it wakes him. This especially happens when I use my serger.
I have found that if I ease into starting to sew slowly then it doesn’t bother my sleeping baby, but if I just suddenly whip out huge fast and loud serged seam out of nowhere, my baby will wake.
Most of my babies have really liked the white noise of the sewing machine though, and they fall asleep quite peacefully as I work.
5. Think About The Steam Iron
When sewing you might frequently reach for the iron to press or steam your work. The steam can easily get to the baby’s face if worn on the front. You need to also keep in mind that the baby’s feet are right in your ironing path, dangling down.
I personally choose not to use steam while babywearing on the front at all, and prefer to not iron at all unless the baby is on my back. Any unexpected wiggles can bump the iron and be a danger.
Conclusion
Just like you need to take special precautions when you babywear and cook, you need to take care when you babywear and sew. There are sharp objects, noises, and hot irons that can injure or bother your baby.
Babywearing on your back is the easiest way to sew while keeping your baby safely out of the way. You still get to snuggle them to sleep while getting some work done!
Babywearing has transform my capabilities as a mother, allowing me to sew for clients and for my shops, and mend my family’s clothing whenever I need to. In fact I am typing this as I wear my sleeping baby!
Always be mindful and keep your baby’s safety first. Set aside projects for later if you need to.
I hope these tips were helpful to you, stay safe and have fun sewing!
If you’re a babywearing, sewing mom like me, I bet you will love these DIY Baby Carrier Tutorials:
