I am Yvonne de Jong, mother of a girl (2011) and a boy (2013). As long as I can remember, when I was still pregnant, I knew I wanted to carry my baby. Maybe it was mostly because we are adventurous hikers who like to go off the beaten track. The numerous advantages of babywearing regarding attachment and physical development, I could not imagine even then. I had an idea of the mental development advantages, though.
As a experienced babywearing parent, I have always found babywearing ideal and I really enjoy carrying my child so close to me – while keeping my freedom of movement.
But the road was long… It did not come easy. I remember struggles with the woven wrap, trying to follow wrong or incomplete instructions from manuals and videos.
With Draagadvies Amsterdam I want to give parents what I did not have; a time to carry your baby without worries and a shortcut to gain the skills you need in order to babywear safely and comfortable.
I did the basic course babywearing consultant in 2015, and the advanced course to babywearing consultant in 2016 at the Trageschule Nederland (which is now overtaken by Zorgdragen), which was linked to Trageschule Dresden.
Eventually, I learnt a lot of carries myself before I even started the consultant course. Now that I dont carry my own children anymore, I really like teaching parents the tips and tricks that belong to the skill of wrapping. I noticed that many parents are also keen on learning quick & easy ways to carry their baby in an ergonomic way, so I elaborated my skills and stash to give baby carrier consultations. Nowadays, the baby carrier cannot be left out of the work of a babywearing consultant.
I love it to find the best and most comfortable and versatile baby carriers that suit parent’s fit and need. A decade after I first started out, countless brands have developed baby carriers and the amount of possible adjustments is what we could only dream about when my kids were small. Thus, the challenges in babywearing are much different in this age; there is a lot of misinformation about babywearing and about the fit and use of carriers and wraps, which can travel fast via social media. It is my job to funnel to what is true and important in this subject. After all, we are dealing with babies, who are essentially physically different from adults and have their own needs and vulnerabilities.
Biography
I did a course in Forestry & Nature Management and I worked in the bicycle business for 14 years, mostly alongside having the babywearing business. At the moment I am following an education to become a pedicure. In my spare time I like to do sports; to hike or bike. Either alone, with friends, or with the kids who now walk faster than me.
I facilitated a local babywearing facebook-group for a while, but that has now stopped. But I am always open to spread the love for babywearing!