Funding returned to the Utah Women, Infant and Child Program on Oct. 4, allowing the Utah County sector of WIC to start a new class.
Beginning Oct. 23, the Utah County sector of WIC will offer a Baby Wearing class teaching new parents how to properly use carriers and wraps to hold their infants.
"It's a safety issue," said Amanda Otterley of Utah County WIC services. "There have been some issues with some of the slings where babies have had issues with breathing and blocking off their air supply; there have been a few reported deaths. So if you learn how to wear your baby properly, then you're going to avoid those issues."
The class not only benefits infants, but parents as well.
"The classes give parents alternative ways of caring for their children," said Otterly. "It helps with parent-child bonding. So I think it gives parents more confident in their abilities to be a parent."
The Baby Wearing class will be held at the Provo Health and Justice building every month. For more information about the class, visit http://www.health.utah.gov/wic/
Utah’s WIC offices currently serve approximately 65,000 mothers and children.
Taylor Halversen is a senior at Utah State University, majoring in Communication Studies and Liberal Arts.