It’s You and Me Baby

The benefits of babywearing are real.  Studies have even proven it.  For example, neonatal intensive care units that take care of premature and ill babies use what they call “kangaroo care” in which a premature baby is wrapped, skin-to-skin, up against the mother’s or father’s chest. The parent rocks, holds, and gently moves with the baby. The rocking motion, the skin contact, and the rhythmic motion of the parent’s chest during breathing produces the following beneficial effects:

• More stable heart rates
• More even breathing
• A healthier level of oxygen in baby’s blood
• Faster growth
• Less crying and increased time in the state of quiet alertness
• Better sleeping

Researchers believe that using kangaroo care helps the parent act as a regulator of baby’s physiology, including reminding the baby to breathe. In other experiments, infants with breathing difficulties were placed next to a teddy bear stuffed with a mechanism that seemed to “breathe”; these babies also had fewer times of breathing pauses. When the results of this ”teddy technology” hit the newspapers, a reader wrote in, “Why not use the real mother?”  The same thing happens when you wear your baby in an infant sling.

When a baby is worn in a baby sling carrier attached to his mother he feels the rhythm of her breathing, the beating of her heart, and the movements she’s making.  For newborns and young infants this stimulation helps them regulate their own physical responses.  For example, being held in a sling exercises a baby’s vestibular system which controls balance.  The sling is like a transitional womb for a new baby whose nervous system is learning to control his bodily functions and movements.  Research has shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight at a faster rate and are sent home sooner than babies who aren’t.  Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide the same benefits.  Wearing your baby this way has been practiced for centuries around the world and is gaining a more recent increase in popularity in Westernized cultures.  While using a sling baby carrier provides developmental benefits to baby and promotes bonding, it also provides a huge convenience to caregivers who use them, is comfortable and ergonomic (distributes baby’s weight across one’s back to take the strain off one’s arm). 

Certainly if you are breastfeeding your child you know that he or she wants to be near you and next to you alot.  Well, wearing your baby in a baby sling carrier or nursing sling is a great adjunct to breastfeeding.  While being worn in a sling your baby will have the benefit of feeling your warmth and the rhythm of your breathing and heart rate.  These are very soothing to a baby.  Your baby also knows your scent.  Being carried this way results in an more content baby.  Studies have shown that babies who are held more cry less.  There are physiologic and emotional benefits.  Babies who cry less have lower levels of stress hormones circulating in their bodies.  This is better for weight gain and development.  In addition, babies who cry less feel more safe and secure which helps with attachment to their caregivers.

There are so many great reasons to wear babies in  sling- or wrap-type baby carriers.  Parents and caregivers quickly realize that carrying their babies in a baby sling is very comfortable and convenient but what they might not realize are all the wonderful things it does for babies.  Babies worn like this are more content and cry less.  Maybe it’s because they feel the rhythm of mom’s heart beat or the father’s warmth.  Or maybe it’s because parents respond to baby’s needs more quickly because they are more in tune with their needs and cues.  Whichever the reasons all of the above is better for baby.  Wearing your baby increases bonding between parent and child.  Also, baby feels more safe and secure.  This will translate later to more self-esteem and actually being able to separate from parents when the child is older and more mobile.  Don’t forget that there is a window of opportunity for wearing your baby because he or she will not be a baby for long! 

Babies learn best when they are in a quiet, alert state.  Since babies who are held or worn in a fabric baby carrier or sling are more content and cry less this gives them an opportunity to learn from their environment.  A caregiver can add to baby’s learning by talking to him or her.  When you wear or hold your baby you can sing to and talk to him or her more.  This also helps with learning and language development.  So follow your instincts and hold your baby as much as is mutually desireable.  You’ll be helping him more than you know.

It sounds bizarre but wearing your baby helps him be organized.  What do we mean?  Well, the environment of the womb automatically regulates your baby’s systems.  After birth, wearing your baby in a baby sling helps him stay organized.  It mimicks the womb environment and helps your baby adapt to life outside the womb.  By extending this experience the baby-wearing caregiver provides an external environment to counteract baby’s tendency to become disorganized.  For example, have you ever noticed that the more tired a baby gets the more he or she cries?  It doesn’t make sense but that’s the way it often happens.  This is an example of how a baby gets disorganized and can’t become calm automatically.  Wearing your baby in a baby carrying sling provides an external regulating system.  Mother’s rhythmic walking while she is pregnant, for example, which baby experienced for 9 months and is imprinted on his brain now occurs in the outside womb of the sling and calms baby.  The feel of mother’s breathing, heart beat and voice with baby pressed up against her chest is replicated when baby is worn in a sling, wrap, or pouch.  Wearing a baby this way helps him or her adjust to the world.  

Try wearing your baby in a fabric baby carrier or sling.  Some popular versions are the Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Cuddly Wrap, Kangaroo Korner Adjustable Pouch and others.  There are so many benefits to wearing your baby.  1.  It keeps baby safe and secure so he is able to focus on learning about his environment.  This helps with his cognitive development.  2.  It keeps a toddler from running into the parking lot or street or climbing out of the stroller–slings can be used for children up to 35 lbs.

 3.  It is convenient.  It frees up your hands.  4.  Babywearing promotes bonding.  You feel the rhythm of each other’s heart beat and breathing.  It helps you feel close and contected.  5.  It soothes a fussy baby.  6.  For moms who breastfeed they can nurse discreetly with their baby in their sling.

Cultures around the world have been carrying babies in baby slings or back carriers for a long time.  Western cultures have more recently recognized the many benefits of wearing your baby this way.  It is not only very convenient and comfortable but also there are both physical and psychological benefits to your baby.  The horizontal position supports the baby’s head and neck which reduces stress on the spine.  Baby is comforted by feeling and hearing your heart beat and respirations.  A baby feels secure and content by being close to the adults who care for him or her.  Babies worn in baby carrying slings cry less which results in less stress hormone release.  Caregivers who wear their babies are more in tune to their needs.  These advantages result in more bonding opportunities.  It’s a very nurturing experience to wear your baby.

The benefits of breastfeeding are clear.  Babies who are breastfed get the advantages of all the nurtients of breastmilk, incuding the healthy brain-building fats (DHA and AHA) and antibodies to ward off infection.  They also get the advantages of the beautiful bonding with mom.  Research shows that establishing healthy attachment and bonding between caregiver and child results in a child who is more content and self-confident.  Babywearing (wearing your child in a baby or breastfeeding sling) also helps with secure attachments and emotional health.  Using a breastfeeding sling can make nursing comfortable and the fabric can help keep baby covered to give privacy.  Breastfeeding and babywearing are a great combination.  

Wearing your baby in a fabric baby sling, wrap or carrier is smart.  Not only is smart for mom or dad because of its convenience and ergonomic design but also it helps your baby become smart.  Babies who are worn learn more.  Brain growth is enhanced by environmental experiences.  The nerves in the brain branch out and make connections with other nerves.   This process is optimized when you wear your baby because babies are more content.  They spend more time in the state of quiet alertness so their energy and attention are directed toward taking in the environmental experiences around them.  This builds brain.  Babywearing is the best.