Less crying, fussiness and frustration. A well-done study published in the journal of Pediatrics found that carrying your child in the manner provided by a baby carrying sling reduces crying and fussiness by 43% during the day and by 51% at night. The ability to calm an infant is important for parent-infant attachment. A calmer, less irritable infant feeds better, is more socially responsive, and is able to develop better parent-infant relationships.
Humans need touch and it is especially important for young babies to be touched and held alot. Through touch babies learn that their needs will be met. It helps them feel safe, cared for and secure. Infant massage is a distinct set of massage strokes performed in a certain sequence that has been a tradition in many cultures. It is a fantastic way to bond with your baby. The other benefits of infant massage include the following: 1) It relaxes your child and helps to decrease stress for you and your baby, 2) It relieves discomfort, 3) Helps normalize muscle tone and improve blood circulation. 4) Helps baby sleep better, 5) Stimulates brain development and improves sensory awareness. Since it’s still being discovered in the modern world it might be hard to find an infant massage instructor or class but there are many great DVDs on the market that teach infant massage. If you discover and learn infant massage you may also want to join the growing trend of wearing your baby. It’s another way to bond with and be close to your baby. Babywearing is the term that is used to describe carrying or wearing your baby in a fabric baby sling either on your front, back or hip. Babies love being held and after a little practice at babywearing it feels so natural. It’s much easier than carrying your baby around on your hip with one arm. If you want to develop a strong bond with your child you should try these two wonderful experiences–infant massage and babywearing.
Bonding with your baby is a process of loving and trusting. It depends on your actions. A parent or caregiver is drawn by instinct to respond to a baby’s needs. In turn, a baby responds. At first, a newborn will respond by calming, quieting, looking and accepting the caregivers touch or nourishment. As an infant gets older he or she will start to be more social and a reciprocal social interaction will begin. In response to a parent’s voice and words a two month old will start to coo, smile and give eye contact. At 4-6 months an infant is responding to a parent’s special “baby voice” by laughing, squealing and babbling. That’s why it is so important to talk to your baby alot. You don’t always have to be speaking close up and face-to-face. Babies will also enjoy hearing you talk to them while you’re in the same room. Just sing songs or narrating your activity as you go along. Another important aspect of nurturing a bond between parent and child is by holding, rocking, carrying or wearing your baby. Babies need to be close to their primary caregivers. Whether it’s mom, dad, sitter, grandparent, etc. babies need to security of being held alot. That’s why you can’t spoil a baby by holding him or her. Wearing your baby in a baby sling is ideal. Baby can hear and feel the rhythm of your breathing and heart beat when worn in a baby carrying sling. It’s also very convenient for the babywearer. Bonding with your baby is a beautiful process. These measures can really make a difference.
Most parents have more than one child. In steps the guilt. You can’t give the first child the exclusive attention you once did and you’ll never be able to treat number 2 (or 3 or 4 for that matter) the way you did the first. Well, birth order is a pretty interesting phenomenon itself. There are plenty of books written about it and every position in birth order has its advantages and disadvantages. As the first children in the family get older they become more independent and probably more accustomed to sharing their parents. When they are young its a little harder. They still want alot of mommy’s and daddy’s attention. One way to help with the challenge is to wear your infant in a baby carrying sling. Just like the picture above shows. It helps you free up your hands to get involved with your older child or children while still meeting those basic needs of your young infant. It helps you stay connected with your older children and build the bond with your new infant.
Unfortunately the popular series of books, “For Dummies,” has not come out with a practical guide for Babywearing. Babywearing is the term that has been coined for wearing your baby in an infant sling or fabric baby carrier. Fortunately though there are several books out there that cover the topic and give you practical instructions and advice on how to wear your baby. There are so many great reasons to wear your baby. For example, 1) Wearing your baby promotes learning, 2) wearing your baby promotes bonding, 3) baby slings are a safe place for your child, 4) babies worn in slings are happier and cry less, 5) babies and toddlers appreciate the security of the baby sling carrier 6) Babywearing is fun! So actually wearing your baby in an infant sling, baby carrier, or wrap is smart. You don’t really need a book. Just join in by getting a baby sling. They come with instruction manuals or DVDs. Put it on and just practice.
Fathers are increasingly becoming involved in the care of their children. But they don’t need to wait until a child can catch a football to be involved. If a mom is breastfeeding and/or is able to be home with baby while dad works then she has many, many opportunities to bond with her baby. Fathers can help care for a baby by changing him or her, feeding a bottle, or bathing. It’s great to do those things and give mom a needed break but there are other wonderful ways to bond with your young son or daughter. For example, holding and carrying your child in a baby sling or baby carrier (otherwise known as babywearing) is something dads can do to feel close to their young infants. Many moms have discovered babywearing and dads should be encouraged to join in. With a little practice babywearing becomes second nature. A dad may not be able to breastfeed or give birth but he can learn to wear his baby and it’s a wonderful way to bond.
If someone told you they knew a great way to help your baby cry less, sleep more, plus build a beautiful bond with you and enhance baby’s learning then wouldn’t you be interested? Well, many mothers and fathers have discovered that babywearing has given them and their baby all of this. Babywearing is the practice of wearing or carrying your baby in a comfortable infant carrier or baby sling. Baby is held close to your chest or back depending on how you are wearing him. And for older infants or toddlers you can wear them on your hip and have your hands free. It’s great for when a baby is teething or sick and he or she just wants to be held and comforted. Find a good sling, have a little practice with it and get used to it. Once you’ve discovered babywearing you’ll regret you didn’t do it sooner!
Fortunately more and more parents are discovering the wonderful way of carrying their children in a wrap or sling. Not only is it versatile, comfortable and practical but also it promotes bonding. Carrying your child in your arms can almost become a burden. Once you get the child in a sling you have him or her pressed up against you. It gives you a whole different feeling than carrying him or her on your hip with one arm. There are so many ways to wear your child–facing in. facing out, on your chest, hip or back! Don’t let another day go by without giving it a try.
Parenthood is a journey about bonding with your children and guiding them through the ups and downs of life. If you want a relationship where your child trusts that you’ll be there for them then you set the ground work from day one. One of the fundamental ways a child knows you will be there for him or her is by responding to his or her needs right from the start. That’s why you need to ignore criticism from people who say “you’re going to spoil that baby if you always pick him up.” Babies need to be held alot in the beginning and you can’t spoil a baby by just meeting his or her needs to be held. If fact there is a whole camp of believers who advocate holding your baby alot or “wearing” your baby in a baby sling. This approach to child-rearing has been called attachment parenting. It has many benefits and many happy parents and children. In the 21st century with all its demands and distractions building strong family bonds is more important than ever. So remember, you can’t spoil a baby.
Ring slings like the popular Maya Wrap are great for carrying children in the front like a pouch or on the hip. They can be used to carry
a child on the back but many don’t use them that way. The traditional Asian Mai Tei carriers are often used to carrier children on the back but they can also be used very comfortably to carry a child on someone’s front. So regardless of the design children can easily be carried in different positions with just about any baby carrier. So carry on!