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!
Once you enter the wonderful realm of parenthood there is as much to feel guilty about as there is to feel good about and vice versa. This is especially true when you get a chance to look back on the early months and years. Young children want to be held alot and in general parents want to hold them but then how do you even make a sandwich for yourself! Holding your child is a natural desire and some babies demand it more from their parents than others but there’s an easy solution. Learn how to wear your child in a infant sling. Many women make it look easy. You may see them on the street or in the library wearing their child effortlessly (many young babies love to sleep in the sling or a women can discreetly nurse her child in the sling). It becomes even more helpful when you have a toddler or preschooler to chase after at the same time. All in all you really can make many moments special by wearing your child this way. Keeping him or her close, feeling the rhythm of each others’ breaths and heart beats. It make take some practice and getting used to but it’s one thing you can feel good about.
The basics in caring for a baby are really quite simple. Meet their physical needs by feeding, changing, bathing, picking them up when they are crying and holding them. This gives them the security that they are safe in the world and that they will be responded to when they speak up (i.e. cry). Meet their emotional and social needs by talking to them, singing, explaining what you are doing as you move through your day together, smiling, playing together and reading. It’s never too early to start reading. Babies will learn the sounds of their native language as you read to them and talk to them.
One of the things that can be quite demanding especially in the beginning when babies are very young is wanting to be held. And any time a child isn’t feeling good whether it’s due to illness or teething they want to be held alot. Investing in a good baby sling has big payoffs. It makes is easier on the caregiver to wear the child and meets the child’s need to be held. There are many great slings on the market. The one pictured above is the popular Maya Wrap which is a ring sling. Most people who have used a Maya Wrap or other baby sling rave about it. It’s worth the investment.
Too bad infant massage isn’t taught or at least mentioned in child-birth classes. It is wonderful for the bonding process. During massage children are relaxed and content. What a wonderful time to talk to your baby, smile, sing and play. With baby and caregiver in a relaxed, nurturing state they can reciprocate their joy and build that wonderful bond most parents wish for. Also, when babies are relaxed and content they are free to learn more from the environment around them because all their other needs are being met. Research confirms the importance of a secure environment and nurturing touch in the healthy growth and development of children.
Not only does infant massage promote bonding and attachment but it relaxes your child, relieves discomfort from constipation, gas and colic, improves circulation, helps baby sleep better, stimulates brain development and improves sensory awareness. Infant massage is a distinct set of massage strokes and it can be learned easily. My kids and I still make it part of our nighttime routine. As my children get older it will continue to be a great time to wind down and reconnect after a busy day. Learn infant massage for your baby.
There is so much out there these days marketed to turn your baby into a genius. But are Baby Einstein DVDs really good for your child? The answer is probably no. There is no research out there that we know of that proves that any TV or computer program is actually beneficial to your child’s development. Fortunately though there’s no research that says “screen time” is actually bad or detrimental either. Jill Stamm, PhD, wrote a wonderful book about infant brain development. Its called Bright from the Start. It is a research-based, nontechnical summary of what studies have shown to stimulate infant brain growth. There is an easy-to-remember formula referred to as the ABCs. “A” stands for Attention. Not just giving your baby attention but ways to help develop your child’s attention span. “B” is for bonding. The wonderful process of developing the attachment to your child. “C” is for communication. Talking and singing to your child. Even if your baby is not coming out with words you can talk to him or her. The studies have shown that the more words (they actually had someone counting them) spoken in a home the higher the child’s IQ. So read to, talk to, sing to your child. Hold or wear your child in a sling to foster a bond. Learn infant massage and make it part of your nighttime or pre-nap routine. It’s a wonderful time of life for you and your child. Don’t worry that you are missing out on some key element to stimulating your child’s cognitive development. Just do what you do naturally and know that it does make a difference!
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The bonding process is an amazing phenomenon. It really starts before birth. Bonding at the time of delivery and beyond is really a continuation of the process started when a women becomes pregnant. And like any relationship it’s a journey. Bonding with your child has it’s ups and downs just like anything else in life. The incredible needs of an infant can be overwhelming. One constant need in the beginning is the need to be held. It makes sense though. Think about it this way. A baby is forced out of the perfect place where all his or her needs are being met–the womb. Baby enters a cold world with a little bit of fat reserves. In order to survive he needs to be close to mom to be warm and fed. It’s no wonder babies don’t want to be put down! One great solution to this dilemma–baby wanting to be held alot is babywearing. It’s the art of carrying, nursing, and calming your baby by wearing him or her in a fabric sling. It can do wonders for baby and bonding. Baby is close to mom almost like being in the womb–feeling the rhythm of her breathing and heartbeat. It also can do wonders for mom or dad by feeling your baby’s warmth and being in constant contact without the fatigue of using your arms to carry baby. When I look at pictures of me wearing my son I feel such connectedness to him and such love. I’m so glad I found babywearing from the start with my children because it was such a blessing. I hope all moms and dads find the art of wearing their babies.
Wearing your child, whether he or she is a young infant or a busy toddler, keeps your child close and content. The term that is commonly used to describe wearing your child in a fabric sling is called babywearing. Being close is wonderful for bonding–feeling the warmth of each other. There’s also the contentedness that your child feels by being held–feeling loved. There are so many advantages. If you ever see someone out in public wearing their child this way, it looks so natural. It’s not too difficult. It just takes the right equipment and a little practice. Fortunately there are many comfortable, ergonomic baby carriers and slings on the market now. The practicing is up to you but it’s worth the effort and the rewards will last a lifetime–that special bond between you and your child.
