It’s You and Me Baby

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.

Unfortunately, a woman’s birthing experience is not always ideal.  There are alot of possible complications that can occur with labor and delivery. If there is concern about the baby’s health or condition right after delivery then the baby may need medical attention that interferes with the bonding opportunity right after birth.  Though initially distressing a mom can accept that the baby’s condition needs to be addressed and managed first.  The good news is that bonding with your baby is a longterm process, not one magical moment.  One way to enhance the bonding process is called babywearing.  This refers to holding or carrying your baby in a fabric baby sling.  You can do this starting at any age and continue as long as you like.  It’s natural to want to hold and carry your baby and you can’t spoil him or her by doing this.  In fact, it gives your child a secure feeling that his or her needs are being met.  Babywearing is a great way to make up for any lost bonding opportunity after birth. 

  Babywearing brings closeness.  Holding or wearing your baby is a fabric baby carrier (also called baby slings or wraps) brings you closer to your baby in many ways.  Obviously you are physically closer because you are holding you baby against your body but also you become closer emotionally.  For example, close contact with your baby enhances the caregiver’s awareness of baby’s needs and cues.  Crying is a late cue.  So it makes sense why studies have shown that wearing your baby decreases crying.  In addition, consistent, close contact with your baby stimulates the release of hormones that promote a care-giving response.  These hormones provide a sense of calm and well-being which enhance the building of intimate, loving family relationships. 

Colic is a term used to describe crying in a young infant for which a physical cause cannot be identified.  Young babies cry “on average” up to 3 hours a day.  The below average baby is that “good baby” one hears about.  The above average baby cries for long periods.  The crying with a colicky baby usually starts in the late afternoon or early evening which is classic but some colicky babies can even cry and be irritable throughout the day.  It is also more common with first borns.  Typically the parents will take their baby to the doctor to make sure there is no physical cause that can be readily identified.

There are plently of theories about why this happens but it really is just not well understood.  There are two ways I know of helping a colicky baby.  One is to learn and practice infant massage.  Another way is babywearing.  You’re usually holding the baby for long periods when they are crying so babywearing is a great alternative.  Babywearing is done by carrying your baby in a sling-type baby carrier.  Find a good baby sling like the Maya Wrap Lightly Padded Sling, the MamaBaby Sling or the Cuddly Wrap.  Fortunately colic resolves around 3-4 months of age but if you have become used to wearing your baby you will enjoy the experience for as long as you’d like!

People may tell you that you’re going to spoil your baby by holding him or her.  It’s just not true.  In fact, responding to your baby not only builds a strong bond between the two of you but also helps your baby feel more safe and secure.  We hope you can dismiss other people’s opinions and hold your baby as much as you want.  Newborns want to be held alot and it’s natural.  It’s a survival instinct for them but it can be enjoyable for mom’s and dad’s.  It’s such a short time that they are so young and so little.  It can become difficult to do everything one-handed so we recommend “babywearing” or carrying your infant in a baby carrier or sling.  See some of our other posts like “Doctors and developmental professionals agree” to find out more about the many benefits to babywearing.

Did you realize that creating a secure attachment with your baby would influence your baby’s success in life?  Well, developmental experts tell us that when a baby has bonded nicely with his or her caregivers it builds trust in relationships and an ability to connect with other people.  In Dr. Stanley Greenspan’s book Great Kids he says, “Throughout her life, a child must be able to ‘read’ and relate to a range of people.  As she grows up, this ability to connect will allow her to make friends and form a variety of relationships with significant loved ones, with casual acquaintances, and with colleagues and clients.  In times of stress, she will turn to those close to her to help her feel better and find solutions to problems.  Through connections with others, children and adults share the pleasures, joys, angers and sorrows of their lives.”  So bonding with your child is important, not only to feel safe and secure as an infant and child but also to form healthy, successful relationships as an adult.  The lessons of relationship-building start with the intimacy of an infant’s bonds with his or her parents.  So how do you “bond”?  Well, it’s a process that takes place over time.  Here are afew suggestions:

1.  Respond quickly to your baby’s needs.  When a crying baby is responded to quickly he learns that he can trust the people he is dependent on.

2. Talking and singing to your baby

3. Playing (games like peek-a-boo,  my kids are 2 years and 4 years now and still enjoy peek-a-boo!)

4. Reading (even to young infants)

5. Holding, caressing, infant massage, babywearing (the practice of wearing your baby in a baby carrier)

Babywearing stimulates baby’s brain development and cognitive learning.  Babies who are carried in a fabric baby sling spend more time in the quiet, alert state.  This is the best state for learning.  Babies in the quiet, alert state show increased visual awareness of their environment.  This gives them a distict advantage.  At the same time they are at the caregiver’s eye level.  Parents can do more showing and explaining when baby is at their level.  Studies show that more words spoken to a baby, the higher their IQ will be.  When parents are going through their day the more speaking, showing, and explaining they can do to their baby.  This has been shown to help baby learn.

Babies who are worn or held closely in a baby sling or carrier feel more safe and secure.  Wearing your baby or toddler in a baby sling helps your child feel safe and secure.  The familiar experiences of mother’s heartbeat, rhythm of breathing and motion replicate what it was like in the womb.  This increases baby’s sense of security.  Not only do babies feel physically secure but they also learn that their needs will be met quickly because a parent is more closely in tune with the child.  This helps a child feel emotionally secure.  In addition, if there are older siblings who may be experiencing some jealousy the baby who is worn is less vulnerable.  This also helps the baby feel safe.