It’s You and Me Baby

Babywearing is a term that has been used to describe holding or carrying your child in a fabric baby sling.  It’s instinctive.  Parents want to hold their children.  However, it allows parents the freedom to go about their daily routine while providing a rich, desirable environment for their child.  Parents are often led to believe that a baby who is held too much will become spoiled, clingy or demanding.  Research actually reveals the opposite.  The psychological benefits of babywearing provide for a solid sense of self-esteem.  Babywearing reduces crying and fussiness by up to 51%.  It allows the parent to be acutely aware of baby’s cues and signals and heightens the parents perception of the child’s needs.  There are many benefits to babywearing and many wonderful baby slings on the market.  Babywearing is a way for parents to follow their instincts.

Baby carrying slings are the way to keep your baby close to you.  It is such an exciting experience to have a baby and many women put off having children until they finish their education and start their careers.  So after all that waiting take the opportunity to have your baby close to you.  Wear your baby in a fabric baby sling.  There are many wonderful baby slings on the market.  Wearing your baby is great for baby and great for mom or dad.  Baby is in touch with caregiver–feeling the rhythm of breathing and heart beat plus feeling secure, content, and connected.  Caregiver has baby’s weight evenly distributed which cuts down on fatigue and stress on the body.  It’s a win-win situation.

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.  

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 than others.  Fortunately, there’s an easy solution.  Learn how to wear your child in a baby 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 may take some practice and getting used to but it’s one thing you can feel good about.

Ring slings like the popular Maya Wrap are great for carrying children in the front like a pouch or on the hip.  The traditional Asian Mai Tei carriers are often used to carry children on the back but they can also be used very comfortably to carry a child on the front.  The nice thing about these type of baby carriers is that the child’s weight gets distributed more evenly and is much more comfortable for the caregiver.  So regardless of the design children can easily be carried in different positions with just about any baby carrier.  So carry on!