It’s You and Me Baby

Baby sling carriers are the best way to carry your baby.  There are many advantages to their use.  One advantage is that the sling can be used for different carrying positions.  It adapts to baby’s development.  For example, with a newborn or very young baby who doesn’t have good head control the baby sling carrier can be used as a pouch.  Baby is supported all around–including his or her head, neck, and body.  An older infant can be worn in a baby sling with his head out but supported from the shoulders down.  And a toddler or an older infant nearing toddlerhood can be worn on the hip with his or her arms out.  Slings give parents multiple ways to carry children and give children the security and safety of being held.  It’s a great fit.

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.

Babies need and love to be held.  It calms them and soothes.  This promotes health, development and bonding.  There is a better way of carrying your baby than using a conventional baby carrier–it’s often referred to as babywearing.  The CuddlyWrap is a baby carrier by Peapod Creations that provides a hands-free way to hug, hold, and wear your baby so he or she feels safe and secure.  The benefits of a baby sling or wrap like the popular CuddlyWrap are many.  The CuddlyWrap positions baby so his or her hips and legs are properly supported.  This prevents stress on the baby’s developing hips and spine.  In addition,  the design of the CuddlyWrap ensures that the weight of the baby is evenly distributed.  There are no stress points to cause strain on the adult’s neck, shoulders or back thus allowing one to carry a baby in comfort.

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!

With the assortment of cradles, strollers, seats, cribs, prams and every other invention out there, it’s hard to decide what to carry your baby in. But the best answer for both you and baby is the simplest: baby slings. Here are some reasons why baby slings are the best carrying method, according to ergonomenon.com:

1. Provide balanced back support without straining the neck.
2. Allow for discreet breastfeeding in a comfortable position.
3. Babies are ergonomically correct; their legs are not spread apart, conflicting with the damage of the pelvis, or shoved through a restrictive opening and constricting circulation.
4. Sling can be removed easily even with baby asleep inside it.
5. Constant contact with the baby promotes bonding.
6. The baby’s head is supported without applying any compression to it’s central nervous system or spine.
7. Reinforce positive attachment between babies and parents, and reduce stress hormones.
8. Enables baby to sleep better, aids in digestion, and reduces crying and colic.
9. Stimulates baby’s vestibular system, which is the parts of the inner ear that work like levels or sensors to control the body’s sense of balance.
10. Promotes cognitive development and speech development, because baby is exposed to more experiences and conversations.

There are many popular notions out there regarding child-rearing that are simply untrue, such as the idea that if you hold a baby too much, it will spoil him or her. In reality, the bonding between parent and child that comes through touch is important. Here are the ABCs of baby care, according to itsyouandmebaby.com:

• Attention: Giving your child attention, and increasing their attention span. This can be done by spending face-to-face time together, by labeling objects, reading, point out sounds you hear, limiting TV time, and including down time (such as naps) in the day.
• Bonding: Bonding, or attachment, is one of the most important factors in a baby’s development. Children that feel secure in their physical and emotional needs are free to develop the rest of their brain. This can be achieved through infant massage, contact with the baby (such as wearing a baby sling when out), responding quickly to the child’s cries, establishing routines for feeding, sleeping, bathing, etc., slowing down the activity (less rushing), and using childcare that has a low child to caregiver ratio.
• Communication: Babies begin picking up on language skills before they are even born. So talk to your baby throughout the day, and describe the things that are going on. Studies have shown that households with more words spoken in them have children with higher IQs. And again, read!

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. 

Drop that plastic baby bucket.  The one that serves as a car seat too and take up your fabric baby carrier or sling.  It may be tricky at first getting used to putting it on but once you’ve got the hang of it you will reap the rewards for a much longer time than you will toting around that plastic baby seat.  With each pound that baby gains that car seat carrier seems to get exponentially heavier.  Also, there are weight limits for its safe use in the car.  It’s usually posted on the side of the carrier.

Instead, try wearing your baby in a fabric baby carrier or sling.  Some popular versions are the Maya Wrap, Moby Wrap, Cuddly Wrap, Kangaroo Korner.  See our other posts on How to Choose.  Each one has it’s advantages.  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.  (It also keeps a toddler from running into the parking lot or street or climbing out of the stroller.)

 2.  It is convenient.  It frees up your hands.  3.  Babywearing promotes bonding.  You feel the rhythm of each other’s heart beat and breathing.  It helps you feel close and contected.  4.  It soothes a fussy baby.

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.