People gravitate toward stories that resonate with their problems and pain points, seeking solutions that alleviate those difficulties and bring pleasure.
Baby wearing is an effective way of accomplishing both these objectives, with studies showing that babies whose parents frequently wear them cry less and sleep better.
Comfort
Babywearing provides infants with an immersive sensory experience at eye level and with their parents’ voices and hands to guide them along their way. Through this interaction, they develop sensory connections which stimulate their brains.
Babies who are worn tend to remain happier and consume more food while being carried. Furthermore, this allows them to experience the movements of their mother or father’s bodies which is known to help relieve colic symptoms.
As parents wear their babies, it is vital that they receive proper support, particularly their head and neck, in order to prevent plagiocephaly from developing on their heads. Chiropractors advise using carriers which adhere to the natural curve of an infant’s spine for best results.
Research indicates that carried babies nurse more easily as they recognize early hunger cues from breastfeeding mothers more quickly, helping ensure an adequate milk supply as well as encouraging bonding between mother and baby.
Safety
Babywearing can be an amazing way to connect with and keep your newborn close, yet it is imperative that safety precautions be followed so as to avoid any health problems for either party.
Always ensure your baby’s head and neck are supported. Additionally, ensure their legs are spread apart to promote healthy hip development without hanging directly down as this may cause back issues for them. Bend at the knees when reaching for something on the ground if carrying your baby so they do not slip out of their carrier!
Additionally, babywearing has been proven to reduce reflux symptoms (and thus lower the risk of Otitus Media), help prevent flat head syndrome, stimulate linguistic development and increase weight gain and bone density. Babywearing can also provide older children with a sense of connectedness while building positive attachment relationships.
Stimulation
Babywearing provides your child with the same stimulation they would find in their natural environment (nest or cave). Your child can observe and interact with their surroundings – providing maximum developmental stimulation! This form of stimulation provides your baby with unparalleled developmental stimulation!
Babywearing (particularly using an appropriately fitted wrap, sling or carrier) can be therapeutic for infants and can help soothe colic symptoms. Furthermore, wearing may increase parasympathetic vagal activity which may assist digestion and weight management in preterm infants.
Studies show that babywearing can also help support breastfeeding. Women who regularly babywear are more likely to practice responsive feeding – in which infants feed based on early hunger cues rather than waiting until they cry to be fed.
Development
Use of a wrap or sling to close hold baby stimulates their physical and emotional development, building an early relationship that allows parents, grandparents and caregivers to better meet the infant’s needs – helping avoid postpartum depression for mothers while simultaneously encouraging a healthy breastfeeding relationship.
Studies reveal that babies being carried by their parents experience a physiological calming response and quiet alert state, helping to create a sense of security, while potentially aiding weight gain and bone density growth.
Make sure that your baby’s head is positioned appropriately in their carrier for easy breathing, avoiding tucking their chin into their chest or pressing their face up against your body which can obstruct breathing and potentially lead to suffocation. Furthermore, avoid wearing your child on their back for too long as this could lead to plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome) (6).https://www.youtube.com/embed/3sszeNRCDEc