What is "baby wearing"?
Have you noticed that more and more parents are choosing to carry their baby around in an unusual looking baby carrier? Have you seen the pictures in magazines and wondered why parents are using this transport system? Maybe you have heard about baby wearing and are wondering what it is? Is it just a fashion or are there some real advantage to carrying your baby which convince parents to go back to the ancient art of carrying your child?
As well as being a convenient way of transporting your baby, slings also offer numerous benefits to your little one such as providing them with comfort, stimulation and even promoting physical development. Baby wearing has so many benefits for both parent and child that it is easy to see why so many parents are now choosing to carry their youngster in a sling.
Benefits for Parents
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If you have other children in your household, a sling can help you to meet their needs, while also offering your baby the stimulation that he needs. This goes a long way to ensuring that sibling rivalry is reduced as your older child sees that you still have time to play with them and fulfil their needs.
Baby wearing is particularly useful when you are out and about, if you are using public transport, it eliminates the need to fold up a bulky pushchair and carry it on board. A sling provides a safe and secure environment for baby when shopping or in crowds.
Baby wearing allows nursing mothers to breastfeed on the move. This ensures that you can continue with an active lifestyle even when your youngster is demanding a great deal of satisfying. It is also an excellent way of breastfeeding discreetly while outside the home. Because babies feel comfortable and secure in a sling they are very happy to be fed in their sling and some babies actually feed better on the move.
When worn correctly a sling can ease back and shoulder pain as the babies weight is evenly distributed. It is also a must-have for parents of larger babies who may find the weight of carrying their youngster leads to aching arms and shoulders. Slings can also be useful for times when you are feeling tired but your baby is wide awake. Certain positions are less stimulating for the child and can be sleep inducing.
Using a sling is also a good way for babies to bond with their fathers. Fathers tend to have a different body rhythm to mothers and the baby will learn to appreciate these differences and respond accordingly. Fathers report that baby wearing helps them develop a sense of closeness that taking baby out in a pushchair just can’t provide. Mothers suffering from post-natal depression may also find baby wearing a useful yet non-intrusive way of bonding with their baby.
Benefits for Baby
Baby wearing is also good for your baby’s emotional and physical development. The closeness of carrying your baby ensures that yours and your baby’s body rhythm synchronise quickly. Research (1) has indicated that babies who are carried in a sling cry on average 43% less overall than other babies. They were found to particularly cry less during the evening hours with 54% of babies crying less during this time. Parents of babies that have found it difficult to settle have also reported a significant decrease in the amount of fussing that their youngster does.
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Carrying babies is also an excellent way of developing their mental well-being. Whilst being in a sling babies spend more time in an alert state which is ideal for learning. They also have a better view of the world, as they see the world from your perspective rather than from the confines of a cot or pram. This added visual stimulation benefits the brains development. The baby is able to tune into adult conversations due to the position that they are being held in and this may enhance speech development. Being held at voice and eye level certainly ensures that he is more involved in conversations and listening skills are usually much more developed in sling carried babies. Emotionally babies benefit from being carried in a sling as they are able to develop a stronger sense of security.
While babies do enjoy being carried by their parents best, they will adapt to a caregiver better if a sling is worn. Once baby is used to being carried they will associate the sling with comfort and security and then settle better with any other adult who carries them such as a babysitter, grandparent or foster parent.
With so many benefits for both parent and child is it clear to see why so many babies are now being transported in a sling. The baby wearing style of parenting will bring out the best in your baby and yourself ensuring that a positive relationship is created with your child that will last a lifetime.
Text by By Anne Dhir
Calin Bleu Baby Sling
Photos courtesy of Jessica Robinson and Bex Smith, sewing the nappy mats.
(1)Hunziker, U A and Barr, R G (1986) Increased carrying reduces infant crying; a randomised controlled trial. Pediatrics, 77, 641-8
(2)Ludington-Hoe SM, Swinth JY (1996) Developmental aspects of kangaroo care, Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 25, 691-703
