Wear Your Baby

Baby wearing is the practice of wearing your baby on you in a carrier or sling. Baby wearing is rapidly gaining in popularity as more and more parents discover the many benefits that it has to offer both parents and babies. It is a convenient, portable, and hands-free method of transporting your baby with ease.

Steps

  1. Find a local babywearing group or natural parenting store that has a wide variety of carriers for you and your child to try with knowledgeable members or staff to assist you. Babywearing is supposed to be easy and comfortable, and not every carrier works for every person, but there is a carrier for everyone. Some great resources are www.babywearinginternational.com and www.thebabywearer.com.
  2. Be sure the carrier provides you the comfort and support you need. For example, if you have issues with back pain try to purchase a carrier that offers support over both shoulders rather than just one. Also ensure that your child is comfortable in the carrier. Check for red marks created by fabric digging into skin, constant movement of trying to get comfortable, and make sure that baby's rump is well supported in a deep seat (like sitting in a chair) in the carrier. This will make babywearing more comfortable for both parties involved.
  3. Make sure that you are using the correct tools to ensure comfort and safety for both of you. Some carriers are not designed for newborns or preemies at all, and some come with inserts or different directions for various sizes.
  4. Position your child in the cradle position inside the sling only while nursing. This will offer discreet nursing while your child lays comfortable within the sling. Please be sure to pay close attention to baby's head position during nursing, and if baby falls asleep, gently adjust them to a more upright position to avoid asphyxia hazards. The Cradle position is great for nursing, but should only be used while baby is actively engaged in nursing.
  5. Have your baby "close enough to kiss" if they are on your front. Do this for the best positioning. You should be able to tilt your head down and kiss their forehead. Facing out is not recommended because it does not allow for proper hip and pelvis positioning for long term carries. If your baby does not like facing in, look into hip or back carries!
  6. When using a carrier, make sure that you are using a carrier in accordance with the manufacturer's directions. If your carrier does not have directions for forward facing or back carries, then it was not designed to do so and will not be safe for you or your child.

Benefits

Infant development researchers who have studied baby care practices around the world reveal that there are many significant benefits for babies who are carried in baby slings. Here are only a few.

  • Advanced Mental Development - Baby wearing has been shown to enhance mental development. Sling babies spend a greater amount of time in the "quiet alert" behavioral state, the optimal state for learning. Sling babies are intimately involved in their parent's world, more exposed to and engaged in what is going on around them. Environmental experiences stimulate nerves to branch out and connect with other nerves. It is through this process that the brain grows and develops. Studies have reported that sling babies show advanced speech development and enhanced visual and auditory alertness.[citation needed]
  • Reduced Incidence of Postpartum depression - Postpartum Depression is much less common in mothers who wear their babies. This may be due to several factors, including the mother's hormonal stimulation and her baby's reduced crying.[citation needed]
  • Dramatically reduced crying - Scientific research has reported that babies who were carried for at least 3 hours a day cried 43% less during the day and 51% less at night (both while in and out of the carrier).[citation needed]
  • More social skills! - Wearing your baby in the sling will enhance this connection. Credible research comparing well-connected children with poorly connected children has shown that connected children are more secure, settled, trusting, sociable, considerate, co-operative, willing to share, empathetic, sensitive, positive, adaptable, confident, affectionate, persistent and eager to learn.[citation needed]
  • Help babies grow and thrive - Because of the calming effect motion has on infants, babies cry significantly less. Because they spend less time crying, this energy can therefore be diverted into growing. It has also been speculated that baby wearing promotes growth hormones and enzymes that stimulate growth.[citation needed]
  • Better bonding - Keeps you in direct contact with your baby for constant bonding, your baby can hear your heartbeat and can find comfort in the warmth of your body.[citation needed]
  • Encourage sibling harmony - Older siblings may be more accepting and less jealous of a new baby when he or she is carried in the sling. Baby wearing allows the mother to have her hands free so she can mother both children well.[citation needed]
  • Less spit up and diaper rash - Being touched and carried has a beneficial effect on a baby's digestive system. Studies have shown that infants who could not feel or see their caregiver had more stress hormones circulating through their bloodstreams. Stress irritates the baby's digestive system causing the baby to spit up more often and increases the occurrence of diaper rash.[citation needed]

Tips

  • Try several different carries. You may find some carries uncomfortable for you or your baby. There are many variations of each type of carry. Experiment with what works for you.
  • When trying a new carry or carrier, ensure that your baby is content and all of their needs have been met. Also be sure to relax, as children pick up on our nerves and react to them. If you are nervous, your baby will be also.
  • Experiment with different carriers. Slings are easy to put your baby into and take him out of, but they may be uncomfortable for long periods of time. Wraps may require a bit more of a learning curve, but are comfortable for long walks and more versatile.. Asian inspired carriers may need to be undone in order to remove the baby. Use whatever carrier best fits the current situation.
  • Have a spotter help you put your baby on the first few times you try a new carry.
  • An inexpensive wrap for wearing your baby can be made from a long piece of fabric. Simply buy a piece of woven fabric with no horizontal or vertical stretch that is at least {{safesubst:#invoke:convert|convert}} long and cut it in half length-wise. You will have two versatile wraps. To make a stretchy wrap, use jersey or cotton knit. These are best for young infants in front carries only.

Warnings

  • When wearing your baby and stooping over,squat or bend at the knees, not at the waist, and hold baby in the sling with one hand.
  • Maintain a space of two finger-widths between your baby's chin and chest to allow the baby to breath easily.
  • When going through doorways or around corners, be careful that baby's body does not stick out past your arm and strike the wall or doorjamb.
  • Toddlers, if worn at your reaching level, can grab dangerous or breakable objects off shelves. Keep an arm's distance away from potential hazards.
  • Do not ride a bicycle or other moving vehicle while wearing your baby.
  • Do not drink hot beverages when wearing baby, although wearing baby while eating is safe as long as the food is not hot enough to scald.
  • Baby carriers are not substitutes for an approved car seat.
  • Wear baby cautiously in the kitchen. Do not wear baby while cooking or working with sharp or hot objects.

Related Articles

Sources and Citations

  • Dr. William Sears - www.askdrsears.com
  • www.thebabywearer.com
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