Babywearing Benefits

Babywearing benefits are many but truly, if the term "babywearing" is new, the method is not. Throughout human history, across various cultures and continents, mothers have carried their babies. This is nothing new.

It is very sad to see that the more industrialized we have become as a society, the further away we have gone from such a time tested and honored method of child rearing.

With "attachment parenting" re-entering the scene, babywearing is also making a comeback in our society...and we - and our babies - are only the better for it.

It is a fact that babywearing benefits are wonderful for your baby and for you - the parent - as well. Indeed, research shows that the benefits of babywearing cannot be tossed aside easily:

A study done in 1990 by the department of Pediatrics, Columbia University proved it is true.

This study was designed to test the hypothesis that increased physical contact, experimentally induced, would promote greater maternal responsiveness and more secure attachment between infant and mother.

The mothers of the study were separated into two groups:

The experimental group received a soft carrier - more physical contact

the control group received infants seats - less contact

At 3.5 months, it was demonstrated that the mothers in the experimental group were more responsive to their infants than the control mothers.

When the infants were 13 months old, a test called the Ainsworth Strange Situation was administered.

The results were:

Significantly more of the experimental group infants (babies that were worn) than the control infants (babies that were in a sit) were securely attached to their mothers.

From the Department of Pediatrics, The McGill University-Montreal Children's Hospital Research Institute. This study by Hunziker and Barr was done in 1986.

Dr. Hunziker discovered an average reduction in crying of 51% and fussing during the evening hours when babies were carried an extra 2 hours daily.

It is a fact that in cultures where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures. And contrary to what we used to be told, neuroscience says that crying for a baby is NOT healthy.

Babies spend more time in a "quiet, alert state" when carried - the ideal state for learning.

Their senses are stimulated while being carried and exposed to all the things you do. When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, instead of the ceiling above his crib or people's knees from a stroller.

And the extra stimulation is wonderful and very beneficial to proper brain development.

Babies are quickly able to develop a sense of security and trust when they are carried.

As we said previously, they are more likely to be securely attached to their care-giver and often become independent at an earlier age.

Again pushing our children away - as our culture promotes i.e. own crib, own room, etc - does not teach independence.

It has been proven that in order to be fully independent a baby has to FIRST be fully dependent, something that is achieved through babywearing as well as co-sleeping.

By being so close to your body's circadian rhythms, your newborn baby "gets in rhythm" much more quickly. Your heartbeat, breathing, voice and warmth are all familiar and desired by your baby.

Research has shown how your bodily rhythms help your newborn to adapt to life outside the womb, and this is especially true of premature babies.

Babies who are not held need more verbal interaction and eye contact, just to be reassured that you're there and the world is a safe place.

Carrying your baby is a great way to connect with him without having to interact.

A study found a correlation between carrying babies and peaceful societies.

As you can see the babywearing benefits are many and important to proper development of your baby.

So now that you have decided that you want to wear your baby...how do you pick "the" sling or carrier you and your baby will love?

Again...we can help you. And you are already a baby wearing mama, please let other moms know how you feel about baby wearing and which is your favorite carrier.

Babywearing Benefits: Positions

They are three babywearing positions:

Babywearing Benefits: "The Voice of Experience"

My name is Florence and I love wearing my babies. All nine of my children have been carried and some still are!

I understand the many babywearing benefits and I embrace this gentle - and effective - method of parenting.

Over the course of mothering my children this way - attachment parenting and babywearing - I have tried many different carriers and slings. Some I hated, some I like and one I love!

This is the first carrier I used with my first child.

It was okay.

I liked the concept but I did not find it all that practical and my son was never that comfortable in it.

I also like to have my baby on my back especially when in the kitchen. I never did master having a baby on my back with the sling.

The time I found it the most useful was when my babies were toddlers and the sling helped me support their weight while walking. The con to that system is that all your child's weight is one side of your body.

Well, this type of carrier does carry a baby but that's all I can say that is nice about it.

First, there is no contact with mom: your baby is enclosed in the material which is not even soft cotton...

Second, the padding is limited and carrying even a very young baby can get very uncomfortable fast. Your shoulders get very sore...and it's not much better on your lower back.

Third, you cannot nurse your baby in this thing even if you needed to.

So while I was very thankful for having the use of one when I had nothing else, I just plain did not like it!

I used this with my second child when he was bigger - 8 months on.

I like the fact that he could be on my back and that there was more support for my back.

What I did not like is that:

Let me put it this way...I never bought another one...and...I would never buy another one again.

Now, I liked the Moby Wrap. It is my second favorite carrier.

It is easy and rather inexpensive!

You can even make your own.

What I liked about the Moby Wrap?

I could have my baby on my back or on the front and I could carry either a newborn or a bigger child. I could nurse the baby if need be.

It is very comfortable.

However, most of the weight is on your shoulders and it loosens over time. Another bad point is that my husband did not want to mess with all the material.

When I decided to travel - internationally, 12 plus feet of material was not practical - especially through airports.

The Moby Wrap is bulky and not easy to go through customs - at airports - when one must:

...all that with a limited amount of time.

As you'll see in this video, putting your baby on your back was "too complicated" and could be quite scary without someone to help. I was able to do it with my three year old alone but she knew not to move and stay still. I don't know that a toddler - or baby - would know that.

This is my favorite carrier of all times. It is everything I ever wanted in a carrier except for the price - around $100.

I LOVE my Ergo carriers. Yes, I have two - for the twins.

An Ergo is expensive but so worth it! I take mine everywhere. They are well made and so worth it - I know I already said that.

Babywearing Benefits And Reviews

What is your favorite carrier and why? Why did you choose to carry your baby? Share with us!