Babywearing: 14 Reasons to Wear Your Baby

Babywearing: 14 Reasons to Wear Your Baby

Babywearing, a necessity in cultures wherein the mother must return to manual labour almost immediately after the birth of her baby, is becoming more and more popular in the western world. Babywearing is practical, affordable (assuming you don’t develop a serious sling addiction… ahem), safe and a wonderful way to bond with your baby. I am passionate about babywearing and wanted to put together a list of all the reasons why it rocks my world!

1. It’s way easier than lugging a pushchair around. Don’t get me wrong, I love our parent-facing pushchair and it comes in very handy sometimes – like when it’s peeing down with rain and too windy for an umbrella – but trying to cart that thing around shops is a flippin’ nightmare. And don’t even get me started on using public transport with a pushchair in tow. If I had a penny for every filthy look I’ve ever gotten from a senior citizen whilst awkwardly trying to get my pushchair on board alongside all the others without crashing into anybody and whilst attempting to placate two kids, I’d be a very rich lady.
2. It’s arguable that babywearing is vital when you have more than one kid. If it wasn’t for our Kari-Me wrap (and later, the Ellaroo wrap), the first 4 months of Squish’s life would have been way more difficult than they needed to be. Babywearing leaves you hands-free to chase after older siblings, tidy up, hold hands in the street and give big cuddles.
3. Worn babies have an advantage when it comes to growth and development. Because babywearing brings the baby up to adult level, they are generally interacted with more than if they were down low in a pushchair. Also, because most babies are more content when they are being carried in a comfy sling, they spend more time in the “quiet alert” state – the optimum state for learning. In other words, they are taking it all in. Before anybody jumps down my throat, I am not trying to say that babies in pushchairs don’t grow or develop properly – of course, they do. I just personally believe that carrying them gives them a shot at *optimum* growth and development.
4. Babywearing is a great way to promote connection with your baby. The physical closeness that babywearing involves is crucial to babies’ healthy growth and development. Of course, there are plenty of ways to be close to your baby, and wearing them is just one of them.
5. Slings are generally much cheaper than pushchairs. Obviously there are some exceptions to the rule, but generally you can purchase a quality wrap, mei tai or SSC (soft structured carrier) for much less than a travel system would cost.
6. It saves you money! When I am wearing Squish around town, I am far less likely to make unnecessary purchases because I have to carry my bags, rather than just hanging them on the pushchair. For a serial impulse-buyer like myself, this is a serious plus point.
7. Babywearing facilitates good sleep. Many babies nap better and for longer when being carried in a sling. Many parents also report that their baby’s night-time sleep improves when they start carrying them in a sling during the day – Monkey’s certainly did!
8. Babywearing helps keep you fit! After all, it takes a good chunk of extra calories to lug a baby around on your back. This means you will probably lose the baby weight faster than you would have otherwise (or it means you can have extra chocolate. I bet you can guess which one I went for). Also, carrying a heavy baby around will certainly strengthen your muscles and improve your posture – providing you use a carrier that distributes the weight evenly, such as a woven wrap or a mei tai.
9. I’ve found that babywearing is a great conversation starter. Somebody usually asks me where I got my Melkaj mei tai from, or how on earth I manage to get Squishy onto my back without help. When you walk into a toddler group and you don’t know anybody, it’s always good to have some kind of talking point.
10. Babywearing is a great tool for caring for high-needs babies. High needs babies often won’t tolerate being held by anybody other than their mamas, but very few of them can resist sleep when tucked into a comfy wrap, no matter who is wearing them. This can give mama an opportunity for some well-deserved down time.
11. Babywearing makes on-the-go breastfeeding easy peasy! And for those of us who like to cover up when nursing, your wrap thrown over your shoulder works great as a cover and means you don’t have to carry anything extra around with you.
12. Worn babies tend to cry less. Research by Hunziker and Barr (1986) found that babies who were worn regularly cried 43% less, and 54% less during the evening hours. It is speculated that because their needs for physical contact are being met, they have less need to cry than other babies. Obviously there will always be exceptions, but this has certainly been the case in my experience.
13. Babywearing helps prevent over-stimulation in the baby. When worn correctly (facing inwards, on the front, back or side), the baby is able to turn their face away and switch off from the world if needs be. Babywearing can also be a fail-safe way to calm down a baby that has become overstimulated.
14. And finally… because what on earth could possibly be better than having your favourite person within easy gazing, snuggling, sniffing and kissing distance? I adored carrying Squish around as a newborn. Having his tiny little frame wrapped snugly upon my chest was the best feeling ever. Don’t get me wrong, I love wearing him on my back now he’s a great chunk of a baby, but you just can’t beat having a tiny newborn in a FWCC (front wrap cross carry), with a warm coat zipped over them, walking on a cold, wet, winter night.

What’s your favourite thing about wearing your baby?

Continue reading here: Hold Your Baby

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Readers' Questions

  • Franziska
    Why i love babywearing baby wearing practical parenting baby wearing benefits?
    4 months ago
  • There are several reasons why babywearing is loved by many parents and has practical benefits:
    1. Bonding: Babywearing promotes deep bonding between the parent and the baby. The close physical contact and constant skin-to-skin contact create a strong emotional connection between them.
    2. Convenience: Babywearing allows parents to be hands-free while carrying their baby. This enables them to do daily tasks, run errands, or engage in other activities while keeping their little one close and secure.
    3. Soothing and Calming: The gentle swaying motion, the familiar heartbeat sounds, and the warmth from the parent's body have a soothing effect on babies, helping to calm them down and reduce fussiness.
    4. Enhanced Communication: Being in close proximity enables parents to better understand their baby's cues and respond promptly to their needs. This helps in fostering communication and building trust between the parent and baby.
    5. Easy Breastfeeding: Babywearing makes it easier for breastfeeding mothers to nurse their baby discreetly and comfortably on the go, without the need for a specific nursing area.
    6. Promotes Cognitive and Sensory Development: Babies who are worn in a carrier have the advantage of being exposed to more stimuli from their surroundings. This helps in their cognitive and sensory development as they observe and engage with the world around them.
    7. Colic and Reflux Relief: The upright position that babywearing provides can help alleviate symptoms of colic and reflux, providing relief for both the baby and the parent.
    8. Sleep Aid: The cozy environment and gentle motion created by babywearing can help babies fall asleep more easily and stay asleep for longer periods.
    9. Hands-on Parenting: Babywearing allows parents to be physically close to their baby while also being able to tend to other household tasks or care for older siblings. This enables them to multitask without compromising on their parenting responsibilities.
    10. Easy Mobility and Accessibility: Baby carriers provide ease of movement and accessibility in crowded places, uneven terrains, or areas where strollers may not be practical or allowed.
    11. Overall, babywearing offers numerous practical benefits while also nurturing a strong parent-child bond.
    • Haile
      Why babywearing 9 1 reasons to babywear by dapper dragen from?
      5 months ago
    • Dapper Dragen provides 9 reasons why babywearing is beneficial:
      1. Bonding: Babywearing helps strengthen the bond between the caregiver and the baby as it allows for close physical contact and increased interaction.
      2. Convenience: Babywearing allows parents to complete daily tasks while keeping their baby close, making it easier to multitask and be hands-free.
      3. Soothing: Babies often find comfort in being held close to their caregiver's body. Babywearing can help calm and soothe fussy babies, promoting better sleep and reducing crying.
      4. Development: Being held in a carrier allows babies to observe their caregiver's movements and be exposed to more sensory stimuli, promoting cognitive and physical development.
      5. Breastfeeding support: Wearing a baby in a carrier facilitates breastfeeding by creating a secure and comfortable position for nursing on the go.
      6. Independence: As babies grow, babywearing helps them explore the world while still feeling safe and connected to their caregiver.
      7. Mental health benefits: Babywearing can help reduce parental stress and lessen the risk of postpartum depression, as it provides emotional support and enhances the caregiver's sense of competence.
      8. Accessibility: Baby carriers are available in various styles and sizes, making babywearing accessible to caregivers of all body types and abilities.
      9. Social connection: Babywearing encourages social interaction and conversation with friends, family, and other caregivers, promoting a sense of community and belonging.