For the Love of Babywearing – Benefits and getting started

Have you missed me? I’ve been a bit AWOL. There was a new school and a new daycare, so of course – new germs. Then there was teeth and then there were more teeth. In short, everyone has been sick and no one is sleeping.

I also missed International Babywearing Week (which, to be honest, I didn’t even know was a thing). So now is likely a good time to share with you my love of babywearing. This will be the first in a series of posts about babywearing as there is just too much good info to share in one post.

So lets talk about babies. Baby snuggles are undeniably the best. The way they seem to melt into your body and the cozy warmth they give off. Their soft breath on your chest. It is the sweetest and it is absolutely the reward for all the other not-so-sweet parts of parenting a newborn.

But eventually your arms get tired or you want to do something – like say, eat. Wouldn’t it be amazing if you could snuggle your baby AND do stuff with your hands?

Well my friend – with a baby carrier you CAN. It’s true.

With your baby wrapped up nice and close you can reap the snuggle benefits and also feed yourself, chase after other children, and just generally live your best life.

Let’s talk about some of the benefits:

1. It can reduce crying! There is research to support that babies who are carried cry up to 51% less than babies who are not.¹
2. It helps you bond with baby and is great for non-nursing partners to experience similar closeness
3. It makes travelling a breeze. Well, not really – you are still travelling with a baby. But it is certainly easier and more portable than lugging around a heavy stroller
4. People can’t touch your baby. It creeped me out how much people wanted to touch my baby. Seriously – she’s new, give her some space. But tucked in a carrier people have get in your space to touch the baby and this was usually a deterrent
5. They are beautiful accessories. My postpartum wardrobe consisted mostly of black with hints of black and some grey for added colour. A bright and beautiful baby carrier sometimes made my day
6. It’s good for baby development. There is research to support that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not². Please always consult your health care practitioner before wearing your baby if there are any health concerns
7. It builds parental confidence. Regardless of how my day (or night) had gone I always felt like a boss being able to successfully wear my baby. It also helps you to recognize their cues for sleep and hunger more quickly
8. Car seats are heavy. They are also not ergonomic and incredibly awkward. It’s also impossible to carry a car seat and run after your other children. Properly fitted carriers help distribute weight evenly across your back, shoulders, and hips and allow you to push a swing, colour a picture, or even wipe a toddler’s butt
9. It prevents over-stimulation. Babies are naturally curious about the world around them but it easily becomes too much for them. Being snuggled close in a carrier allows them to peek out and explore but then retreat to you when it’s overwhelming
10. It encourages sleep. Your baby has spent the last 9 months sleeping next to you so it’s normal to want to continue this. Wearing them helps mimic the closeness that new babies crave. The familiar rhythm of your breath and heartbeat can help to calm them and the gentle swaying motion often lulls them right to sleep. What’s sweeter than that?

For me, babywearing was a nice discovery with my first, but it was absolutely critical with my second. It allowed me to give both of them the attention they needed while saving my sanity (and my arms).

It’s important to make sure you are using the right type of carrier for the age and size of your baby and that you use it safely. I’ll talk about this in my next post!

 Here’s a newborn Ms G. in a stretchy wrap. She’s 2 weeks old here!!

 References:

1. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/3517799
2. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/1919818