Benefits of Babywearing

On the recommendation from a friend who had stumbled upon sling style baby carriers, I decided to buy one. When it arrived in the mail, I began figuring out how to use it. My husband was intrigued with it as well, and the two of us practiced, positioning a stuffed frog in the sling where our new baby would possibly sit very soon. Then, we put the sling away, and nearly forgot about it.

I learned first-hand the benefits of babywearing, when a few weeks later, I gave birth to a baby who would not stop screaming. It was months before we would discover the extent of his health problems-head injury from the birth, severe reflux, sensory integration disorder, and severe food allergies. Nothing would calm him. He hated everything: being swaddled, car rides, nursing, swinging, bouncy seats, he was not comforted by anything we tried.

In desperation, I reached for the sling. I nervously picked up my screaming baby and placed him gingerly inside. I cinched him close to me in the sling, and to my amazement, he stopped screaming. I looked down and saw, for the first time since his birth, my son was content! From that moment on, I "wore" our son everywhere in that sling. It worked; I didn't know why at the time, but it worked.

Five years and three children later, we have experienced the benefits of "babywearing" (a term coined by Dr. William Sears) with all of our children, and because of our positive experiences, I am now a babywearing educator. I have spent the last 3+ years researching the benefits of babywearing and would love to share a few of them.

Babywearing helps to "smooth" a baby's transition from the uterus to life outside the womb. One example of infant transition problems is the common complaint from new parents-- the lack of a "good sleep schedule" on the part of their infant. Babywearing has been shown to help normalize the sleep-wake cycle. One Kansas City mom, Shannon, reported that after a few days of wearing her newborn daughter, her baby's sleep problems had disappeared and she slept soundly at night, making for a good night's sleep for mom and dad, too!

Babywearing has been found to significantly decrease how much a baby cries. This is due in part to the fact that babywearing decreases levels of the stress hormone, cortisol. Decreasing cortisol levels also helps a baby utilize calories more efficiently, leading to better weight gain, and can even help to prevent failure-to-thrive. The upright or "tummy-to-tummy" carrying position favored by most babies also helps to improve digestion and decreases the severity of reflux and colic. This in turn helps decrease the respiratory and cardiac problems often associated with these GI complaints. Elizabeth, a mom from Independence who had a very colicky baby, recalls ''I wouldn't have survived the first year without my carriers! My son lived in my ring sling for the first few months and even now, as a toddler, he's happiest being in a sling!"

Babywearing helps to increase your baby's IQ, too! Babywearing increases the amount of touch that a baby receives. Touch is critical to brain growth; early human development studies found that lack of touch during infancy and toddlerhood caused permanent mental retardation. How easy it is to utilize a sling around the house and increase the physical touch that your baby gets without sacrificing a thing!

Most parents who wear their babies maintain an active lifestyle-household chores, shopping, gardening, hiking-all while wearing their baby. Movement is necessary for so many of the growing baby's systems. The respiratory center in the baby's brain is helped to mature by this movement, decreasing a baby's risk of succumbing to SIDS. In an article regarding SIDS and babywearing, Dr. Sears states that when his own children were infants and he was practicing babywearing, he noted a positive relationship between his breathing patterns and those of his infant children-both his own breathing and his exhaled breath against his baby's face served to stimulate them to take a breath of their own. The vestibular system, our center of balance and coordination, also thrives with continuous movement. Stimulating a baby's vestibular system has been found to help them breathe and grow better. Studies also find that the vestibular stimulation that occurs when babywearing causes these babies to have better coordination, balance, and rhythm than babies who are not carried regularly.

Babywearing has benefits for moms, too! Studies found that women who practice babywearing have lower incidences of post-partum depression. This is due in part to the higher oxytocin levels that a woman experiences when she is placed in physical contact with her baby. These higher oxytocin levels also help a mom bond better with her baby, making her a more confident, nurturing mother. And speaking of oxytocin levels, our oxytocin levels also increase when we breastfeed. Slings are a great tool for supporting the breastfeeding relationship, especially since some carrier styles have a built-in breastfeeding cover-up, making first attempts at breastfeeding in public so much easier. Women who use slings tend to breastfeed longer and have better breastfeeding outcomes than women who do not.

Babywearing also helps mom lose weight more quickly by helping her build muscle tissue. It's also much safer for mom's body than carrying an infant car seat . Dr. Jena Kittle, an Olathe chiropractor stated that she frequently treats post-partum women for breastfeeding issues and respiratory problems, as well as GI problems due to an imbalance in the thoracic spine caused by either carrying an infant car seat or from trying to carry an infant (or child) in their arms on a repetitive basis. In addition to this she has adjusted many infants due to imbalances in their spine frequently caused by sitting in a car seat or baby swing for prolonged periods of time.

Dads can benefit from babywearing as well. Many new dads feel left out of their baby's life, especially in those early weeks. Babywearing is a great way for dads to bond with their babies! And don't forget grandparents, babysitters and daycare providers. Babywearing can help them bond with your baby and vice versa, making the transition back to work much easier for all parties.

In a day when most American families are busy working or shuttling their school-aged children back and forth to activities, it's easy for the littlest ones to feel left out. Babywearing can be a simple way for families to stay connected and provide their little ones with all of the health benefits critical to their developing minds and bodies. Happy Babywearing!

Beautiful & Versatile Baby Slings & Carriers

Baby So Smart offers the most beautiful and versatile slings and carriers. The "Mei Tai" is an Asian style pack carrier that has four straps-- two waist and two shoulder. It can be used as a back carrier, although many people prefer to use it as a front or a hip carrier or with baby on the wearer's front facing outward, in the "Kangaroo" hold. It's perfect for active parents!

The "Every Day Indulgence" is a ring sling hand-crafted out of luxurious, heavy weight brocade fabrics. Whether you choose to indulge in a night on the town with your little one in tow, or spend an afternoon relaxing on the couch with your little sweetheart snuggled close, these brocade slings will beautifully complete the time you spend with your family.

            Baby So Smart slings and carriers are available at Happybottomus in Lee's Summit, Marshmallow Kisses at Zona Rosa and Scandinavian Country in Excelsior Springs and at BabySoSmart.com.

For more information about the benefits of babywearing visit:

AskDrSears.com

BabySoSmart.com

Tiffany Speck is a registered nurse and lives in Kansas City with her husband and three children; their 4th is due in September. For more information about her classes or baby carriers visit BabySoSmart.com.