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Physical, Emotional, and Practical Benefits of Babywearing
Some might think babywearing is a modern invention, but it has been a centuries-old practice in many cultures. Mexican shawl, Indonesian sarong, African kanga, Peruvian manta, Chinese mei tai, Korean podoegi, and Indian saree. Women from each culture understood the benefits of carrying their baby. Let's look at some of the benefits of babywearing a newborn:- Promotes Security: Babywearing promotes the closeness between mother and child. Babies who are carried are less likely to cry, sleep better, gain weight healthily, feed well, digest better, and are calmer and more satisfied.
- Physical Development and Function: Babies who get their mother’s familiar touch have better heart rate, breathing, body temperature, and reduced stress levels. Enhanced skin-to-skin contact, especially for premature and lower-birth-weight babies, helps improve oxygen levels.
- Enhanced Biomechanics: A mother’s movement while carrying a baby prompts the baby to readjust its position, kick its feet, and use its arms. The M position, which positions the baby's legs above the bottom, supports spine development and prevents hip dysplasia.
- Better Sleep: Babywearing helps babies regulate sleep/wake cycles. Napping in motion and sleeping at night in a crib helps the baby differentiate between daytime and nighttime, which is essential for a peaceful, long sleep at night as the baby gets older.
- Cognitive Growth: Staying in a more upright position helps babies recognise faces, speech, and communication, which stimulates neural pathways and enhances visual and auditory development.
- Enhanced Parental-Infant Bonding: Keeping babies close makes parents more responsive and interactive, resulting in less crying babies. For premature babies who need more care, mothers can recognise and respond immediately to their cues.
- Practical Solution: Fussy and cranky babies may cry when you are not carrying them. But carrying a baby for long hours can hurt your arms, especially when you are healing from delivery. Carrying your little one in a sling keeps your arms free, allowing you to balance work and caring for the baby.
- Better Breastfeeding: Keeping your baby close to their food source makes breastfeeding easier, allowing you to feed more frequently on demand, which is important for growing newborns. A longer nursing duration helps achieve breastfeeding success and promotes better nutrient absorption.
Types of Carrier
Carrying a baby is all about ensuring the mother’s comfort. One should be careful while wrapping, as any discomfort may hurt the baby, and prolonged hours may hurt the mother's back. Let's look at some of the types of carriers you can use:- Sling: A piece of cloth worn over one shoulder and around the hips. This mimics the womb-like comfort and accommodates newborns to toddlers. Sling positions include newborn nest (tummy-to-tummy), kangaroo carry (facing out), cradle hold, nursing hold, hip carry, and back carry.
- Wraps: This is the most comfortable and versatile carrier, where a long piece of cloth is wrapped around in a variety of positions, such as front, side, and back. With wraps, you can try a basic wrap, which uses three layers (face in or out), a simple wrap that uses two layers, a hip carry, and a rucksack.
- Soft-structured carriers: A modern adaptation of carriers featuring padded straps, waistbands, and buckles that are ergonomically designed for comfort and long-term use. The structured body panel supports the baby's hip and spine while offering in, out, hip, and back carry positions.
- Torso Carriers: Backpacking your baby with a piece of cloth wrapped around the baby on the back. Perfect for travelling, hiking, bending, and caregivers with neck issues. It is not recommended for infants under 6 months. Older babies and toddlers with good head and neck control can be carried this way.
Age-wise Babywearing Guide
| Age | Position |
| Newborn (0-3 months) | Snug, upright position that supports neck and spine. Wrap and SLing carriers are recommended |
| Infant (3 - 6 months) | Opt for structured carriers as they support the growing weight. |
| 6 to 12 months | Position the baby outward for them to explore the surroundings and ensure the hip remains in the M position |
| Toddler | You can limit babywearing at this time or opt for a back carrier. |
- Tight: Snug the baby tight to the chest
- In view: Baby’s face should be visible
- Close: Head should be near the carrier's chin, close enough to kiss
- Keep chin off the chest: Finger-width space under baby’s chin for breathing
- Support back: Support the baby’s back in its natural position
Increased exposure to mothers’ and caregivers’ movement, eye contact, heartbeat, speech, and facial expressions helps babies develop their emotions, early language development, neural pathways, and empathy. Carrying a baby also helps in stressful situations, such as vaccination and social interaction. Thus, babywearing a newborn makes it easy for parents to nurture their child while balancing healing and home management.
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FAQs on The Art of Babywearing: How Carrying Builds Closeness and Comfort
- Can I put my 1-week-old in a baby carrier?
Yes. For newborns and 1-week-olds, wrap them tightly to your chest, supporting their head, neck and back for overall support. - What are some common babywearing mistakes to avoid?
While babywearing, avoid the wrong position as it can hurt the baby. The wrong carrier size cannot support the baby. Loose straps increase the risk of snapping and injury. Fully wrapping the body in a humid climate can cause discomfort. Long hours of carrying without rest can hurt both the baby and the new mother.