| 7 fantastic benefits of baby carriers and slings8 October 2015 | Admin It's International Babywearing Week 2015! The Benefits of babywearing A time to celebrate the many benefits of carrying babies in a sling. And to share the knowledge far and wide with parents-to-be and others who haven't yet experienced the joy of it. We started our babywearing journey a little late, only really discovering the benefits of babywearing properly when our third baby was a few months old. It's the one thing I wish I'd known more about for all three babies, as having researched it extensively since, we should all be doing it! I recently qualified as a Trageschule babywearing consultant with the lovely Olga Nguyen and that opened my eyes even more to the amazing psychological as well as physical and developmental benefits of carrying your baby close in a sling/carrier. So let's go through 6 of the most important reasons to use a baby carrier or a sling : 1. Let’s start with practicality: And many baby carriers will last right into toddlerhood (ergobaby, boba 4G), making long walks, hikes or even just quick trips out a simpler experience when wobblers and toddlers get tired.
Wearing your baby in a sling has been known to reduce crying and colic. A 1986 study of 99 mother-infant pairs (reported in Paediatrics) showed that carrying babies at least three hours a day can reduce crying and fussing 43% during the day and 51% at night. Reflux is unfortunately a common complaint for many babies, and carrying your baby in an upright position in their carrier can help keep the acid down in their tummies better than when they are lying on their backs.
3. Now onto some fluffier reasons…Security. Sometimes the first few months are called the 4th trimester. Your baby is outside of the womb, but unlike all other mammals, is not yet fully developed or independent. They still need that feeling of closeness and security they had in the womb as they continue to develop and grow. A baby carrier allows baby and parent to feel that sense of togetherness still. Dads can also feel that close physical bond with their little ones in a whole new way while carrying them in a sling.
4. You can respond easily to their signals:
5. It can help you with breastfeeding: Some babies, particularly those who are tense or tend to arch their backs, breastfeed better while moving. Also, babies who are slow to gain weight (for no apparent reason) have been known to gain more if carried in a baby sling or carrier for several hours a day, since proximity to mom encourages babies to feed more frequently. Most slings are suitable and discrete for nursing, once you’ve practiced a few times, you get the hang of it easily enough.
6. Your baby becomes a more active participant in daily life:
Enjoy your babywearing journey, its a beautiful thing!!
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