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Wear Your Baby

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File:Mei tai baby carrier, forward facing baby, in front carry 6626.jpg
Baby wearing is the practice of wearing your baby on you in a carrier or sling and it is rapidly gaining in popularity as more and more parents discover the many benefits it has to offer both parents and babies. It is a convenient, portable, hands free method of transporting your baby with ease.

Steps

  1. File:Pouch baby carrier 5427.jpg
    A soft, fabric baby sling.
    Purchase or make a soft, flexible stretchy baby carrier rather than the ones with bulky padding and a frame. Those types of carriers often cause the carrying parent back discomfort after only 30 minutes and often they spread the babies little legs too far apart; slings and soft fabric carriers are designed to accommodate a baby’s growth.
  2. File:Testing out the baby carrier 5492.jpg
    Both shoulders.
    Be sure the carrier provides you the comfort and support you need. For example, if you have issues with back pain try to purchase a carrier that offers support over both shoulders rather than just one.
  3. At first, for newborns and preemies, place a folded receiving blanket under the baby’s head and torso. After a few weeks you won’t need this extra padding.
  4. File:2nd week of july (8 of 20) 397.jpg
    About like this.
    For nursing while "wearing" your baby, position your child in the cradle position inside the sling. This will offer discreet nursing while your child lays comfortable within the sling.
  5. File:Li'l Peanut 2475.jpg
    Tummy to tummy.
    For newborns and older there is the tummy to tummy position. Hold baby heart to heart. Adjust the snugness and positioning of the sling according to the manufacturer's instructions, so that baby is securely nestled against your chest.
  6. File:Joseph in Sling front 0318c 6228.jpg
    Facing forwards, seeing the world.
    For children 4 to 5 months and older there is the Kangaroo Carry position; this forward facing position is for babies with good head control. Support baby facing forward with one arm under his legs and his back against your chest. Refer to your slings manufacturer’s instructions on how to secure sling.
  7. File:Upload 4356.jpg
    Straddled on the hip.
    For babies 7 months and older they can be straddled on your hip. This is an especially good position for older babies. Position your baby on either your left or right hip and position your sling appropriately according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

Benefits

Infant development researchers who have studied baby care practices around the world reveal that there are many significant benefits for babies who are carried in baby slings. Here are only a few.

  • Advanced Mental Development - Baby wearing has been shown to enhance mental development. Sling babies spend a greater amount of time in the "quiet alert" behavioral state, the optimal state for learning. Sling babies are intimately involved in their parent's world, more exposed to and engaged in what is going on around them. Environmental experiences stimulate nerves to branch out and connect with other nerves. It is through this process that the brain grows and develops. Studies have reported that sling babies show advanced speech development and enhanced visual and auditory alertness.
  • Reduced Incidence of Postpartum depression - Postpartum Depression is much less common in mothers who wear their babies. This may be due to several factors, including the mother's hormonal stimulation and her baby's reduced crying.
  • Dramatically reduced crying - Scientific research has reported that babies who were carried for at least 3 hours a day cried 43% less during the day and 51% less at night (both while in and out of the carrier).
  • Easier discipline - The deeper the connection between parent and child, the easier discipline will be. Wearing your baby in the sling will enhance this connection. Credible research comparing well-connected children with poorly connected children has shown that connected children are more secure, settled, trusting, sociable, considerate, co-operative, willing to share, empathetic, sensitive, positive, adaptable, confident, affectionate, persistent and eager to learn.
  • Help babies grow and thrive - Because of the calming effect motion has on infants, babies cry significantly less. Because they spend less time crying, this energy can therefore be diverted into growing. It has also been speculated that baby wearing promotes growth hormones and enzymes that stimulate growth.
  • Better bonding - Keeps you in direct contact with your baby for constant bonding, your baby can hear your heartbeat and can find comfort in the warmth of your body.
  • Encourage sibling harmony - Older siblings may be more accepting and less jealous of a new baby when he or she is carried in the sling. Baby wearing allows the mother to have her hands free so she can mother both children well.
  • Less spit up and diaper rash - Being touched and carried has a beneficial effect on a baby's digestive system. Studies have shown that infants who could not feel or see their caregiver had more stress hormones circulating through their bloodstreams. Stress irritates the baby's digestive system causing the baby to spit up more often and increases the occurrence of diaper rash.

Tips

  • An inexpensive wrap for wearing your baby can be made from a long piece of knit fabric. Simply buy a piece of stretchy knit fabric that is at least 10 yards long and cut it in half length-wise. You will have two versatile wraps.
  • Try several different carries. You may find some carries uncomfortable for you or your baby. There are many variations of each type of carry. Experiment with what works for you.
  • Experiment with different carriers. Slings are easy to put your baby into and take him out of, but they may be uncomfortable for long periods of time. Wraps may be more confusing to use initially, but are comfortable for long walks. Asian inspired carriers may need to be undone in order to remove the baby. Use whatever carrier best fits the current situation.
  • Have a spotter help you put your baby on the first few times you try a new carry.

Warnings

  • Wear baby cautiously in the kitchen. Do not wear baby while cooking or working with sharp or hot objects.
  • Do not drink hot beverages when wearing baby, although wearing baby while eating is safe as long as the food is not hot enough to scald.
  • When wearing your baby and stooping over, bend at the knees, not at the waist, and hold baby in the sling with one hand.
  • Toddlers, if worn at your reaching level, can grab dangerous or breakable objects off shelves. Keep an arm's distance away from potential hazards.
  • When going through doorways or around corners, be careful that baby's body does not stick out past your arm and strike the wall or doorjamb.
  • Do not ride a bicycle or other moving vehicle while wearing your baby.
  • Baby carriers are not substitutes for an approved car seat.
  • Do not carry newborns or babies up to six months in an upright sitting position (tummy-to-tummy) for too long at a time if they cannot sit up yet. Since their spines have not yet formed a natural S-shape, it is strenuous for their spines to support the heavy head. They should be in a lying-down position most of the time.
  • Maintain a space of two finger-widths between your baby's chin and chest to allow the baby to breath easily.

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