In short, "Babywearing" is the act of attaching your baby (or toddler or child!) to your body in a safe and secure manner.
To delve deeper, there is so much to be said about this practice that has likely been around as long as humans have. Caregivers in many cultures before ours have utilized this simple and obvious solution to the daily challenge of having such dependent little ones! The shift in western culture to favor strollers, prams, swings etc. has pushed the original idea of wearing our babies into the background and many parents and babies miss out on the amazing benefits of this simple practice!
Support for parents... especially Mom!
Adjusting to life with a baby is no small deal. Whether it is your first or your third, life with a small child can be HARD. Moms need all the help they can get. Learning to wear your baby can become one of the most useful tools in your entire parenting tool box. Mom gets her free hands back! Fussy and colicky babies find the comfort they need. Babies with reflux benefit from being in an upright position. A great way to facilitate skin-to-skin bonding that even allows non-biological caregivers to form a close physical bond with the child (hello hormones & pheromones!). You can even learn to nurse on-the-go in a carrier. Baby carriers have some serious magic for bringing on baby sleep!
Perhaps one of the most amazingly helpful things for a mother is having a partner who knows how to utilize a baby carrier. Having Baby worn by another caregiver gives Mom a much needed break and is a wonderful way for a baby to develop a special bond with Dad, Grandma, or any other loved one.
The 4th Trimester
When your baby is born, the change in his environment is quite a shock to his system! Baby has come from a place where he is warm, tight, secure, in constant motion, and hearing the rhythm of Mom's heartbeat and breathing. Baby enters a bright, cold environment with his little limbs out of control with reflexes. It's completely reasonable that babies cry when they are not in someone's arms. We can consider the first 3 months after birth as an extension of life in the womb; a 4th Trimester. Baby is a tiny ball of senses and will be the most content in an environment that closely resembles what he is used to. Babywearing is an incredible tool for replicating this. In a snug carrier, Baby has calming pressure, warmth, constant motion, and the familiar smells and sounds of Mom or Dad. A safe and content baby means significantly less stress for the parents.
Ready to start reaping the benefits of babywearing? Book a consultation that is right for you!