While pregnant, we carry our babies for nearly a year, keeping them warm and safe in utero. They constantly hear our heartbeat, our breathing and the closeness of our voice. But when Baby is born, it’s a whole new world for them! It becomes cold and quiet. Luckily, baby-wearing promotes a “fourth trimester” transition for Baby, promoting emotional and physical developmental benefits.
Benefits
Baby wearing is not only beneficial for Baby, but for the parents as well! Especially newly postpartum parents! Carriers (Ring Slings and Wraps Especially – as they do not have fabric between you and Baby) are perfect in the first few weeks of life for your newborn, as they provide immediate benefits such as:
Skin to skin
Reducing postpartum anxiety & stress in Mom
Regulating Baby’s body temperature
Boosting Mom’s milk production
Other Added Benefits of Baby-wearing for any age:
Calming a fussy baby (+ Colic)
Allowing parents to bond with Baby, while having hands free to work or tend to older children
Aids in baby's development, both physically and emotionally, including promoting early language development
Decreases risk of SIDS and flat-head syndrome
Promotes neural development, respiratory and gastrointestinal health, and aids in balance
Lets moms discreetly breastfeed on the go
Allows caregivers to be "hands-free" to get stuff done while still holding baby
Promotes early language development. Babies learn by watching faces, and baby-wearing puts your little one at conversational height
Fosters a closeness through toddlerhood, as toddlers can be worn too, reminding them of their "home base," and allowing that bond to continue as they grow
From regular wearing around the house, to airports, family adventures, outdoor walks, hiking, and even in the pool, there is a baby carrier perfect for every adventure!
Baby-wearing is a staple in our house. Between myself and my husband, we have 3 absolute favorites – the ring sling, the Boba Baby Wrap & the Infantino Carrier. [Each have a multitude of different companies and versions. After all that we have tried, these are just our personal favorites!]
When it comes to ring slings, I have several different colors, thicknesses and uses for each! I keep one stored in each of our vehicles as backups, and I have several hanging in the nursery. I have thicker ones for wintertime and lighter ones to wear in the summer heat. I even have mesh ones to use in the pool or at the beach! Personally ring slings are my absolute go-to. They are perfect for newborns, up through toddler age. They’re comfortable for both myself and my children, no matter their age! The ring sling is easy to learn, quickly adjustable with Baby inside, and can be worn by both myself or my husband, with just a quick size adjustment. They provide the necessary support for babies, without cutting off circulation or forcing their hips and legs in uncomfortable positions, like many other carriers. Another thing I love about the ring sling, is its versatility. As I had mentioned, you can use it for newborns and toddlers alike. But it’s also easily adjustable to lay baby down in it, making it great for breastfeeding. Learning to breastfeed while Baby is in the sling, is a bit of a trick at first, but once you’re comfortable doing it, it’s just another hands-off thing you can do on the go! Whether you nurse your Baby in the sling, or you simply use it as a nursing cover, it’s a helpful all in one tool to have!
The Boba Wrap is a personal favorite when it comes to wraps, as it’s stretchy, comfortable, easy to clean, and affordable. It can take a minute to learn to wrap it correctly and tight enough, but once you figure it out, you’re hooked! This carrier is more suited for newborns and babies under 1 year. Because of its stretch, the heavier they get, the less comfortable it is for you and Baby. This carrier is another comfortable and effective way to carry Baby, hands-off, covered up, and in a position that will not hurt their hips, back or groin. As you can see in a few of my pictures, you can completely cover baby with this wrap, providing full head support, warmth, and comfort. This is another helpful nursing tool, but really only for babies who can hold their head up, nursing in an upright position. This wrap can be thrown in the washing machine, for easy cleaning! Note: My husband is not as much a fan of this baby wearing method, because it’s more difficult for him to put it on himself, with his broad shoulders.
My husband’s personal favorite is the Infantino Carrier. Just like any other carrier on the market, this carrier is more of a backpack setup, that can be worn on your chest for newborns and on your back for older infants / toddlers. You can wear your children from newborn age, through age 2+ in this carrier, with larger carriers available for older toddlers. We don’t necessarily use this carrier often, as once Baby gets heavier, it puts too much strain on their hips, and groin, as well as cuts off more of their leg circulation. We find it used best for shorter adventures or when my husband will be carrying the whole time. Behind the ring sling, this is my husband’s go-to, as it more easily fits his wide shoulders and is easy to get baby in and out of, when he is by himself. He also likes to this carrier when we go on adventures, (zoo, aquarium, etc.) so that our older infant can face outward and see what’s going on. The only downside to this carrier is that you can’t cover Baby completely, shielding them from the sun. Some carriers now come with a clip-on cover, but it makes it a bit more challenging to move around to see Baby at that point. Note: if you choose to use this with a newborn, be sure to get the newborn inserts. Each brand has a special adaptation for newborns.
Our progression of Baby Wearing, with baby #1 & 2!
Personally, I love wearing my kids because of the general ease, less equipment needed, and the safety / security of it. Not only are my kids close to me, but they can be completely covered up, when napping, fully supported, even while I am doing other things around the house/with my older child, protected from the sun and honestly, away from anyone else, if need be. I find this extremely helpful and comforting when having a newborn that everyone wants to see / touch, but I prefer to keep a bit at distance as their immune system develops. This is even more so with my kids recently, during the pandemic! They cannot go off and touch things or run into anyone.
When it comes to traveling, baby carriers are a MUST for us. In the airport, we find that we can wear our baby or infant on our chest, with a backpack car seat on our back, and still have our hands free for our 3-year-old and luggage.
There are several different types of carriers and companies. You may need to try out a few different ones to see what works best for you and your partner. Some maybe more comfortable for you to wear, while your partner may favor others, that’s ok! Try different ones, read different parent reviews and find what you love! There are no disadvantages to baby-wearing!
Fun facts
Did you know that when you're wearing your little one, and they get too cold or too hot, your body temperature will actually regulate one degree to help warm or cool your baby?
Okay, maybe you knew that… BUT did you know that your breasts are intelligent?! If you have twins (one on either breast) and one is too hot and one is too cold, your individual breasts will adjust accordingly!!
Now that's some magical mama stuff!
#BenefitsOfBabyWearing #BenefitsBackedByScience
