ABOUT BABYWEARING Through touch and smell, a baby bonds to his parents, beginning the foundation of the parent-child relationship. Holding, talking, singing, rocking, cuddling and other nurturing interactions all help to strengthen this bond. When you “wear” your baby – holding her close through the use of a baby sling or other carrier – you create opportunities to practice these bonding activities. Your sensitivity to her needs and understanding of her language increases because you are in constant and close contact. Slings help to calm and soothe. Babywearing simulates a womb-like environment, reducing baby’s stress level and helping to make him less colicky and fussy. Wearing your baby promotes her physical development. When you sling baby, she becomes attuned to the rhythm of your breathing, the sound of your heartbeat, and the movement of your body. This stimulation helps baby to regulate her own physical responses, while exercising her vestibular system, which controls balance. Slings are extremely beneficial for premature babies who gain weight faster and are healthier the more they are touched and held. Ludington-Hoe SM, Swinth JY. (1996). Developmental aspects of kangaroo care. Journal of Obstetric, Gynecologic, and Neonatal Nursing, 25, 691-703. Rest those tired arms. Using a baby carrier helps to evenly distribute your baby’s weight across your back and shoulders, leaving your hands free – to catch up on the phone with an old friend, shop at your favorite store, pick up around the house, or to prepare a salad for dinner!

Stop struggling with that stroller! Why wrestle a stroller in and out of your trunk or up and down the subway stairs when you can just pop baby in a carrier and go? Carried babies are more alert. Babies in-arms are mostly in a quiet alert state of consciousness, best enabling them to learn and absorb new information. Babywearing also helps to integrate baby into the daily life of family and community; providing a tremendous educational advantage. Babies that are worn experience the world around with Mom or Dad, learning critical social and communication skills first-hand and observing their surroundings from a safe vantage point.www.askdrsears.com, section entitled, The Benefits of Babywearing Nurse on the go. Imagine nursing your child at the grocery store checkout with no one being the wiser! Breastfeeding in a carrier can be discreet and easy with just a little practice. Babies worn in slings are happier. Studies deomonstrate that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss. ...supplemental carrying modifies “normal” crying by reducing the duration and altering the typical pattern of crying and fussing in the first 3 months of life. The relative lack of carrying in our society may predispose to crying and colic in normal infants. Pediatrics 1986;77:641-648; crying, carrying, colic,- mother-infant interaction. Baby-wearing is good exercise. It’s hard to find time to exercise when you are a new mother, but if you carry your baby around with you during the day or go for a brisk walk while wearing him, you can combine quality time with calorie-burning! A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to put a child to sleep. Carried babies are safer. Protect your baby from the unwanted touches of strangers or from germs during cold and flu season, by sharing your personal space with her. With your baby in a sling, you always know where she is – you don’t have to “keep an eye on her” in a busy airport or a crowded shopping mall, because she’s attached to you! Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling. Many people associate slings with infants, but they are very useful for toddlers as well (Oopa Baby slings accommodate children up to 35 pounds). The world can be a scary place for toddlers, and when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to, they often feel more confident. Toddlers are also prone to becoming over-stimulated, and a ride in the sling helps to soothe and comfort them before (or after!) a melt-down occurs. Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents and other caregivers. Slings are a useful tool for everyone in baby's life. Fathers and other caregivers lack the automatic “headstart to bonding” mothers enjoy through pregnancy, but that doesn't mean they can't make up for this once baby is born. Cuddling up close in a sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for that baby to get to know you. Thanks to www.Pookababy.com and Koala Mamas for the inspiration for this section.