Why You Should Wear Your Baby~Babywearing Benefits

One of my favorite words of advice for a new mom is “get a baby carrier!”  I have been wearing my own babies since my oldest was tiny, eleven years ago.  Maybe you are thinking, “what does that even mean?” Or maybe you have seen a mom wearing her baby or toddler in one of those contraptions and you are curious as to what it is.  Well, I am excited to share some benefits of babywearing with you.

Baby wearing is exactly that, wearing your baby. This keeps baby close while giving mama or another caregiver free hands to do other things. There are many different carriers available to wear your baby, each has its own purpose and benefits.  Most babywearers have their favorite baby carrier for different reasons, but that is really another entire post.

I started wearing my babies when my oldest was very little. At first I had no idea what I was doing, but I started learning from videos and other babywearers.  Eleven years and four babies later, I can’t imagine not wearing my babies.

Here are just some of the reasons I babywear…

It makes life so easy!

First of all I can keep my baby close to me while still doing everyday tasks like laundry or making dinner.  Baby can be my little cuddle bug while I am playing with or chasing my toddler. I can enjoy my exercise, walks or hikes without pushing a cumbersome stroller, or I can use the extra space in my shopping cart for groceries.

I can even wear my toddler.  This is so great when she is cranky or tired.  After a long day at the store or the park, I know my toddler’s tired legs could use a break.  I also loved using a ring sling with a toddler for a quick in and out errand. It kept her close to me so I could get my errand done quickly without worrying about a stroller or a cart or a wandering toddler.

It is good for baby!

Baby is content being in mama’s arms.  Baby feels comfortable and comforted. There are studies that say babywearing is good for cognitive development.  Babywearing can help prevent colic. Another benefit for baby is that baby sleeps well next to mama. As a result wearing baby can help stabilize heart rate and temperature in the baby. Babywearing can prevent flat head syndrome and hip dysplasia. (source)

I used to get asked a lot if wearing my babies hindered their physical development.  Most commonly, the question was “how will your baby ever walk if you hold him/her all the time?” When I first heard that, I admit, I freaked out a bit.  I did some research and found that babywearing can actually help with gross motor skills. It turned out I had no reason to worry. Three out of my four babies started walking at 10 months old, and my fourth baby started walking right at a year old.

It is good for mama!

I will admit, one of the reasons I wear my babies so much is because I like it!  It keeps baby close to me and helps with bonding, and it offers so much convenience. Babywearing makes breastfeeding easier out in public. It also helps to increase milk supply; when baby is so close, mama notices feeding cues and can feed on demand.  Another benefit for mama is that wearing baby also helps to reduce the incidence of postpartum depression.

Babywearing also helps me to connect with other like-minded mamas.  I have a babywearing meeting that I try to go to once a month. While I’m there I can chat with other mamas that like to wear their babies too.  I also find that if we have babywearing in common, we often have other things in common. One mama acquaintance once asked me a question about breastfeeding.  It caught me off guard, and I asked her why she would think to ask me that specific question. She responded that she read in a book that if a mom was wearing a baby in a ring sling, they would likely be a breastfeeding mama too.  While that is not true for every mama, I found it fascinating that she found me this way. We ended up becoming friends.

These are some of the reasons that I like to wear my babies and why I recommend to other mamas that they wear their babies too.  Of course there are some amazingly smart people who have done research on the benefits of babywearing and the science behind all these benefits.  You can check out a cool infographic on 23 different scientific benefits here.

If you are local to me (Northeast Indiana, specifically Marion and Grant County) be sure to check out the local babywearing group. They meet once a month at the library and have a large lending library of baby carriers that you can rent for three weeks. Many knowledgeable moms are there to help you troubleshoot any issues that you may have, or they can help you find a carrier that is right for you. Join the Facebook group to find out more information. There is also a Babywearers of Northeast Indiana group that meets in Fort Wayne.

Jenn Mandura is a Birth and Postpartum Doula in Northeast Indiana.  She strives to educate and empower her clients to have the birth and postpartum experience that they desire.   She enjoys yoga, donuts, and hiking with her husband and four kiddos. You can find out more about the services Jenn offers here.  She would love to connect with you on facebook here. Or feel free to contact her.