When I was pregnant with my first baby and I talked about babywearing with my Mum she rolled her eyes and said something along the lines of… ‘oh and here goes another trendy thing for the new baby’ – Babywearing isn’t a new thing at all, mothers through time and across the world have always carried their babies in lots of different ways.
The benefits of babywearing:
- Supports the fourth trimester – human babies are in essence born too early in comparison to other mammals. The first three months of a baby’s life is known as the 4th trimster which is when the baby requires frequent feeding, nurturing and lots of intermittent sleep. Carrying your baby supports these needs and by keeping the baby close, the mother is able to look after herself and others whilst intergrating the new baby into everyday life.
- Your baby loves to be close to you – ever thought to yourself, why doesn’t my baby ever want to be put down? Well, the gentle movement of being carried is soothing to them, the closeness to their mother is reasurring for them and the upright position is brilliant for helping ease any tummy, wind or reflux discomforts.
- Bonding – everyone can enjoy babywearing, not just parents but grandparents and caregiv ers too. The baby can feel your heartbeat, your warmth, your smell and in return you get to touch, kiss and smell your baby which are all known to boost bonding.
- Hands-free – being able to get out and about becomes so much easier when babywearing. So many places are still inaccessible with a pushchair, especially if you’re still by yourself… trains, airports, stairs, beaches etc. Simple tasks like going for walks or doing the food shop are so much easier to navigate without a pushchair. It is also a lifesaver if your baby is particularly clingy.
Babies that are carried tend to cry less and sleep longer!
For more top tips for those early days with your new addition, check out my website or follow my Instagram: Pregnancy Yoga & Hypnobirthing (@sallyjustexhale) • Instagram photos and videos
