Why on earth would YOU babywear?
Why on earth would you babywear?
Babywearing is a fun, loving and sometimes addictive tool for parenting our babies.
I remember as soon as I found out what they were, I wanted a carrier for my first baby. It didn't matter that it was a little frontpack, I was heart-burstingly proud to wear my baby on our walks and it was one of the few things that kept him happy.
Why do you wear YOUR baby? Or why would you, when they're born?
BONDING
Skin to skin contact with baby triggers the release of hormones in mum, specifically oxytocin and prolactin. Oxytocin (the love drug!) gives us that warm cosy feeling and reinforces the deepening bond between mother and baby. Fathers can bond by wearing their baby in a carrier, giving them a chance to settle baby their way, and give mum a breather.
But what about those mothers for whom bonding doesn't happen straight away? Increasing numbers of mothers in New Zealand give birth via cesearean, and miss out on the immediate hormone release set off by a vaginal birth. Skin to skin as soon as possible after birth will help mum and baby get to know each other's touch and smell. Babywearing regularly in the early days helps mum carry her baby without putting undue stress on her scar and stitches.
BABY'S NEED FOR TOUCH
Babies are born craving their mother's touch, smell and prescense. They know instinctually that without her, they are in trouble. Not so different from the cavebabies they used to be! Michel Odent says that the worst possible thing for a newborn is to be separated from his mother. Yet it happens all the time in hospitals for a multitude of reasons. We can help this by wearing our baby in the Kangaroo Care model if in SCBU or NICU. We can wear our baby around hospital if we are recovering from a Cesearean, and once we are home the more babywearing the better! Jean Leidloff calls the 3 month post-partum period 'The Fourth Trimester', and with good reason. You are still baby's main habitat, even on the outside. You provide baby's three main necessities of warmth, food and comfort. Babies are made to cling to us, just like the baby mammals they are. A carrier facilitates this.
SAFETY
Many mothers babywear for safety reasons: Their toddler may be a runner and they need handsfree to fetch them back. A friend of mine with twins says her sling was a lifesaver- her boys would split and run in the carpark and the baby was safely tucked on her chest so she could retreive the older two.
Babywearing is very useful in those early days when you suspect you'll doze off settling the baby rocking in your chair at 3am- put baby in your stretchy wrap and you don't have to worry! Likewise for Caesar mums- you can sleep with baby on your chest reclining in bed, and don't have to wait for a nurse to hand your baby over from the box.
Babywearing is great for your baby's hip health, keeping the ball of the femur nicely tucked in the hip socket.
FAMILY LIFE
Babywearing is fantastic if you're a sibling. Mum CAN read you that book, she CAN take you to the park and she CAN give you a cuddle when she's wearing your baby sister.
It doesn't have to be mum doing the wearing: Dad can settle baby, or extended family members can help out when baby's older.
Babies and toddlers have a much better view when they're being worn. Take places like the Zoo or Aquariums for instance. In a stroller they have a good view of the wall, bars or shrubs. Put them in a carrier and they're up with you enjoying what YOU can see, with you able to give a commentary along the way. What amazing learning they'll be doing, soaking up the view with you!
PRACTICALITY ON OUTINGS
Sometimes a carrrier is just the better option for the activity you're doing. A hike up a steep bush track isn't going to be that fun with a stroller, it's just not. Pop Mr 6 months in your Ergo and the world's your oyster! It's also a well-known fact that shopping in Farmers is much more fun with a frontpack or sling, than trying to fit your pram in those crowded aisles. The Farmer's Market is brilliant if you have a carrier AND a pram- fill it with your goods for the walk home!
Babywearing at big events is an amazing peace of mind: you don't have to keep doing a head count or worry your toddler has wandered away.
CULTURE
Babies can be worn in all sorts of carriers depending on your culture-most will have their own specific carrier, but if they don't, there are many ways to wear your baby in what you have at home. A Lavalava makes an amazing baby sling, and such vibrant patterns to use! Indian Saris are also a beautiful sling, perfect for weddings and special occasions too.
AP MOVEMENT IN SOCIETY
Attachment Parenting has enjoyed a rise in popularity recently, providing a supportive environment for parents to follow their intuition and instincts. While Babywearing is a part of this umbrella term, it can exist separately from it as well. I consider it a nice gateway to becoming attuned to your baby. The important thing is, you don't have to BE purely an Attachment Parent, to wear your baby. Babywearing can suit everyone. Babywearing can be done purely for the convenience, without overthinking the purpose. You can babywear as much or little as you like, without being in or out of the 'club'!
GETTING BABIES OUT OF RECEPTICLES
Babywearing is perhaps the most important for babies who would otherwise miss out on physical contact. Not all of us are instantly comfortable in motherhood, it seems we are expected to parent in isolation. Add to this a horrible birth experience and being constantly told by society and well-meaning friends and family to put the baby down, put them to sleep on their own etc. So many babies potentially spend a large portion of their lives in capsules or bouncers. If they don't protest, they are deemed 'happy', and left there as long as possible.
Babywearing can meet the needs of parents to get stuff done and keep baby happy, while baby enjoys the physical closeness a carrier provides.
ATTENTION BABYWEARING PURISTS !
Once you've found out more about babywearing, you'll most likely become very passionate about it, how it helps you in everyday life and what a joy it is. Do share it around and let people know how amazing it is. You'll probably inspire more than a few mums to go home and google 'weird rainbow wrap' and get hooked!
But remember, (bag slings excepted) any babywearing is good- from frontpacks to rainbow wraps, it all counts as babywearing and our babies certainly know where they'd rather be, regardless of their hip position or silk thread count of the wrap!
GET THEE HITHER TO YOUR LOCAL BABYWEARING GROUP!
This is perhaps one of the most motivating and inspiring things you can do for your babywearing. It really helps to get out and meet other parents at different stages in their journey, using different carriers from you. Have a look on the Group page on the Slingbabies website for more details on how to find your local group.
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