Monday, January 26, 2009

Wearing Your Baby is Healthy for Both Baby and Mom

By Katie Wilber

Whether you're a new parent or you have children, its not secret that babies love to be held. The old rules of parenting require babies to learn to be on their own, set them on the floor, in a playpen, bouncy chair or swing and let them figure it out. Yet more and more parents are finding that this not only results in an unhappy child, it results in an unhappy parent. The solution, adopt a practice held around the world, and wear your baby.

Baby Wearing Defined

So what exactly is baby wearing? It is exactly what it sounds like - placing your baby in a sling or a carrier and wearing them. The concept of baby wearing is part of the attachment parenting philosophy which believes a strong emotional bond with parents during childhood means better relationships with others in adulthood.

Baby Wearing Benefits

No more tears. A study performed in 1986 determined that babies who are worn cry 43% less than babies who are not worn. But you don't need science to tell you what you already know. You know that your baby stops crying when you pick them up, right?

Babies who are worn learn more. The theory is simple, when a baby is discontent, crying and fussing; they're not paying attention to the world around them. However, when they're content and feeling safe and secure, they are free to explore the world around them.

Multi-tasking. Baby wearing is the single best way to keep your baby safe and secure in your arms while at the same time being able to take care of all those daily tasks which require both hands.

Safe sleeping position and less risk of misshapen heads. Wearing your baby provides them a safe sleeping position, much like the pediatric association recommended position, which helps prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. However unlike sleeping on their back, the recommended position, sleeping in a baby carrier doesn't put pressure on the back of their soft heads. The result is a baby who is much less likely to develop that telltale flat spot on the back of their head.

Baby wearing helps combat postpartum depression. When babies are held closely and often a mother's progesterone levels increase. This increase in hormones helps mother's form a stronger bond with their babies. This strong bond and increase in hormone levels are exactly what a mother needs to help combat the occurrence of postpartum depression.

Finally, its much easier for moms who are breastfeeding to accomplish this task privately while wearing their baby Its hands free breastfeeding which means multitasking moms are able to get more done during the day.

Not all baby wearers are created equal. Make sure the baby carrier or sling you invest in is a safe one which allows for proper support and positioning. Used correctly a baby wearer provides busy parents the ability to both bond with their baby as well as get things done and babies grow up feeling safe and secure.

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