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Baby Wearing!What is Baby Wearing?Baby wearing is carrying your Bub in a sling or carrier for long periods during the day. It provides a nurtured, desirable environment for your Bub without compromising your busy life style, allowing you to complete your normal daily routine. In western cultures many believe that carrying your baby will lead to them being clingy, spoilt and too dependent. However research reveals the opposite.
There are many emotional and physical benefits to Baby Wearing. Below is a summary of a few:
Emotional Benefits of Baby WearingFor Baby: · Increases parent-infant bonding
· Bubs feel safe and secure
· Decreases the levels of stress hormones circulating in the bubs blood stream
· Reduces crying and fussiness by up to 51%
· Carried bubs fall asleep quickly and will usually sleep deeper and for longer periods
· Sling bubs are less clingy because they are more secure, confident and self reliant
For the Parent/Carer:
· Increases parent-infant bonding
· Increased freedom of being able to look after your bub while still getting on with everyday tasks
· Increased sense of control
Physical Benefits of Baby WearingFor Baby: · Increases bub’s cardiac output, improves circulation, promotes respiration and aids in digestion
· Reduces symptoms of colic and reflux
· Enhances motor skills by stimulating the bub’s Vestibular System (balance organs)
· Develops the muscles needed for the infant to sit, stand and walk
For the Parent/Carer:
· Increased breast milk supply by being in close contact with your baby
· Parent’s muscular strength develops in relation to the bubs growing weight
Cognitive Benefits of Baby WearingFor Baby: · When a Bub is carried in a carrier/sling for prolonged periods in a day, they spend more time than usual in a ‘quiet and alert state’ – the ideal state for learning
For the Parent/Carer:
· Parents learn to understand bub’s tired/hungry/unsettled etc signs faster as they are in closer contact, giving parents/carers greater confidence
After all there is nothing that compares to having your Bub in your arms – the feeling of your sleeping new bub against your chest, the sweet smelling downy head under your nose. As many people say, ‘Enjoy is while it lasts, as they grow too quickly’.
Baby Wearing Products
Please note that the above information on Baby Wearing may or may not be relevant to your individual needs. There are many benefits of wearing your baby in a sling/carrier and there are also many benefits of them exploring safely (and supervised) their environment on their own. It is up to the individual to consider what works well for them. Related Articles: Tummy Time, Travelling with Children and Baby Sun Safety |


