The Benefits of Baby-wearing
If you wound back the clock 15 years, you would have been hard-pressed to find a Tula or Moby anywhere other than the internet. But now, on the eve of 2020, babywearing is no longer seen as an "alternative" method of transport and caretaking. Babywearing has become mainstream, to the point that Target, the second-largest retailer in the US, has several kinds of babywearing devices on hand.
It took some time for babywearing to become included as an option for parents who were not attracted to the "attachment parenting" philosophy. But now it is. Babywearing is seen not as an indicator of a value system or parenting worldview, but now as a helpful tool that is both functional, and beneficial to parents and babies alike.
Here are some of the benefits that have made babywearing a modern choice for families in all locations and incomes:
Ease of Travel: Strollers can be cumbersome and bulky. Wearing your baby requires a device that can often be stored in a backpack when not in use, and when in use, still allows for the use of your hands
It can reduce crying in babies (and moms). Having your baby close is physically soothing to the parent and child. Cortisol levels go down, and Oxytocin levels go up, helping your child to feel safe and protected. Physical touch can happen with much less work on the parent's part, and when the parent can be in a calm, relaxed state, that transfers easily to their child.
Great for cognitive and emotional development. When your child is close to you, you can notice and respond to subtle hints of curiosity. Being close to language and witnessing cultural cues is a part of learning a language as much as building vocabulary, which is also more likely to happen with increased exposure.
An excellent way for ALL caregivers to bond with their babies. Skin-to-skin isn't only a benefit to the birthing person in a relationship! Being close to a partner or grandparent is one great way to induce feelings of connection. And for birthing people, there is the added potential benefit of reducing the risk of postpartum depression and anxiety.
I personally would never have survived parenthood without my wearing my babies. When I support clients as their doula, I often show them how to use their carriers at our postpartum follow-up appointment. I highly recommend a wrap-style carrier for the newborn phase, clients tell me constantly that they are an absolute game-changer for them! There are several Kansas City area baby-wearing groups that meet regularly meet to help parents find the perfect baby carrier for them during each phase of growth and development as well.