Before motherhood, I never thought twice about being the mom with her kid in a bright-colored wrap sling thing — that hippy stuff was not for me.
But in my pursuit of organic motherhood — being honest with myself + following my gut + being open-minded to learning all kinds of parenting — I learned that I actually did want to wear my baby in a wrap.
The benefits were undeniable.
Knowing what I know now, I’m sharing the benefits of babywearing (and my favorite solid grey one), so that you can consider the practice for yourself.
And, to be honest, the bright colored wrap sling things still aren’t my style. But I can tie one of those wraps faster than a cowboy can draw his gun.
Well, maybe not that fast.
Wearing a baby is convenient.
I underestimated how much I use both of my hands throughout the day to do simple tasks. Carrying baby in a wrap freed up my hands for hours more than I would’ve been able to manage otherwise by just putting baby down in a lounger.
If you need to be on the computer for hours a day, this reason alone will change your life.
Wearing a baby promotes baby’s physical development.
Regular babywearing helps baby’s balance + muscle development. They have a safe environment for learning head + neck control.
Babies that are worn are happier.
Regular babywearing lowers + stabilizes stress hormones. Babies who are carried regularly cried 43% less + 54% less during evening hours.
Babywearing is healthy for mom.
Regular babywearing strengthens moms core muscles, which is one less thing we need to be additionally intentional about post-birth. I felt that the pressure of baby secured to me in those early months acted as one of those postpartum belly-bands. I found I walked + stood more when I wore baby in a wrap — which is great for postural alignment. Chiropractors would much rather us be moving + standing than sedentary throughout the day.
Babywearing helps parent + baby communicate.
Being close to baby helped me learn her subtle cues. I gained so much confidence learning when she was hungry, full, sleepy, or needing comfort.
Our heartbeats also sync up when close together, which doubles as a calming factor for baby because it replicates the womb atmosphere.
Babywearing is a bonding tool for non-mom caregivers (fathers, grandparents + caregivers).
This is my #1 suggestion for how parents can increase their bond with their new baby.
Babywearing reduces the need for a space-consuming stroller.
I found that I preferred to wear baby in crowded places. I loved having her close to me + I found that strangers were less likely to try to touch or engage with my baby if she was on my body as opposed to being seated in the stroller.
Now, I LOVE my stroller + it definitely has its place in our family. We use our stroller twice a day around the neighborhood for walks, but in those fragile newborn days, I much preferred babywearing.
What benefits have you found to babywearing?
Help me add to this list for curious moms!
