Guide to Babywearing: Benefits, Safety Tips and How To

What Is Baby Wearing?

If you are looking for baby products, you might get confused and overwhelmed by the plethora of brands and products available in the market. One of the most popular baby products is the baby carrier. Even though the words baby carrier and babywear sound modern, they has been prevalent in our country for a very long period of time. This practice was widely followed in Asian, African, and European cultures.

Why do many people babywear? Many people believe that babywearing helps with many baby factors, including the baby’s health and mood. Babywearing has become popular in recent decades. Part of the reason for its popularity is the influence of the parenting philosophy called Attachment Parenting (AP).


Attachment Parenting (AP)

Attachment Parenting is a modern parenting philosophy developed by American Pediatrician William Sears. It is based on the concept of attachment theory and emphasises that physical and emotional bond is vital between the infant and parents.

 

Benefits Of Baby Wearing

There are many benefits you can get from babywearing. If you go and ask a parent who babywear their kids, you might be flooded with a long list of benefits they get through babywearing. While research on these benefits is still limited, many people believe that babywearing has a positive effect on the infant and the parent. Some of the benefits of babywearing are as follows.

Healthy Babies

Many people believe that skin-to-skin contact between the mother and the child has numerous health benefits for the baby. Constant physical and emotional support promotes healthy growth in babies.

Premature babies (babies born before 37 weeks) can benefit through babywearing. Studies prove that wearing the babies close can help regulate their heartbeat, temperature and breathing patterns. This method is called kangaroo care or kangaroo mother care.

Less Crying

Having more physical contact with the mother gives the infant a more secure and warm environment. This inadvertently results in less crying and fussing of the babies. Studies show that babies who are carried cry less by 43% during the day. They also cried 51% less during the night, which can be a big boon to mothers who wish for a good night's sleep.

Helps With Bonding

You might sometimes find it challenging to connect and understand a young, pre-verbal baby. While babywearing does not entirely solve this problem, having your baby close to you for an extended period of time can help you understand the small gestures and sounds the baby makes. You can get to know if the baby is hungry, sleepy or needs a diaper change.

Having your baby close to you helps strengthen the bond between you and your little one. A baby doesn’t expect anything from you. Just holding it close to you and making it feel loved will increase the bond between you two.

Aids in Breastfeeding

Babywearing makes breastfeeding more convenient. If you are a nursing mother, you might find it easier to breastfeed if your baby is close to your chest. You can also know when your baby is hungry and feed them accordingly. This is called responsive feeding. Responsive feeding is when you feed your babies based on their hunger cues rather than do it on a schedule or wait for them to cry.

Did you know?

A study showed that mothers who babywear are most likely to practice responsive feeding and are most likely to be feeding when their babies are 6 months old compared to mothers who don’t.

Helps You Multi-task

We all know that babies seek attention. They like to be fussed over and held all the time. Babywearing helps you give them the attention they need while you can keep your hands free and do your work comfortably. You can do the laundry, play with your older children or even do some mild exercises.

Is Baby Wearing Safe?

Just like any other thing related to baby care, there is a right way and wrong way to approach babywearing. The main aspect to focus on in babywearing is the baby’s comfort and making sure it is not suffocated. You should pay close attention to the size and type of the carrier. Ensure the carrier is breathable and supports the baby’s neck and back.

It will be easier and safer to use baby carriers if you are aware of what the babywearing experts call the “T.I.C.K.S.” of babywearing.

T - Tight. Keep the sling or carrier tight enough to keep the baby close to you. Remember, keep it tight, but not too tight.

I - In view at all times. Always keep the baby within your line of sight. You should be able to see the baby when you lower your head without having to turn or move the carrier.

C - Close enough to kiss. Your baby’s head should be as close to your chin as possible. You should be able to kiss the baby’s head when you lower your chin.

K - Keep chin off chest. Make sure there is a gap of about two fingers between your baby’s chin and chest. If you place them in a good upright position with their spine curved and legs squatting, it is less likely that their chin will drop.

S - Supported back. Your baby’s back should be supported by the carrier so they don’t slump or curve into a ‘C’ shape. Keep the baby close to you so you can adjust their position.

Baby carriers will be used for a longer period of time. So while focusing on your baby's comfort, be sure to focus on your comfort as well. Improperly worn baby carriers can cause back pain or injury.

Types of Baby Carriers

There are several varieties of baby carriers or slings that you can use for your babies. Each one will work better depending on your baby's needs and age. The factors that determine the type of baby carrier you choose are;

1. The age and size of your baby
2. Your body type
3. Your personal preference and comfort
4. Your budget

No matter which type of carrier you use, make sure you read the instructions carefully and understand how to use it.

Baby Wraps

This is probably the most comfortable and versatile type of baby carrier. A baby wrap is a long piece of cloth that you can use to wrap your baby to your chest or back. They come in two varieties - stretchy wrap and woven wrap.

Soft  Wrap

This long piece of cloth is also called ‘soft wrap’. It is made from a cotton and lycra or spandex blend. Due to the material, this stretchy wrap is more appropriate for carrying younger babies.

Woven Wrap

The major difference between a stretchy wrap and a woven wrap is the material used to make it. The fabric of woven wrap is more sturdy, allowing you to carry larger babies or toddlers.

It is better to learn and practice how to wrap and tie the cloth around yourself perfectly before using it to carry the baby.

Ring Sling

A ring sling, the smallest of all carriers, is made of sturdy woven material and worn on one shoulder. It is easy to use as you just have to put it on and place your baby inside the pocket near the abdomen. You can use the rings to adjust the sling to fit you better.

Ring slings are easy to use and portable. However, you might find the pressure on your one shoulder uncomfortable if you use it for a longer period of time. To avoid that, you can shift the sling to another shoulder from time to time.

Meh Dai

Meh dai, pronounced as ‘may tie’, is a type of baby carrier that originated in Asia. They are made with a rectangular fabric and straps that you can tie over the waist and shoulders. You can wear them on your front, back and hip. They can be used to carry both infants and toddlers and is adjustable enough for your comfort.

Soft Structured Carriers

This type of baby carrier is easy to use and comes with straps, buckles and padding for a comfortable fit for babies of different sizes and ages. A soft structured carrier can be worn on the front, back and hip. They are almost similar to a backpack, where you can place your baby and adjust the straps accordingly.

How to Baby Wear?

How you wear your baby carrier depends upon the type of carrier you use and the size and age of your baby. It would be better to get help from a babywearing parent or caretaker and understand the process better. Your and your baby’s safety is of utmost importance, so make sure to read the instructions thoroughly before using the carrier.

Now that you know that babywearing is different for newborns and toddlers, here are some tips on how to babywear for newborns and toddlers.

For Newborns

Newborns generally weigh over 3 or more kg when they are born. There are no medical concerns regarding wearing newborns, so they can be worn immediately.

A stretchy wrap will be more comfortable to use at this stage. The soft material will be comfortable for the baby. For a soft structured carrier, use a newborn insert for a better fit.

Make sure you can see your baby’s face while carrying them.

For Toddlers

If you are using a wrap, a woven wrap will be more suitable for toddlers than a stretchy wrap.

You can also try shifting your toddlers to your hip or back at this stage. Be careful when you shift your baby to your back. You can also get someone to help with it.

As babies grow, they become more aware of their surroundings and would want to go out and see the world. So get a suitable baby carrier and go explore the world with your little one.

Baby Wearing With Twins

So far, we have seen how you can use baby carriers for a single baby. But what if you got twins? Can you babywear with twins? Well, the answer is a big “Yes”. here’s how you can babywear twins;

The simplest way to babywear twins would be to buy two soft structured carriers and wear one baby on the front and one on the back. This method might not be suitable for newborns.

You can also find tutorials online on how to babywear twins using a long woven wrap carrier. You may want to get help from your partner or friend during the first few tries.

Where To Buy Quality Baby Carriers?

Now that we have seen what babywearing is and the benefits of babywearing, the next step would be to find a place where you can buy quality baby carriers. At 1st Step, we provide breathable baby carriers made of soft fabric that provides comfort and safety for both the parent and the baby.

1st Step is one of the best brands to buy baby carriers online. Our baby carriers come with adjustable straps and six comfortable carrying positions. They are designed to provide full support to the baby’s head, neck, spine and hips.

Conclusion

Babywearing has been practised for several hundreds of years throughout the world, and there is a good reason for that. Babywearing is beneficial not only to the baby but also to the parent. It is safe, cost-effective, and practical and helps grow the bond between the baby and the parent.

Hope this blog solved all your doubts regarding babywearing. To shop for baby carriers or other baby and kids-related products at 1st Step, visit us at www.1ststep.com