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EXCERPTS FROM
BABYWEARING
by Maria
Blois, M.D.
Babywearing is Good for Babies
Biologically, babies
need to be carried in order to thrive. Studies have shown
that otherwise well nourished and cared for infants who are deprived
of human touch fail to thrive and can even die. Good things happen
when baby is carried. Research shows that babies who are held
often:
-
cry less:
Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they
cry. The long-term consequences of letting infants cry without
responding are just beginning to be understood. One study found
that letting babies cry permanently alters the nervous system by
flooding the developing brain with stress hormones. This makes
these babies overly sensitive to future trauma and may lead to
incidents of post-traumatic stress and panic disorders in
adulthood. Babies who cry less in the first few months cry less
in the following year. Responding quickly to your crying baby
is an investment – the less she cries now the more peaceful the
upcoming year. Well worth it.
-
are more calm and
content: Carried babies have a more even respiratory rate,
heart rate and steady internal body temperature. Even very tiny
premature babies can be carried safely in a sling without danger
of compromised breathing or heart rate. Regularly carrying a
baby encourages baby to feel secure and content.
-
sleep more
peacefully: Keeping baby close helps baby organize his
sleep/wake cycles. Naptimes are spent in constant motion, close
to mother’s heart and night time is dark and still with a loved
parent near by. This helps baby make a difference between
daytime and nighttime, an important step in sleeping longer
stretches at night. One study of premature infants found that
babies had longer intervals of quiet sleep when they had
skin-to-skin contact with mother.
-
nurse better, gain
weight better: Research has shown that premature babies who
are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than
babies who are not. Full-term babies nurse more frequently when
they are carried close to mother.
-
enjoy better
digestion: The constant motion and frequent small feedings
associated with carrying baby can promote good digestion.
Babies who are carried often spit up less. Babies with
gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) can benefit from being
carried in the upright position after a feeding. When baby is
upright, the force of gravity helps the acid stay down in the
stomach where it belongs. Most babies outgrow this condition.
-
develop better:
Babies who are held experience human touch and movement. This
stimulation has been shown to have a positive effect on the
baby’s development. Carrying baby enhances motor skills by
stimulating the vestibular system (used for balance). Baby
constantly readjusts as mother moves around, using his
developing muscles to hold his head up, kick his feet and use
his arms to cling to mother. Because soft carriers keep pressure
off the back of the head, carried babies are at a much lower
risk for plagiocephaly (asymmetrical head shape). Carrying baby
naturally limits the time baby spends in hard plastic carriers,
such as carseats, automatic swings, and such. Holding baby while
moving counts as “tummy time.”
There are other physical
advantages of being carried for baby. Babywearing can be kind to
baby’s developing hip joints. Baby hips are unique in that
formation is not complete at birth. The acetabulum, or the ball and
socket joint of the hip, continues to develop for the first few
months of life. When baby straddles our front or our back, his legs
are said to be in the abducted position, or turned out from
the hips. This position aids in healthy hip development. In fact,
children with congenital hip dysplasia are often placed in this
position to help correct the problem.
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