Developmental Benefits of Baby Wearing
Have a little one who doesn’t like to be put down? Still need to get dinner on the table? Maybe your big kids want to be out and about, so your newbie needs to nap on the go? Enter: baby wearing. We asked our friends at Solly Baby to share their favorite benefits of baby wearing and how it can impact your little one’s development.
Collectively their our team of moms has worn their babies for thousands (and that’s not an exaggeration!) of hours, so we’re happy to hand it over to the experts. Keep reading for a deep dive into the benefits of baby wearing.
Parents around the world carry their babies for countless reasons, not least of which is the convenience it offers. When you can keep your little one close (and thus content!) and have two hands free to fold laundry, cook dinner, homeschool older siblings, go to the bathroom (it’s practically a rite of passage!), etc., it’s easy to see why so many moms and dads are quick to get on board.
But once you’ve experienced baby wearing firsthand, you know it’s the connection that keeps you coming back for more. When baby is wrapped up next to you, you’re able to feel their chest rise and fall against yours, smell their intoxicating newborn scent, and quickly recognize and respond to their cues. Plus, baby can hear and feel your familiar heartbeat, be lulled to sleep by your movement, and learn to trust you as their caretaker. Think of baby wearing as a fast pass to bonding that will last for years to come.
And the benefits don’t end there! Baby wearing can reduce infant crying by up to 43% (forty-two percent!), calm gas and reflux, improve sleep, prevent plagiocephaly (flat head syndrome), facilitate mom’s milk production, combat postpartum depression, increase paternal involvement, and more. But the truth is: We’d do it just for the cozy hug it feels like baby is giving you the entire time they’re wrapped up.
There’s a lot of instant gratification that comes with baby wearing (the settling after a crying jag, that aforementioned baby hug…) but there are long term reasons to wear baby as well.
Baby wearing gives your little one a front-row seat to your interactions with others, boosting their social awareness and skills. Plus, you’re more likely to chat aloud to baby when they’re right there with you—and the more they hear, the better their developing language skills.
When baby is properly wrapped in the ‘M’ position (think bum below their knees), it can promote optimal hip development and ease pressure on their joints. Baby wearing can also activate baby’s vestibular (balance and motion) and proprioceptive (awareness of their position in space) systems. All good things for their present and future selves!
When you’re looking to give baby the best start at life (and yourself the best start at parenthood), finding a supportive wrap or carrier you both love is a worthwhile investment in your relationship that promises many happy returns as you navigate your journey together.
want to try babywearing?
Solly Baby is the leading baby wrap brand. Designed for the first year of baby’s life, the lightweight and buttery-soft Solly Baby Wrap can be used with newborns through 25 lbs.
Have more questions? Send us an email at support@cerebelly.com and we will be sure to get back to you!
