This is from Wikipedia:
Dr. William Sears, a pediatrician, coined the phrase attachment parenting.
One of Sears' principles of attachment parenting is babywearing and he
attributes many benefits to babywearing and the in-arms style of
parenting.
Benefits of babywearing include:
- Mothers' oxytocin is increased through physical contact with the infant, leading to a more intimate maternal bond, easier breastfeeding and better care, thus lowering the incidence of postpartum depression and psychosomatic illness in the mother.[2]
- Infants who are carried are calmer because all of their primal/survival needs are met. The caregiver can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, tasted, provide feeding and the motion necessary for continuing neural development, gastrointestinal and respiratory health and to establish balance (inner ear development) and muscle tone is constant.[3]
- Infants are more organized. Parental rhythms (walking, heartbeat, etc.) have balancing and soothing effects on infants.
- Infants are "humanized" earlier by developing socially. Babies are closer to people and can study facial expressions, learn languages faster and be familiar with body language.[4]
- Independence is established earlier.[3]
- Attachment between child and caregiver is more secure.[5]
- Decreases risk of positional plagiocephaly ("flat head syndrome") caused by extended time spent in a car seat and by sleeping on the back. Sleeping on the back is recommended to decrease the risk of SIDS. Cranial distortion resulting from non-vehicular time in car seats has shown to be more severe than in children who develop plagiocephaly from back-lying on a mattress.[6] Concern over plagiocephaly has also led the American Academy of Pediatrics to recommend that infants “should spend minimal time in car seats (when not a passenger in a vehicle) or other seating that maintains supine positioning."[7] None of the babywearing positions require infants to lie supine while being carried. Infants can even be worn while they sleep, also decreasing sleeping time spent in a supine position.
I have never done baby wearing with my other children, but it is something I have told my hubby I would like to do with the next baby. I have no clue what kind of sling to use or how the slings work, I guess I will need to google some more information.
I would say that though I have never done baby wearing with my other children, I also never did the SWING with my other children. You know those parents who have a swing in the front room and they put the baby in it while they cook, clean, or take a shower. I always had my children in the kitchen with me in some sort of seat on the table talking with me as I cooked, or laying on my bed as I folded laundry, (I do not recall showering the first 6 months of having a child, ha ha ha). I became anti-swing when I worked at a daycare when I was 20 years old that was anti-swing. I also am not a mom who goes to church for 3 hours with the infant car-seat or stroller and puts my child in it. Therefore I have never done "baby wearing", I would have consider my parenting style "baby wearing". My baby is in my arms as much as possible and I think that is what is important about baby wearing.
I remember my parents use to tell me my oldest daughter would never walk because I held her ALL the TIME! They were kinda right she did not walk until 15 months, but now she is all most 8 years old and a smart, happy, all around perfect child! Wish she was still small enough to hold ALL the time!
Whats your thoughts on baby wearing?
I also would much rather carry/hold my baby at church instead of carry him/her in a car seat. Even when I do carry the car seat into the church, they are out of that thing almost immediately so I can watch and 'play' with them. :) I HIGHLY recommend a moby wrap if you are considering a sling/carrier of some kind. (I always used the newborn/infant hug hold). I don't really like the sling style carriers because I always feel like my baby isn't comfortable in them. The Moby is AWESOME! It is a bit cumbersome to put on, but once you know the basic wrap it's so easy! And it lets your hands be free for dishes, meal prep, etc. (Same as any carrier, I guess). :) I also have an Ergo, which is fine, but I didn't like it as much. It was actually harder on my back than the Moby. I would buy 100 Moby's if I could. lol
ReplyDeleteOh, and I don't feel like my baby is going to fall out when I bend over. ;)
ReplyDeleteSarah, I'm excited about your new blog! I love your term, involvement parenting! So right on! I use cloth diapers, co-sleep & wear my babies ... but I don't consider myself a crunchy, hippie mama. I used a sling with David when he was a newborn (he'll be 4 next month), but it killed my back (& the one I used has since been recalled). I loved having him close to me, especially at church with grabby ladies who were notorious for "stealing" your baby while at church. I have used the Ergo with my own little Sarah (she's about 7.5 months now) & she loves it, I love it & it really helps me continue to be an involved parent to my son. My kids are little cuddlers & I LOVE it! It's very easy to use & I like how it distributes weight to my hips, not just on my back. I considered using a moby, but passed since I didn't think it would be so great for my back. Honestly, I didn't look into it very much at the time, but I have heard the best things about the moby, especially for newborns.
ReplyDelete