Benefits of Babywearing: Enhancing Bonding and Comfort

The practice of babywearing has gained popularity in recent years, not just for its convenience but also for the numerous benefits it offers to both parents and babies.

We’ll delve into the various advantages of babywearing. From fostering a stronger bond between parent and child to aiding in a baby’s development and providing emotional security, the benefits are multifaceted.

Whether you’re considering babywearing or are looking to understand its impact, this guide will provide valuable insights into how this age-old practice can positively influence modern parenting.

Hello, I’m Maebh Collins, a seasoned baby carrier consultant with over two decades of experience. As a certified expert in both Trageschule and Slingababy, I’ve had the privilege of assisting thousands of families in their journey to find the perfect baby carrier. Welcome to a world of comfortable, confident babywearing!

Key Takeaways: Benefits of Babywearing

• Promotes bonding and attachment. Keeping your newborn baby close in a carrier can strengthen the emotional bond and provide comfort to your baby.
• Convenient for hands-free activities. Babywearing allows parents to carry out daily tasks while keeping their baby close.
• May help in reducing infant crying. Babies often feel more secure and calm when held close, which can lead to less crying.
• Supports breastfeeding discreetly and conveniently. Many carriers allow for comfortable and private breastfeeding.
• Encourages baby’s development. Being at adult eye level, babies can observe and learn from the environment around them.
• Improves wearer’s mobility and freedom. Navigating crowded or narrow spaces can be easier with a carrier compared to a stroller.
• Can be a soothing option for colicky babies. The upright position and movement can help soothe a baby with colic.
• Distributes baby’s weight evenly for the wearer. A well-designed carrier can make carrying newborn babies more comfortable for longer periods.
• Fosters a sense of security and comfort for the baby. Close physical contact provides reassurance and comfort to young babies.
• Can be used from newborn to toddler stages. Many carriers are designed to adapt as your baby grows, making them a versatile choice.

Benefits of Babywearing for the Baby

Babywearing provides a variety of benefits for both the parents and their babies.

1. Enhanced Physical Comfort and Security: Babywearing keeps your baby snuggly close to your body, providing a sense of security and emotional comfort. This closeness mimics the womb environment, offering a soothing effect.
2. Optimal Back and Airway Support: A properly fitted carrier ensures that your baby’s back is well-supported, maintaining a natural, upright position. This is crucial for spinal development and keeping the baby’s face and airway open for unobstructed breathing. Remember baby’s chin
   should never be sunk into their chest.
3. Reduced Risk of Flat Head Syndrome: Babywearing significantly lessens the chances of developing flat head syndrome, as it avoids prolonged pressure on the back of the baby’s head, unlike when they lie flat for extended periods.
4. Prevention of Hip Dysplasia: Proper babywearing encourages the correct hip positioning of baby’s legs in the baby sling, reducing the risk of hip dysplasia. An ergonomic carrier or baby wrap ensures that the baby’s hips are in a healthy “M” position, supporting natural hip development.
5. Alleviation of Reflux Symptoms: For infants with reflux, the upright position in babywearing can help ease discomfort. This position helps in managing reflux by keeping the baby’s head elevated.
6. Reduced Crying and Colic: Research indicates that increased carrying, as in babywearing, can significantly reduce the duration and frequency of crying and fussing, especially in the first three months. This is linked to increased contentment and a potential reduction in colic symptoms. Research notably, Hunziker-Barr study from 1986, titled “Increased Carrying Reduces Infant Crying: A Randomized Controlled Trial” which showed babywearing can reduce crying in a newborn baby by 43% overall.
7. Close Contact and Bonding: Babywearing promotes close contact between the caregiver and the baby. This proximity allows the baby to feel the caregiver’s heartbeat and breathing, providing a calming and reassuring effect. Such an environment is similar to the womb, which is beneficial for the baby’s emotional and psychological development. The Fetal Health Foundation notes that early life interactions, including those facilitated by babywearing, shape a child’s perception of the world and their ability to form and maintain relationships​​.
8. Kangaroo Care: A specific form of babywearing, known as Kangaroo Care (KC), involves placing an undressed baby on the caregiver’s bare chest. This practice has been shown to have numerous benefits, including greater physiological stability for the baby, improved sleep patterns, better weight gain, and more successful breastfeeding rates. For caregivers, KC increases the production of oxytocin, which fosters bonding and connectedness, and plays a role in mood and anxiety disorders, as well as in breastmilk production​​.
9. Therapeutic Benefits: While specific research on babywearing is somewhat limited, the therapeutic benefits of skin-to-skin care, which is an integral part of babywearing, are well-established. Babywearing is likely to be beneficial for children and caregivers, including those with disabilities or special needs​​.
10. Developmental Advantages: Babywearing facilitates the child’s exposure to varied social interactions and auditory experiences, which are crucial for social and language development. The Frontiers study highlights the importance of early language skills, noting that they are highly predictive of later academic success and achievements. The quality of parental interaction and the frequency of joint activities, as facilitated by babywearing, are critical for children’s language development. Maternal sensitivity and responsiveness to the child’s behavior and signals in mother-child interaction are particularly emphasized for their impact on children’s vocabulary and speech comprehension​
11. Enhanced Neural Development: While specific research directly linking babywearing to neural development is limited, the general therapeutic benefits of “skin-to-skin care” or “kangaroo care,” which are integral to babywearing, have been empirically established. These practices are likely beneficial for neural development, promoting cognitive growth and encouraging a sense of curiosity in infants. A scoping review on the biological and behavioral effects of babywearing included themes such as increased contact, responsiveness, secure attachment, and speech, vocalizations, and tempo, all of which contribute to a child’s overall development and learning environment​.

Benefits of Babywearing for the Parents

• Increases convenience and mobility. Babywearing allows parents to move freely and navigate crowded or narrow spaces more easily in everyday life than with a stroller.
• Facilitates multitasking and daily tasks. With hands-free convenience, parents can perform household tasks while keeping the baby safe and close.
• Promotes bonding and emotional connection. Close physical contact with the baby enhances parental bonding and attachment.
• Helps in managing postpartum depression. The closeness can boost oxytocin levels in parents, potentially aiding emotional well-being.
• Improves physical fitness and posture. Carrying a baby can be a form of gentle exercise, helping to strengthen the core and improve posture.
• Enables discreet and convenient breastfeeding. Many carriers are designed to support comfortable breastfeeding, offering privacy and ease.
• Reduces the need for bulky baby gear. Baby carriers are more portable and take up less space than strollers, ideal for travel or outings.
• Can soothe a fussy or colicky baby. The movement and closeness can calm a baby, making day-to-day parenting smoother.
• Strengthens awareness and responsiveness to baby’s needs. Being physically close helps parents quickly notice and respond to the baby’s cues and needs.
• Offers psychological benefits of close contact. The act of babywearing can increase parental confidence and reduce stress.

Closing Thoughts on Baby wearing

Babywearing is more than just a trend or a parenting fad; it has real benefits for both you and your little one. One such benefit is kangaroo care, which has been proven to promote parent-child bonding and even help your baby gain weight more quickly.

When you wear your baby, you’re also practicing tummy time, which pediatricians often recommend for the healthy development of muscles and motor skills. Plus, it’s a fantastic way to listen and respond to your child’s needs, making them feel more secure.

Be mindful about your baby’s safety while practicing babywearing in a soft structured carrier or any wrap carrier. Ensuring the correct positioning of baby’s hip joints is crucial in preventing issues such as developmental hip dysplasia. So, don’t hesitate to seek guidance from a professional or a fellow parent with experience in babywearing.

As your child grows into toddlerhood, babywearing can still be beneficial for you both. The transition to walking and exploring the world will be more manageable and enjoyable when your child has you nearby to provide support and guidance.

List of Studies Done on Benefits of Babywearing for further reading:

• Anisfield et al. (1990) explored whether infant carrying promotes attachment and found enhanced mother-infant bonding due to the high level of maternal touch associated with babywearing.
• Hunziker UA and Barr RG (1986) found that babywearing for three hours a day reduced infant crying by up to 54 percent.
• Field T et al. (2010) demonstrated that tactile stimulation leads to weight gain and an increase in bone density in preterm infants.
• Pelaez-Nogueras M et al. (1996) found that touch stimulation may compensate for a depressed mother’s flat vocal and facial expressions, positively impacting the baby.
• Pisacane A et al. (2012) showed that using baby carriers increased breastfeeding rates​​.
• Early Contact versus Separation: Effects on Mother–Infant Interaction One Year Later by K Bystrova et al., examining the long-term effects of skin-to-skin contact.
• Early skin-to-skin contact for mothers and their healthy newborn infants by ER Moore et al., assessing the effects on breastfeeding and physiological adaptation.
• Kangaroo Mother Care to prevent neonatal deaths due to preterm birth complications by Lawn et al., a systematic review looking at the effects of kangaroo mother care on neonatal mortality​​.

FAQS on Benefits of Baby Wearing / Using a Baby Carrier

Is babywearing good for your baby?

Babywearing can be very beneficial for your baby. It promotes bonding, provides comfort, and can help in regulating the baby’s heartbeat, breathing, and temperature. Being in close physical contact with a caregiver can be soothing and reassuring for infants, fostering a sense of security and emotional development. The upright position in baby wraps is good for digestion and can help reduce symptoms of colic and reflux.

Is it good to carry a baby around all the time?

While carrying a baby frequently can be beneficial for bonding and development, it’s also important to give them time to move freely on their own. This is crucial for their physical development, allowing them to explore their environment and develop motor skills. Balance is key – while carrying babies is useful, it should be complemented with sufficient tummy time and independent play.

How many hours a day should you babywear?

The appropriate amount of time for babywearing varies depending on the baby’s age, development, and individual needs. There’s no strict guideline on the number of hours, but it’s important to pay attention to the baby’s cues. If the baby seems happy and comfortable, and the caregiver is also comfortable, babywearing can be continued. However, ensure that the baby also has time for other activities and movements throughout the day. If babies cry after a period in the carrier, change position or take them out of the carrier.

Does babywearing strengthen your back?

Babywearing, when you carry baby safely and ergonomically, can help strengthen the muscles in your back and core, as carrying your baby is akin to carrying a weight. However, it’s important to use an ergonomically designed carrier and to wear it correctly to avoid back strain. Good posture when wearing your baby and regularly switching the baby’s position can also help in preventing back discomfort – many baby carriers oftern many different positions.

What are the negatives of babywearing?

The potential negatives of babywearing include the risk of back and shoulder strain for the caregiver, especially if the carrier is not used correctly. There’s also a risk of overheating for the baby if precautions are not taken. Over-reliance on babywearing might limit the baby’s opportunity to develop motor skills through independent play and tummy time. It’s important to use baby carriers safely (using TICKS and ensuring you can always see baby’s mouth – remember baby’s health is priority) and balance babywearing with other activities.

Can I Babywear too much?

It is possible to babywear too much if it comes at the expense of the baby’s opportunity to develop motor skills and explore independently. While babywearing is beneficial, it’s important to provide balanced activities for the baby, including tummy time, free play, and interaction with various stimuli. As long as babywearing is part of a varied routine, it can be a healthy aspect of infant care.