What is baby wearing?
Babywearing is essentially the practice of carrying a small child on your body using a sling or other kinds of baby wearing options. Within the United States, babywearing has been prevalent within the past 20 years or more since the days of it being popular amongst the Native Americans. Moreover, for effective travel, nomads used to wear their infants all the time. Parents in African countries and also various parts of this planet still use specific cloths or conventional baby carriers daily.
Carrier Types
Go through these examples of several babywearing options in the market to help you in choosing the best baby carrier for your toddler:
Ring Sling
One of the types of baby slings is a lengthy piece of fabric (around 2 meters in length), which possesses 2 rings on each end. For it to fasten correctly, the free end has to be threaded through one ring, then it should be tucked under the other ring. With a ring sling, you’ll have an ability to modify it however you see fit for it to be comfy for the both of you. The weight of the child will keep it from slipping; therefore, you need not worry.
This ring sling forms a pouch-like feature for your kid, which enables you also to use it as a front baby carrier. This carrier is mostly crafted from linen, cotton, and even silk, but not stretch material. Remember, with this carrier, there’s no need for tying anything.
Wrap
The most conventional and straightforward kind of carrier for toddlers. It’s a lengthy piece of cloth that you wrap around you plus your baby. Tying the loose ends of the baby wrap creates a comfy place for your child. When it comes to how to use a baby wrap, there exist various methods for tying a wrap around your body. It might not be easy at first; however, you’ll get the hang of it with continuous practice.
There are various kinds of wraps out there in the market, for example, the wrap baby carrier. Some of them can either be short or long; others are crafted from linen, wool, among others. We recommend stretchy wraps for beginner parents and infants. On the other hand, we recommend the woven ones, which are extra strong and good for older children.
Backpack Carrier
It’s intended for carrying like a rucksack, plus it may be used for babies who can sit without assistance. This carrier’s seat is framed, and your kid remains in a sitting posture. Typically, a backpack carrier contains padded shoulder straps plus extra ones that are supposed to be fastened around your waist plus chest. It helps in securing your child in addition to the proper distribution of weight.
Moreover, the backpack carrier is ideal for baby back carry. You can use it to take your child for more extended periods. You may use it when doing outdoor activities such as hiking.
Soft Structure Carrier
This carrier has padded shoulder straps plus a waistband, which is thick and also padded that is fastened around the waist. Its material forms a pouch-like feature for your infant once it’s fastened around your waist. Typically, the straps can be adjusted for comfort.
With this carrier, you can either carry your kid on the front or use it as a baby back carrier. This carrier has a suitable panel that is wide enough to enable your baby to rest in a comfortable position, that is, hips bent, thighs supported, and knees bent. It’s referred to as a frog position, which allows for the development of your baby’s hips.
Mei Tai (Meh Dai)
This carrier originated from East Asia. It has 2 shoulder straps plus 2 other straps that go round your waist. You can easily adjust the Mei Tai, plus different parents can make use of it. For children wearing parents, you may wear it on your back, front side, or even hip. Moreover, some of these carriers can be utilized with older children (6 months and above). On the other hand, a few are used when a kid is born.
Benefits of Babywearing
There are babies benefits from babywearing and also benefits for both parents.
Babies Benefits
It's Ideal for their General Wellbeing
One of the benefits is that it assists you in carrying the kids in a posture that is helpful to their physical wellbeing plus development. Your kid can avoid a disorder called flat head syndrome, plus can assist in digestion. Also, babies in a carrier, be it a baby carrier facing out or any other, make out how to use their muscles for balance.
It's Useful for Cognitive plus Social Advancement
Do babies cry in the womb? That’s something that has not been easy to determine. When small children don’t cry much, they spend more time interacting with their surroundings. When you wear your baby, whether you wear baby on back or front, he or she will be able to hear what you’re saying and see what you’re seeing. The baby will be more involved in your daily lives. Moreover, having your child near you enables you to touch him or her more and react to any signals.
Maintaining a Stable Heart Rate and Body Temperature
Your child’s heart rate may fluctuate. You always desire your kid’s heart rate to be stable at all times. Babywearing is an excellent way of stabilizing your baby’s heart rate. Moreover, it may also assist your baby to maintain a steady temperature.
Better Sleeping Patterns
Your touch plus presence is adequate to calm your baby down and make him or her feel relaxed. Babywearing will make your child be less stressed and cry less. Sleeping next to you will enable your child to sleep peacefully and breathe more evenly.
Babywearing Is like being in the Mummy's Tummy
When your toddler is in your tummy during pregnancy, it becomes accustomed to your heartbeat. The baby also adapts to your movements as you do your daily activities. Therefore, it’ll greatly benefit from that contact after delivery. Carrying a baby via skin to skin baby carrier is similar to carrying it in your tummy.
Benefits of Babywearing for Parents
Other family members get o bond with the baby more.
With babywearing, the mother won’t be the only one bonding with the child. The father can also participate in babywearing. He can grab a carrier and spend some daddy time with his child, whether it’s by going to the park or taking some coffee.
Provides a Nursing Cover
Another example of the benefits of babywearing for parents is that baby carriers assist in providing nursing cover whenever you want to feed your toddler. You will be able to breastfeed your baby while on the go. It might take some practice, but eventually, you’ll get used to it.
You Will Be Able to Save Some Money
For most people, purchasing a stroller can be quite expensive. It can be challenging to make that decision to buy it, particularly if you wish to use that money somewhere else. However, baby carriers are affordable, thus being attractive for parents out there worried about their budgets.
You'll have the Freedom to Attend to Other Activities
Mothers can multitask. However, when a baby comes, their immediate concern is caring for that infant. At the same time, they have also to do other tasks. Thus wearing the baby will assist you by enabling your hands to be free to do other things while taking care of your child. You can even do a babywearing exercise.
Cons of Babywearing
- In hot weather conditions, your body heat together with your baby’s can result in one hot mess.
- Your baby might end up spitting in or even vomiting in the carrier.
- It might not be easy to bend over when babywearing.
- Ring slings might hurt your shoulders.
- It can be challenging to determine the ideal carrier size.
How to Wear Baby Carrier Safely
Your Baby Should Be Visible
It doesn’t matter the type of carrier you’re using. You’re supposed to put the carrier in a way that you can be able to see and check on your child. If not, you won’t be able to know if there’s something that your baby urgently requires.
The Baby Should Rest on Your Ribcage
This tip follows the ‘baby is a kissable rule.’ The child should rest on your ribcage but not hanging down around your waist. Sleeping on your ribcage will be comfy for you and your baby.
Vertical Position
Your child is supposed to be positioned vertically in the carrier at all times. The child shouldn’t lay in a position where their chin is on their chest. That child will find it hard to breathe.
Hips Should Be Flexed
Within the initial few years of life, a child’s pelvis is still developing. The child’s delicate bones can be susceptible to what is known as hip dysplasia. While in the correct posture within the carrier, your child’s knees are supposed to align with their hip joints.
Conclusion
We believe that wearing your baby is an excellent way of establishing a strong bond between you and your kid. The information we’ve provided above (the pros and cons of babywearing, kinds of baby carriers, benefits of babywearing, how to safely wear a carrier), will assist when you want to choose an ideal carrier. Moreover, you can visit parenthoodroutine.com to get more information on the best baby products.
Are there any babywearing benefits that you would love to share with us? We’d love to hear from you. Please leave your comments below.