Hands free parenting - Carrying your baby in a sling gives you the convenience of having both hands free while still being able to offer your baby the security of your presence. Author of 'Ten reasons to wear your baby', Laura Simeon, says, "When we carry a baby in a sling, we can walk around freely and not have to worry about negotiating steps, crowds or narrow aisles with a stroller."
Breastfeeding - Carrying your baby in a sling helps you to breastfeed discreetly. Not only that, but having your baby close to you, stimulates you to produce prolactin, encouraging milk production. The constant motion also helps your baby to bring up wind easier, especially if you hold him in a more upright sling position. This is very helpful if your baby suffers from reflux, colic or wind. The sling also offers protection against distractions for your baby.
Security - By carrying your baby in a sling, he is in tune with you in a way similar to when he was in the womb. He can hear your heartbeat and breathing, and feel every move you make. Because of this, babywearing is often described as the easiest transition from the womb.
Promotes development - When carried, your baby sees the world from where you do, rather than at knee level, and the extra stimulation benefits brain development. Premature babies benefit greatly from being held and studies have shown that ‘kangaroo care’ is an important factor in reducing mortality rates in premature babies. Close contact helps them to regulate their body temperature, breathing and heart beat and makes them feel more secure.
Learning - Babies in a sling spend more time in the state known as 'quiet alertness' so they are awake but contented. This is the optimal state for learning for a newborn, who is more able to learn from his surroundings in a calm contented manner.
Communication - Because your baby is so close to you physically, he can communicate his needs to you without having to cry. Holding him close helps you become finely attuned to his facial expressions, to let you know when he's hungry, or needs a nappy change. Paediatrician Graham Barr found that babies who are carried cry 43 per cent less overall and 54 per cent less during the evening hours.
Bonding - Newborn babies have poor vision but an excellent sense of smell. By holding your baby near you, he’ll be able to smell your scent and will feel comforted by your closeness. And babywearing is great for helping your baby to bond with Dad as well. Fathers don't have the automatic bond with their children that mothers build up during pregnancy, but by wearing their baby in a sling, their child can become familiar with the sound of his heartbeat, breathing and movements.
Better Posture - as a baby sling distributes the weight of your baby more evenly across your whole back. Many parents fid that using a sling means they can carry their baby for longer often until the child is at least 2 years old (or until they start to protest about being carried!)
