A fantastic article written by psychotherapist Abby Burd.

Originally posted on Ergobaby.com.au

There are lots of great reasons to babywear! There are babywearing benefits for both mums and dads (and other people in your baby’s life!). But with Mother’s Day coming up we’re going to focus on how babywearing benefits mums. And so maybe the giving the gift of babywearing would make a great Mother’s Day present for a new mum in your life.


 

Babies Cry Less

Babies who are carried cry less. And babies crying less benefits EVERYONE! In fact a study showed that babies who were carried more cried 43% less. Many babies just want to be held. Have you ever heard someone say – or said it yourself – “She just won’t let me put her down!” or “He’s happy as long as I’m holding him.” That’s absolutely been my experience with my babies! By carrying your baby in an Ergobaby carrier, rather than holding them in your arms, you’re also taking care of your body. Ergobaby carriers are ergonomically designed to support your shoulders, back and hips, by evenly distributing your baby’s weight.

Bonding With Baby

There are so many different ways to bond with your baby. Babywearing is a really great tool to help support bonding. Babywearing creates a familiar womb-like environment for your baby. You’re also keeping your baby close where they are comforted, because they can feel you, hear you, see you and even smell you. Also I found I talked to my babies (and toddlers) more while I was babywearing, because they were right there with me.

Hands-Free Parenting

In an ideal world new mums will have the time to sit and snuggle with bubs on the couch, or breastfeed in peace, but realistically a lot of us have more things to do than we have hours in a day. You can babywear while vacuuming, pushing a shopping trolley, taking older siblings to school, tidying up, and so on. Alternatively, you can also use babywearing to have your free hands to eat lunch, have a (not too hot) coffee, or have a little scroll through social media. It’s up to you!

Getting Fit and Staying Active

There are so many great fitness programs for mums (and dads!) that involve babywearing. I took a babywearing dance class when my daughter was little. It was a super fun way to get active at a time where I couldn’t really leave her to go to a fitness class or the gym on my own. Also babywearing makes hiking and bushwalking a breeze without having to fuss around with a pram or stick to flat paths. Also your baby is providing you with weight resistance when you’re exercising. So that is another benefit of babywearing.

Babywearing Settles Babies For Other People

Dads, grandparents, and other important people in your baby’s life can babywear too! Which is still a babywearing benefits mums, because then they don’t always have to bear the load, so to speak, of carrying baby all the time. And it’s a lot easier letting them go so you can have a break knowing that your baby is going to be safe, happy, and comforted in their baby carrier.

So Happy Mother’s Day to all the great mums and mums-to-be out there! I hope you all have a fabulous day and that someone spoils you on this special day!

It's almost International Babywearing Week & here in New Zealand, it kicks off on 30 September - 8 October 2017.

There are many official babywearing events scheduled all around the country so check out your local community babywearing Facebook page for dates & times of events near you.

The theme for this year's International Babywearing Week’s celebration is Threaded Together. The inspiration for the theme comes from the many different threads that when combined through the weaving process form all of the carriers we use. All of these individual threads, once woven, create a material in the same way individuals and groups worldwide come together to create a global babywearing community.
We love, love, love this!

If you are new to the world of babywearing & wondering what this week is all about, well, it is about celebrating babywearing in New Zealand & around the world.
It is about spreading the word about babywearing and its many benefits for children and their caregivers and to share information about babywearing.

If you need convincing about getting started with babywearing, below are just some of the benefits:

Benefits of Babywearing

Medical professionals agree that infants thrive through touch; “wearing” your baby is another way to meet this need. The benefits of babywearing don’t end there … babywearing offers many other advantages, some of which include:

Happy Babies. It’s true … carried babies cry less! In a study published in the journal Pediatrics, researchers found that babywearing for three hours a day reduced infant crying by 43 percent overall and 54 percent during evening hours. (1)
Healthy Babies. Premature babies and babies with special needs often enter the world with fragile nervous systems. When a baby rides in a sling attached to his mother, he is in tune with the rhythm of her breathing, the sound of her heartbeat, and the movements his mother makes—walking, bending, and reaching. This stimulation helps him to regulate his own physical responses. Research has even shown that premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not. (2)

Confident Parents. A large part of feeling confident as a parent is the ability to read our babies’ cues successfully. Holding our babies close in a sling allows us to become finely attuned to their movements, gestures, and facial expressions. Every time a baby is able to let us know that she is hungry, bored, or wet without having to cry, her trust in us is increased, her learning is enhanced, and our own confidence is reinforced. This cycle of positive interaction deepens the mutual attachment between parent and child, and is especially beneficial for mothers who are at risk for or suffering from postpartum depression. (3) (4)

Loving Caregivers. Baby carriers are a great bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, adoptive parents, babysitters, and other caregivers. Imagine a new father going for a walk with his baby in a sling. The baby isbecoming used to his voice, heartbeat, movements, and facial expressions, and the two are forging a strong attachment of their own. Baby carriers are beneficial for every adult in a baby’s life. Cuddling up close in the sling is a wonderful way to get to know the baby in your life, and for the baby to get to know you!

Comfort and Convenience. With the help of a good carrier, you can take care of older children or do chores without frequent interruptions from an anxious or distressed infant—which helps to reduce sibling rivalry. Baby carriers are also wonderful to use with older babies and toddlers; you can save those arms and go where strollers can’t. Climbing stairs, hiking, and navigating crowded airports all can be done with ease when you use a well-designed baby carrier!

References
1 – Hunziker UA, Garr RG. (1986) Increased carrying reduces infant crying: A random-ized controlled trial. Pediatrics 77:641-648
2 – “Current knowledge about skin-to-skin (kangaroo) care for pre-term infants”. J Perinatol. 1991 Sep;11(3):216-26.
3 – Pelaez-Nogueras M, Field TM, Hossain Z, Pickens J. (1996). Depressed mothers’ touching increases infants’ positive affect and attention in still-face interactions. Child Development, 67, 1780-92.
4 – Tessier R, M Cristo, S Velez, M Giron, JG Ruiz-Palaez, Y Charpak and N Charpak. (1998) Kangaroo mother care and the bonding hypothesis. Pediatrics 102:e17.


 

It's super important to keep baby and yourself safe & injury free when babywearing and getting bubs in & out of a back carry position can be a little tough to get right.

Below is a video on how to safely get a baby out of a back carry with a back carry dismount in an Ergobaby Carrier.
 

Top tips for keeping cool in the hotter months when babywearing.

We are finding a real trend in Dad getting involved in babywearing, including researching carriers and the new Ergobaby X-tra Carrier, with extra extension length, will definitely appeal to the lads. It's got a longer strap length capacity so it's ideal for larger people and its front, hip or back carry makes it a good choice of carrier from newborn right up to 3+.

Here's Mr Belly Beyond (left) getting in on the Babywearing fun and check out these celebrity babywearing Dads rocking their Ergobaby Carriers.
 

Mr Belly Beyond (eg, not a celebrity) ;)	Orlando Bloom
Carey Hart	Stephen Moyer

What we love about Slings - Newborn

* Baby slings are a fantastic way to carry your baby right from when newborn. When babies are so tiny they love the closeness and warmth of mumma's body right there and it's very settling for them. For particularly fussy times (around about 5.10pm in our house!) put baby in the sling and get on with what you were doing. The rhythm of your movement as you go about your business will lull them and soothe them and my babies often drifted off asleep very easily this way.

* The dulce&zoet, Peanut Shell or Natures Sway sling are ideal for putting baby in when you need to pick up older children from kindy, daycare or playgroup.

* You won't have little old ladies fussing in babies face and waking them up! Your little one is tucked safely away and unless they spot the feet out one side a lot of people don't even notice you're carrying a baby.

* You can easily breastfeed in the sling and it offers privacy as well.


What we love about Slings - Older Baby

* Fantastic for quick trips to the shops or the bank when you don't want the hassle of getting out the pram. Brilliant if you have older children too because you can put baby in the sling and know you'll have your hands free to manage a breakaway toddler if need be.


What we love about Slings - Toddler

* Pick me up Mummy! Mummy I'm tiiired. Carry me Mummy!! Yes, been there. Pull your sling out of your handbag and give their tired little legs a break.

Want it?

Our top picks

• dulce&zoet Sling $74 - no straps or buckles just a shaped pouch sized just for you and your little one, made right here in NZ.   The perfect handbag item to pull out when you need it. 
• Peanut Shell Sling $99 - fully adjustible so any size person can wear the same sling (eg, Mum or Dad or Grandparents)

Worth a look

• Popit Wrap $90 and the Nature's Sway Carry Wrap $90 -  the snuggliest carriers around