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Ultimate Guide: Babywearing

10/7/2015

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This blog post was originally published on Supportive Conceptions Surrogacy.
Cultures all over the world have the right idea. Families can be seen wearing their babies on their bodies. In America, there is no shortage of baby carriers. There are moby wraps, tulas, mai tais, ergos, and k'tans.

Your baby attached to your body is one of the safest places for them. You know exactly where they are at all times. This can be especially helpful for new parents who find themselves constantly checking in on them when they're in their crib or bassinet. There are different ways to carry a newborn versus a toddler. What carrier you use will determine the correct way to situate your baby. In general though, you want your newborn to be in a similar position as he/she was in the womb, with knees bent, and in the fetal position. There are some safety issues to keep in mind when wearing your baby. There are also times when you shouldn't wear your baby, like when your working over a hot stove. General rule of thumb regardless of the carrier, you should at all times be able to kiss the top of the baby's head. Not only is this an important safety guideline, but they then have the comfort of your heartbeat.

When you wear your baby, there's no bulky plastic car seat to worry about lugging around. Most baby wearing carriers are super small and lightweight.

Babywearing is of course super beneficial for bonding with your baby, but did you know that is also really great for their spine? Newborn babies' spines are 'C shaped,' and completely flexed, just like they were inside the womb. When they are in a carrier on your body, this allows their spine to maintain this natural curve. This is something that doesn't happen when they're in a hard plastic carrier. Also, when your baby is being worn, there is constant movement in all directions. This constant stimulation helps to form their vestibular system, which controls balance. 

Moms, Dads, siblings, and other family members can all participate. This is a sweet way for everyone to develop a special bond. I remember hearing a story about a dad who, whenever his baby would get upset, would put her in her carrier, and take a walk around the block with her. She always calmed down. The combination of a deep voice, big hands, and the movement which comes along with wearing your baby are great soothing tools.

Have you heard of kangaroo care? This is a perfect name for when parents wear their premature infants on their body, like a little baby kangaroo.  The parents wear their little babies on their bodies while they are still in the hospital. Amazingly, this technique has been shown to be more beneficial than incubators for premature infants. This has been shown to have a huge effect on the baby's ability to regulate their body temperature, and is beneficial to the baby's development. This not only applies to premature babies. Neurologically, babywearing is very beneficial for all babies. Because they are surrounded by constant stimuli, babywearing affects brain development for all babies. They are able to fully interact with their environment, and you are able to have an up close and personal view as your child learns about the world around them.

All IP's have clearly gone to great lengths to have the children they now have forever to hold as their own. Babywearing is a great option for those who wish to hold their precious ones as close as possible, as long as they possibly can

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