By Tessa Brocklehurst and Tracy Machin
During pregnancy our babies grow in an environment of constant temperature, food & drink,
endless cuddles, noise, oxygen, darkness and some movement.. Their entrance into the world changes all that in a flash. Imagine being put on another planet where all of your senses experience something totally new, even oxygen and sustenance comes differently. It would be pretty scary, if there was something familiar to you, wouldn’t that be reassuring? Our babies experience this at birth. The next few months as well as growing and developing they are adapting to this new, strange environment.
Babywearing or carrying in arms in the early weeks is a great way to help your little one
adjust to this new experience, plus there are benefits for you too. Your baby feels held, can
hear your heartbeat and smell your unique aroma, comforting themselves. Your body will help your baby maintain the right temperature, by warming up or cooling down to keep them just right. Being so close, you will notice their feeding cues more quickly and respond, so baby cries less (up to 43% less was indicated in one study). Additionally, your baby will tend to sleep better because they feel safe, so it's easier for them to link sleep cycles.
An ergonomic sling/carrier properly fitted to you and your baby will hold baby in a comfy position with their spine gently curved and their airway clear (see the TICKS guidance). The curved spine with knees up is their natural position which aids the development of the hip sockets. The curves in baby’s spine develop over the first year, a baby well positioned in an ergonomic carrier/sling is a great way of aiding this. Being on the move helps baby develop balance and strengthens neck
and back muscles (just like “tummy time”) unlike a car seat or buggy which allows no movement. As your baby gets older they can have an arm out over the top of the carrier giving them a wider view of the world, or a hip carry might work well. Again, more of their muscles at work.
Being able to see your face makes baby feel safe and secure. They have a short focal length at first so being on your chest puts you in focus for them, and they love looking at your face. Your chest is a familiar environment, they can hear your heartbeat, feel your breathing, it’s warm and it smells right. Physical contact between the two of you raises oxytocin levels for you both, this is calming and a reason why carrying your baby can be helpful
for your mental health in the postnatal period. Your baby will be more relaxed and it’s easier for you to respond quickly to their needs. We know that responsive parenting creates happy, confident children and therefore adults, because these babies grow up knowing people will help if they need it. In fact carrying your baby in a sling, or in arms does not create clingy children, it allows them to grow at their own pace, learning about the world from a safe space.
Your baby’s brain is growing fast, allowing them to lay down good foundations in the 4th trimester is helpful. A newborn can see your face when being carried, if they can see you, then you exist (when they can’t see you, you don’t-that can be scary for them). Your face and your voice help to calm them, regulate their emotions and reduce their stress. Seeing your baby’s face makes it easier to chat with them, tell them what you are doing, what you can see. This is so much harder if they are some distance from you or facing away from you in a buggy. Hearing you talk and starting to develop the give and take of conversation is all really important in their speech development.
Your responsiveness to your baby, aids their attachment (this doesn’t mean you need to be 100% perfect, no one is, and that’s fine). This in the longer term will help them in their relationships with others. Initially (the first 6 weeks) your baby will be happy with any human, from 6 weeks to 6 months they will develop a stronger link with their parents, from 7 months they can develop a fear of strangers and separation anxiety (another time a carrier can be really useful). Then as attachment to their parents grows little one’s interest in others will grow too. (Schaffer & Emmerson)
Carrying a baby in arms or a carrier/sling has many benefits in so many areas of development whilst being really practical and helping your mental health. Our NCT Sling libraries are here to support you, help you find a comfy carrier for you and baby that you are confident using. You can hire to ensure you really have chosen the right one, trying on for 5 minutes isn’t really the same as a long walk in the countryside or padding the house with an unsettled baby!
NCT Sling Libraries operate from both Mid Beds and North Beds branches. For more info contact
Tessa Brocklehurst – NCT North Beds sling librarian, e: tessanct@onetel.com
Fb NCTNorthBeds
Tracy Machin - NCT Mid Beds sling librarian, e: tracyannmachin@yahoo.co.uk
Fb nct.midbeds
For more individual help in your own home (unlimited time) do contact me tessaslings@gmail.com
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