Many caretakers who have utilized babywearing will tell you that the benefits are too numerous to count. Some of those benefits include:
- A study conducted in 1990 showed that babywearing mothers were more responsive to their child’s needs, and those children were more securely bonded to their mother.
- Babies who are carried cry less.
- Babywearing can help caregivers cope with the stress of caring for a special needs infant.
- Babies that are worn are more involved in their caregiver’s behavioral patterns and conversations, providing learning opportunities and facilitating brain development as well as speech and listening skills.
- Babywearing is calming for infants, as the movement, breathing and heartbeat are all reminders of the womb.
- Caregivers are able to recognize baby’s cues more easily and calm them more quickly.
- Babywearing can reduce reflux-related symptoms, as infants are in an upright position when in a carrier.
- Babywearing can facilitate the bonding of child to mother in cases where mother experiences post-partum depression and is unable to use vocal and facial cues to bond.
- Use of baby carriers early in a child’s life is associated with increased duration of breastfeeding.
- The touch associated with babywearing stimulates oxytocin release in both caretaker and child, which can lead to lowered stress levels and other health benefits.
- Babywearing may decrease depressive symptoms in the immediate postpartum period.
- The use of a baby carrier puts up to 16% less stress on the caregiver’s body than carrying the baby without the use of a carrier.
- Babywearing has been shown to support physical growth in preterm infants.
