Babywearing Newborns: Benefits, Tips & Best Carriers for Parents

• Introduction
• Benefits Of Babywearing
• Types Of Babywearing Gears
• Babywearing And Breastfeeding
• Rules For Safety While Babywearing
• Key Takeaways
• FAQs
• MESSAGE FROM SUPERBOTTOMS

Babywearing might sound like a new or modern concept to many, but globally and historically, it is not a new practice. Even in India, you will see many women who have to go to work with a young baby; construction workers, railroad or road construction laborers use a sturdy cotton dupatta, shawl, or piece of cloth to wrap the baby on their back or the hip. This gives the baby the comfort of being near the mother, sleeping peacefully while she can still go about her day. Modern babywearing is adopted from the same practice but made more convenient and safer. This babywearing basics article will discuss the benefits of babywearing, babywearing tips, and how to make it safe for you and your baby.

Benefits of Babywearing

Babywearing indeed offers a plethora of benefits of babywearing for both babies and parents. Here's a breakdown of the benefits of babywearing:

1. Encourages Breastfeeding: Babywearing facilitates breastfeeding by allowing easy access to nursing. It promotes bonding and makes breastfeeding more convenient for both the mother and the baby, enhancing the breastfeeding experience.
2. Better Weight Gain: Kangaroo care, facilitated through babywearing, has promoted better weight gain, particularly in premature babies or those with low birth weight. The close skin-to-skin contact helps regulate the baby's temperature and facilitates bonding, which can aid in weight gain. Using a Dry Feel Swaddle Wrap, babywearing a newborn with skin-to-skin contact is more effortless and helps the baby gain weight faster.
3. Happier Babies: Babies thrive on close physical contact and being held. Babywearing provides the warmth, security, and closeness babies crave, reducing fussiness and overall happier babies.
4. Stabilizes Heart Rate: Research suggests that babywearing can have a calming effect on babies, leading to more stable heart rates and body temperatures. Close contact with a caregiver gives the baby a sense of security and comfort, promoting physiological regulation.
5. Better Sleep: Babies who are carried often tend to sleep better. The soothing motion and proximity to the caregiver can help calm fussy babies, improving sleep quality. This can be especially beneficial during times of illness or discomfort.
6. Hands-Free Time for Parents: Babywearing allows parents to keep their hands free while holding their baby close. This enables them to attend to daily tasks, run errands, or have some much-needed downtime, all while keeping their baby content and secure.

Overall, babywearing basics fosters a strong bond between parent and child while providing numerous practical babywearing advantages. It's a practice that has been embraced by cultures worldwide for centuries and continues to be valued for its many baby-wearing advantages.

Types Of Babywearing Gears:

Depending on your comfort, your baby's age and weight, and the milestones your baby has achieved, different kinds of babywearing gear will suit you and your child. Here are the different types of babywearing gear that you can choose from:

1. Wraps - are long pieces of woven solid or stretchy cloth that you can use to wrap your baby around your body. This is more suitable for newborn babies. Once the baby grows and learns to sit unsupported, you can wrap them on your back or hip.

2. Ring Sling - Ideal for younger babies, a ring sling is a way of carrying your baby while the weight is entirely on one shoulder. Ring slings are easier and quicker to wear than baby wraps and, thus, more popular. However, carrying your child in a ring sling can be challenging after your child reaches 10 – 12 KGs.

3. Soft Structured Carriers - Adjustable babywearing carriers designed to carry newborns up to 15 kg of weight are the easiest to carry. They have buckles to adjust according to your baby's height and weight. You need to change it once, and it takes 10 seconds to buckle the baby up and carry it.

4. Meh Dai - Originating from Asia, a Meh Dai is a hybrid of a soft-structured carrier and a wrap. The carrier's body is similar to a soft-structured carrier and gives your baby a proper position to sit and rest their back on, while the strings on the side are not straps with buckles. The wide straps resemble the wrap and must be tied on your waist and around the shoulders just like a wrap.

Babywearing And Breastfeeding:

Babywearing enhances breastfeeding by promoting skin-to-skin contact, facilitating responsive feeding, and supporting on-demand nursing. Carriers offer convenience, enabling mothers to breastfeed while on the move and fostering a strong bond through close physical contact. The baby's proximity to the breast encourages effective latching and milk transfer, contributing to breastfeeding success. Additionally, babywearing promotes maternal responsiveness to infant cues, ensuring timely feeding and optimal milk supply. You can also use the SuperBottoms Dry Feel Nursing Pad during breastfeeding.

Overall, babywearing and breastfeeding synergize, creating a nurturing environment that fosters maternal-infant attachment and supports both mother and baby's physical and emotional well-being.

Babywearing Safety Tips:

Babywearing can be fun and convenient for both parents and the baby. But to ensure that it does not become a concern, there are 5 simple babywearing tips you need to keep in mind. These are called the TICKS rules of babywearing.

1. T is for TIGHT - A loose wrap can become a reason for the baby to slip off and fall out of it. Thus, having the wrap tight enough to secure them correctly is essential. Please remember that too tight a warp can obstruct their breathing. Therefore, you need to get the fit right.

2. I is for IN VIEW ALL THE TIME - The height at which you wear a baby should be such that you can view your baby's face at all times. If your baby's face is not visible to you, adjust it because that position might obstruct their airway and breathing.

3. C is for CLOSE ENOUGH TO KISS - While wearing your baby in the front, on the chest, the baby's head should be close enough to kiss the head of the baby. This will make breastfeeding in the carrier easy and help you prevent backaches.

4. K is for KEEP CHIN OFF THE CHEST - Make sure they have a clear airway by making sure there is space between their neck and chin, and their chin is placed on your chest.

5. S is for SUPPORTED BACK - Leaning, sagging, or loose and unsupported back can lead to discomfort for your baby. Your baby's tummy and chest should touch you, and their back should be supported appropriately for a proper and safe position inside a wrap.

Key Takeaways:

1. Being a new parent can sometimes be overwhelming, but investing in all the right things can make life easier.
2. Things like SuperBottoms UNO Cloth Diapers and DryFeel Langot can make the journey easy for new parents.
3. While keeping all the safety precautions mentioned in the article in mind, you can make babywearing the most memorable experience for you and your baby. And who doesn’t love the hands-free experience while still getting all the cuddles and kisses from your little one?

FAQs:

Q1. Is babywearing safe?

Ans. Yes, babywearing can be safe for newborns using carriers designed for their size and following safety guidelines to ensure proper positioning and support.

Q2. How long can I wear my baby in a carrier?

Ans. The duration of babywearing sessions varies depending on factors like the age and comfort of both caregiver and baby. Monitoring comfort levels and taking breaks are essential to prevent fatigue or discomfort.

Q3. Can babywearing cause hip dysplasia?

Ans. Babywearing is unlikely to cause hip dysplasia if the carrier supports the baby's hips in the recommended "M" position, with legs spread apart and knees bent.

Message From SuperBottoms

Hi there, new parents! No matter where you are around the world or in India, SuperBottoms ensures your kids are using the best and safest products. SuperBottoms offers the best cloth diapers, which are completely safe and gentle for your baby, DryFeel langots for diaper-free time, padded underwear for potty training your kids, and period underwear for women. These products suit your baby's delicate skin at any time of year. SuperBottoms is a must-have product for you and your child whether you live in Canada, Kuwait, the United States, Qatar, Hawaii, Bahrain, Armenia, the United Arab Emirates, or the Philippines. SuperBottoms products are also available on Amazon, Myntra, Flipkart, FirstCry, Zepto, Swiggy and Blinkit.

Reference Link:

1. Baby Wearing: Benefits, Safety Tips
2. What You Should Know About Baby Wearing