| Many parents practice babywearing or carrying their | | | | When you have a baby that wants to be held all the |
| infant in a sling. Many parents claim this practice makes | | | | time and you hold him or her, you frequently |
| child care easier because the baby is less likely to fuss | | | | experience back and/or shoulder pain. A sling can help |
| and the parent develops a strong bond with the baby, | | | | prevent this pain, when worn correctly, because the |
| often knowing the exact cause of the crying. There | | | | weight is more evenly distributed and you aren't |
| are many other benefits of babywearing as well. | | | | contorted into an uncomfortable position trying to make |
| A very young infant, less than three months old, often | | | | your baby comfortable. If your baby seems to be |
| wants to be held almost constantly. For more details | | | | extraordinarily fussy and gassy, your baby may have |
| go to: This used to mean the mother either has to | | | | colic. Carrying your baby in a sling can also help with |
| constantly carry the baby and neglect her housework, | | | | the crying and colic because being near you calms and |
| or take care of the house and let the baby fuss in his | | | | comforts your baby. For can visit to: a study done in |
| or her bed. With a baby sling, a mother can carry the | | | | 1986 showed that babies carried at least three hours a |
| baby close to her body while still having her hands free | | | | day cried about 50% less than babies carried less than |
| to do housework. Another benefit of having your | | | | three hours a day. |
| hands free is being able to care for older children, if | | | | Another potential benefit for your baby is increased |
| you have them. You do not have to stop what you | | | | learning. Babies carried in slings have more alert times |
| are doing for 15 to 30 minutes while you feed your | | | | compared to babies who are laid in bassinets or cribs |
| baby. | | | | after each feeding. Carrying your baby can also speed |
| Carrying your baby in a sling also benefits | | | | his or her speech development because a carried |
| breast-feeding. With a sling, you can nurse your baby | | | | baby is exposed to more conversation. Carried babies |
| in public and not worry about accidentally exposing | | | | also see more of the world because they are with |
| your breast. This can be a big help if you have to take | | | | their parents for an extended part of the day, instead |
| an extended trip away from your house and choose | | | | of lying in a bed all day. The final benefit of sling use is |
| to take your baby with you instead of using a child | | | | for the parents. By carrying your baby close to your |
| care provider. Some infants arch their back or tense | | | | body for most of the day, you bond quicker and better |
| up when they nurse. These babies seem to eat better | | | | than if you did not. This causes the parent to feel more |
| when they are moving. Sometimes a baby doesn't | | | | confident in the parenting role, which means you feel |
| gain weight and there doesn't seem to be a reason | | | | better about yourself and your baby can sense that, |
| for the lack of weight gain. These babies may benefit | | | | keeping the baby calmer during the day. The frequent |
| from being in a sling because the sling promotes | | | | touching and feeding stimulates the mothering |
| closeness to mom. This closeness encourages | | | | hormone, also making you more confident as you care |
| frequent breast-feeding, which will help the baby gain | | | | for your baby. |
| weight. | | | | |