B io ph ile Issu e 18 - Biophile Magazine

Born tobe Heldby Sally Cameron,www.earthbabies.co.zaModern babies are held as little as 20%of the day due to parents having variousgadgets to ‘help’ – we shift them fromcot to pram to bouncer to swing-chair tocar-seat. No need to take them from thecar-seat, simply take it with!All of these devices make a parents lifemuch more convenient but what about thebaby? Is it as beneficial to the baby? Babieshave an instinctive need to be in-arms.Human babies are born virtually helplessand so they rely totally on their caregiverto meet all their needs. They know that thesafest place to be is close to their mother/carer. They are designed to crave close humancontact as this is what ensured theirsurvival over the centuries.Although the environment that mostbabies are born into today is a lot saferthan 100’s of years ago, and babies survivaldoes not depend on them being withtheir mother at all times, babies are stillprogrammed to want this contact. Theirphysical survival might not depend onit, but their emotional development stillneeds this contact.Not only does being close to the parentensure their survival but they also knowthat the best place for them to learn aboutwhat their species does is to be as close aspossible to people so they can watch, listenlearn and copy.Baby wearing also creates a strongbond between caregiver and baby, thisattachment in the baby years can boosta child’s confidence in themselves andthere relationship with their parents foryears to come. They know from the startthat they are important enough for you tomeet their needs by keeping them close toyou. Dr Sears an American Paediatricianand advocate of attachment parentingsays “With the high-touch parenting stylecalled attachment parenting, you can buildand strengthen this connection betweenyou and your child, laying the foundationfor discipline.” (to read more visit www.askdrsears.com )So while all these modern gadgetsmay be good for us as parents we needto consider their impact on our babieswho need this vital contact. Practicallyhowever there are not many of us who cansit around all day just holding our baby.There is house work to do, other childrento take care of. Life has to carry on and amom needs to be hands free and yet haveher baby close to her. Traditionally inSouth Africa as with other non-westerncommunities there is a long history ofbaby wearing, and although now there arelots of different types of carriers, slingsand devises that can help you keep yourprecious baby close to you, is it not time weconsidered the benefits of Baby Wearing?1. Happy baby: Babies want to be neartheir moms so a baby who is carried is a lotcalmer, they cry and fuss less.2. Decreased colic: Many moms saidthat a sling help with colic by reducingvomiting and excess spitting up.3. Looks after tiny backs: The wrapand sling conform to the baby’s body andeliminate pressure on their developingbacks, in other carriers they hang by theircrotch.4. Very comfortablefor mom/dad: No rigidframe with set arm andleg openings, the sling orwrap conform to your torso and are veryadjustable.5. Many different positions to keepbaby happy: Both the sling and wraphave many different positions thatyou can use which you can changedepending on your baby’s ageand mood.6. Improves baby’s development:Babies who are held andcuddled a lot develop mentallyand physically much quicker thanbabies who receive minimal physicalcontact.7. Enhanced language and social skills:Babies who are worn watch adultstalking and interacting at eyelevel and will learn morethan a baby in a pramwho can not observeconversation.8. Baby feelssecure: Not onlyis baby happiestwith mom but in anew environmentespecially one likea shopping centrewith a lot ofoutside stimulationbabies oftenfeel very insecureand so by wearingthem you can helpthem feel safe inall situations.9. Weightdistribution: Thesling distributesthe weight overyour shoulder,entire back andhip; the wrapdistributes itover both shoulders,back andhips. They are both much more comfortablethat a conventional carrier in whichthe baby hangs on your shoulders and soyou are more likely to wear your baby forlonger.10. Spare hands: This is what all moms’need, more hands. It is a lot easier to getdaily tasks done with wearing your babythan to try and rush to do things beforebaby starts crying.The Earth Babies website (www.earthbabies.co.za) has a comparison ofdifferent types of Baby Wearing Carriersand advice how to choose what will be bestfor you and your baby.Biophile Issue 1835