It’s no secret that I’m a huge fan of babywearing. But it’s not just about skipping the stroller. There are loads of benefits to keeping your little one close.
baby feels at home – for the last 9 months, baby has been right there experiencing everything with you. When you babywear, you are recreating a situation similar to the womb, but on the outside. You voice, your stride, and your heartbeat are all familiar, and help baby adjust better to the new parts of life. My second has always loved being worn so much, Todd jokes that he never wanted to leave the womb.
my first time babywearing 
my first wear with baby 2
increases bonding between baby and the wearer – when in close contact with your baby, you naturally are able to bond better, as cuddling releases oxytocin. Both of you are getting used to each other in this new situation, and being together aids in this. Adjusting to a new baby was a bit tricky for me, but he was so happy when we were wearing, that that’s when I felt most confident as a parent during the first month or two.
Gwendolyn bonding with dad 
Harry bonding with mom + cat brother
baby feels safer – life outside the womb is loud, and bright, and confusing, and different. When baby is being worn, they are able to tuck in and be more removed from the environment if they want to be. On the other hand, new experiences are less frightening, because they’ve got someone right there with them. With both of my kids, I’ve noticed that wearing them gives them comfort, particularly when they are overstimulated, or unsure about a situation.
Gwendolyn having a new experience 
harry hours after birth, first carry
reduces anxiety – babies who are worn cry less. But babywearing also reduces maternal anxiety. With the incredibly close connection you’ve had, it feels best for both of you to be close together still. In the past (almost) half a year, I’ve certainly felt different when I’m wearing Harry. It’s like I don’t even recognize that I need him with me, until I’m babywearing. Then, I feel like it’s a balm for my soul.
baby Gwendolyn falls asleep 
baby harry asleep on dad
baby learns from you – when baby has a front row seat to what you’re doing, they learn more. Worn babies just get more experience seeing how things are done. The result is that they are able to pick up language better, and see how conversations work. They are also able to see you eating, and get an intimate look into your emotions. All the time, we catch our son starting intently with us as we talk or eat—sometimes he even mouths along.
Gwendolyn along for the ride 
harry front & center
hands free – this one is huge. To be fair, you still might not be able to pick things up off the floor, but you can do a lot of other things. When I’m cooking, I like to put my baby on my back—he’s still with me, but out of he way. Out and about, I’m able to help my daughter, and get going quickly, instead of hauling around a seat, or a bulky stroller. Plus, my little man is pretty big, and there’s no way I could just hold him in my arms for more than a few minutes at this point.
enjoying a walk 
some computer time
baby gets time with you – whether you’re simply busy, or you have more than one child, babywearing allows your baby to still get close time with you. I remember one time when Gwendolyn was around 6 months old, Todd and were out and about, and I suddenly realized that, even though I was wearing her, I hadn’t really remembered she was there or been interacting with her much over the last 30 minutes or hour. But it was okay. She was still right there with me, taking everything in, and really able to be a part of things.
multitasking with Gwendolyn 
Harry does church with dad
you get to experience things together – it is so fun to have a front row seat to your kiddos new experiences! When I was first getting into babywearing, Todd and I had a conversation where we decided we’d much rather be right there with our baby when she was seeing things for the first time, or when we were in a crowd. Then, we took the stroller money we’d saved, and just bought multiple baby carriers instead. Watching a small person take in new things is lovely, and I feel happy that we can do that truly together.
So, how are you feeling about babywearing? Do you already wear and love it? Have you tried, but need a little help; or perhaps feel a renewed gusto? If you’re in Utah, check out Babywearing Utah for help with your carriers, or if you want to try out a new one. It’s a fantastic resource, and one that I’ve been volunteering with since it’s inception.
What’s your favourite thing about babywearing?
