Babywearing: The Science Looks Good

Is babywearing a blip on some stylistic radar, designed merely to make mothers feel hip and trendy? Not according to the science.

Hey, don’t get me wrong, I love fashion as much as the next person. But to think of slings, wraps, and other carriers as mere accessories for mothers is to discount thousands of years of human evolution; wearing babies used to be a common practice.

Although some areas of the world continue to uphold this tradition, many Western countries have been going through a period where strollers are the way to travel with a baby. Add that to infants being encouraged to “self-soothe” earlier, often in their own room, and you get whole generations that view babywearing as unnecessary at best and harmful at worst.

But now the tide has once again begun to turn and, with International Babywearing Week upon us, I am excited to delve into this topic. As it happens, when we wear our kiddos in slings or carriers, we are actually helping them both emotionally and developmentally. Don’t take my word for it; the science speaks for itself.

The following infographic highlights 23 science-based facts about the benefits of babywearing:

Mothers have known about the benefits of babywearing for millennia, so it’s reassuring that the science is now catching up. In fact, there is currently a new wave of cutting edge research going on even as you read this. So expect to hear more about the benefits of babywearing over the coming months.

With the science offering an abundance of favorable findings when it comes to baby carrying, in all likelihood, the current trend towards baby-carrying is going to be permanent. Indeed, it is already becoming embedded in mainstream health and social care.

So, as it turns out, a sling or wrap that can improve your baby’s health also completes any outfit and never goes out of style.

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BIO:

Neve Spicer is a full-time toddler wrangler and part-time babywearing advocate. In her bloggin she aims to empower and educate new parents, while keeping it simple and fluff-free. Tweet her at @wetheparentsSAY or visit her blog at wetheparents.org.