The Babywearing Book: The Benefits and Beauty of this Ancient Tradition

“As long as I wear him, he’s content,” Martha Sears, R.N., mentioned to her husband, Dr. William Sears, as they discovered babywearing with their sixth child. It is an affirmation of how life works well naturally. The healthiest choice feels good, and feels right, because it supports survival as well as thriving. Babies reflect this in how they are often calmly alert, or quieted, and relaxed into sleeping easily by the simple practice of babywearing. It is the place a baby wants to be; heart-to-heart, skin-to-skin, breath-to-breath and face-to-face; sharing in life’s activities from a soothing place of familiar rhythm, near a comforting heartbeat and easily accessed breast milk. A baby likes the closeness, the movement, and the loving touches from hands that are free, free…free. Babywearing is a win/win/win choice. Dr. Sears shares his observations after years of advocating babywearing with his patients: Babies who are worn thrive, are calmer, smarter, make daycare easier, and allow parents to work while baby’s needs are met, and cues are easily understood, so there is less crying or fussing since needs are satisfied quickly. Dr. and Martha Sears praise Dr. Blois in the Foreword of Babywearing for showing the many ways a baby can be worn and the many ways this benefits the whole family. As a mother, author, and physician (well-versed in child development, physiology, and anatomy), Maria Blois understands the realities of family life: “Parenting is relentless. Mothering is the hardest job I have ever had, and mind you, I worked nights at a county emergency room.” She discovered babywearing with her first baby and her husband noticed the instant ease and opportunity for bonding himself. He grabbed the sling often. Dr. Blois was thrilled with her success and mutually nurturing experiences wearing her baby, but, outside her home, she felt very alone in her celebration. Everywhere she went, she saw no other babies being worn. She wondered, “Why was such a wonderful contraption for both mother and baby so hard to come by? How in the world did people get by without one?” Babywearing promises you will:

• Learn how wearing your baby can make your baby more content, sleep better, learn better, and cry less.
• Hear from experienced babywearers from all over the country.
• Learn how to choose and use the carrier that is right for you.

The facts assure you will enjoy the benefits of babywearing with your baby, and throughout your life. The quality of your relationship and health is enhanced. This will be clear long after babywearing has been left in the dust of first steps, school years, and, even, after you’ve adjusted to an empty nest. Babywearing has significant ripple effects that are positive and long-lasting at every age of maturity, for every family member. The benefits of babywearing include:

• More regular respiratory rate, heartbeat, and steady internal body temperature
• Babywearing is safe and recommended for premature babies to thrive
• Feeling secure and content with regular babywearing
• Peaceful sleep
• Better nursing, so improved weight gain
• Optimal digestion; less spit-up; less gastroesophageal reflux symptoms
• The upright position effectively keeps acids down in the stomach
• The movement aids digestive fluids washing over the entire digestive system
• Frequent breastfeeding, for optimal nourishment, is easily accessible and best for digestion as well
• Much lower risk for plagiocephaly, asymmetrical head shape; soft carriers keep pressure off the back of the head
• Babies who are carried experience human touch and movement

This stimulation has been shown to have a positive effect on the baby’s vestibular system (used for balance). Baby constantly readjusts as mother moves around, using his developing muscles to hold his head up, kick his feet and use his arms to cling to his mother. Pure pleasure multiplies with babywearing Maria Blois’ 5-year-old daughter, a recent sling baby herself, said it well, speaking of her newborn brother: “Mommy, do you know why the baby is crying? He wants to be in the sling. Do you know why the baby wants to be in the sling? He wants to be warm and cozy. He feels good in there. He’s nice and happy.” Parents who breastfeed and wear their babies are influencing the next generation to do the same by their example. Adopted babies are better able to develop healthy attachment with their new families when they are held and given lots of healthy loving touch. The profound benefits of skin-to-skin contact are well documented and proven, especially in thriving newborns born prematurely. “Babywearing allows for the continuation of a womb-like environment, giving the baby a chance for optimal brain and nervous system development.” The baby carrier becomes a “safety zone.” This is a nurturing and safe place for viewing the world, one’s family and all the new sights and sounds outside the womb. Babywearing shares all the basics, the variety of choices for baby carrying, wearing twins, adopted babies, special needs babies, and how helpful it is for special needs parents. Everyone can share in the pleasures from siblings to grandparents, and you can learn what suits your family best for any situation. The simple truth is, as William & Martha Sears said: “If your babies could talk, they would ask you to please read this book and wear them as often as a possible.”