Once you have a newborn, you find that you are carrying your baby a lot during the day. Actually, most part of the day. And you know what? That’s absolutely normal!
They were so close to you for 9 months, and now suddenly they are out and alone? It doesn’t make sense to them! 𝕋𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕓𝕖 𝕟𝕖𝕒𝕣 𝕪𝕠𝕦, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕪 𝕨𝕒𝕟𝕥 𝕥𝕠 𝕗𝕖𝕖𝕝 𝕪𝕠𝕦 𝕔𝕝𝕠𝕤𝕖 𝕒𝕘𝕒𝕚𝕟.
Babywearing was an ingrained part of childcare practices across continents and cultures. So when did we lose it?
A few years ago, I read an article titled something like “Why African babies cry less”, and the main point was because African mothers wear their babies all the time, and that’s so different from what we European mothers are doing.
In one of my recent posts, I talked about my journey into motherhood photography and my experience in Africa. All the mothers were wearing their babies, and they were both happy, I was so drawn to photograph them as it was something very unusual for me at the time (about 15 years ago). I noticed the same also when I went to southeast Asia on my honeymoon: so much babywearing it was amazing. I loved how the babies were wrapped around their mothers with beautiful and colourful traditional fabrics.
So I know it’s hard holding your baby all day, it’s stressful, and you can’t do anything because your hands are full!
The solution is babywearing!
What are the main benefits?
- It soothes baby: yes as I mentioned before babywearing reduces babies’ crying. The more you wear them, the happier they are!
- It’s good for their health and reduces reflux: holding your baby upright will prevent flathead syndrome and promote good digestion, reducing the common colics and reflux.
- You bond with your baby: as your baby is so close to you, you tend to talk and interact more. You are right there with your baby so you get more responsive and, therefore more confident in you!
- Decrease the risk of post-partum depression: we know those blue moments are not rare after birth. When you wear your baby, you are ready to go out and have a walk, or meet with a friend and be social or have your hand free and connect on the phone with someone. That’s one big barrier already broken. But the most amazing thing is that you increase the skin-to-skin time with your baby, which will calm you and studies confirmed to decrease the rates of postpartum depression.
- Parenting gets a little bit easier: well, you have 2 free hands so you can surely do lots of things while your baby is happy with you! You can run some errands, you can hold hands with your toddler or older child, you can read a book or you can simply relax . . .
I wanted to share with you some infographics I took from this great article. I will share just a few here but please go and have a read to all 23 science-based benefits of babywearing.
Amazing right?
In “Babywearing: 23 Science-Backed Benefits”, you can read more great reasons why you should start this practice.
I knew some of these benefits, but I sure learned a lot new ones too!
I hope you enjoyed this article. Please let me know in the comment if you did. And if you would like to create some images while you are holding and getting really close to your baby, don’t hesitate to get in touch. I’d love to capture this incredible bond between mother and child!
📞 07577 978246 or 📧 vale@photographybyvalentina.com
