How babywearing helps development

http://www.babywearingadvice.co.uk/anatomy.htm

Basics of Baby's Anatomy

Development of the Spine

The development of baby's spine to the typical S-shape usually takes a bit more than one year and can be divided in three stages.

When a baby is born the spine is in total kyphosis which means it's rounded in the shape of a C. None of the muscles which help straighten the spine are strong enough yet.

The first part of the spine to be straightened is the uppermost part, called cervical region. When a baby learns to hold up his head, usually around 3-4 months, the curve (kyphosis) of this part slowly gets straighter and finally slightly curved the other way (cervical lordosis).

When a baby learns to sit up, usually around 9 months, the muscles in the middle of the spine (thoracic region) get stronger and help supporting the baby's back. The spine in this part stays rounded (thoracic kyphosis).

Finally the lower back (lumbar area) gets straightened and curved the other way (lumbar lordosis). This stage is finished when a child has learned to walk, usually around 12-18 months. The typical S-shape has been reached as the child's muscles are strong enough to hold up the whole back^1,2.

What does that mean for carrying your baby?

The younger a baby is the more important it is to support the spine on it's whole length because there are not enough muscles to support the back and also the intervertebral discs cannot act as shock absorbers yet. A good sling therefore supports the baby's back evenly like a firm bandage so his back cannot slump in it. The slings material needs to be soft enough and not too stiff to achieve this effect, and the sling needs to be adjustable to offer support as needed.
Good support of a rounded back is also important for older babies when they fall asleep because then their muscles relax and the sling needs to compensate this. 

Development of Baby's Hips

In order to find the ideal way to carry a baby we have to take a look at baby's anatomy. When a baby is born, some of his skeleton is still cartilage and not yet proper bone. Ossification (= cartilage becoming bone) is a process which takes years and is finished when a human being is fully grown up^3,4.
One part of baby's body which contains much cartilage is the pelvis. It initially consists of several bones which are held together by cartilage⁵. In a newborn, where the femoral head (top of the upper leg bone) meets the hip socket (acetabulum), three bony parts of the pelvis are joined together by cartilage and everything is still a bit soft. Also the femoral head is still formed by cartilage. Ossification of the pelvis and the femoral head happen gradually and are usually finished within the first 9 months of life. Especially in this time it's important to aid the development of the hip by supporting correct positioning of the femoral head because wrong positioning, such as tight swaddling, may lead to hip dysplasia^6,7.

The M-Position

There is an ideal leg position which centers the femur head right in the middle of the hip socket and thus aids the development of baby's hips. It's described as M-position, frog-position or spread-squat-position and means that baby's knees are higher up than his bottom and that his legs are spread apart ca. 90° (for those with medical background: legs should be flexed min. 100°, abduction should be 30-45°). Babies automatically assume this position when lifted up, because it's also ideal for being carried on the mothers hip. Also babies treated for hip dysplasia using a Pavlik harness or Frejka pillow have their legs in this position⁶.

A baby carried in the M-position will have a rounded back because the tilt in the pelvis causes the spine to become rounded and viceversa. You can see this in the left-hand photo showing a newborn in a red wrap.

In a cradle carry (baby is lying on her back in a hammock-style sling) a correct M-position cannot be achieved because her legs cannot be spread. So this position is not recommended at all by hip dysplasia specialists⁸. Instead upright positions, especially on the mothers hip are better for the hip, if a carrier supports correct positioning and a round back.

Here are some pics showing the M-position in a newborn, a 4-month old and a toddler:

  

A good carrier allows the baby to be carried in the M-position. This is not possible if the fabric in baby's crotch is too narrow (it should support the whole upper leg and reach from knee to knee) or if baby's legs are spread too far apart. So before buying a baby carrier check how a baby sits in there, either by trying it out with your baby or by looking at photos.
Imagine what it would feel like for you to sit in a baby carrier: Wouldn't you prefer to have your whole upper legs supported instead of dangling from your crotch?

 

References

¹ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vertebral_column

² http://www.spineuniverse.com/displayarticle.php/article1277.html

³ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bone_%28Human_Anatomy%29#Formation

⁴ http://www.netterimages.com/image/6585.htm

⁵ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pelvis

⁶ http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/H%C3%BCftdysplasie

⁷ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hip_dysplasia_%28human%29

⁸ Dr. Ewald Fettweis: Hüftdysplasie. Sinnvolle Hilfen für Babyhüften; Trias Verlag 2004

Babywearing

A good to read article:

How Babywearing Makes A Difference: 5 Reasons
Source: Baby In a Sling, USA

Wearing your baby has benefits too many to list.  But I’ll try.  There are five major areas of your baby’s well-being that can be improved by choosing to carry him at least some of the time, from birth through age two. 

Most significantly, research shows measurable benefits for baby and parents if babywearing is part of the family’s routine in the first six months.  Here are the top five reasons why wearing your baby in a carrier or sling is beneficial:

Physical Benefits

For both full term and premature infants, the benefits of wearing your baby are multiple.  First, baby is made relaxed and at ease, being close to a parent.  Baby’s awareness of the parent heartbeat actually helps her to regulate her own heartbeat.  The same goes for respiration.

The upright holds that can be used in wearing your baby will lessen colic, because gravity will keep nourishment in the baby’s tummy, reducing acid reflux. 

Finally, baby learns to regulate body temperature and avoids getting overheated or chilled when carried close to the mother’s breast.  Scientists found that the breast can rise two degrees Fahrenheit in a matter of several minutes when the mother’s body senses her baby is cold.

Cognitive Benefits

Even in the womb, a baby is regularly exposed to a dynamic environment of changing sounds, lights, shadows, voices, and movement.  Imagine entering the world only to find it a lot more boring than the womb.  Such is the experience of babies swaddled and placed in cribs, pack-n-plays, bassinets, strollers, and swings for extended periods of time. 

Now, I’m not suggesting that you never put your baby down.  However, regular carrying around the house, on walks, and on errands provides crucial cognitive stimulation.  Baby’s sight is developing, including depth perception and color differentiation.  Providing stimulus for this visual development can only help.

Finally, consider all of the brightly colored toys marketed to parents.  These toys are meant to attach to car seats, strollers, crib railings, or bassinets.  But what babies really want is a first class one-on-one tour of the world with you, their favorite tour guide.  The world, with all its moving and noisy parts, is baby’s ideal toy.  Being carried on your chest or back is baby’s best vantage point to see, touch, and interact with this toy.

To this day, my sixteen month-old daughter loves to be front carried on walks so that she can touch leaves, branches, bark, and the occasional flower. Of course, she also loves to break into a toddler-tumble-run and touch all these things on her own.

Emotional Benefits

By wearing your baby every day, the two of you will learn a great deal more about each other at an amazing rate.  You will feel more and more like a parent as you learn the various sways and bounces that soothe your baby when she’s distressed or tired.    This is especially confidence-building for first time parents during baby’s first eight weeks.

When an infant is born, doctors recommend almost immediate skin to skin contact to provide a sense of security, after being removed from the most secure place she’s ever known.  The first three months, sometimes called the fourth trimester, show baby’s continuing need for the love, closeness, and security of a parent.

Development Benefits

Especially in colicky or premature infants, Kangaroo care – the practice of carrying at-risk infants almost all day, every day – has been clinically shown to speed up weight gain, reduce dependence on respiratory support, and decrease rate of infection among these infants.

While not as dramatic for healthy full term infants, babywearing provides developmental benefits for them too.    Babywearing enhances your awareness of baby’s hunger cues, prompting more timely and sometimes more frequent feeding.

Parents’ Benefits

I can’t remember how many times I looked into the co-sleeper when my daughter, now nearly four, slept in it in the first few weeks after her birth.  Every parent is sensitive to that desire to know what baby’s very sound, cry, and squirm might mean.  My wife and I used to wonder whether we’d ever know what our daughter’s cries meant.

The more we wore her around the house to do simple tasks, or around the neighborhood to get some exercise, the faster we learned.  The learning curve for parents of newborns is steep enough.  Babywearing helped us to climb the curve with less effort.

Being hands-free was also a plus not to be overlooked.  While I couldn’t cook an omlette, I got very good, and very grateful, that I was able to wear my baby while taking regular walks, going through the mail, cleaning the house, talking on the phone or reading a book.

Bottom Line

We live in a country where the dominant culture prizes independence and that go-it-alone attitude,  which is passed along to our infants early on, with books that promise to train a baby to sleep on her own at eight weeks, to self-soothe, or to cry it out. 

Yet, research proves that going it alone does not provide the substantial benefits to baby’s well-being that are experienced by babies who are regularly close to parents  in a sling or carrier.  Developmental, emotional, cognitive, physical, and parental benefits show what a difference babywearing inarguably makes.

- See more at: http://www.babyinasling.com/articles/how-babywearing-makes-a-difference-5-reasons.php#sthash.z3E4TCfA.dpuf

An interesting article about the history of babywearing from Victoria Ward, Director of Shcool of Babywearing UK.

Source: Gentle Parenting

The History of Babywearing

If you use a sling or carrier, you will probably have had at least one person tell you that “those things weren’t around in my day” – they are both wrong and right.

Slings have been described as one of the very first pieces of technology, an absolute necessity for nomadic peoples for whom carrying their babies in arms was both impractical and would have meant that mothers needed even more energy, which was in scarce supply. Yet it is true that most of the slings and carriers we see today were produced by companies that were established in the last 40 years. The last twenty years have seen the creation of new products such as stretchy wraps and hybrids and a huge growth in the number of companies making and selling slings and carriers.

How did ‘babywearing’, as we may now know it, come about?

It’s thought that natural materials like bark, leaves and animal skins were initially used to fashion very simple one-shouldered carriers, which helped support some of the child’s weight while adults were moving around from place to place or looking for food. Later, after weaving was used to create cloth, simple pieces of cloth were used to tie the child close to the adult (or to a sibling, as many babies were and still are carried by older children). Sometimes these were very ornate, such as in Asia, where carriers were often heavily embroidered or made from fabric such as the silk of kimonos or kimono sashes in Japan.

In Africa, kanga and kitenge fabrics were part of dress fabric used as an apron, a blanket to sit on and a general carrying aid. In Mexico, the rebozo, which was a general purpose ‘carrying cloth’ which each woman carried at all times, was used to carry babies in. In India, women tied babies into part of their saris and in Borneo rattan baskets were used. Closer to home, in Wales the Welsh blanket was used by both men and women regularly to carry babies until the 1950s, when the mass production of strollers meant that their usage virtually died out.

Styles of original baby carrier vary from climate to climate – in hotter climates, babies have a greater need to feed frequently and carriers that keep the baby close to mother (or to another woman who will feed it) tend to be more practical as they allow the baby to have very frequent, short feeds, avoiding dehydration. In colder climates, babies tend to feed less by day and can be left for longer periods so carriers that can be left hanging on tree branches or strapped to sleds may be more practical. The Inuit amauti is a carrier and coat, where the baby is carried inside the coat, which is tied at the waist, less practical for nursing but a great way to keep warm.

In the late 1960s, an American woman invented the Snugli baby carrier after seeing African women carrying their babies on their backs, when she worked as a Peace Corps volunteer in Togo, West Africa. In the 1970s, the first German woven wrap company, Didymos, was established after its founder was given a Mexican rebozo.  In the early 1980s, the ring sling was invented by a man in Hawaii for his wife. He sold his idea to Dr William Sears, who invented the term ‘attachment parenting’ and whose wife, Mary invented the term ‘babywearing’ after using a sling with their son and describing the sling like an item of clothing that she put on in the morning and took off at night.

Since the 1980s, the number of types of slings and carriers has grown hugely (the pouch and soft structured carriers are Western adaptations of traditional carriers), as have the number of new companies, from very large manufacturers to smaller work at home parents making custom-designed carriers. The choice really can be overwhelming though perhaps thinking back to the origins of baby carrying and how the focus should be on the practice of baby carrying and less on the product, may help parents make the right choice.

At Babywearing UK you can read much more about different sling & carrier types, find out which brands offer which types and find a sling library, meet or babywearing consultant near you.

By Victoria Ward, founder of Babywearing UK.

Babywearing history from Wrap Your Baby

source: http://wrapyourbaby.com/blog/2013/02/cultural-babywearing/

“I wish they had those when my babies were little!”

We modern babywearers often hear this sentiment ridiculously often.  I would be surprised to meet a babywearer who hasn’t been told this at least once.   Yet our baby carriers are modeled after carriers that have been used around the world for centuries.  The period of time in which European and American babies have not been worn, is really a very short gap and we are now returning to something more workable than strollers and bucket seats.  We are going back to something simple and functional.

If the theories in this article are correct, we are going back to one of early man’s first and most basic tools.  http://newhumanist.org.uk/2330/slings-arrows

So while babywearing is not new, it is not something that most of our grandparents had any exposure to.  No one did it.  

Read more on the Wrap Your Baby site!

Babywearing helped us out today!

Thank you so much, YOU, unnamed stranger mum who carried your child in a carrier first time ever zillions years ago! Thank you! I am so grateful that we have babywearing, that we all have this skill and that manufacturers make our lives easier with all these beautiful and useful carriers. Also I am very happy that I can benefit from this common knowledge and use back carries in so many different styles.

Today, right after our baby signing class, we stayed out for a lunch. I do not know what was wrong or what my son ate yesterday or this morning that could cause such an upset stomach. Had a very bad accident in the nappy.

I could give him a clean nappy and one piece of T-shirt. (+Shoes, hat and a cardigan) No trousers, socks, bodies... NADA! As we were just left for 1,5 hours and he do not goes out more than one a day any more.

We were not far from home but this short walk could have make him cold easily.
I cannot carry him in the front for a long walk any more, he is too heavy for me. But I just pictured him running around me naked on the street and I felt immediately grateful for my SSC.

What I figured that in the carrier I can make him sit on my scarf (which I usually wear) and could wrap his legs. A wrap would have been even better this time...
Anyway he fall asleep on my back by the time we got home. (This happens nowadays any time I wrap him or put him in a carrier which is a bit unusual from a 17 months old boy.)

Babywearing safety leaflet

Thank you for this great leaflet to Slingababy team and Lorette. 

Babywearing is a Skill

"Babywearing simply means holding or carrying a baby or young child using a cloth baby carrier. Holding babies is natural and universal; baby carriers make it easier and more comfortable, allowing parents and caregivers to hold or carry their children while attending to the daily tasks of living. Babywearing helps a new dad put a fussy newborn to sleep. It allows a new mom use both hands to make a sandwich. It lets an experienced parent or caregiver carry a baby on her back and wash the dishes, do the laundry, take a hike, or weed the garden, all while keeping the baby safe and content.

Babywearing is a Skill

There are many baby carriers on the market. However, a commercial baby carrier is not necessary for babywearing. Many people use simple pieces of cloth to safely and comfortably carry their babies. Additionally, there is a learning curve with any baby product, including commercial baby carriers. Parents and caregivers often benefit from thinking of babywearing as a skill they can learn, rather than as the result of a product they can buy. Many babywearing techniques can be learned in just a few minutes. Some techniques, such as carrying a baby on your back, take more time and practice to master, but the extra effort is rewarded with liberation and increased comfort."

Source: Babywearing International

Babywearing Safety

Reading recommendation:

Let's start with the Stretchy wrap. 

Back carry in a stretchy wrap can be safe if proper wrap used and done well.

http://babywearerscircle.wordpress.com/2012/05/09/the-ultimate-guide-to-babywearing-safety-back-carrying-safely/

http://www.pregnancy.org/bulletinboards/baby-wearing-599/another-reason-not-wear-most-stretchy-wraps-your-back-689084/

"So, please, NEVER EVER use a Moby or Sleepy wrap for a back carry. If you have a hybrid wrap with hemmed rails, like the Gypsy Mama Bali Baby Stretch be careful what carries you use. Double hammock, inverted double hammock, and wiggleproof carry are all safe for use with hybrid wraps. Do not use single-layer carries or carries with cross passes like BWCC or BCC as these are less safe. If you see a person out and about using a stretchy wrap in a back carry please stop them and tell them that it is not a safe option. "

http://www.naturalmamas.co.uk/articles/back-carrying-with-a-stretchy-wrap/

What makes a safe sling?

http://www.sleepingbaby.net/safety.php

"What you wouldn't do is hold him down horizontally against your hip, or squished up underneath your breasts, but that's what some carriers force you to do. They also may have an elasticized opening, a triangular cross-section, and a stiff base. Sometimes, to create a (false) sense of security, there's even a harness to keep your baby in one position. These carriers, colloquially known as "bag slings" (or more appropriately, "baby duffels"), all share several design flaws."

http://www.consumeraffairs.govt.nz/for-consumers/goods/product-safety/keeping-kids-safe/baby-slings

"As well as the risk of suffocating, babies are also at risk of receiving low levels of oxygen because of the position they are in, or falling out and suffering injuries."

About car seats:
http://www.sleepingbaby.net/carseats.php

Babywearing: The real deal on safety

http://www.undercovermother.net/2010/03/babywearing-real-deal-on-safety.html#sthash.pX8yzjLp.dpuf

"So let me stand from my blogtop and scream it:

Any baby item can be dangerous!" 

Note: Please note that this post is copied from the pages quoted here.

Babywearing is not about a sling

It does not matter that you use a piece of fabric, your bedsheet or a proper woven wrap.

It does not matter that you keep your baby close and safe in a very expensive carrier or in a shining golden sling.

What matters that you keep your baby close enough to be able to respond to her. And that you are able to let her go when she needs to go and discover.

Babywearing is a mindset. Attachment parenting is not a sling or a baby in a sling. Attachment is in you and between you and your child. The mother is the miracle not the carrier.

Everyone is a babywearer

Everyone carries their baby. First the mother's body carries the little new soul, later her arms will protect the newborn. When the mother's arms are getting tired you might use a tool to support them. But you keep carrying your baby. Everyone is a babywearer, only the tool we use is different.