Babywearing

Studies have shown there are many positive reasons to wear a wrap. Some of the reasons to carry your child:

• Provides warmth, security, pleasure and sound, all essential to healthy development.
• Helps meet baby’s security needs: baby can feel, smell, hear and see the parent. 
• Enables parents to accomplish their day-to-day activities and still be in close physical contact with their babies. 
• Has a soothing, tranquilizing affect which helps fussy or tired infants fall asleep.

After a hold has been introduced, continue to use it as long as baby is comfortable and secure. Remember each child is an individual and will develop at his or her own rate and have his or her own preferences. Carry baby in  the same way that you would in your arms - supported, snug and aligned. By mimicking the way you naturally carry baby you will find:

• Baby's preferred carrying position 
• A hold that is soothing and calming for baby and wearer 
• Decreased back strain on the wearer
• Baby in a correctly aligned position

• Newborn babies with colic, gas or acid reflux often prefer being carried in an upright position.
• If baby doesn’t like being in the wrap, gently take baby out and try again later.
• A baby can sense a wearer's hesitance when using the wrap. Babies who "don't like being wrapped" actually enjoy it (and fall fast asleep) when carried by an experienced babywearer. Keep practicing!
• Babies will cue you when they are ready to be out of this position by starting to stretch their legs. At this point, you may put baby’s legs through the fabric as instructed in the Hug Hold.

Dad Tip

The vibration of a man’s Adam’s apple can be soothing to an upset baby. Try having Dad or Grandpa hold the baby in this position and walk around humming or singing to soothe a crying infant.

About Kangaroo Care

Kangaroo Care is a method of skin-to-skin contact used to promote parent/infant bonding, especially for premature babies. It is the practice of holding an infant dressed only in a diaper between a mother’s bare breasts or on father’s chest, similar to a kangaroo carrying its young. Through contact with parents’ skin, babies remain warm and can interact with their parents.

According to Dr. Sears and many other pediatric experts, skin-to-skin care and babywearing are proven to:

• Reduce Crying
• Increase Baby’s Weight
• Help Prevent Colic
• Increase Baby’s Overall Health
• Boost Milk Production
• Improve Baby’s Sleep Time And Quality
• Lower Baby’s (And Mother’s) Stress Hormones

Mothers who practice skin-to-skin care with their infants breastfeed longer and more frequently. Babies have better weight gain and are discharged from the hospital earlier. Mothers also report greater confidence in caring for their infants.

Fathers who practice skin-to skin care with their babies feel an incredible bond. This is highly preferable to having dad involved by bottle feeding, which can have the adverse effect of decreasing the mother’s milk supply, leading to early weaning.

Many mums will breastfeed whilst wearing a wrap. Here are a few tips to help!

Top 5 Breastfeeding Tips

Beat the "booby traps" - Have a game plan for any bumps along the way. Make sure your  hospital and pediatrician are truly breastfeeding friendly. Ask about their breastfeeding success rates! Find local resources - think expert coach and cheering squad to reach your personal best. Remind nosey bodies and naysayers that we know more now, as with seat belts and sunscreen. Remember, almost all women can breastfeed successfully, and 95% of problems are easily solved with the right help.

Prepare in advance Treat breastfeeding like planing a wedding, or interviewing for a job. Take a class, join or create a support group and interview lactation consultants (just in case). Enroll your spouse - their support is key. Make sure your employer understands that breastfeeding equals fewer sick days, less turnover and higher employee morale. You and your baby are worth it. The benefits of breastfeeding last a lifetime!

Hit the ground running Aim for a good latch within an hour of birth and get a pro to help you; pain is not okay! Your baby is programmed to go straight from birth to the breast, both for comfort and colostrum - so weighing, tests, and relatives can wait. Snuggle up: skin-to-skin contact boosts your supply and cues baby to latch well. Demand pasteurized, screened donor milk if a supplement is medically required.

Get inspired Talk to a friend or relative who enjoyed breastfeeding, or read up on celebrity moms and everyday role models. Watch a mom nurse and ask questions. Know what motivates you - that special bond, fewer bottles to wash, or fewer trips to the doctor for both of you! Scope out spots to nurse so you can get out of the house. Psych yourself up. You can do it!

Get in the groove Remember, the first few days and weeks are a learning curve, but like riding a bike, you'll get the hang of it soon. Keep phone numbers of your support group and top lactation consultants handy, and get help immediately if you have any pain. Ask friends and family to bring a meal or watch the baby while you nap, set small, manageable goals and acknowledge yourself.