Babywearing from the Perspective of a Physiotherapist

The past years I spent trying to understand the functioning and structure of the human body as best as I could. I learned a lot about infants and young children. I thought with this knowledge, I’d easily manage with a baby. Then my son was born, and I fell into the trap of first-time mothers. Unsolicited advice started pouring in, and I felt completely overwhelmed. None of what I had learned came to mind. I felt completely lost amidst the contradictory advice and ideas. Whom should I believe? The doctor, the nurse? Or my own mother?

But I couldn’t stay in this state of doubt for long because just 11 days (!!) after my son was born, my sister also gave birth. She turned to me with her questions during her pregnancy, and it was the same after giving birth. Unlike me, she trusted in my knowledge and needed my help. In that moment, it was as if lightning struck me, and everything came back to me. So we quickly got ourselves into baby wraps. At 3 weeks old, both babies happily napped in the wrap. It was difficult at first, but you get used to it.

Don’t give up and trust yourselves! Because babywearing is good for both the baby and the parents!

Why is it good for the baby?

Let’s stick with newborns. A newborn baby’s spine doesn’t have curves yet. These will develop during the course of movement development (lifting head while lying on the stomach, supporting on forearms and then palms). Until the baby has a stable trunk, the “fetal position” is the most ideal for their spine, making them feel safe. The (properly tied!) Stretchy Wrap and Woven Wrap fit snugly against the baby’s body, almost embracing them. This way, we can provide a similar sensation to what they are used to in the womb.

Besides the spine, the position of the hips is also very important. Surely, everyone has heard of congenital hip dislocation. Some may have even been advised to use spread diapers to prevent it. During (proper) babywearing, the thigh bone is fully supported, thus providing the proper position for the hip. This can even prevent more serious consequences. Of course, if spread diapers or other treatment methods (e.g., Pavlik harness) are necessary, they should definitely be used. Babywearing alone is not therapy! And let’s encourage our babies to spend time on their stomachs; it’s only beneficial. I know it’s often difficult, but you’ll get the hang of it, just gradually.

It’s a common misconception that carried babies have delayed motor development. To better understand the process, let’s take a look at neurodevelopment.

At birth, we come with a series of primitive reflexes. These include the grasping reflex, Moro reflex, or Bauer reaction. These reflexes usually disappear around 6 months, making way for conscious movements. If these primitive reflexes persist, they hinder motor development.

Additionally, I must mention the elemental movement patterns. These are movement sequences containing complex movements. These movement patterns can be observed as early as 26-28 weeks of gestation. With a healthy nervous system, a specific movement reaction occurs in response to a special stimulus while the stimulus position persists. If we perform supported sitting or pulling to sitting with a newborn baby, their trunk straightens, and they raise their head. Lying on the stomach and lifting their head can encourage crawling, and supporting their chest can encourage elemental crawling. Elemental walking can also be initiated with similar simplicity. During these movement patterns, primitive reflexes are also triggered, aiding movement. This shows that a newborn with a healthy nervous system is capable (or will be capable) of sitting, crawling, and walking.

As the nervous system develops, these elemental movement patterns gradually transform into conscious movements. Of course, space must be provided for this development. We must allow the baby to explore their abilities while remaining safe – close to mother.

Carrying soothes the baby, but if they are “constantly being carried,” they can’t “practice” movements, although their nervous system is ready for it. Let’s face it, no one carries 24 hours a day 
Moreover, motor development is so strong that you can’t force the baby into a position they don’t want to be in. Once they learn a new movement, they will practice it because it brings them joy. This is particularly true for positional changes. They enjoy being able to get from point A to point B on their own.

So, if you wear your baby with proper adjustments and considering your baby’s needs, you don’t hinder their motor development. In fact, in many cases, it can help. After all, the baby is safest with the mother and can explore the world while staying close to the one who means everything to them.

Why is it good for the mother?

Hugging, closeness with the baby, and comfort are perhaps the first few concepts that come to mind when thinking about babywearing. Besides the emotional and psychological effects, babywearing also has beneficial effects on our bodies.

In a study from 2019*, the researchers examined the effects of babywearing on the hip joints of the carrier. The participants walked for 15 minutes carrying the baby in their arms, then carried them (in front) in a carrier for another 15 minutes. These results were compared to the participants’ normal walking. It’s not surprising that carrying in arms puts much more strain on the joints, especially the knees. What is surprising, though, is that there was no significant difference between the load caused by carrying in a carrier and normal walking in both the knee and ankle joints. This means that babywearing essentially doesn’t impose greater stress on the carrier’s joints than normal walking. Of course, the study only applied to short periods of babywearing. Problems may arise with longer durations of babywearing. You can read about the scientifically proven benefits of babywearing here.

 First, we need to check the settings of the carrier. Often, improperly adjusted equipment causes problems. Of course, even with a well-adjusted carrier, we may still experience issues. Think about the last time you carried an 8-10 kg backpack? If we’re not in shape, we might get tired. Most people have weak core muscles. These are responsible for trunk stability and the correct position of the pelvis. If there are issues in this area, the extra weight will indeed lead to problems. It’s very important to keep our own bodies in good condition. Just as some babies need to get used to the carrier, some mothers need to get used to it too. You can progress gradually with this as well. Start by carrying for only 5 minutes, then gradually increase the duration. It’s important that babywearing brings joy to the mother too.

Carriers are designed to distribute the baby’s weight to the shoulders and waist – in front and back carrying -, leaving the arms free. When carrying on the hip, the load is one-sided; in this case, it’s important to alternate carrying on both sides, and it’s not recommended to carry in this position for a long time. So the critical points are the shoulders (+ upper back), waist, and hips. It’s worth strengthening these areas if we want to wear our baby.

Once we get used to it and can use the carrier without any problems (proper tying, correct adjustment of straps), we realize how much easier life is this way. For us, it was a lifesaver during separation anxiety.ű

 Vanda Abraham

Physiotherapist

*https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0966636218314218?via%3Dihub