The Scientifically Proven Benefits of Babywearing

There are numerous benefits to babywearing. Those who practice it know from experience. But what does science say? Have researchers examined the effects of babywearing using scientific methods? The answer: yes! It’s increasingly common for scientists to investigate practices borrowed from our ancestors to determine whether they have real value or are merely ingrained habits. This was the case with delayed cord clamping, and it’s also true for babywearing. From the wealth of scientific findings, I’ve gathered a few, so let’s see what researchers have concluded:

Facilitates the Development of Secure Attachment

An intriguing experiment was conducted on how babywearing affects the formation of attachment patterns. In psychology, it’s long been known that three types of attachment patterns are possible: secure, ambivalent, and insecure. For the sake of the parent-child relationship and, of course, the child’s future life, secure attachment is essential. The formation of this pattern is influenced by numerous factors, one of which is babywearing. Researchers examined 49 mothers, with 23 mothers asked to wear their babies and 26 mothers using only a bouncer seat without babywearing. At 13 months of age, the babies underwent the “strange situation experiment,” which can provide insight into attachment patterns, and indeed, among the babies of the babywearing mothers, there were more securely attached ones compared to the other group. (Source)

Babies Who are Worn Cry Less

Crying is the baby’s primary means of communication for a long time. During the postpartum period, deciphering the reasons for a baby’s crying is the biggest challenge. Is the baby hungry? Does it need a clean diaper? Is it bothered by gas? Is it cold? Is it too warm? Is the clothing uncomfortable? However, if we’ve met all of the baby’s physical needs and it continues to cry, then the cause of the crying is likely emotional. The baby longs to be picked up, rocked, and held. Babywearing is an excellent solution for this. By studying 99 mothers and babies, researchers found that babies who were worn cried 43% less. Not a bad ratio, right? (Source)

Enhances Mother’s Responsiveness

Responsiveness means paying attention to the baby’s instinctive and natural cues and trying to respond appropriately. So, this includes what was discussed in the previous point, namely, how we react to the baby’s crying. Examining the mothers of babies who were worn, researchers found that they were much better at “reading” their baby’s cries. Thus, we can say that babies who are worn cry less (among other reasons) because the mother better understands what the baby needs and when. (Source)

Reduces Spit-up and Lessens the Occurrence of Reflux in Worn Babies

Nobody likes spit-up. It bothers the baby as the milk or formula they just drank comes back into their mouth, and it’s unpleasant for parents with all the sour-smelling unwashed clothes. Babywearing is a good solution for this issue. Carrying the baby in an upright position for 30-60 minutes after feeding reduced the number of spit-ups, and reflux occurred less frequently in worn babies. (Source)

Decreases the Likelihood of Postpartum Depression

Postpartum depression is a serious issue and is far from as rare as we might think. Disrupted hormonal balance, constant exhaustion, lack of support, and the challenging processing of the birth experience are all fertile ground for depression. Actually, it’s not babywearing itself that reduces the likelihood of postpartum depression, but rather physical contact. Researchers examined the quantity of physical closeness; they divided the mothers into two groups. The cortisol levels of the mothers decreased significantly in the group that engaged in more cuddling. Cortisol is also known as a stress hormone, and if its levels remain high for a prolonged period, it’s a clear indication of the likelihood of postpartum depression. (Source)

But I have one more good news! If postpartum depression has already developed, it’s still important not to stop babywearing, not to give up cuddling. Treating depression is crucial because it also negatively affects the baby’s physical and, of course, emotional development. However, the damage can be mitigated by maintaining physical closeness even during difficult times. (Source)

We Are Carrying Mammals

Humans are not animals, but as biological beings, they can be classified taxonomically. There are many differences among mammals, and one of them is how developed the newborns are at birth. After a giraffe or antelope is born, it doesn’t take long for them to stand up and follow their mother. But humans are not like that. Compared to animals, we are born very underdeveloped, and we learn to walk quite late. This also means that evolutionarily, we are programmed to carry our babies (in our arms or strapped to us) because this is the only way for the baby to survive. (Source)

Reduces the Risk of Flat Head Syndrome

If a baby spends too much time lying on their back, flat head syndrome can develop, and it’s best to avoid it. Placing the baby on their stomach is a good solution, but not every baby likes it for a long time. This is where babywearing comes in. The more often a baby sleeps in an upright position, strapped to a caregiver, the lower the risk of flat head syndrome. (Source)

Synchronizes Mother-Baby Heart Rhythms

Biology works wonderfully. When babywearing in front, the baby’s and mother’s heart rhythms automatically synchronize. This, of course, has both advantages and disadvantages. If we are calm and our heart beats slower, the baby will also be calm. But if we get upset about something and our pulse rises, the baby will also become irritable. (Source)

Helps Premature Babies Too

Babywearing is a special form of the kangaroo method. In this case, the newborn rests on the parent’s chest in skin-to-skin contact. Six hours of kangaroo care per day were compared to a standard incubator, and it was found that babies developed and grew much better due to the effect of frequent physical closeness, and their weight was also higher by the end of the study. (Source)

Less Tiring Than Carrying in Arms

The advantages described so far can actually be enjoyed without a baby carrier because the essence is physical closeness. We can hold the baby in our arms and hug them with both arms. Even if someone doesn’t want or can’t wear their baby, they can still provide all of this to the baby. However (as unbelievable as it may sound), researchers have examined how tiring it is to carry a baby in arms over the long term. Carrying in arms requires 16% more energy compared to using carriers. It’s well known that milk production also requires a lot of energy, but carrying in arms requires even more! Indeed, when we haven’t slept for days and our energy level is very low, it doesn’t hurt to save energy wherever possible. (Source)

Dorina Megyeriné Rákóczi, also known as Dodó Sapiens

Mother of two, turned science communicator from a bionic engineer

Website: https://dodosapiens.hu/blog/