A study was released in mid-April in the Current Biology journal concluding that there are actual biological changes that occur in infants when they are carried. As parents, we all know that when our babies cry, picking them up is a great way to calm them. But, it can be very frustrating when we put our babies back down and they immediately start crying again. This frustration leaves a lot of parents feeling like their babies are almost manipulating them, and it leads to a lot of babies left to “cry-it-out” when their parents just can’t handle it anymore.
Biologically, though, there is a reason that our babies want to be in our arms.
Carrying your baby reduces their crying, obviously. It also reduces their body movements (flailing), which saves them precious calories. It reduces their heart-rate, their respiration rate, and allows their cerebellum to relax, creating a parasympathetic response of well-being. When babies are left to cry, their cerebellum sends the signal that the baby is in danger, which causes the fight-or-flight response to kick in: adrenaline surges, and the stress hormone called cortisol goes up. Studies have shown that high levels of this hormone can effect developing brains, causing a decrease in memory and cognitive ability. In the study, they observed these occurrences in both mice, and humans. In mice, if they injected them with a substance that slowed their relaxation response to carrying, the maternal response slowed as well. Meaning, if your baby DIDN’T respond by relaxing and crying less, biologically, you would be less likely to respond to them and protect them. It’s all science, folks. Babies cry because they want to be protected, and they feel protected when their mothers (or primary care-givers) hold them and carry them. The less crying that occurs, the better their little brains develop.
So why baby-wearing?
I don’t know about you, but I certainly can’t carry my kid around all day long and do nothing else. I mean, I could, but my house would be a mess, we wouldn’t have food on the table, and no one would have clean underwear.
Babywearing allows a baby/toddler to be close to their mom, and feel that “response of well-being,” while also allowing their mom to have her hands free to do whatever else she needs to do.
Babywearing was a life-saver to me, especially when Belle was little, and even now. Most evenings, I cook dinner with her in a sling on my hip, or in the Ergo on my back. I am able to cook, clean, walk the dog, and do whatever else I needed to do without having to put her down and worry about her crying.
You may be saying, “but my baby doesn’t like to be worn!” …and that’s totally okay. Not every single baby is going to respond the exact same way. If your kid is happier in a swing, or chair, or on a blanket on the floor, more power to you. Biologically, though, the majority of babies have the strong desire to be held close to their parents. Babywearing allows that to happen, while keeping our lives moving. If you haven’t tried it, give it a shot!
My personal favorite carriers are the Moby Wrap for infants, and the Ergo for older babies/toddlers. What are your favorite carriers? What have you been able to do thanks to wearing your baby?
The Water Cooler 