When you become a parent, everyday life changes in every way; you have to prioritize differently, and life is never the same again.
I became a mom for the first time in July 2022, and since the day my daughter came into the world, my life has changed in every way.
Being a mother is a full-time job in many ways; you suddenly become a personal chef, nurse, teacher, role model, helper, guide, psychologist, and you could say you become a full-time carrier of the child!
And the carrying doesn't stop when they turn one or two.
From the day my daughter came into the world, she hasn't been much of a fan of sitting or lying in the stroller, which has meant that various carriers and wraps have been put to good use here at home. There she found peace, close to her mother's warm and safe heartbeat. And she still finds that peace, almost 16 months old. And that's perfectly fine, but oh how glad I am that I discovered carriers from the time she was a newborn until now.
We at babyseler.no have both carriers and wraps for newborns up to children weighing 25 kg!
Let's take a look at the various health benefits of carrying in a wrap or carrier.
Increase breastfeeding time by carrying?
Various studies have shown that carrying your child in a carrier or wrap has many wonderful health benefits for both baby and mother.By carrying the baby early, you can extend the joy of breastfeeding, and it becomes easier for both mother and child to breastfeed in a relaxed manner.
A study conducted in Italy showed that mothers who carried their child for at least one hour a day had a 72% higher likelihood of continuing to breastfeed when the child reached two months.
Additionally, mothers had a 48% higher chance of continuing to breastfeed when the child reached five months of age by carrying their child in a carrier or wrap.
We also know that skin contact with the mother increases milk production.
So if you're struggling with milk production, you can carry skin-to-skin in a wrap or carrier.
Child development
Using a carrier with the child close can help the child grow well. It has been shown that there are two reasons for this: the child is less stressed, and therefore produces less of the stress hormone that can hinder growth.
Additionally, the warmth from the carrier's body helps prevent the child from getting too cold and using up energy to warm up. This is especially important for those born prematurely.
Body contact and closeness release the hormone oxytocin ("the love hormone") which helps with both bonding and breastfeeding, and reduces the risk of postpartum depression
When we carry our children, it helps support the child's development; motor skills, language, and the many important connections in the brain.
Better sleep for both mother and child?
Newborns tend to sleep longer and deeper when they have skin contact with their mother. From a study we can see that children who slept alone had higher stress levels and poorer sleep quality. All parents know that having a newborn means little sleep; numerous studies have been conducted on how newborns can improve their sleep quality, and it has been shown time and again that close contact with the mother leads to better sleep. Both as a newborn and as the child gets older. So using a wrap/carrier has health benefits not only during the newborn phase but will continue to benefit the child throughout their life.
A good and safe start to life close to the mother provides the foundation for a secure child.
Will carrying lead to less crying?
A Japanese study looked at various ways to calm a child/baby, and it turned out that the best way to calm crying children was to hold them while moving around. The mothers in the study were either to sit with the child on their lap to calm them down or walk around with the child close to them to soothe them. Something I personally experience and still experience as a mom. Now that my daughter has reached the beginning of the terrible twos, there are many big emotions. Having a carrier that fits her at this age is pure gold.
I use the hip carrier, and it is optimal to use both to comfort my girl when the big feelings come, and it is so practical to use when doing housework or going to the store.
The freedom of having your hands free
It is also worth mentioning that many parents who carry their children say that the various carriers can help save the day when the little one is having a hard time, seeking a lot of contact and needing extra care. This way, the carrier also gets their hands free to do other things while taking care of the baby.
Various carriers and wraps can be a tool to help meet the baby's needs while doing laundry, cooking, and other chores simultaneously.
Many parents say that carrying their baby has saved their everyday life in many ways because it has provided security and helped them in the midst of time constraints.
It is necessary to give the little new baby lots of care and love, while also taking care of yourself in the process. Like making yourself a cup of coffee, something to eat, going for a walk to the store, or a hike in the woods.
What to do when the carrier or wrap becomes too small?
Don't despair; even if the child has outgrown their wrap or carrier, there are still options to achieve that close contact and support. Even as the child grows, they still want to be close to their mother and father, so we at babyseler.no have the perfect solution for carrying children over 6 months+ up to 25 kg!
Which is our unique hip carrier, it helps the carrier relieve their arms, back, and neck while carrying.
These little ones just get heavier and heavier every day, so having a tool that also contributes as the child grows up is invaluable.
SUMMARY
- All families may have different reasons for choosing to carry; regardless of the reason, you get the same benefits for you and your child.
- You can increase breastfeeding time by carrying the child in a carrier or wrap from newborn age.
- The love hormone oxytocin is produced when you carry your baby. Oxytocin is crucial for the well-being and health of both children and adults and can help with postpartum depression in mothers.
- All of the child's senses are stimulated when you carry in a carrier or wrap, just as the child experiences motor stimulation from sitting in a carrying device. This can lead to better motor development in the child.
- It is nice to have your hands free – so you can take care of yourself while also taking care of your baby.