Reasons To Wear Your Baby On Your Body

from the work of Ashley Montagu Ph.D, Jean Liedloff, and various child development researchers

1. Babywearing recreates the oneness of the baby and mother that existed in the womb which is absolutely necessary for proper development of the infant and the mother's levels of mothering hormone, prolactin. Lebih-lebih lagi bagi bayi yang baru lahir, with a correct wearing (note with this is the correct and safe positioning the newborn while wearing. Please always refers to Tight, In view of all time, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off the chest, Supported back), it's imitating keadaan bayi semasa sembilan bulan berada dalam rahim ibu perhaps minus the amniotic fluid.  
2. Babywearing provides fathers a way to share the nurturing as well as enhances bonding in the family. Ayah/Bapa/Abah/Walid/Abi/Daddy/Papa etc pun boleh practice babywearing. I shall call it as natural-effortless bonding chance for all (nenek, atok, uncles, aunts). I usually get hinted that I might spoiled my baby (as I keep carrying him) tapi psychologically, it's not. And he even started walking at the age of 11 months.
3. Baby-carrying helps the baby maintain equilibrium and provides movement to the baby in all three directions, essential to proprioception (body awareness). 
4. Baby-carrying provides the natural rhythm of movement and tactile stimulation that small babies need for proper neurological development. Constantly carried babies fall asleep quickly in the comfort of their sling - some babies may always fall asleep while carried. What Syakir best at, tidur dalam carrier, showing how comfort he is in the carrier till now (dan ibu boleh menikmati tutti frutti tanpa gangguan).
5.  Baby-carrying stimulates optimal development of the cerebellum of the brain, the only part of the brain that continually increases in cells as the baby gets older. Voluntary muscle tone - as related to posture, balance and equilibrium - is similarly controlled by this vital part of the brain. All motor activity, from hitting a tennis ball to fingering a violin, depends on the cerebellum. These are crucial to the development of the vestibular nervous system. This system relates to the cranial and spinal nerves, the sense of kinesthetic equilibrium, development of motor skills and calming deep-pressure touch and stimulation.
   
6.  Baby-carrying enables the mother to be acutely responsive and aware of her baby's cues and signals. The best way to beat my baby's tantrum till now at the age of 23 months.
7. Baby-carrying increases maternal sensitivity and heightens parent's perceptions of their children's needs. Mothers become so sensitive to their baby that they can anticipate hunger needs, waking, and the need for a clean diaper (my note: or the need to potty!). 
8. Baby-carrying holds baby securely leaving the parent's hands free for working at a desk, in the kitchen or garden, or shopping at the market.Jadi, tiada alasan untuk berjalan berpegang tangan dengan suami setelah ada anak yer..
9. Baby-carrying allows the baby to be an active participant in the walking, talking, laughing, movement, and working of the parent. I love the moment when I could include Syakir in our conversation and activity. As we went shopping, we will continuosly talk to Syakir on/at what he is seeing. As to compared during our stroller days, we have the least communication with Syakir.
10. Babywearing in a sling or backpack (two shoulder carrier) is the most comfortable and easy way to hold baby on the parent's shoulders, backs and hips. Babywearing distributes weight evenly from parent's shoulders to hips and aligns baby's center of gravity as close to parent's body as possible. Plastic carseat carriers create severe torsion and strain in the caregiver's back and arms, and an unnatural gait. Bila berat anak melebihi berat yang dapat ditanggung oleh one shoulder carrier, this is the best option. Choose wisely the carrier that fit u and baby nicely and not to forget TICKS.  
11. Baby-carrying develops the back muscles necessary to carry the baby and corrects posture in the caregiver. 
12.  Babies are easy to wear and parents learn to relax and touch, even if they were not touched often as children or are awkward with physical intimacy and closeness. 
13. Carrying infants lowers the level of stress hormones and adrenalin circulating in the blood stream of the infant, as well as the parent/caregiver. 
14. Infants who are not carried can be at risk for the brain pathways that modulate pleasure being improperly or incompletely developed, and thus prone towards addiction later in life. 
15. Babies that are carried develop a strong bond with their mothers and a solid emotional security pattern in the foundations of their psyche. 
16. Baby-carrying greatly reduces crying and fussiness (one study reported in the 1986 Paediatrics Medical Journal found 43% less crying during the day and 51% less at night), mothers feel more competent and nurturing toward their infant and are less likely to act in abusive ways towards their children. 
17. Continuously carried infants actually initiate separation faster and become more emotionally self-reliant. The baby became more a highly motivated baby, high self-confidence and independent baby. Lupakan mitos anak yang selalu didukung menjadi anak yang manja dan susah dijaga.
18. Baby-carrying creates autonomy as well as a healthy development of physical intimacy and touching between parents and children. Baby-carrying gives healthy messages of touching to children and they learn to give and receive affection and touching in healthy ways. Carried infants are less likely to have sexual problems later in life. They do developed their empathy emotion as well as affectionate towards caregiver/parents. Jadi, kendonglah anak kita instead of giving the chance to our maid/nanny.
19. Babies who are touched and carried continuously develop larger brains than infants who are denied this stimulation. 
20. Babies who are carried have a lower mortality rate than infants who are denied this constant contact. 
21. Baby-carrying greatly benefits premature infants and lowers their mortality rate (called Kangaroo care in Neonatal nursing). 
22. Babies who are carried cry less, smile more, are less prone to vomiting and spitting up. 
23. Infants who are carried experience reduced or little incidence of colic. 
24. Carried babies experience an enhanced degree of bonding with their caregiver. 
25. Baby-carrying allows parents to accomplish their day-to-day activities and still be in close physical contact with their babies. I can complete my house daily chores at the same time spending my time with my baby. Tapi tidaklah sampai bawa ke tandas, then it came to educate what adab is to our baby.
26. Baby-carrying tells children they are loved, safe, secured and cared for. 
27. Baby-carrying creates children that are more involved in their parent's life and more likely to be involved in their own lives and less isolated as adults. 
28. Baby-carrying allows children to be AT the center of activity rather than being the center of attention, which is a healthy atmosphere for development of empathy, affection and a healthy sense of self. 
29. Baby-carrying offers constant and easy access to the infant's food source, mother's breastmilk.
30. Babies sleep comfortably and for longer periods of time while carried. 
31. Babies who are carried have a solid sense of self-esteem and independence.
32. Carrying of the infant is the most important factor responsible for the infant's normal and social development. 
33. Baby-carrying is a natural soothing baby tranquilizer which helps fussy or tired infants fall asleep. 
34. Baby-carrying stimulates the tactile receptors in the skin, developing muscle tone, increases cardiac output which increases circulation, promotes respiration and aids in digestion.
35. Baby-carrying on the body provides the elements of pressure, motion, pleasure, warmth, security, sound that is essential to the development of the vestibular nervous system during infant development. 
36. Baby-carrying provides the exact level and kind of stimulation an infant requires, energizing their nervous system and providing quiet and calm alertness in the infant. 
37. Older infants learn more as they are in a vertical position or semi-vertical position which encourages an alert state of arousal. Baby-carrying develops the muscles needed for the infant to sit, stand and walk. The baby must use his muscles to fight gravity and hold his head up, building necessary muscle strength, control, and coordination. 
38. Infants who are carried have less head lag, stronger neck and shoulder muscles, and walk on their own by ten months old versus the average North American walking age of eleven and a half (or more) months. Baby-carrying allows infants to retain the standing/stepping reflex present from birth which they use to push themselves up and grab onto mother.  Syakir started at 11 months.
39. Carried infants experience less vertigo and increased physical agility in adulthood, a superior sense of balance, precision of movement, and an awareness of their position in the space around them. 
40. Baby carrying shortens the period that an infant is dependent on his caregiver, and carried infants initiate separation sooner and for longer periods due to their more secure attachment to the parent. 
41. Baby carrying constantly allows the baby to complete its extra-uterine gestation period which is needed for the proper development and health of the infant. 
42. Baby-carrying creates an intuitive sensitivity that allows mother to anticipate her baby's every mood and need and fully experience the joy of mothering. 
43. Babywearing can help reduce the severity of postpartum depression in mothers who have had negative or endocrine-disrupting (epidurals and/or IV pitocin) birth/delivery experiences, and can help stabilize new mother emotions. 

courtesy: http://www.saisathyasai.com/shanti-mcivor-babaslings/z-shanti-mcivor-barry-pittard-babaslings.htm, http://www.lotusfertility.com/Instinctive_Parenting_and_Baby_Wearing.html,