Babywearing...have you tried it? 

Many mothers herald babywearing as a total life-saver. By using special carriers, slings, or wraps, a mom can carry her baby with her wherever she goes while being hands-free. 

Learning to wear your baby can be a bit of a learning curve, but there are plenty of online resources available to help you become proficient in using various carrying methods and products. 

We would recommend beginning with the moms within your circle to see what has been used and loved, and if possible try borrowing someone's sling, wrap, or carrier before you invest in one yourself. It may take some trial and error to determine your favorite style and what's most comfortable for you and your baby. 

Babywearing has a list of benefits a mile long, but here are some to consider:

• smooths the transition into the fourth trimester by providing warmth, skin to skin contact, familiar sounds and scents

• a held baby is a content baby (which makes for a happy mama!)

• calms a fussy baby due to colic, the infamous witching hour, or during other unexplained crying spells

• promotes bonding between mom/caregiver and child

• limits child's exposure to notably high-contact areas like shopping cart

• aids with digestion due to the upright positioning, especially helpful for babies with reflux

• increased interaction and communication; child picks up on both verbal and non-verbal communication more quickly

• allows mom to accomplish tasks like household work, exercise, and grocery shopping while wearing her baby 

• helpful during travel

• encourages an active lifestyle and more overall movement

• helpful for moms of more than one child 

Did you know that babywearing also encourages the breastfeeding relationship?

Some women are able to nurse while babywearing (yes, it can be done - it just takes some practice!), but even if that's not your goal, wearing your baby actually has been shown to increase breastfeeding duration. Here's how it's beneficial: 

• frequency of nursing 
• accessibility of nursing
• skin to skin time promotes oxytocin which has a hand in milk supply
• mom can pick up on early hunger cues quickly and easily 
• the sling/wrap/carrier offers some level of privacy for the mother if she chooses to nurse while carrying

We challenge you to try wearing your baby this week and see if it's the game changer many moms claim it to be. Anything that can make your #momlife easier is worth a shot, right?

As always, Wyatt's Maternity is here to make your breastfeeding journey easier! If we can help with anything, including getting a breast pump for you through insurance, reach out to us here! 

Sources:
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22734604/
https://www.llli.org/breastfeeding-info/baby-wearing/
https://www.kindredbravely.com/blogs/bravely/how-breastfeeding-mothers-can-benefit-from-babywearing