Let’s talk about the benefits of babywearing your newborn and how prepping for it now can really help your postnatal recovery.

Hello I’m Emma a.k.a Little One Snug – Hastings Sling Library and Babywearing Consultancy for Hastings & E.Sussex. Life beyond pregnancy right now be difficult to imagine, this post below will talk to you about an amazing parenting tool: babywearing

While welcoming a newborn, and prepping for that positive birth is so empowering, how you manage that fourth trimester (those first 12 weeks postpartum) can make all the difference to your recovery too, physically, mentally, and emotionally.

Looking after a newborn naturally comes with challenges, you are experiencing a lot of firsts all at once! And although it is absolutely normal for baby to want to be on you (most of the time) while you will become the master of doing many a task one-handed, this often can become frustrating, and isn’t always safe or practical! Using a carrier can really help you navigate this stage, plus there are so many other benefits too babywearing too – let’s look at some of these in more detail:

1. Easier Soothing
Crying is the most effective way for your baby to communicate. Biologocally we are primed to react to this sound. When we hold our baby close, ssh, walk or sway (sling or in arms), your baby will naturally start to soothe as the warm, gentle movement and sounds are familiar to those in the womb.

2. Great for Bonding
The closeness of carrying is a big oxytocin booster (yes, thats the love hormone which is also released during birth), not only will it help promote your milk supply but it can really aid in helping you bond with baby too, and can even combat against PND.

3. Make your baby smarter!
Research proves there is increased sensory input & emotional security that comes with carrying, with increased frontal brain activity frequently detected – meaning learning occurs. Babies mimic and having them so close you’re more likely to engage/ chatting, singing, swaying with baby. Now think about them facing away from you/ down lower in a pram – less interaction! Especially with phones! There have been studies into this too.

4. Secure attachment will support your childs growth (physically and emotionally) rather than ‘making a rod for your own back’
It is a basic human need to feel loved. So when we consistently respond to our babies cries (secure attachment) by picking them up/ comforting them, we meet that need, and reaffirm that feeling. Baby feels safe, building trust that we will always come, so first settling will get easier, then eventually they will settle more with others and longer term there will be true independence sooner.

5. Use these skills as a parenting tool into toddlerhood and beyond!
Just because a child starts walking doesn’t mean they won’t need ups, especially when legs tire! You’ll possibly need a bigger sling, and carry in shorter bursts, but you’ll find it great for regulating those bigger emotions too, helping with poorliness, tiredness etc. You’ll also find it feels much lighter than carrying a bigger child in arms! I still carry my 3 year old!

This all sounds great – but where do I begin:

Knowledge is power

Carrying isn’t risky when it’s done well, and to do it well is a skill. Practise makes perfect, and seeking sling support can really help to accelerate learning! However just like co-sleeping, using a buggy or carseat, guidance exists to keep you all as safe as possible. If you’re planning to carry early (pre-4m) I’d really recommend getting a fit-check with a trained and insured consultant like myself at minimum to check things are all ok.

Understanding, optimal carrying, and what types of sling work best for newborns and why will make you safer, comfy & so much more confident. Far too many people give up carrying, due to not having the right carrier/ misconceptions that carrying wasn’t for them & their child is far too heavy. Babywearing support can also help you tweak things with an existing sling or find something that works for you even better.

Top tips

As you can see there are multiple sling types (and Googling best baby carrier, simply isn’t helpful as you’ll only see those results with most marketing) and within these catergories all carriers all work a bit differently and you’ll likely have preferences. Some will fit where your child is at developmentally much better than others, as some will suit your body frame, flexbility, health better than others too. Despite what the marketing may say – please take any marketing with a big old punch of salt!

I didn’t know there was this much to think about!
Let’s face it, this information is overwhelming, and parents are usually on the back foot.
It’s no wonder why parents often get it wrong. Rather than buying a sling, and likely buying twice, why not put your pennies towards or ask a friend or relative to gift you a babywearing consult? We can do things at your pace and you can ask questions and we can tweak things as we go.

Myself (or other carrying consultants) know our stuff. We’ve seen many a sling on many a person so we’re good at suggesting a few you may like to try/compare once we chat more and delve into your needs. Libraries are there so you can try before you buy via fitting sessions and hiring, we’re trained and insured too unlike staff in big highstreet stores, who often don’t advise well!

Families who book a 1:1 consultation with me – either postnatally only, or my full bump to baby package via Rise Midwives referral will automatically get a 15% off discount. For more info about my services you can follow this link

If you’d like to find out more about working with a private midwife, book a free discovery call with V at Rise.

I also have a blog that sits within this website where you can read more about babywearing too!

You can follow me on insta / fb @littleonesnug to keep up to date too

I run completely free, informal babywearing antenatal sessions at The Crown Pub in Hastings (3x a year) see here for next date / info and booking).