Babywearing and Your Baby’s Development
The bond that parents share with their baby starts long before she enters the world and continues to grow each day—especially during the first few months of life.
When a baby is kept physically close to her parents, the bodily warmth, gentle touch, and comforting sounds of their heartbeat and voice help her begin to develop a stronger sense of trust and security. In fact, in 1970 University Hospitals Rainbow Babies & Children’s Hospital produced pioneering research on infant-parent bonding. For the first time, the researchers revealed the importance of eye-to-eye contact between a baby and parent and the bond it creates. Revolutionary at the time, encouraging moms and dads to carry their baby and engage in frequent skin-to-skin contact is widely accepted as conventional wisdom today.
While it is well known that wearing baby in a front carrier helps improve the baby’s emotional development by strengthening the infant-parent bond, some new parents, however, worry whether their baby is physically developing properly. Parents who wear their baby in a baby carrier may wonder, “Is this position good for my baby’s physical development?” Here are answers to some questions I’ve heard from babywearing parents:
What are the risk factors for Developmental Dysplasia of the Hip?
There are several risk factors for Development Dysplasia of the Hip—females are more susceptible as are those with a family history of Development Dysplasia. Additional risk factors include breech birth, Oligohydramnios, Cesarean section birth, large birth weight, first pregnancy, swaddling with hips tightly in extension and other musculoskeletal abnormalities.
How does hip/spine development relate to baby carriers?
No evidence or reported cases have indicated that front carriers can cause hip dysplasia. In order to best support baby, parents should look for a baby carrier that positions baby with infant’s hips abducted (legs spread). Ideally, the hip position should be 100-110 degrees flexion and 50-70 degrees abduction.
Additionally, no evidence suggests that infant carriers are harmful to spine development. Please note that a child should never be held in any one position all day, including being held in a baby carrier.
Should a baby in a baby carrier face in or out?
As an infant, baby should face inward to keep her head and neck stabilized and to protect her airway. If the child faces in, parents can feel her breath and know where her head is positioned at all times. If her head position needs to change a parent can easily adjust the head and neck.
Once baby can hold her head up you can allow her to face out toward the world. At 4 months old, babies are becoming interested in what’s going on around them and may prefer to face out.
What should a parent look for in a baby carrier?
When choosing a baby carrier look for carriers that allow for eye-to-eye contact with your infant and allow baby to face out and see the world once they have the ability to hold their head up. It must be secure and easy to put on and take off alone.
And look for a carrier that is comfortable for both you and baby. I advise parents to look for a carrier with added lumbar support and wide, padded shoulder straps to ensure an even weight distribution. To ensure comfort, follow the manufacturer’s instructions for wearing a baby (including weight limits) and make sure the straps are positioned correctly and fit snugly on your body. It is encouraged to take breaks from wearing the baby carrier to rest your back and allow your child to switch positions.
Adjusting to life with a newborn is incredibly exciting for parents. Babywearing provides a convenient and comfortable way to maximize crucial skin-to-skin and eye-to-eye contact in those early months. Carrying the baby close can help parents build on the infant-parent bond and ease stress for both parent and child. With a front baby carrier parents can cherish this special time, and help nurture a unique bond with their little one that will last for years to come.
