The Secret to Helping Your Newborn Cry Less

The secret to helping your baby cry less is carrying your baby more.  Since it's International Babywearing Week, I wanted to share some useful information on the subject.

Babywearing is commonplace among some other cultures, and it's gaining popularity in the United States.  What is babywearing?  Using a sling, wrap, or baby carrier you can literally wear you baby.  There are several different positions you can use and it depends on your baby's age, and weight to know which are best. 

I became interested in babywearing after I had my second child.  I knew it would be more challenging to attend to my older child and I wanted to be attentive to both my children at once.  If only I would have known then what I know now! 

Safety

As with any product or lifestyle choice you want to babywear safely.  I love the T.I.C.K.S. acronym put together by the UK Sling Manufactoers and Retailers Consortium.  T.I.C.K.S. stands for Tight, In view at all times, Close enough to kiss, Keep chin off chest, Supported back.  Of course, this doesn't exactly apply when wearing your baby on your back so be sure to be very careful and only wear older babies when you feel confident in your babywearing skills. 

Benefits

Babywearing comes with numerous benefits.  My personal favorite is how much less your baby will cry if you carry him or her.  The National Center for Biotechnology Information did a study in 1986 and found that infants who were carried more cried or fussed 43% less during the day at 6 weeks, and 51% less from 4pm to midnight than their non-carried counterparts.  This is incredible and the reason I spend time teaching, and practicing babywearing with all my postpartum doula clients.

Pet Peeve

I love seeing parents and caregivers wearing babies.  However, I've learned that it is best to wear a baby in a way that you would also carry them in your arms. It is tricky to wear your baby in a comfortable way when they are facing forward.  Think Zach Galifianakis in The Hangover.  I know we see celebrities in TV and movies, and ads for products with babies facing forward but it is not the best way to babywear.  Why?  It can put stress on their spine, cause them to be overstimulated and can be uncomfortable for your back.  For more information read 9 Reasons Not to Wear Your Baby Facing Out.  

Learn how to Babywear

I taught myself how to wear my newborn son by carefully practicing and following the instructions in my Moby Wrap packaging.  I also asked friends for advice and searched the internet for ideas and tips.  Now, I teach new moms and dads how to use different options for their baby.  You can learn by joining Detroit Babywearers, who meet twice a month in different Metro Detroit locations.  You can hire a postpartum doula to teach you babywearing, among many other things, about your newborn. 

Read my last blog post 5 Professionals to ask about Breastfeeding.

You can e-mail me with questions/comments at theafterbabylady@gmail.com

I'm also on Facebook The After Baby Lady.

For more gorgeous artwork by Katie M. Berggren visit her website.