Since the dawn of time, women have carried their babies. In fact, it is what has allowed the survival of the species. The needs of babies have not changed, nor has the maternal instinct.
Some theories about babies that were current in the last century distilled that it was better to limit attention and affection at the risk of creating addiction or a lack. This is why carrying appeared as a whim or a bad habit.
The baby, a small marsupial
Human babies and children are a carried species and need arms (warmth, touch, skin-to-skin, the sound of the carrying adult's heartbeat, fetal position, and containing contact) that welcome and contain their emotions in order to feel safe.
From the point of view of behavioral biology, the human baby manifests its belonging to the “small marsupial” type and is not “altricial” by nature. This means that human babies are made to be carried for a long time and not left alone in a nest (or a bed, a stroller, a bouncer…).
Carrying meets the physiological needs of babies, so there is no need to talk about a “whim” or “bad habit”.
Benefits for the baby
- auditory experiences (melodies, voices, everyday sounds, etc.)
- visual experiences (colors, everyday objects, movements, etc.)
- tactile experiences (touching different textures, etc.)
- olfactory experiences (smelling the smells of people, and of everyday life, of the house, of the outdoors, etc.)
- movements (swinging, rocking, etc.)
- optimal development both in terms of his skull and his posture or his emotional regulation
- increased confidence in sleep
- better regulation of its temperature
Benefits for parents
- calm: the child cries little because he is reassured by the body
- reactivity: when a child is hungry or when he is too hot
- efficiency: carrying is a way of living daily with your child and going about your activities
- safety: prolonged carrying allows parents to be more serene themselves.
Carrying gives the baby the habit of being understood, listened to and loved in all circumstances.
Babies whose needs are met are babies who are not resigned and who dare to ask; they are confident and connected to their feelings. A good start for the future adults they will be.
In a previous article about the benefits of babywearing, we also talked about the necessary equipment, it's here: The benefits of babywearing for your baby .
