Author: Dr. med Rieke Hermann (physician specializing in gynecology and co-founder of the MamAcademy )
Most babies are best soothed when they are carried around, feel skin-to-skin contact, and are exposed to their mother's scent. This is understandable if they have known this closeness and nothing else 24/7 for months beforehand. "Babies are meant to be carried!" You may have heard this saying, and indeed, in many cultures, carrying a child is still the only way to travel together. In this blog post, you will learn about the health benefits of using a baby carrier for both you and your baby, and what you should consider to promote your own physical well-being as well.
1. Healthy hip development
With the invention of the stroller, hip dysplasia in children has increased. This is because the hip socket in newborns is not yet fully developed, and prolonged lying with legs extended has been proven to more frequently lead to hip dislocation and dysplasia (malformation of the hip socket). Babies know what feels good and reflexively draw their legs up, putting them in a squatting position when they are picked up. This prepares them for the hip position – the posture a baby also assumes in a baby carrier. This so-called spread-squat position can help prevent or even treat hip dysplasia.
2. Healthy spine
After birth, a baby's spine is still rounded. It straightens from top to bottom during the first year of life. This developmental step requires a gradual build-up of muscles. Until then, it's important to support the natural curve of the spine to avoid overloading the baby's delicate vertebrae and intervertebral discs. Sitting in a frog-leg position (frog-leg position) tilts the child's pelvis slightly forward, thus promoting the natural curve of the spine. A hollow back posture must be avoided at all costs!
3. Creating basic trust
For over nine months, the baby grows in the womb. With birth, this deep connection is broken, and the baby is exposed to many new stimuli every day, which can quickly become overwhelming. Being carried in a baby carrier can provide a sense of security, allowing the baby to remain close to its mother, with her familiar voice, warmth, and scent, and thus continuing this connection in a way. This fosters a trust based on security and love, which promotes a fundamental trust that the baby will draw upon throughout its life.
4. Strong mother-child interaction
Through close contact with the baby in the carrier, the mother not only perceives the baby's sounds, but can also recognize her child's signals holistically and multisensorially at an early stage. For example, she can detect small restless movements or quiet sounds and respond accordingly. This creates a communication between mother and child that strengthens the bond and provides the baby with a sense of security.
5. Promoting motor development
The baby doesn't just sit passively in the baby carrier. Even small movements of the mother cause the baby to make balancing movements. This strengthens the baby's muscles and sense of balance. The changing movements constantly provide new stimuli, requiring the activation of different muscles.
6. Fewer colic episodes
Especially in the first few months of life, many babies suffer from colic. It is believed that the insufficient development of their gastrointestinal tract contributes to this. The bent position of the baby's legs in a baby carrier relaxes the abdomen and allows gas to escape more easily. The warmth of the baby's tummy can also soothe the pain.
7. Gentle on the body
The heavier the baby gets, the more strenuous it becomes for the mother to carry the child. While carrying the baby in her arms or in a car seat puts the body in unnatural positions that can lead to tension and pain in the long run, a baby carrier distributes the baby's weight evenly across the body. This counteracts uneven strain on the hips or shoulders.
8. Psychological support
It is known that 10-15% of all women suffer from postpartum depression after giving birth. This is often accompanied by a disrupted mother-child relationship. Mothers are frequently aware of this and also suffer from guilt. As a complement to treatment, carrying your baby in a baby carrier can provide the physical closeness your child needs.
9. Physical fitness
Many women look forward to becoming more physically active and exercising again after giving birth. This isn't always possible with a baby. Carrying your child in a baby carrier can help improve your physical fitness during longer walks together. Important: Make sure your core muscles are sufficiently strengthened beforehand. See our tips for healthy babywearing!
Our tips for healthy carrying
- During the early postpartum period, you should avoid carrying your baby in a carrier to prevent disrupting the healing of the uterus and any birth injuries. You should also give your pelvic floor this time to regenerate.
- Respect your physical limits! Do you feel a foreign body sensation in your lower abdomen, experience urinary incontinence while running, or feel pain when carrying heavy objects? Then you should definitely slow down and recognize this as a warning sign from your body.
- Relieve your pelvic floor after wearing a support belt for an extended period. While wearing a support belt, your pelvic floor maintains a certain level of tension. To prevent this tension, you should allow it to relax after prolonged periods of wearing a support belt. To do this, elevate your pelvis.
- Fasten the baby carrier securely to your body. This will help you maintain an upright posture and improve your connection to your pelvic floor. This allows your diaphragm and pelvic floor to work together and relieve each other.
- Keep your center of gravity high. By positioning your baby at "kissing height" in the carrier, you create the best possible relief for your back and pelvic floor.
- Once your child reaches a higher weight, carry them more often on your back. This will help you achieve better posture and thus create the conditions for the interaction between your pelvic floor and diaphragm.
Important: Don't put yourself under pressure to wear it at the beginning; start slowly and increase the wearing time according to how you feel!
You can find more information about MamAcademy and the courses here .
