New Research: How Carrying Calms Babies

It’s almost instinctive; parents around the globe have walked their infants up and down halls in their efforts to calm them. Now research confirms that this time tested calming ritual works!  A recent study shows that carrying your baby (defined as holding and walking at the same time), has more of a calming effect than holding alone.

Carrying Effects on Babies

Carrying causes 3 things to happen; it decreases voluntary movement of the infant; it reduces babies' heart rate, and it decreases crying. Why? Carrying actually calms the baby’s nervous system (if you want a really technical explanation of how this works, read the full journal article referenced below).

Carrying is Repetition to Soothe

Over the years, we’ve promoted “repetition to soothe” as a tool to calm your crying baby. Carrying is a perfect example of this. It both brings baby close to your body and involves repetitive movement.

How to Use Carrying as Repetition to Soothe

Anytime your baby cries, first you want to try to find out why he is crying. Check for the obvious reasons first, like hunger, discomfort, or a dirty diaper. Then check less obvious things like overstimulation (lights, noises, people, etc.) If your baby is still upset after you’ve fixed everything, then try repetition to soothe. Hold your baby close and repeat a calming action or words over and over. This is where carrying can be incorporated! You may be wondering though just how you are supposed to know if you’ve taken care of the reason for the crying, if it’s not completely clear. If there is an underlying issue (like pain or hunger), crying will continue after the carrying stops.

Slings and Soothing

Slings or other baby carriers are a great way to carry your baby and save your arms! Remember, the key to calming is the repetitive motion, so don’t stand still! For more information about slings, click here. Remember to follow all manufacturer directions to ensure safety when using any baby carrier.

What are some other examples of how you use repetition to soothe with your baby?

Reference
Esposito G, Yoshida S, Ohnishi R, Tsuneoka Y, Rostagno Mdel C, Yokota S, Okabe S, Kamiya K, Hoshino M, Shimizu M, Venuti P, Kikusui T, Kato T, Kuroda KO. Infant Calming Responses during Maternal Carrying in Humans and Mice. Curr Biol. 2013;23(9):739-45.

“My baby does not like being in a sling!” Tips for parents that want to babywear

Some babies like being worn in a sling or other baby carrier only in specific situations or they just may not want to be in it all the time. This is normal! Your baby-wearing experience may also be very different from one child to the next. It’s also normal for babies to love sleeping in the sling but then want to be out of the sling once they awaken, especially as they get older. Here are some tips to try to help your baby enjoy baby wearing.

·       As your baby gets older she will have motor drives that push her to practice motor skills. This could explain some of her frustration while she is awake and in the sling. She wants to be on the ground practicing crawling, sitting up, pulling up, etc. Giving her enough time to practice these skills on the ground will probably help her enjoy sling time more.

·       Try different positions before you give up. It may be the hold that she is uncomfortable with. Many babies do not like the traditional cradle hold and may prefer a hold where they can move their arms and legs more freely. They are learning all about the world around them and so may want to face out at times so they can explore.

·       Overstimulation can occur when you are out and about, even if your baby is in the sling. If your baby is fussing while in the sling, pay attention to your surroundings and if it seems you r baby may be overwhelmed, turn her to face you to help  limit her visual stimulation.

·       As the weather turns warmer, think of how your baby is dressed in the sling. Is she too hot? That alone could make her fussy. It can take time for your baby to get used to a sling. Try it for a few weeks before giving up!

·       Make sure your baby feels comfortable and snug (and that the sling fits you well). If you are uncomfortable in the sling, your baby might be too.

·       Try different carriers. Don’t give up until you find one that works for you and your baby. Sometimes you can borrow different types from a friend or family member to “try before you buy” or find a store that lets customers practice using the sling with their babies.

·       Move, move, move! It’s pretty common that babies like you to be moving while they are in the sling.

·       Disengagement cues are not specific. If your baby gets upset in the sling, it may not be the sling that’s upsetting her. Your baby may be reacting to loud noises, strong smells or other things in her environment.  Sometimes changing the environment will help while other times taking her out of the sling is what she needs.

Baby wearing can be a great experience for both parent and baby. Hopefully the tips above will help make your baby more comfortable and happy in whatever carrier you choose!

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