Babywearing is the practice of wearing or carrying a baby in a sling, a wrap or other form of carrier for a substantial part of the day. The constant motion and touch has beneficial effects on the neurological and emotional development of the baby. Babywearing is an instinctive parenting style, as old as parenting itself. In much of the rest of the world, babies are always carried or worn in a sling all day until they can walk. In industrialized western cultures, parents have been conditioned to believe that picking up and holding your child too much would "spoil" the child and discourage independence In fact, babies who are held and carried all the time and have their need for touch met in their first year do not become clingy and overly dependent. They cry much less and they grow to become happier, more intelligent, more independent, more loving and more social than babies who spend much of their infancy in infant seats, swings, cribs, and all the other plastic baby-holding devices that don't provide babies with human contact.. The physical and psychological benefits associated with baby wearing encourage children to feel secure and content and build a solid sense of self-esteem. Babies feel safe when their needs for food, warmth and touch are met; and when they are within close proximity to their trusted parent or care-provider.

Babywearing resembles the "carrying" inside the womb wherein the baby is completely enveloped and therefore is safe, comfortable and warm, and experiencing natural motions. Ashley Montague, who was an anthropologist, scientist, and humanist, talked about the eighteen-month gestational period: nine months in the womb and nine months without. That is, the newborn actually needs at least another nine to ten months of "womb" environment outside of the womb to mature. This is a period of time Dr. Montagu designates as being the exterogestation. It is also around this age that the infant begins to crawl around and is capable of mobility independent of the mother. This period of exterogestation requires the constant care of a loving and nurturing human being who can learn to respond appropriately and quickly to the newborn's many needs. When a helpless infant needs assistance, be it in the form of cuddling, nourishment, or warmth, it is crucial that a human being respond to that need with affection and loving interaction.

As a pediatrician with more than 30 years of clinical experience I can fully support the concept of carrying. Despite opponents of carrying who occasionally warn about damage to the spine, compression of the body and various orthopedic problems, I have never seen any healthy child that has been carried from the very beginning which developed a hip dysplasia or scoliosis. I have, however, seen many "back to sleep" babies (who lie on their backs based on the American Academy of Pediatrics recommendation to decrease the risk of SIDS.) who have deformed skulls (flattened on the back, called plagiocephaly). None of the babywearing positions require infants to lie supine while being carried. Infants can even be worn while they sleep, so babywearing presents a more natural form of SIDS prevention. It is true that proper position in the sling/carrier is important for the infant's hip, pelvis and spine growth. It is important that a carrier not put all of a baby's weight on a narrow band of fabric at the crotch. Carriers such as the Ergo and wrap slings appropriately disperse most of the infant's weight between the hips and thighs.

There are so many baby carriers available on the market today it can be quite confusing for parents to decide on one particular type. Some important issues are that the carrier design offer various carrying positions for the baby and the wearer (front, sides and back), and that the child's growth and postural development are accommodated.

Wraparounds are made of several yards of cotton knit material that you (as the name suggests) wrap around you and your baby, so you can babywear in one of many positions: front, hip and back. They can come in a selection of beautiful fabrics and designs, so they are really lovely articles of clothing rather than equipment. Babies are in effect swaddled against the wearer's front, which is very calming for the baby. Ideally, a wraparound sling starts with a belt in front of the parent in which the baby sits, tummy to tummy. By having the belt in front and the baby positioned in this way, the weight is distributed on the hips and legs of the carrier, and breastfeeding is easy. As well, the baby is supported on both shoulders, spreading the weight of the baby over a larger portion of the wearer's back than any other front carrier, which makes it comfortable to wear, even for long periods. You will need to learn how to wrap them and although the length of it might seem daunting at first, they are surprisingly easy to learn. Girasol is an example of a woven wraparound.

Front/back babycarriers are made for simple front or back carry, baby facing in or out. They are worn over both shoulders, thus distributing the weight of the baby Only front carriers are suitable for newborns.

Soft carriers are easy to use, are suitable for beginners, and these are usually the ones that modern western parents most associate with baby carriers. More structured ones may have buckles and padded straps as well as shaped sitting/baby carrying part. It is possible to breastfeed in front positions. An example of soft structured carrier is ERGO. The ERGO enables parents to purchase one carrier for all their needs from infant to toddler and it can be worn on the front, back and hip positions.

The ERGO was specifically designed in support of Attachment Parenting International's Ideals of Baby Wearing

• Babywearing helps satisfy the baby's need for closeness, touch and affection.
• Babywearing promotes and strengthens parent's emotional bond with their baby.
• The movement that naturally results from carrying your baby stimulates their neurological development
• Babies cry less when worn or held.
• Holding helps regulate their temperature and heart rate.
• Baby feels more secure. Babywearing facilitates easy outings and travel.

Peaceful parenting for a peaceful world is a choice that every parent can make. Babies who consistently receive physical contact and emotional security are more likely to act with compassion and kindness towards others as they grow and mature.

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