Baby carrying

Carrying your baby may seem straightforward and natural to parents, especially in the early days. A newborn cannot walk and is constantly asking to be held, so it is only natural to keep them close. But beyond this "practical" aspect, there are many benefits to babywearing — and well beyond the very early months.

Carrying your baby — yes, but how?

Between 0 and 3 months, your newborn is entirely dependent on you for getting around. Their head is far too heavy to hold up on its own, and you need to take care to support it properly. At this stage, you can carry your baby snuggled right up against you, in a lying-down or upright position, and in the case of colic, draped across your forearm so that their tummy is soothed. Once your baby becomes more curious about their surroundings, you can carry them facing outward so they can take everything in. This is known as the "open to the world" position.

Babywearing accessories

There are several accessories for carrying your baby: The baby wrap: a very ancient technique, perfected by African women. It is simply a soft, stretchy yet shape-retaining fabric that allows you to carry your newborn whilst keeping your hands free. Some popular brands include Sling, JPMBB (Je Porte Mon Bébé) and Love Radius, Cuddle Bug, and Boba wrap. The baby carrier: these come in a variety of models, from the most basic to the most sophisticated, compatible from birth up to 3 or 4 years old! Choose a physiological baby carrier where possible, as it adapts to your baby's natural position and ensures their comfort. There are several excellent brands such as Ptitsy Moloko, Ergobaby, JPMBB (Je Porte Mon Bébé), Boba, and others.

The benefits of babywearing

Your baby is soothed close to you You can practise skin-to-skin contact whilst continuing with your daily activities The parent/child bond is strengthened Your baby feels a sense of security and gains confidence in themselves and those around them Babywearing keeps your hands free so you can get on with what you need to do It is an all-terrain mode of transport: stairs, pavements, steep lanes — nothing will slow you down the way a pushchair might Very practical for breastfeeding It aids your little one's digestion and reduces reflux Babywearing is very easy to implement with your child and offers a great many advantages — the only thing left to do is choose the method that suits you best!