Benefits of Babywearing and Babywearing around the globe :)

As a big fan of babywearing and a mother to my son Patrick,that I have been carrying around for 26 moths now(+ 9 months :) ),Ive decided to create this post to inform other people about the importance of babywearing.I have to say that I do own a stroller too and it has only been used when I needed to buy a lot of groceries and needed somewhere to put them.
I love seeing those images of women and men from all around the world carrying their little ones.
Enjoy :)

1.Babies cry less
Infants in the babywearing cultures cry much less. In Western culture we measure a baby's crying in hours, but in other cultures, crying is measured in minutes. Western parents have been led to believe that it is "normal" for babies to cry a lot, but in other cultures this is not accepted as normal. In these cultures, babies are normally "up" in arms and are put down only to sleep – next to the mother. 

2.Good for Babies development
When your baby is carried and spends less time crying and being fussy,they are in a so called  ´quiet and alert state´ and this is the perfect time for your baby to learn.They are able to scan their environment better.They can choose what they want to look at and shut down what they don´t.This ability to make choices enhances learning.
Your baby is intimately involved in your world and get to see what you see,hear what you hear and in some ways feel what you feel.
While sitting right under your nose,you tend to give them more attention too and even when you don´t they pick up on all the subtle facial expressions, body language, voice inflections,tones etc.

3.Helps babies to adapt to the outside world
After spending 9 months in the peaceful environment of the womb feeling secure and being used to mothers rhytms, the birth temporarily disturbs this sense of security.
By carrying your baby you are helping him to adapt to the puzzle of life outside the womb.
While held close they can feel the mothers rhythmic walk, for example, (which baby has been feeling for 9 months),your heartbeat, breathing, voice and warmth are all familiar. 

Older babies and toddlers also benefit from the comfort and security of babywearing. As they grow, and learn, and explore their environments, babywearing can provide a safe “home base” where they can be close and connected to you. 

MORE BENEFITS:
4.Promote Parent and Baby attachment.
5. Make breastfeeding on demand much easier and discreet.
6.Sling allows you to take care of and comfort your baby by keeping them near you as you continue with day-to-day routine.
7.Great for traveling and getting on and off buses .
8.Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling.
9.Slings are a bonding tool for fathers, grandparents, and other caregivers. 
10. Slings are economical,they cost far less than a stroller.
11.Baby-wearing is healthy way of exercise for you! 

BABYWEARING HISTORY IN PICTURES:
                                                                             PERU

 

                                                                   GUATEMALA

                               Waorani Indians, Mother with baby, rio Cononaco, Ecuador, 1983 

BRAZIL

  

BOLIVIA

 

GERMANY

 

                                                                   SLOVAKIA
Historically, women fashion baby carriers out of large baskets. Blankets were laid in the basket to make a “bed like” environment for the child. In rural and lower socio-economic regions, women still carry their babies in these baskets. In the more wealthy areas, women use a type of wrap or ring sling. 

                                                                    POLAND

                                                                     RUSSIA

                                                                CZECH REPUBLIC

                                                                        SWEDEN

 

                                                                             ITALY

                                                                           WALES
                       Evelyn Hobbs of Tonmawr, Neath, nursing a baby ‘Welsh fashion’, c.1920s 

                                     In Wales, long pieces of fabric and shawls called 'Siol Fagu' (nursing shawl)                                                                     are used to carry babies.

                                                                     PORTUGAL

                                                         AUSTRALIAN ABORIGINES 

                                                                   NEW ZEALAND

                                                                 NORTH AMERICA

                                         

                                             GREENLAND,LABRADOR AND ALASKA

                                                                         CHINA

                                                                            INDIA

                                                                      PAKISTAN

                                                                     
                                                                          TURKEY

 

TIBET 

 

  

MALAYSIA 

 KOREA

JAPAN 

LAOS 

  

THAILAND 

 

JAVA 

BORNEO 

 MOROCCO

EGYPT 

Egyptian women who pick cotton in the fields make slings out of dress fabric. The patterns are colorful and bright, and the slings are wide in the middle and narrower at the ends. The women carry their babies on their backs in this way. This is how Egyptian babies have been carried since ancient times. 

 ZIMBABWE

 

ETHIOPIA 

MOZAMBIQUE 

NAMIBIA  

 NIGERIA

 ETHIOPIA

SOMALIA 

RESOURCES:

http://www.thebabywearer.com/articles/WhyTo/GreatThings.htm

http://www.naturalchild.org/guest/laura_simeon.html 

http://blog.babesinarms.com.au/category/babywearing-around-the-world/ 

 http://maternage-proximal.blogspot.com/2009/09/lart-de-porter.html

http://www.naturalchild.org/jan_hunt/baby_gear.html 

RELATED BOOKS:

Babywearing: The Benefits and Beauty of This Ancient Tradition by Dr. Maria Blois

The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact With Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development by Sharon Heller