A Pediatrician’s Take on the Evidence Based Benefits of Babywearing

The best part of babywearing isn’t just the convenience of it or the cuddles- it’s that it has real, tangible benefits for caregivers and babies. Even though I’m a pediatrician, without babywearing, I’m not sure I would’ve survived my first postpartum experience. While I know that sounds dramatic, my partner had returned back to work fairly quickly, and I was managing the baby, the household, and trying to find a rhythm in our new normal. It was complicated to balance all the competing needs in my world, especially since I had given birth to a baby that just needed me more than the internet had made it seem like was normal. My child would only sleep while held, and even when awake seemed to want to be in constant contact. As a new mom struggling with post-partum anxiety, setting my baby down and waiting for them to “cry it out” felt like someone had taken a match straight to my nervous system and set it on fire.

Enter: babywearing. 

Now I could keep my baby close to me, and both of us felt calmer and more secure. I was able to do simple tasks again- prep meals, eat those meals (warm! with both hands!) and feel less like I was being pulled apart in the worst game of tug of war. Read on to learn about the evidence based benefits of babywearing offered to parents.

Babywearing is the age-old practice of holding an infant against a caregiver’s torso with a supportive device, such as a ring sling, soft structured carrier, fabric wrap, or other accessory. Often rooted deeply in cultural practices, babywearing also has a multitude of benefits such as bonding and attachment, developmental advantages, less parental stress and anxiety, and practical uses such as improved efficiency and hands-free movement.

One of the most widely recognized benefits of wearing an infant or child is the promotion of bonding and attachment. Attachment can be approached in many ways, but the most widely understood theory divides attachment into four main categories (Benoit, 2004):

Beyond the bond, wearing your infant has numerous other developmental and physical benefits. Early on, babywearing can help support a child to develop important core muscles, similar to tummy time. This can be especially true as it is incredibly motivating for a baby to look to a caregiver for interaction, encouraging them to lift their head and neck upwards towards their parent. By increasing core strength and time spent in upright positions (rather than flat on their back, where infants spend much of their time prior to learning to roll), babies that are frequently worn may also experience less positional head flattening (also called plagiocephaly). 

It’s also important to work towards an ergonomic fit in whatever carrier you choose that safely supports hip-healthy development. Some baby gear and/or positions can actually place the child’s hips in a position that is not conducive to proper hip development, but if worn correctly, baby’s hips and spine are supported to gain strength and grow optimally through use of baby carriers or wraps. In some societies where babywearing is a routine practice, evidence suggests they may even have lower rates of hip dysplasia, or abnormal development of the way the leg sits in the hip socket. The ideal position for a child’s lower body during wearing should resemble an “M”- we want thighs fully supported knee to knee, and the knees should naturally rest just slightly higher than their bottom. 

Additionally, the proximity to a caregiver’s face exposes them to more facial expressions, nonverbal cues, and language than a baby who is placed in an infant floor lounger or other container. Parents are also more likely to bounce and sway, which increases input into the motor and balance sections of the infant brain. These effects could also extend to older children, especially those with neurodevelopmental differences such as autism, but more research is necessary prior to drawing any conclusions.

For caregivers choosing to feed their babies breastmilk, babywearing has some unique benefits. Remember oxytocin, a hormone increased by physical proximity to our infants? It’s also a huge player in lactation and breastfeeding (Reynolds-Miller, 2016), especially when it comes to milk ejection and let down. Additionally, since the carried infant is always being “near the kitchen,” so to speak, a chestfeeding dyad can quickly access milk when needed. Breastfeeding caregivers often can even feed while babywearing, with some important modifications for safety. This can be huge for families, especially if they have multiple children that need tending. 

Not directly nursing? No problem! Offering a bottle of expressed breast milk or formula while wearing your child can still promote attachment in all the ways we’ve discussed already while also maintaining that convenience factor for caregivers.

Babywearing is not just good for the baby; it’s good for parents and caregivers as well. We’ve mentioned some of the benefits when we talked about attachment, but babywearing also improves quality of life for parents by giving them the ability to multitask. That can look like wearing a baby while prepping dinner, doing a little self-care, or corralling other children. Many caregivers also report a decrease in stress, which may be related to the ease of soothing a child when they’re already held close, the studied reduction in crying time among infants that are routinely carried, or the ability to accomplish other tasks while still remaining attentive to the child. Anecdotal evidence also suggests there may be reduction in postpartum mood concerns like anxiety and/or depression, though more rigorous research is needed in those areas to establish true causality. In other words, babywearing needs to be studied more scientifically to truly show that it causes a meaningful reduction in PPA/PPD.

And of course, who doesn’t love a cute accessory?

As your child ages, the primary benefits of babywearing may shift. The infant period is often focused on attachment foundations, responsiveness to needs, and convenience. As children age into toddlers the benefits of babywearing are more aimed towards expanding that secure attachment and safety. 

One common misconception about babywearing often comes across in the form of the statement: “Your child needs to be walking or they’ll never be independent.” 

However, given what we discussed earlier from attachment theory, I am inclined to think that it is far more likely that babywearing promotes independence by establishing a secure position from which your child can go on and explore the world, orbiting back to caregivers when they need to re-establish their safety and be reassured.

Parents also benefit from wearing toddlers or older children in situations that may be otherwise challenging or unsafe, such as large crowds or areas where a stroller may not pass easily. As one example, one of my absolute non-negotiables when it comes to packing a carry-on bag for a flight anywhere, is enough space to slip a ring sling to help my child and me maneuver through the tight aisles of the airplane. This has saved us so many tears and made a huge difference in transitions, sleep, and comfort on countless long flights and layovers.

While babywearing does have all these incredible benefits, think of it as an additional tool in the toolbox, not a requirement. Not every baby will love every carrier. Also, caregivers should still offer floor play, independent exploration, and tummy time in addition to wearing your child. 

When I consider the benefits of babywearing as a pediatrician and mother of 3, it seems to me that we’ve experienced a little bit of each of the benefits listed above. Personally, I felt that cradling my child close helped with my adjustment into motherhood, and the experience of continuing to carry my child after birth became an integral part of how I parent. This secret superpower has also changed how I practice medicine. I recommend babywearing for the physical benefits such as hip support for at-risk babies or to prevent flat heads in babies who despise tummy time. I also recommend babywearing to parents who are having a harder adjustment, for whatever reason. I’ve even been known to tell an anxious caregiver to bring in their ring sling to their next visit. I help them get a good, supportive fit so they feel a little more empowered when they leave. 

Babywearing will always remain one of my most cherished memories and activities. I look forward to many more years of carrying before we hang up our slings for the last time – hopefully, in the very distant future. Happy wearing!