Babywearing has a whole host of benefits of both mum and bub, and all of these reasons below are why I am so passionate about babywearing!
 

• It is a great help with the 4th trimester.

The 4th trimester is that first 12 weeks after a baby is born where they are suddenly thrust into the cold outside world and they don't want to be. They want to be back inside mum all warm and snuggly, food and cuddles on tap, no scary sounds or smells to bother them. But it's not possible for them to occupy your uterus again, so you could battle on trying to get 10 minutes without holding a baby, or you could embrace those snuggly first moments and pop your fresh little squish into a ring sling or woven wrap and have your hands free. Baby is happy because they are close to your heartbeat once more,surrounded by a familiar smell, and if you can manage it they can even be fed on tap whilst they are snuggled up in there. Skin to skin is also possible whilst wearing baby in a sling, and if mum is touched out another care giver can do this also. One of the major benefits of wearing in these first few weeks is baby is your hands are free to eat and drink and do whatever else you need to do (just be careful of hot foods around little ones).
 

• It helps with getting the day to day jobs done

Need to cook and your toddler is feeling emotionally frustrated? Pop them on your back and get on with it. Have to do the shopping/run to the bank/have an important meeting but baby refuses to sit in a pram?  Pop your baby in your wrap so they are safe and secure you off you go. Have a new baby and an older child? Baby can nap on you whilst you take your older child to the park and give them some one on one time.
 

• It's easier than using a pram!

I went through 4 different prams with my eldest, so before my youngest was even born we decided we wouldn't bother with a pram this time around. As a result she has sat in a stroller less than 5 times in her life. She is worn everywhere. It makes things easier when running after an active toddler, especially as we use public transport a fair bit. We don't need to manoeuvre through narrow aisles in the shops or find somewhere to park our pram if we decide to stop for lunch or coffee. It can be a little annoying not having a safe spot to put baby in but there are a range of carriers on the market now that mean you can comfortably sit whilst wearing. Babywearing can often be cheaper too. A budget end wrap will set you back $70 or so dollars, a carrier around the $100 mark and these can be used from newborn to toddler so a pocket friendly option.
 

• It's a lifesaver for sick kiddies

Teething? Temperature? Virus? Reflux? Both of my children are really miserable when they are sick and they love cuddles. There is however only 14 months between them, and being so close in age I often need extra hands. In comes babywearing. The youngest is often happy and snuggled on my back and will sleep whilst my front is free for the toddler. With that I come to the great baby epidemic of our time; reflux. Mums with refluxy babies know they should be kept upright. In comes the sling. Pop your baby in and your hands are free to get on with your day whilst you keep your baby upright. As an added bonus, because you are holding baby upright in a carrier as opposed to them being in a container, they are at a decreased risk of flat head syndrome and it counts as tummy time, increasing their core strength!
 

• Worn babies are happier babies.

Research suggests that babies who are worn cry up to 43% less than babies who are not. This is great news! Crying can cause stress to both baby and care giver so if popping your baby in a sling eliminates the stresses of witching hour it's a win-win all round. Research has also shown that babies who are worn are in a state of quiet alertness with emphasis on auditory and visual learning- this means they are developing and learning in a safe environment and are more likely to retain the information around them.
 

• You can have all the pretties!

Woven wraps are a dangerous addiction. There are so many beautiful designs, machine and handwoven in a wide variety of fibres. You can have a different one for every day of the week, colour match to your outfits, have accessories for your baby made with wrap scrap. It's a dangerous addiction for your bank balance but a wonderful hobby, all the while keeping your baby close.