Health Advantages
of Carrying Babies in Slings1) A baby’s spine is placed in a compromising
position in many of today’s popular carriers. If the carrier positions the
infant upright, with legs hanging down and support at the base of the child’s
spine, it puts undue stress on the spine causing a condition called spondylolisthesis,
and compromises developing curves in the spine. 2) When a baby wants to
be more upright to see the world around him (around 4-5 months of age), the carrier
should allow him to sit cross-legged, so his weight is dissipated through his
legs and hips, as opposed to the style that has his legs hanging down, where again
the young spine has to bear the entire weight and can cut into the baby’s
circulation by holding his legs apart in a bowlegged manner during the important
early months when the pelvis is soft and forming. (R. Casses, D.C.) 3)
The Over the Shoulder Baby HolderTM provides contact pressure, motion, pleasure,
warmth, security and sound similar to the womb that the newborns nervous system
requires. Vestibular input has a direct effect on the system for arousal in the
nervous system. As a consequence of this most important connection between movement
and the reticular system, the movements of the caregiver’s body can help
the baby maintain that nice quiet alert state for learning and allow the baby
to drift into a fitful sleep when necessary. A baby who is worn for prolonged
periods during the day tends to be in either the quiet alert state or in a light
or deep sleep, seldom in a state of distress. (Roley 1991) 4) The vestibular
system also is responsible for equilibrium (balance) and righting reactions (trunk
and head control relative to the pull of gravity). A baby who is carried for prolonged
periods tends to develop good tone in the neck and trunk and be able to adjust
their posture nicely in different positions once they are self mobile. While walking
would not be expected to occur more quickly, you could expect that the child would
obtain sitting balance and transitional movements between positions such as from
sitting to standing more rapidly. Once walking, their balance would be enhanced.
5) A baby is born in a state of physiological flexion. They are literally
curled in a ball and not at all comfortable if you try to straighten them out.
The sling lends itself to holding a baby in this flexed position. The movement
stimulates the baby’s ability to pull out of this little ball into extension.
The very act of carrying the infant helps the infant to pull out of the flexion
it is held comfortably in. In fact the muscle tone in the neck and back is greatly
enhanced in babies who are worn. 6) Swaddling an infant and putting it
in a cradle works but it lacks a third and most critical ingredient, that of letting
the infant know that it is in the hands of the person who nourishes it both physically
and emotionally. An infant who cannot feel or see or hear its caregiver has more
stress hormones circulating through its central nervous system. This causes the
baby to cry. Stress irritates the immature digestive system causing baby to spit
up and increases diaper rashes. Being touched and carried has a positive effect
on the digestive system. (Montegue, 1971) 7) The Over the Shoulder Baby
HolderTM has a shoulder pillow rather than straps over the parent’s shoulders.
This is especially important for a nursing mom because the straps can restrict
circulation in a nursing mother’s engorged chest tissue which can increase
the incidence of breast infections. Also the sling allows mom to nurse more on
demand because the baby is right next to mom. This also reduces breast infections.
(1988 Study U.C.L.A. Lactation Dept.) 8) With a conventional baby carrier
(front & back type carriers) the weight is carried on the parent’s shoulder.
This puts a strain on the neck, shoulders, and lower back. With our Over the Shoulder
Baby HolderTM a child can easily be carried until three years old on the hip.
The weight is evenly distributed across the shoulder, back and hip. 9)
When carrying a child on the hip, the parent does not have to thrust the hip out
to hold the baby up; the carrier holds the child up and the parent can stand straight
upright for better posture. The carrier can also be worn on the opposite shoulder
to share the load.
Back to Over
the Shoulder Baby Holder
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