As a specialist in orthopedics and orthopedic surgery and former long-time senior physician in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Orthopedics at the Orthopedic Hospital Speising, it is especially important to me to provide parents with well-founded and trustworthy information.
In my many years of work at the Center for Mobility in Vienna, I have accompanied many families and know how crucial it is to be well-informed – especially when it comes to the health of our little ones.
Carrying babies is a wonderful way to create closeness and strengthen bonding. However, as with any decision in a child’s life, there are important aspects to consider to ensure safety and well-being.
I invite you to read this article with an open mind and be inspired by the variety of information. My goal is to provide you as parents with the necessary knowledge to make the best decisions for you and your baby – always focusing on safety and health.
Let’s explore this important topic together to ensure that carrying your baby becomes a positive and safe experience for both of you.
Emotional Benefits and Promotion of Bonding
Carrying babies is much more than just a convenient method of transporting a child. It has profound effects on the child’s emotional development and the bond between parents and child. Through close body contact, the baby experiences security and safety, which are fundamental needs in the first months of life.
Babies are naturally programmed to seek body contact. This contact fulfills various functions: it regulates the baby’s body temperature, stabilizes heart rate, and promotes the release of oxytocin, the so-called “cuddle hormone.” This hormone plays a crucial role in forming and strengthening the emotional bond between parents and child. It ensures that the baby feels safe and loved, which in turn promotes the ability to develop trust in the environment.
Building a secure attachment is an essential factor for the child’s mental health. Studies show that babies who are frequently carried in the first months of life are less likely to suffer from attachment disorders and are emotionally more stable later in life. These children develop strong basic trust and high resilience, the ability to cope with stress and challenges.
Furthermore, carrying can help promote communication between parents and child. As the baby perceives the parents’ signals up close, it learns early to interpret nonverbal communication such as facial expressions and gestures. At the same time, parents can better respond to their baby’s needs, as they more quickly notice subtle changes in the child’s posture and mood through close contact.
Motor Development and Strengthening of Muscles
Besides the emotional benefits, carrying also has positive effects on the baby’s physical development. While in a carrier close to the parents’ body, the baby is continuously stimulated by the parents’ movements. These micro-movements act like gentle training for the baby’s muscles, especially for the trunk and neck muscles.
In the first months of life, the baby’s muscles are not yet fully developed, particularly in the neck area. Carrying strengthens these muscles, which is important for the baby to soon be able to hold its head independently. Well-developed neck muscles are the prerequisite for many further developmental steps, such as sitting, crawling, and ultimately walking.
Furthermore, carrying supports the baby’s natural posture, especially the so-called C-curve of the spine. This posture is physiological for newborns as it corresponds to the curved state of the spine in the womb. Carrying during this phase helps to gently stretch the spine without unnecessarily straining it.
Another important aspect is the promotion of hip development. Through the correct positioning in the carrier, especially the spread-squat position, the hip is optimally aligned. This is crucial to minimize the risk of hip dysplasia, a malformation of the hip joint. Babies who are regularly carried in a correctly positioned carrier often show healthy development of the hip joints.
Social and Cognitive Development
Carrying babies can also positively influence social and cognitive development. Babies who are carried perceive their environment from a higher perspective and are in constant exchange with their parents. They participate in the parents’ daily life and experience different situations, sounds, and smells from the security of parental proximity. These multisensory impressions promote brain development and prepare the child for interaction with its environment.
In a carrier, babies are at eye level with adults, which promotes their social interaction. They can better observe facial expressions and language and often respond more quickly to social signals. This early form of interaction supports linguistic and cognitive development, as the baby is constantly exposed to new stimuli and learns to process them.
Effects on Sleep Behavior
Another positive aspect of baby carrying is its effect on the child’s sleep behavior. Many parents report that their babies sleep better and more peacefully in the carrier. The steady heartbeat, gentle movements, and body warmth of the parents have a calming effect and create an environment that helps the child fall asleep faster and sleep longer.
Sleep is essential for a baby’s physical and mental development. In the first months of life, babies sleep in short intervals, and sleeping in the carrier can help them get the necessary rest periods needed for growth and development. Parents also benefit, as they can remain mobile and go about their daily activities while the baby sleeps.
Parents’ Mental Health
Carrying has benefits not only for the baby but also for the parents. Many parents experience the first months with a newborn as emotionally challenging. The close contact through carrying can help reduce or even prevent postpartum depression. Here too, the hormone oxytocin plays an important role, as it strengthens the bond not only in the baby but also in the parents and promotes a sense of well-being.
Carrying allows parents to feel better integrated into everyday life, as they have their baby with them while performing their daily tasks. This can reduce the feeling of isolation that many new parents experience and help them return to their routines more quickly.
Overall, it is evident that carrying babies has far-reaching positive effects on the emotional, physical, and cognitive development of the child. At the same time, it promotes the parents’ mental health and strengthens the bond between parents and child in a natural and profound way.
Pelvic Floor Strain After Birth
After birth, the pelvic floor is still weakened in many women, which can increase the risk of pelvic floor problems. Carrying a baby, especially without adequate support from a well-designed carrier, can intensify this strain and lead to issues that negatively affect postpartum recovery.
A broad seat and even weight distribution of a high-quality carrier prevent the pelvic floor from being excessively strained. A well-padded hip belt helps to transfer the baby’s weight from the shoulders to the hips and pelvis, relieving the pelvic floor. The ability to adjust the carrier to various carrying positions also helps avoid one-sided strain.
Safe Carrying Through Proper Handling and Quality Products
Besides the specific risks arising from the physical strain of carrying, proper handling also plays a crucial role in safety. An improperly applied carrier can increase the risk of falls or incorrect postures. Therefore, it is essential that parents correctly put on the carrier and ensure that the baby is well secured.
User-friendly carriers with easy-to-operate fasteners and straps that can be adjusted without great effort ensure that the baby is securely held in the correct position. This minimizes the risk of improper handling and ensures safe carrying.
Moreover, high-quality carriers are made of breathable and skin-friendly materials that not only ensure the baby’s safety but also the parents’ comfort. These materials reduce the risk of skin irritations or overheating, thus contributing to a pleasant carrying experience.
Minimizing Risks by Choosing the Right Baby Carrier
In summary, the potential risks when carrying babies can be significantly minimized or even completely prevented by choosing an ergonomic and well-designed baby carrier. These carriers not only provide optimal support for the baby’s physical development but also high carrying comfort for the parents. With the right carrier and correct handling, baby carrying becomes a safe, healthy, and pleasant experience for mother and child.