Lots of Slings at Friendly Village

1. A randomized controlled test reported in Pediatrics showed that carrying babies in the manner we promote reduces crying and fussiness 43% during the day and 51% at night.

2. The less frustrated babies (and less frustrated parents) are less often the victims of child abuse. Some level of distress is inevitable and unavoidable for the newborn, but the excessive irritability commonly found in infants prenatally exposed to drugs places extra demands on their parents and other caregivers. The ability to calm an infant is important for parent/infant attachment. A calmer, less irritable infant feeds better, is more socially responsive, and more likely to develop better parent/infant relationships.

3. A baby is unable to discharge its own energy when it is laying on its back looking at the ceiling or the inside of a stroller bonnet. When carried in a sling the baby shares in your walking, talking, working, laughing, playing and is able to discharge that energy in the most pleasurable way.

4. Studies with monkeys have shown those deprived of touch have more difficulty coping with stress than those who are held. Stress is known to cause diseases in humans. Carried babies see and experience the world, they participate with their parent, develop their senses faster, cry less, learn more, and thrive better because they are less bored and more relaxed and secure.

5. Carrying these infants in a sling not only reduces irritability but protects them from too much environmental stimuli. According to Dr. Brazelton, each infant has an individual threshold for stimulus which can be used for organization and learning. Stimulation, which exceeds this threshold, overloads the infant and sets up defenses, which are likely to be costly to future development. (Nugent, 1985)

6. Clinical studies have shown frequent carrying makes a baby less prone to undesirable addictions. Insecurity makes us less able to cope with life's trials appropriately and we substitute by developing unhealthy addictions -- everything from alcohol and drugs to overeating, over spending, over working, etc. A baby in a sling feeling warmth, pleasure, and a oneness with its parent has little reason to develop an addictive personality.

7. A baby raised in a sling needs to be carried less when she gets older than her counterpart who was reared in mechanical devices. Sling babies are less clingy. This is because they are more secure and self-reliant and confident. They give their bearer cues that they want to be set down to crawl off and explore and play rather than tugging on mommy's skirt, whining to be picked up.

8. As an intervention for prenatally drug exposed infants, the sling helps minimize the negative effects of the drugs on the infant's system. For example, an infant prenatally exposed to cocaine may experience a period of behavior disorganization after birth, which manifests itself as disturbed sleep and irritability (Chasnoff, Burns & Burns, 1987). The cumulative forms of environmental modification provided by slings: rhythmic motion, reduced light, and curved, supported position seems to have a rapid soothing and stabilizing effect on the baby and are more effective than a single form (e.g., fast motion). The infant's sleep periods are extended, and symptoms of irritability such as prolonged crying are reduced. (Dr. Linda Perez).

9. Older brothers and sisters are more accepting and less jealous of a new arrival when it is carried in a sling. This is because mom is not "tied down" to the baby, and has her hands free so she can give attention to the other children and the variety of things life is made of.

10. Despite loud protests from our infants we have continued to devise gadgets and systems for coping with the protests of our infants being separated from us. The baby sling offers a simple but ultimately effective way to begin to reconnect with our babies and nurture them in a way that is simple but in the infant's eyes critical to their survival and their development.

Psychological Benefits of Wearing Your Baby