Sling and Baby Carrying Workshop
Why does a baby who is fast asleep in a parent's arms wake when they are put down?
Why does a baby who is put to sleep in its own room wake often and not sleep deeply?
Why does a baby cry when put down and stop crying when picked up?
The Reasons
Experts believe that newborns almost always cry for the loss of contact with the mother. Babies do not have an understanding of 'me and you', therefore they do not recognise the borders between their own body and that of their mother.
After birth babies experience several stimulations which are totally unknown to them, for instance new visual and acoustic stimuli, as well as feelings of hunger, temperature fluctuations and environment (e.g. water to dry air). These stimulations are all received as unfriendly situations to a baby. The stimulation that the baby recognises as friendly are those that most closely mirror itself, e.g fulfillment after a feed, contact with the mother, her heartbeat, her smell.
There is no difference between babies born today and those born hundreds of years ago. Babies act from instinct and primitive reflexes. To be alone, still and in silence equates to danger for the newborn, and this is an experience that is not the normal conditions of its life so far.
A baby who cries when separated from its mother is therefore having a correct reaction to its situation. The baby is expressing its strong anguish at the loss of contact with the mother and a healthy instinct for its own survival.
Babies need movement and contact with their mother. These signals indicate to the baby that its mother is present. This leads to the baby feeling safe, its nervous system being regulated by the body contact, the smell and the movement it shares with its mother.
The natural environment of a baby is the body of its mother. The baby's body is physiologically adapted to enable a perfect 'fit' to the mother, the arms cling around her body and the curve of the leg (tibia) wrap around the waist.
What happens when a baby cries
When a baby cries in an intense, desperate way the bodily arousal system (the autonomic nervous system) is thrown into a state of alert. The baby's body is flooded with adrenaline, the heart rate increases, the breathing becomes rapid, blood pressure rises, muscles tense, digestion stops and sweating occurs. In this state a baby cannot regulate itself and should never be left alone. It is up to the mother to bring the baby back to a state of calm and balance. How? Simply by picking the baby up, holding it close and soothing. Or better still putting the baby in a sling. Soothing a distressed child regulates its nervous system and brings back harmony.
Benefits of carrying a baby
- Close bodily contact
- Breastfeeding is enhanced
- Maintaining the baby's ideal body temperature; a woman's chest regulates her baby's temperature by heating up and cooling down accordingly
- Movement - rocking, like being in the womb
- Perfect development of the skeleton
- Strengthens the joints
- Ideal balance and neurological development
- Ability to socialise
- Babies cry less - around 55% less - and are happier and calmer
- Less stomach complaints
Scientific research shows that babies' needs are primary and that contrary to western belief, they do not cry for nothing. Carrying a baby in a sling and this associated parenting style is an ideal answer to caring for a baby and enabling parents to carry on with their everyday life.
The workshop runs for 2-3 hours and costs £25. Only four places are available on each session, this is to ensure that individual attention can be paid to each parent and baby and allow plenty of time for practice. For the next dates please see class dates & bookings or contact us for more information.
Thanks to Gaia Morandi, our baby wearing guru for this amazing workshop and related information.