5 Ways a Baby Sling Can Help a Colicky Baby
It's around 5 p.m. and your baby is the midst of another screaming colic outburst. You have dinner to cook, the phone is ringing, and your 1st grader needs help with his homework. Wouldn't it be great if there was a tool you could use to accomplish all these things at once? There is. A baby sling.
With your baby safely tucked away in a baby sling, you can calm your baby, cook dinner, answer the phone, and help with homework all at once because your hands will be free to accomplish other tasks besides just holding your baby.
The tradition of babywearing has become somewhat of a lost art in some societies. Babies used to be worn constantly out of necessity. Women had to carry their baby if they wanted to get anywhere, or get anything accomplished.
Now we have infant car seats, strollers, swings, play pins, walkers etc. We have gotten away, with all these modern conveniences, from babywearing.
However, if you have a colicky baby, you might want to check out a baby sling. And here are five reasons why:
Baby will cry less
The most frustrating problem with colic is the unrelentless crying. It can drive you, as a parent, crazy. Research shows that babies carried in slings cry 43% overall and 54% less during evening hours. In cultures in Asia, South America and Africa, where babies are carried almost continuously, babies cry much less than those in non-carrying cultures such as the United States.
Good for reducing stress from overstimulation
Colicky infants are sometimes thought to be overstimulated. They are bombarded with sights and sounds and often times are left alone in a crib to process all the information. Stress builds up and they cry to release the stress. Rather than being left alone to process the information, a baby in a sling has your help. They see things as you do and can take a break when they need to relax. Their senses are stimulated in a positive way and this in turn benefits brain development.
Motion is soothing
One thing a colicky baby loves is being comforted by motion. This is one reason why baby swings and walking in a stroller is effective for colic. Babywearing in a baby sling creates the motion your baby felt while in the womb and will aid in soothing her.
Good for baby's physical development
Being so close to you in a baby sling, baby will "get in rhythm" much quicker by becoming familiar with your heartbeat, breathing, voice and body warmth. This, in turn helps your baby adapt to life outside the womb.
Promotes better
digestion and less gas
The gentle jostling the baby will undergo while being carried in a sling will break up gas bubbles and being upright and not laying down will promote digestion. Gas and colic go hand in hand. So, less gas, means less crying.
You can buy a baby sling just about anywhere, or, you can make your own. If you are looking to combine function with style, we suggest you check out the babywearing solutions at BabyCenterStore.com. They have great selection, styles and more tips on picking out the baby sling that is right for your lifestyle. The baby sling to the right is just one of the many styles on the Baby Center Store web site. Go to BabyCenterStore.com to check out more.
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