Baby

Wearing: Is a great way to provide your baby with the movement and
s8mula8on they need for overall development.

Baby Wearing Benefits

•  Babies cry less
•  Helps with brain development
•  They are more organized , emo<onally and physically
•  Gives parents freedom to complete daily tasks and play/take
care of other children.
•  Used for tummy <me
•  Creates Bond and trust between baby and caregiver

Newborn baby wearing: Wraps and kangaroo shirts
Kangaroo Shirts: h2ps://www.milkandbaby.com/collec<ons/kangaroo-care

Wraps are most womb like and appropriate for newborns to toddlers. 8-35 lbs
h2ps://mobywrap.com/pages/instruc<ons-for-moby-baby-carriers
h2ps://www.babyktan.com/geCngstarted

Older Babies/Toddler: benefit from a sling or structured carrier
h2ps://www.babylist.com/hello-baby/best-baby-carriers

Hunziker, U. A., & Barr, R.G. (1986). Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial. Pediatrics, 77, 641-8 .

 Skin to Skin
Defini8on: the baby is naked, and placed on the mother's bare chest, between her breasts.
The baby's body temperature, breathing, and heart rate stabilize
Goal: Uninterrupted for 60 minutes, to elicit a hormonal cascade. The American
Academy of Pediatrics recommend that skin to skin be given as long as possible and as
frequently as possible during the postpartum period(first 3 months and longer for preemies).
Benefits: bonding, accelerated brain development, less colic and crying, be2er ea<ng
and sleeping, improved weight gain and stronger immune system.

Feeding skin to skin (boFle or breast):
•  Helps them know where their body is in space
•  Sends signals to the brain to begin latching correctly
•  Helps with fine motor development by kneading the breast
•  Helps raise levels of mothers milk hormone
•  Prac<ce right a[er birth and as o[en as possible throughout the post partum experience.
Skin to skin as your baby grows
•  Baby wearing
•  Bath <me
•  Cuddle <me with a book
•  Massage

.
Baley, J. (2015). Skin to skin care for term and preterm infants in the neonatal ICU. American Academy of Pediatrics (136) 3

 Infant Massage
Loving touch is a great way to bond with your baby and is important for
their development.
•  Gently massage your baby’s whole body with lo<on or oil throughout
the day.
•  Oils should be edible and use organic cold pressed, or vegetable oil.
•  Ideal <me is when your baby is awake and content.
•  Make up your own strokes doing each movement 3-5 <mes.
•  Lo<on massage is always great a[er bath, before bed, during a diaper
change or any<me!
•  5-10 minutes daily

Benefits
•  Boosts the immune system
•  Helps baby be able to calm self and remain calm
•  Promotes deep sleep
•  Promotes muscular development and growth
•  Reduces stress for baby and mom
•  Helps relive pain and discomfort such as cons<pa<on and gas.
•  Stronger a2achments to caregiver.

Field, T. (2014). Touch 2 ed. Cambridge, MA: Massachuse2s Ins<tute of Technology.
nd

www.lovingtouch.com
 Swaddling
Benefits
•  Promotes longer stretches of sleep
•  Reduces crying
•  Helps to decrease procedural pain
•  Assists with nervous system development
•  Reduces postpartum depression

Precau8ons
Always place swaddled babies on their back. Avoid overhea<ng the baby, dress appropriately
under the swaddle. Stop swaddling once your baby begins to show signs of rolling over.
Babies with respiratory difficul<es, make sure the swaddle is not too <ght.

Subs8tu8ons for infant containers such as car seats, swings, strollers
•  Leave the car seat in the car and carry your baby to and from the car seat.
•  Instead of walking with a stroller, wear your baby. (Increased exercise perks for you!)
•  Take a bath together
•  Carry/wear them them in the grocery store
•  Rock and hold them
•  Sing and talk to your baby
•  Bounce gently on an exercise ball while holding your baby
The easiest, cheapest ac8vity to promote op8mal brain development is to
CARRY YOUR BABY!
Nelson, A. M. (2017). Risks and benefits of swaddling healthy infants: An integra<ve review. American Journal of Maternal child nursing, 42, 216-255.