Page 71 - Mother & Baby - UK (March 2020)

Baby&Toddler
I’d like to carry
Q my baby more but

I also have a jealous toddler! SKIN-TO-SKIN next feed before he becomes hungry and upset.
Babywearing
There are health benefits, too. Close contact
How can I keep everyone happy? has also been helps regulate your baby’s temperature,
A: It’s natural for your toddler to feel jealous when found to benefit breathing and heart rate, but carrying your
you’re with your baby, but carrying will actually make breastfeeding. baby can also feel like a lifesaver if your baby
sure your hands are free to give him the attention he A study carried suffers from colic, reflux or constipation. This
craves. When your youngest is happily settled out in Italy in is because an effective baby carrier holds your
in the carrier, make sure you take the opportunity 2012 found infants baby upright with his legs in an M position
to have some special one-on-one who spent at least an – where his knees are higher than his bottom
time with your first-born so he hour a day in a baby – a position which promotes healthy digestion.
doesn’t feel left out.
carrier during the first ‘Babies with colic can be hard to soothe, but
month breastfed more the motion gained from being gently rocked

frequently at two and five months while the parent walks often helps to settle
than those who weren’t carried. them,’ says Rosie. ‘A good carrier encourages
One of the reasons babywearing can help an upright position, which can reduce
breastfeeding is that it promotes skin-to-skin posseting and reflux, and a spread squat
contact, which boosts levels of the hormones position helps aid bowel elimination.’ With
oxytocin and prolactin, both of which play an all these benefits to be gained, your next step
important role in ensuring he’s ready for his is finding the right carrier for you…

Choose your carrier

Follow our quiz to discover which carrier is right for you…

1. HOWOLDISYOUR guidanceoragoodYouTube 3.WHATDOYOUWANTTO
CHILD? videotofollow USEYOURCARRIERFOR?
A Underfourmonths A Iwantsomethingmybaby
B Ilikethingstobequick
B Fourto12months willsettleeasilyinandwhich
andsimple,soIcanmaster
C 12monthsorolder Icanbreastfeedin
themeasily
B Practicalthingslikegoingfor
2. AREYOUGOOD C I’mprettyconfident
alongwalkandgettingstuff
AT FOLLOWING athavingagoatmost
donearoundthehouse
INSTRUCTIONS? things C Carrying my toddler when his
A Yes, so long as Ihaveclear
legs are getting tired

Mostly AS: Mostly BS: Mostly CS:

Many parents with young Soft structured baby Toddler versions of soft
babies find a stretchy carriers or buckle carriers structured carriers are
wrap a good option. It’s are quick and simple to available and allow you to
soft and comfortable and use, and can be easily carry your little one on
offers good support to adjusted for different either your front or back
your little one, so he people or as your baby when his legs get tired.
doesn’t need to have good grows. Buckle carriers are These allow for facing you
head control. Some find ideal for babies who have or outward facing, which
the wrapping technique good head control, but helps keep wriggly, nosy
confusing, and it can be some are suitable from toddlers entertained. They
tricky to get right at first. birth; others may need often come in a variety of
Watchplentyofonline anadditionalinserttobe materials,includinglighter,
tutorialstohelpyou usedfornewborns.Itcan meshfabricssothatyour
‘When
getstarted,orget bedifficulttobreastfeed childdoesn’tgetsweaty.
it’s cold, avoid
advicefrom inasoftstructuredcarrier. Ringslingscanalsobe
dressing your baby in
yourlocalsling Ringslings(apieceof usedfortoddlersandcan
a bulky snowsuit as he
library.Orlook fabricfedthroughtwo befoldedupeasilyand
may overheat. Thin layers are
foranewborn rings)arealsoeasyto poppedintoyourchange
more flexible, as you can easily bucklecarrier useandareidealfor bagsoit’stherewhenyou
add or remove an item or two.’ madeofsofter breastfeedingin,however, needit.Somepreferto
Alex Duxbury, 37, from fabric,which theycanbealittle userucksack-styleback
South Yorkshire, is mum canbeadjusted uncomfortableifwornfor carriersforolderchildren,
to Toby, nine tofityour longperiods,astheydon’t butthesecanbevery
months baby necessarilydistributeyour heavyandtendtotakeup
perfectly. child’sweightevenly. lotsofspace.

mothe ra ndbaby.co.uk | March 2 0 2 0 | 6 9