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While it may appear fashionable, babywearing is a long-standing custom that allows you to keep your child close and safe while providing a range of motion, engagement, and use of hands. In Japan, you can see mothers following the same tradition of carrying their babies with them and avoiding the latest tools for handling newborns, such as trolleys or strollers. Babywearing has numerous advantages worth considering, and today, we will shed light on a few of them. But first, let’s find out why mothers from Japan are still using this method while living in some hi-tech cities. Let’s get started!
1. Babywearing Is More Practical While In Public Transportations
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Japanese people travel primarily on public transport. Therefore, mothers who want to go around Kyoto or other regions by bus, metro, or train are looking for a practical solution. Instead of using a stroller which can be very hard to handle in such a situation, they wish to carry their newborn in a sling or a wrap. So, when they board and exit this method of transport, they won’t be complaining about the wheels getting caught up.
2. Babywearing Relaxes The Baby
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According to a Japanese study involving 12 healthy newborns, babies their moms carry exhibit immediate relaxation and a reduced heart rate. Furthermore, irrespective of the mother’s age or walking speed, the same study demonstrated that newborns taken by mothers who were walking were more at ease and composed than newborns carried while sitting (1).
3. It Improves The Mother-Baby Bond
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Although a mother and kid have a close bond, it has been seen that Japanese moms have an extreme attachment to their newborns. This is because they place high importance on a physical connection, which explains this. They include their kids in activities early on and take every opportunity to be physically near them.
4. Babywearing Is An Old Japanese Tradition
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An ‘Onbuhimos,’ which means back-carrying strap, was formerly used to carry newborns. This soft cloth baby carrier was designed for mothers to wear babies on their backs while allowing them to see over their shoulders. The easiest way for women to watch for their kids while working at the time was for them to bring their newborns to the paddy field with them.
5. Baby Wraps Are Available In Various Designs
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The traditional Japanese newborn carrier, the Onbuhimo, now has more modern, innovative designs. In addition, the Japanese market currently offers a variety of baby carriers made from softer materials and more inventive methods.
Other Benefits Of Baby Wearing
While the Japanese have been into their traditional beliefs, there are more scientifically proven facts about babywearing. Let’s find out more about some of them.
1. It Improves Baby’s Sleep
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Your newborn enjoys being near you. They can calm down and relax just by being in your presence. Your baby will feel better with less crying while being carried. You experience distress when you hear your baby cry, so you don’t need it anymore. Likewise, their breathing will be calmer if your baby sleeps close to you (2).
2. It Reduces Baby Weeping
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During the first few months, wearing your newborn baby can reduce crying by 43 percent and 51 percent during those crucial evening hours when you’re also attempting to sleep (3).
3. It’s Good For Social Development
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Your baby has an opportunity to become more socially active with you and the surroundings if you wear them rather than placing them in a pram, stroller, or car seat. In addition, they will hear you conversing, which will improve their language abilities.
4. It Eases Public Breastfeeding
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It can be challenging to nurse if you’re not at home. Getting your newborn to reach your nipple and feed properly can be difficult if you wear a shawl to cover up when nursing. But with babywearing, your newborn will already be snuggled up against your chest. So, your baby will find your breast and latch onto you more readily. Breastfeeding in the baby carrier will become conventional as they get used to it.
5. There Are Lesser Chances Of Postpartum Depression
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Postpartum depression is a harsh reality for several mothers. They may feel discouraged and pessimistic after experiencing the moment they’ve anticipated for so long. They discover that they cannot fully appreciate all the times they had planned to cherish. But if they engage in babywearing, they might have less guilt as they cope with their melancholy.
The continual contact that comes with babywearing may compensate for the lack of grins they are providing their baby, so they won’t be complaining about their baby being deceived out of an excellent parent. In addition, because you’ll be able to do stuff like take a walk around without having to handle a bulky stroller, it can also assist with sadness (4).
Will you give baby wearing a try after reading about all these fantastic benefits it can provide?
Let us know your thoughts in the comment section below.
