Wikipedia has a great write up on the benefits of babywearing. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babywearing]
- Mothers' progesterone (mothering hormone) is increased through physical contact with the infant, leading to a more intimate maternal bond, easier breastfeeding and better care. Thus lowering incidence of postpartum depression and psychosomatic illness.
- Infants who are carried are calmer - all their primal/survival needs are met: caregiver can be seen, heard, smelled, touched, tasted, fed (breastfeeding mother) and motion necessary for continuing neural development, gastrointestinal and respiratory health and to establish balance (inner ear development) and muscle tone, is constant.
- Infants IQ and brain mass are measurably greater. When primal needs are met, babies spend more time in a quiet state of attentive alertness, ideal for learning - rather than in a panicked survival mode.
- Infants are more organized; parental rhythms (walking, heartbeat, etc.) have balancing and soothing effects on infants.
- Infants are "humanized" earlier by developing socially; babies are closer to people and can study facial expressions, learn languages faster and be familiar with body language.
- Developmental milestones such as learning to walk, talk and toilet train are reached earlier.
- Contrary to western cultural myths, independence is established earlier.
- Aggression is diminished.
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