7 Benefits of Babywearing and Dance, for you and for baby
Being a Joimover you’re probably already familiar with how wearing your baby and dancing are a natural pairing. When you put on your baby and sway to the music, you know that your baby is learning from their world, enjoying your company and creating core memories that will stay with them throughout their life.
Check out our list of 7 key benefits of babywearing and dancing!
1- Helps with post-natal depression
Many women experience postnatal depression after having a baby. It’s actually more common than you may realise. According to the NHS, it affects around 10% of all women who have had a baby. Frequently developing within the first three months after delivery, it’s often not apparent until around six months post delivery.
One way to help guard against post-natal depression is to be active with your baby. There’s plenty of evidence to support the idea of the antidepressant effects of exercise in general and in clinical populations. In other words, going for a walk, having a dance around the kitchen or in a dance class helps to lift your mood. It’s no surprise then that women who are active with their babies consistently score better on post-natal interviews about postpartum adaptation.
Don’t forget the power of hormones. By dancing with your baby in a carrier or sling you increase yours and your baby’s oxytocin levels, helping to promote your ‘feel-good’ hormone levels. So, close cuddles, kisses and swaying to the music boost your mood, create close emotional bonding and help to protect you against post-natal depression.
2- Carried babies cry less
Research shows that, carried babies cry less. According to a study by Hunziker and Garr, parents who babywear their babies for three hours a day see a 43 percent overall reduction in crying. And when looking specifically at evening crying, there is a reduction of 54 percent. So, less crying means more happiness for both baby and parent.
3- Great way to bond with your baby
What better way to bond with your baby than when you can touch them, kiss them and move around with them? No sore backs, hips or arms from in-arm carrying. When you wear your baby your arms are free for a full-body cuddle. And while you’re doing this, you’re promoting increased levels of oxytocin in both of you and increasing your emotional bonding.
4-Increases your happiness
Research has shown that the chemical changes that occur in the brain during exercise are very similar to those in antidepressants. Physically active people recover from mild depression more quickly, and physical activity is strongly correlated with good mental health as people age.
Babywearing helps the wearer get active! With a baby attached, every step helps to make your body stronger. As the baby slowly gains weight, your workout intensity slowly increases. Even wearing your baby during low impact gentle exercises has a positive effect.
6-Get Social
Get on out there! Take a walk in the park, meet people for a play-date or join a class, it’s up to you. Babywearing can be a talking point when meeting people who share common interests, and it’s a great way to bring your baby to things that may be difficult to access with a pram or buggy. Whatever you do, babywearing is a simple and easy way to keep active and social.
7-Builds a healthy lifestyle for you and your family
We live in a world where obesity and low physical activity are all around us. There’s plenty of research to suggest that as parents and carers, it’s important for us to encourage children to take part in more physical activity. Unfortunately few studies are aware of the huge benefits of family dancing. There is no cost to dancing at home, and it doesn’t require any specialised equipment. Everyone can take part and it’s a great way to share happy moments together as a family. It brings family members together and promote active lifestyle and connection.
Now that you know, get on out there and enjoy dancing!
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1-http://www.nhs.uk/conditions/postnataldepression/Pages/Introduction.aspx
2-The Role of Exercise in Treating Postpartum Depression: A Review of the Literature
Amanda J. Daley, PhD, C. Psychol, Department of Primary Care and General Practice Clinical Sciences Building, University of Birmingham
3-Physical Activity and Postpartum Well-Being Carolyn M. Sampselle, RNC, PhD, University of Michigan School of Nursing, 400 North lngalls, Ann Arbor,
4-Hunziker UA, Garr RG. (1986) Increased carrying reduces infant crying: A random-ized controlled trial. Pediatrics 77:641-648
5-Anisfeld E, Casper V, Nozyce M, Cunningham N. (1990) Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev 61:1617-1627.
6-McKimmie, Marnie. (2005). Walk away from depression.; The West Australian (Perth), online.
7-Start active, Stay Active – Guidelines and report (2011) by Department of Health, Physical Activity, Health Improvement and Protection