Being a baby is easy, right? Eat, sleep, poo. Everything done for you. Just lie back and relax! Sounds perfect to us!
So why do newborn babies cry so much? Are they ungrateful? Manipulating you? Trying to make your life difficult?
And why is babywearing a huge help?
What’s Life Like for an Unborn Baby?
Basically, life is perfect. There’s a reason why so many babies go overdue… the womb is the ideal environment for a tiny baby!
It’s dark, sounds are muffled. The temperature is a beautifully balmy 37 degrees, the bed is soft, and the food never stops (thanks umbilical cord!). The main variety in everyday life is hearing and feeling the different things mum does (those movements are so soothing), and tasting a variety of foods through the amniotic fluid. But most things are always the same… mum is always there, along with her breathing and her heartbeat.
What’s Life Like for a New Baby?
Basically, life sucks. You’re used to this calm, happy environment where all of your meets are met immediately, and then you’re suddenly thrust into a whole different world.
It’s cold, the blankets are scratchy, you have to figure out how to poop for the first time ever. The lights overhead are super bright and they hurt your eyes! You can hear mummy’s voice more clearly than ever before, but you can also hear other things you’ve never heard before and it’s all a bit scary.
Even worse – you have this funny feeling in your tummy you’ve never felt before and your mouth is getting dry. You’re hungry nearly all the time.
And you keep getting left alone. In a cot, in the car, in a pram. You aren’t sure where mummy is – she should be there with you, right? But you can’t feel her, hear her, or smell her for the first time in your life.
So you cry and cry and hope that she’ll come, so that you can relax into her warmth and know that everything is okay.
The Fourth Trimester
This is where the concept of the fourth trimester is very useful. Although babies spend three trimesters in the womb, they aren’t magically ready for life on the outside once they’re born. They’re still the same baby they were when they were on the inside, and they need time to transition.
The Fourth Trimester can help parents to be more realistic about their baby’s needs and behaviour.
You should also remember that mums are adjusting during this period as well. After all, you’ve had this tiny person inside of you for nearly a whole year, and are going through plenty of hormonal changes too. Be gentle with yourself as well as your baby.
Keeping baby close is the most normal and natural thing for both the mother and baby.
How Babywearing Helps During the Fourth Trimester
Babywearing often enables you to meet your newborn’s needs and your own all at the same time.
Many babies need to be held close and upright. They need lots of sleep, but sometimes struggle to drift off unless held and moved about. They often feed constantly and you will need to be able to respond to their cues very early on. They can keep their temperature somewhat stable while held on your chest and skin. Sounds and lights are muffled and dulled in the baby carrier. They can hear, feel, and smell you and know that you are close.
Babywearing means that you have your hands-free, and hopefully a more settled baby. You may be itching to feel “normal” again and get out of the house as often as possible. Babywearing can often help you to do this without feeling anxious about your baby crying or fussing.
If you’re a parent with a newborn, or are expecting a baby soon, please let us encourage you to consider babywearing as a tool for those early days. We’d even suggest bringing a newborn-friendly carrier in your hospital bag if you’re likely to be staying more than a day or so. It will be one of the best investments you can make as a parent to a small person!
When you think about life from your new baby’s experience, babywearing is not just a luxury – it’s a need.
Happy newborn wearing!
