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Day 2 of European Babywearing Week
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Young babies feel safe when they are held and cuddled. It reminds them of the womb; the warmth and closeness of a familiar parent’s arms is very reassuring in this strange new world. You cannot spoil your baby with loving responsiveness.

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#europeanbabywearingweek2020
#ebwathome2020
#4thtrimester
#4thtrimesterandbeyond
#carryingmatters
#buildahappybrain ... See more

Day 1 of European Babywearing Week
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The fourth trimester is a period of intense transition for the baby and the parents. Everyone needs to adjust to a new life. The best way to do that is to be together. Families thrive when they are close to the people who love them.
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#europeanbabywearingweek2020
#ebwathome2020
#4thtrimester
#4thtrimesterandbeyond ... See more

Welcome to European Babywearing Week 2020, with the theme “4th Trimester and beyond!”

It is also Maternal Mental Health Awareness week in the UK with the theme “supporting mums through difficult times” ... See more

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European Babywearing Week 2020 has finally begun! Although it's not going to be filled with group activities and getting together, we can still join together online.

We have some great challenges this year, and even daily video tutorials made by the EBW team!

So what's coming up? Starting today, we have a daily colour theme ending in the full rainbow on Sunday. We have a daily wrap challenge where you can join in and follow our tutorials.

Watch out for the first video coming up shortly!

Then we have a fun challenge that you can do at home and each day will be different.

Be sure to share your photos with us and tag us too.

#europeanbabywearingweek2020
#ebwwrapchallenge2020
#ebwathome2020

EBW team x ... See more

Some reassurance - and what to possibly expect when baby’s social circle expands after lockdown.

Babywearing can really help to provide a hands-free safe space for little ones to begin to engage with the world. ... See more

A question I answered on Instagram recently:

My reply:

The most important thing to think about here is Psychologist John Bowlby's idea of a 'secure base'. Bowlby was the founding father of attachment theory. He theorised that babies will form a primary attachment (usually with their mother) and this person will effectively become their whole world, from which they feel safe to explore the world around them. This primary attachment figure is their secure base - when they are with this attachment figure they feel secure, safe and settled enough to learn about the world and others in it.

If lockdown hadn't happened, your baby would have formed attachments with those close to you who you see often (grandparents etc..), however, you would still be your baby's secure base and their primary attachment would still be with you. Even without lockdown there would still be times when your baby would be unhappy to be in the arms of anybody but you. Some people mistakenly call this behaviour 'clingy', however this isn't the case. This is normal infant development. Attachments take time to form.

With lockdown, the biggest difference is your baby won't have had the repeated exposure to family and friends, so attachment will start off on the back foot. This absolutely doesn't mean that it won't happen - it will. It just means that you need to be prepared to be your baby's secure base for a little longer. Practically speaking this means introducing the baby to friends and family being incredibly mindful of this - I would hold back on others holding him/her and instead introduce them while in your arms, wearing in a sling/carrier is perfect here. If s/he is happy with the introduction, then allow others to hold him/her. At the slightest sign of distress (crying), take him/her back into your arms. I would also utilise video chats for familiarisation - however this will have a very limited impact, because there is no touch or smell involved - which are the two most important senses for bonding. Basically - take it slow, work at your baby's pace and trust that the attachments will come in time.

If you want to ask me a question, pop over to http://www.instagram.com/sarahockwellsmith ... See more

More evidence to show that the loving close contact from holding babies has long term effects on their health and development...

“As the world prioritizes social distancing to stop or slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), a new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University demonstrates that mother-infant touch and contact are essential for optimal neurodevelopmental regulation (brain development) in early infancy.

Kangaroo Care, a skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest method of caring for a baby, especially one who is premature, has been associated with promoting neurophysiological development. This method of caring emphasizes the importance of holding the naked or partially dressed baby against the bare skin of a parent, typically the mother. New research is showing that extended use of Kangaroo Care can positively benefit full-term infants and their mothers during the post-partum period.

In addition to EEG patterns in infants, the researchers looked at basal oxytocin — the “cuddle” hormone — and cortisol reactivity — the “stress” hormone — in infants and their mothers. Oxytocin is the hormone associated with caregiving and affectionate behavior, while cortisol reactivity is implicated in the stress response system.

Findings showed that the infants’ left frontal area of the brain — implicated in higher-order cognitive and emotional regulatory skills — appears to be stimulated from the Kangaroo Care method. In addition, the mother and infants showed increased oxytocin, along with decreases in stress reactivity, suggesting regulatory abilities are prompted by experiences with positive caregiving in infancy, according to the researchers.

The study’s findings indicate that Kangaroo Care training and the level of use by caregivers during infancy can favorably influence both neurodevelopmental trajectories and infant neurobiological functioning, the researchers added.

“Our findings across several studies demonstrate a link between the supportive dimensions of maternal caregiving behavior and left hemisphere neurodevelopment, with maternal warmth and sensitivity predicting greater regulatory abilities and secure attachment,” said Jones. “Full-term infants and their mothers likely benefit from the positive interactive experiences inherent in extended Kangaroo Care use.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325110913.htm ... See more

More evidence to show that the loving close contact from holding babies has long term effects on their health and development...

“As the world prioritizes social distancing to stop or slow down the spread of coronavirus (COVID-19), a new study by researchers at Florida Atlantic University demonstrates that mother-infant touch and contact are essential for optimal neurodevelopmental regulation (brain development) in early infancy.

Kangaroo Care, a skin-to-skin, chest-to-chest method of caring for a baby, especially one who is premature, has been associated with promoting neurophysiological development. This method of caring emphasizes the importance of holding the naked or partially dressed baby against the bare skin of a parent, typically the mother. New research is showing that extended use of Kangaroo Care can positively benefit full-term infants and their mothers during the post-partum period.

In addition to EEG patterns in infants, the researchers looked at basal oxytocin — the “cuddle” hormone — and cortisol reactivity — the “stress” hormone — in infants and their mothers. Oxytocin is the hormone associated with caregiving and affectionate behavior, while cortisol reactivity is implicated in the stress response system.

Findings showed that the infants’ left frontal area of the brain — implicated in higher-order cognitive and emotional regulatory skills — appears to be stimulated from the Kangaroo Care method. In addition, the mother and infants showed increased oxytocin, along with decreases in stress reactivity, suggesting regulatory abilities are prompted by experiences with positive caregiving in infancy, according to the researchers.

The study’s findings indicate that Kangaroo Care training and the level of use by caregivers during infancy can favorably influence both neurodevelopmental trajectories and infant neurobiological functioning, the researchers added.

“Our findings across several studies demonstrate a link between the supportive dimensions of maternal caregiving behavior and left hemisphere neurodevelopment, with maternal warmth and sensitivity predicting greater regulatory abilities and secure attachment,” said Jones. “Full-term infants and their mothers likely benefit from the positive interactive experiences inherent in extended Kangaroo Care use.”

https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/03/200325110913.htm ... See more