Babywearing has been practised for thousands of years all around the world. It is the practise of wearing or carrying your baby or child in a sling or other carrier.

There are so many benefits to babywearing, we couldn't possibly introduce them all here. What we hope to do is give a brief explanation of the benefits, links to scientific research which supports these ideas and provide links to other organisations such as attachment parenting sites, breastfeeding support sites etc.

We introduced our first child to a sling from the very beginning, although they did spend time in a pram for the first few weeks too. However it wasn't long before we stopped using the pram in favour of a sling full time. Initially we did this for practical reasons - it meant no more desperately (and clumsily) trying to fold the pram and put it in the boot of the car while the baby cried from hunger; it meant we had two hands free to do shopping, household chores, in fact so much more freedom to do most things. Yet, without a doubt, the best part of babywearing has been the phenomenal bonding time my child and I have had and there is no doubt that using a baby carrier has helped us develop the relationship we have today.

Baby carriers are economical. Many people look at the price of carriers and declare they are too expensive, however prams and travel systems can cost anywhere from £200 to £600 and upwards. Most baby carriers fall in the range of £40 to £90, an absolute bargain when you consider they can be used indoor and out till the baby has grown into a pre-school child - not to mention all the emotional, psychological and educational benefits of wearing your baby next to your skin.

In a nutshell, the benefits of baby wearing are the following (and this list is by no means exhaustive):

• Wearing your baby helps develop a secure mutual attachment.
• It allows both parents, or any caregiver, to develop a deep bond with the infant.
• Babywearing increases parental sensitivity to a baby's needs - you learn to read there noises and expressions so much quicker.
• Babywearing simulates the sensations of pressure, motion, warmth and security of the womb.
• Carrying your baby in a sling reduces their level of stress.
• Babywearing can greatly reduce crying and fussiness. It also helps your fussy or tired baby fall asleep.
• Babies sleep longer and more comfortably when in a sling.
• Sling babies have a reduced incidence of colic and are less susceptible to vomiting and excess spitting-up.
• Toddlers who were/are carried in slings initiate separation sooner, and become more self-reliant.
• Babywearing has been shown to strongly benefit premature infants and lower their mortality rate.
• The natural movement and stimulation provided by being in a sling promotes neurological development.
• Babywearing gives children the message that they are safe, secure and loved.
• Babywearing is the most comfortable way to hold your baby. You can use a sling on your shoulders, back or hip distributing your baby's weight evenly.
• Wearing your baby in a sling provides them with constant and easy access to breastfeeding, and makes nursing in public easy and discreet.