Carried babies cry less—Research has shown that babies that are carried, on average, cry 43% less overall and 54% less during the evening hours
Carried babies learn more—Babies that are carried spend more time in the quiet alert state, this is the state where babies learn about their world
Carrying your baby helps you to reconnect with them—If you are working outside (or even inside) the home, carrying your baby allows you to reconnect after a long day, while still getting your evening tasks complete.
Carried babies are emotionally healthier—Babies that are carried are more likely to trust their caregivers, are more likely to be attached to their caregivers, and often become independent at an earlier age.
There seems to be a link between baby wearing and ease of transition into the post partum period. No research has been done yet (NINO will be doing research on this topic in the next year), but the thought is that when a new mom wears her baby, she adjusts easier, resulting is less severe or no post partum depression.
Wearing your baby allows you to hold and comfort your baby without getting sore arms and/or a sore back because carriers distribute weight evenly across your body.
Wearing your baby helps to soothe fussiness, colic, and reflux.
Baby wearing promotes bonding and fosters trust and attachment. By wearing your baby, you are able to meet needs promptly, allowing your baby to trust that you will help them.
Walking with the added weight of a baby is good exercise for the caregiver and usually results in a nap for the baby!
Wearing your baby promotes her physical development. When your baby rides in a sling attached to your body, she is in tune with the rhythm of your breathing, the sound of your heartbeat, and the movements you make – walking, bending, reaching. This stimulation helps her regulate her own physical responses, and also exercises her vestibular system, which controls balance. The sling is in essence a "transitional womb" for the new baby, who has difficulty controlling her bodily functions and movements. Premature babies who are touched and held gain weight faster and are healthier than babies who are not. Mechanical swings and other holding devices do not provide these same benefits.