Sleep. For the parents and caregivers of children - from newborn through toddlerhood and beyond - there is nothing quite like that feeling of complete satisfaction and joy when you manage to support them into the land of nod. The sight of their cherubic faces, calm and serene in repose, are enough to bring a contented sigh and a sense of accomplishment to many a weary adult.

Using a baby carrier to achieve a state of slumber for little ones isn’t a new concept. Babywearing has been used in many different cultures for many years to comfort, soothe, and encourage children into sleep.



There are many benefits to using a baby carrier to help your child off to sleep. As adults, we can often experience a sense of loneliness or discomfort in falling asleep on our own. Small children often experience these same feelings of isolation, trepidation, and insecurity when attempting to fall asleep alone. A baby carrier allows you to provide support and comfort to your wearee when they are readying themselves for a rest.

Newborns and infants are accustomed to movement, the sound of a heartbeat, warmth, and closeness, from their time in the womb; and it isn’t surprising that they seek those same experiences when outside the womb. A baby carrier can mimic all of these feelings, and provide your wearee with an environment that is familiar and comforting - which assists them in falling to sleep.

It is also an excellent tool to assist with sleep in older children, particularly toddlers. Whilst developing and exploring their growing sense of independence, it isn’t uncommon to find toddlers seeking the closeness and comfort of a carrier as they begin to understand their world more fully. With their developing understanding of how big a world they live in, toddlers can find falling asleep much more challenging and fear inducing. Multiple parents and caregivers have discovered that a quick cuddle in a baby carrier is sufficient to support and guide their bigger babes into sleep.



A baby carrier also comes in extremely handy for parents and caregivers who have more than one child to tend to. If you have a pre-school or school aged child, or one attending some form of daycare, a baby carrier is invaluable to assist in managing your younger one’s nap time outside the home, as well as attending to your other responsibilities. It is also an excellent way to meet the sleeping needs of your youngest one, whilst being able to be present for your older children.

Research has shown that rocking to sleep can encourage a deeper sleep, and has also been found to be a more efficient way of getting to sleep. This can be applied to using a baby carrier to facilitate movement such as rocking, bouncing, or swaying, in order to encourage your wearee to sleep.

At the end of the day, sleep is a challenging facet of the period of time between birth and toddlerhood, and beyond. A baby carrier can be a way to assist in managing this challenging time in a way that works for you and your family.

Ankalia respects Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people and cultures. We acknowledge past, present and future Traditional Owners of the land that we work on.

DISCLAIMER

Ankalia’s online journal is written and edited by white Australian women. As such, our articles are written from our cultural standpoint.

To understand and improve our knowledge of the practice of babywearing across a varied dynamic, we may seek input from our friends and peers who identify as belonging to culturally and linguistically diverse groups, and groups who are marginalised within our society.

We aim to be insightful, meaningful and respectful of those who identify as belonging to these groups at all times. If we publish something that you feel is inappropriate or offensive, please bring it to our attention promptly. We are still learning and are mindful of our privilege.