Carrying your child with you, how final is that? For many parents, it's a convenient way to take your child on the go and be nice and close to you. Yet a baby carrier or sling is not just a means of transportation. You can use a carrier super fine when your child is restless or has trouble sleeping.
As a sleep coach for babies and children, I often recommend using the baby carrier to ensure more sleep for overtiredness. Many parents who ask a sleep coach for help are told that their baby is overtired. The first step then taken is to make sure the overtiredness goes away and doesn't have another chance. Basically: sleep do. Even if your child is not used to a carrier before, this can work very well.
Nice and safe close to you
Most babies sleep first when they can be close to you. And that, of course, is not at all surprising: they have spent 9 months safely in mom's tummy. Besides, the movement offers the same feeling as the movements in the belly. Add to that the warmth of your body and being able to smell your scent and you can understand why your child finds this so fine. Oxytocin (the snuggle hormone) is released and this, in turn, stimulates the action of melatonin (sleep hormone), due to the stress-reducing effect of oxytocin.
Dependent sleep association?
You often hear about dependent sleep associations. As far as I'm concerned, these are only a problem if they are a problem for you, too. What has been proven: a baby who gets a lot of help falling asleep, often has trouble falling back asleep on his own if he or she wakes up in between. When falling asleep at the breast, for example: this may not be a problem at all but if you don't have the ability to stay with your baby the whole time, it can be very inconvenient. A baby carrier is also a dependent sleep association but gives you more freedom (and the same security as sleeping next to your baby). It really doesn't matter that this is a dependent sleep mode as long as it is not a problem for you. Your child needs sleep and needs you, so do it if it feels right. Even better: if your child is not yet 3 months old, I would choose to keep your baby with you a lot. You can't spoil your baby with that, it's just super good for safe bonding. See also the earlier blog about carrying and bonding https://www.bykay.com/nl/stories/verwen-ik-met-een-draagdoek/ But even for older babies, sleeping in a carrier with you is super nice and still good for bonding: children make bonding jumps at different times in their lives and safety and closeness is the very best way to get through these jumps and give your child a stable base.
If your child sleeps enough during the day and the distribution of these naps does not allow for overtiredness, you will see this reflected at night. The night is a mirror of the day: if sleeping during the day is not fine, you will (eventually) see this in the nights. So if you carry your child comfortably during the day and therefore provide enough sleep, you have a good chance that your nights will be uninterrupted or less interrupted (depending on whether your child still needs night feeds and/or if restlessness is playing a role)
Practice with crib or keep carrying
Once a nice rhythm is established and overtiredness is no longer a factor, do you still want to teach your child to sleep in their own bed? You can do that in steps and for each nap. And even then, not all naps eventually have to be in their own bed. You have to do what works for you and your child. Do you only want to carry during the day? Do it! If you notice that your child likes his nap(s) in a quiet environment (and that doesn't work with carrying), then alternate it. You can't do anything wrong here, everything you feel is right!
Need help?
If you need a little help or advice on sleeping, look for a fine sleep coach. You can visit my site. For advice or coaching for the most important thing in your life-your child-you should feel fine with the coach you choose. If you would like to meet by phone first, you can always do that. If you do not feel that click with me, no hard feelings. If you search on "dream rhythm coach" you can find more very nice coaches who work according to the same method as I do: loving and responsive (don't let them cry).
Choose a carrier that suits you and get informed
My own little ones have made a lot of sleeping hours in the baby carrier or sling. My youngest actually mostly in the Click Carrier from ByKay. I especially like this one because it has crossed straps, which made such a huge difference for me for the pressure on my shoulders. But it is very personal which carrier suits you and your child best. Fortunately, there are many different ones available from ByKay. Need help choosing? Then read on here: https://www.bykay.com/advies-over-dragen/ or contact ByKay, for advice from a carrier consultant.
