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. 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. Babies worn in slings are happier.
Studies have shown that the more babies are held, the less they cry and fuss.
In indigenous cultures where baby-wearing is the norm, babies often cry for only a few minutes a day as opposed to Western babies, who frequently cry for hours each day. Crying is exhausting for both baby and his parents, and may cause long-term damage as the baby's developing brain is continually flooded with stress hormones. Babies who are not wasting their energy on crying are calmly observing and learning about their environment. It's hard to find time to exercise when you are a new mother, but if you carry your baby around with you most of the day or go for a brisk walk with your baby in her sling, you will be doing your body good. A long walk in the sling is also an excellent way to put a child to sleep.