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.
Toddlers appreciate the security of the sling.
The world is often a scary place for toddlers, so they feel more confident when they can retreat to the security of the sling when they need to. It is also very practical in places like the zoo or aquarium, where a small child in a stroller would not be able to see very much. Baby-wearing helps you and your baby communicate better with each other. The more competent you feel as a parent, the more you can relax and enjoy your child. And a large part of feeling confident in your parenting is being able to read your baby's cues successfully.