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gets older, so it must be nurtured. Deficits in the cerebellum result in disorders of fine movement, posture, and even motor learning.

As if that's not enough to think about, there's also the issue of colic. Colic is blamed on over-stimulation of the baby's nervous system. This over-stimulation may be the result of many things; however, one of the best ways of reducing colic is to keep the baby in close physical contact with his mother. This constant contact with his mother's mature nervous system works to regulate her baby's immature nervous system. It lowers the levels of stress hormones and adrenalin circulating in the infant's blood stream. The baby doesn't just feel better emotionally when she is held, she feels better physiologically as well.

This idea of regulation is one of the most amazing perks of baby wearing. A baby's heartbeat, breathing and body temperature also regulate themselves to mirror the more mature functioning of a healthy adult. This establishes healthy patterns at a crucial developmental stage. This is one of the primary reasons why baby-wearing benefits premature infants and lowers their mortality rate.

I often hear concerns that baby wearing will cause a baby to need to always be the center of attention. On the contrary, history and studies have consistently shown that baby wearing allows the child to be at the center of activity rather than being the center of attention. The baby learns that the world doesn't stop or revolve around him. Baby wearing fosters a healthy atmosphere for the development of empathy, understanding, learning, affection and a healthy sense of self. There's no need to deny our parental instincts to carry our babies any longer. Baby wearing may be thousands of years old, but it is in no way a thing of the past.

Learn more about this author, Dawn Preuss.
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