Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week 2016

Australia and New Zealand Babywearing Week (ANZBW) was founded in response to a pram-centric society. Its intention was to raise the awareness around baby-wearing and the benefits to both mother and baby. This year’s celebration will run at the same time as the International Babywearing Week, from 5 – 10 October 2016.

ANZBW consists of community events that celebrate the freedom that baby wearing offers. These events have gathered momentum as more and more parents enjoy the benefits of babywearing. These events celebrate the double joys of being connected to their babies and to their communities.

ANZBW has always been underpinned by community mindedness and as such is taking anew direction in 2016, to further develop this. Since the first ANZBW, Babes in Arms has donated over $20,000 to charities with a family focus, as well as giving away hundreds of baby carriers to local communities and individuals.

Babywearing through baby carriers can make a powerful daily impact on mothers, as such Babes In Arms are focusing its efforts on making contributions to charity groups who service families that need assistance. As a result, Babes in Arms have committed to supporting St Kilda Mums – a volunteer, not-for-profit organisation that rehome new and preloved baby goods and nursery equipment to families in need.

Babes in Arms has also pledged a special allocation of Ergobaby Carriers to lending libraries of baby wearing groups. ANZBW want to focus on supporting baby wearing groups that are inclusive, regardless of carrier brand. The ethos of ‘practise not product’ is part of the essential criteria in selecting the groups to receive the the Ergobaby gifting.

There are many health benefits to baby wearing. Some of these include:

• New parents may enjoy an increased bond with baby and increased confidence in being able to read their baby’s cues
• Babies feel safe and comforted by their parents’ body rhythms (heartbeat, breathing patterns, body temperature, voice and smell) which decreases a baby’s stress hormones
• Studies have shown that carrying babies reduces crying and fussiness by 43 percent during the day and 51percent at night
• Carried babies fall asleep quickly and enjoy deeper sleep cycles, vital for brain maturation
• Colic and reflux symptoms may reduce by the activation of digestive pressure points when babies are carried in an upright position
• A baby’s growth hormones are stimulated when carried, as is their cardiac output, circulation and muscular development.

Other benefits include:

• offering busy modern parents freedom and convenience
• providing their babies the most nurturing place to grow.
• it gives parents freedom to keep fit and exercise
• to meet other parents, and potentially feed on the go.

Babes in Arms specialises in wraps and baby carriers. Their byline – ‘Togetherness made Simple’ embodies what it means to wear your baby, and the freedom that it offers busy modern families. All Babes In Arms products are tried and tested by company founder and mother of four, Anita Lincolne-Lomax.

The collection provides optimal spinal support for growing babies as well as ergonomic weight distribution for parents. Further information is available through the Babes in Arms blog, and Facebook page.