A bit on Evolution

The practice of carrying a baby is one of the surrounding atavisms. Each of the predispositions of this kind has its reflection in human physiology, anatomy and psychology. There’s no denying that nature equipped us both to carry and to being carried. This can be noticed just after birth. A helpless newborn infant survives mainly thanks to his/her innate instincts. Apart from the sucking and breathing reflexes, we also notice the Moro reflex. It is a sequence of some sudden movements being a response to a surprising stimulus, characterized by an abrupt, symmetric, upward movement of the arms. An infant spreads out the arms, the body becomes stiff, then the arms embrace the body. Abduction of the arms determines a sudden inhalation; on the other hand, adduction facilitates an exhalation. Such a reaction, which is a response to threat, allows an infant to grab an adult person strongly enough that he/she could lift a baby. The paediatrics textbooks call this process the atavistic reflex coming from phylogenetic development. It means that the discussed reflex has been developed during the course of evolution- the newborn infants who have had such an ability have been surviving more often than these who haven’t. The fact that premature babies have very distinct Moro reflex seems to prove it. This reflex, what is surprising, develops earlier than the sucking reflex, which seems to be more necessary. Moro points out that, as a matter of fact, it is the reflex of “grasping” characteristic for young primates which instinctively grasp their mothers after birth.

In modern civilization, the newborn babies, right after birth, are given a sterile, spacious bed and they are usually transported in buggies and car seats. It is worth wondering whether the development of knowledge introducing proper standards, hasn’t deprived us of something very important. Maybe babycarrying is not only a primitive means of locomotion.

What can we use for baby wearing ?

Mei-tai Carriers

Stretchy Slings for children carrying

Woven Baby Wraps