New Survey From Baby Carrier Specialist Wear My Baby
57% of new parents experiencing mental health issues in their first year
89% of parents surveyed said that using a baby carrier had a positive impact on their mental health
New parents are experiencing soaring mental health issues, according to a new survey from Wear My Baby.
“We all know how challenging that first year of parenthood can be,” says Hannah Wallace, owner of baby carrier specialist Wear My Baby. “But in the last 2 years we’ve seen a huge increase in parents really struggling with anxiety, depression, and PTSD.
Many mums had to give birth without their partners during the pandemic, and a huge proportion have been cut off from emotional and practical support during lockdowns. “
“It is no wonder that we have suffered so badly, having to fend for ourselves at a time where we need reassurance and care,” agrees Tessa van der Vord, a Specialist Mental Health Midwife based in south west London. “It’s lonely, isolating and uncertain. There’s a common quote, “it takes a village to raise a child” - but these parents had no village in the height of lockdown.”
Add to that financial pressure and reduced access to health services, it’s unsurprising that over half of new parents surveyed said they’ve experienced mental health issues in their baby's first year. Similar surveys between 2010 and 2020 gave figures between 20% and 40%, so we’re seeing a worrying upwards trend. This finding is backed up by the Babies in Lockdown report, which found that 6 in 10 (61%) parents had significant concerns about their mental health in the first 6 months of the pandemic – with only 3 in 10 (32%) being confident that they could find help for their mental health if needed.
But Hannah is keen to point out that, when it comes to mental health, it’s often simple everyday actions that can have the biggest impact. Like using a baby carrier and going for a walk with your baby.
89% of parents surveyed said that using a baby carrier had a positive impact on their mental health.
“It just goes to show how small things can have a huge impact on mental health. I set up Wear My Baby 8 years ago to do just that, supporting Mums and Dads who were struggling in those early days of parenting. Using a baby carrier increases parent-child bonding and can help combat post-natal depression. It’s also hugely practical. You’ve got your hands free and can get outside for exercise and to socialise.
As one parent said, ‘The last year or so has been hard, with Covid around and feeling like the world is full of invisible danger. I've found myself sometimes feeling quite anxious about how small and vulnerable my baby is to all this. Keeping my little boy close by babywearing has bought me such a sense of calm.’
Another parent said, ‘My baby carrier saved my sanity in those early weeks and months. I have a ‘Velcro’ baby who would not be put down and hated his pram. Using a carrier meant I could leave the house, go for walks and get fresh air.… My mental health was extremely poor for the first 2 months of my sons life, thankfully it improved gradually and I’m certain that babywearing played a big role in this.’
Dr Rosie Knowles, GP and author of Why Babywearing Matters, said 'We know that close contact: first beginning with skin to skin at birth, and then with regular cuddles and closeness all help to build a happy brain. Children expect to be held; it is the place where they are safe.... A good baby carrier can be a very useful tool in this circumstance - as well as in more normal times: the closeness builds a strong sense of security for a child and builds a sense of competence and confidence for a parent.'
Baby carriers aren’t just another gadget or trend: carrying our babies is something humans have done throughout history. As Hannah says, 'At a time when we’ve been physically separated from those we love, keeping our babies close has never been more important.’
About Wear My Baby
Wear My Baby is the UK's specialist baby carrier retailer and advice service. Alongside their online store and flagship Boutique in SW London, they have a team of 10 expert Consultants across London and SE England, offering a range of advice and training services to both parents and the baby and nursery industry. Between them, Hannah and her team have supported over 30,000 families in the last 8 years.
About the Impact of the Covid Pandemic on Parents Mental Health
Babies in Lockdown report, August 2020: https://parentinfantfoundation.org.uk/our-work/campaigning/babies-in-lockdown/
18 months on, there remains a huge ‘baby blindspot’ in the Government’s pandemic response: According to the House of Commons Petitions Committee’s report (October 2021)‘To date COVID-19 recovery funding aimed at children aged under 2 appears to have been unjustifiably neglected compared to the funding made available for older children”
Impact of Covid-19 on New parents - one year on; Response to Committees report: https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm5802/cmselect/cmpetitions/479/47908.htm#_idTextAnchor037
Babywearing and Parental Mental Health Survey, January 2022
Of 271 respondents:
Have you/did you or your partner experience any mental health issues during your baby's first year?
Yes 57%
No 43%
Do you/did you or your partner use a baby carrier, sling or wrap during your baby's first year?
Yes 98%
No 2%
Have you/did you or your partner find that babywearing has had any positive impact on your mental health?
Yes 89%
No 6%
N/A 5%
Additional quotes from parents (highlights from 175 responses given)
'Wearing a sling changed my life! The first time I went out wearing one - after 2 months of being indoors - helped my mental health so much. The sling made things less daunting.'
'I could not have survived without my carrier. Having your baby in the carrier means getting things done around the house, being able to play with my toddler and also exercise as I do my workouts while using the carrier. With postnatal anxiety, this has been a godsend.'
'Babywearing was my saviour. I was unable to hold one of my children for 2months as he was so unwell, and then when I was able to I was incredibly anxious and suffering with postnatal depression. Carrying my baby in a wrap helped me feel like I was creating a bond that I was worried about not being there. I felt like I was able to keep him safe again and it reduced my anxiety almost to nothing over a few weeks and I no longer felt like I had lost time with my son.'
'It’s the best parenting tool! We stress so much less about sleep now. For me, the mum, having had Postnatal Depression, it also helps me feel empowered to be the parent I want to be which has really helped my mental health.'
I was anxious about my baby and feared SIDS more than the average person, babywearing helped me get on with life and hear and feel baby was OK.'
'My second son was born not breathing, no heartbeat. Had a brain injury. For the first four months of his life, once out of hospital he was miserable. Just cried and cried. The only thing that kept him calm was being carried on my chest. Some days I wore him on me for close to 20 hours. I felt like I was going crazy. But I was comforted knowing I had a way to comfort him. I don’t know what I would have done without the wrap. And now aged three he is a happy, healthy, Spider-Man obsessed smiley little boy.'