Your baby cries as soon as he's out of your arms. Even if it's only for a few minutes, he won't accept being alone without your body warmth and cuddling.
It's a very common situation - don't worry, we've all been there! We know it's frustrating and sometimes exhausting, because we need "alone" time.
Why does baby always want your arms?
For several reasons, a baby has a vital need to be in contact with his mother, father or other attachment figure.
Baby is born with an immature brain
Have you noticed that humans are the only mammals whose babies are hyper-dependent on their parents? A foal has the ability to follow its mother just 1 hour after birth.
In humans, it takes around 1 year (depending, of course) for a baby to walk. Specialists estimate that for a baby to be born as mature as other small mammals, its gestation period should be 18 months. But after 18 months' gestation, the diameter of its head would no longer pass through its mother's pelvis.
That's why carrying your baby is in a way a continuation of pregnancy, and helps to further their brain development :)
Baby actually NEEDS, not LOVES, your arms
Their dependence on you is therefore due to the immaturity of their brain. Until he's developed enough to start walking, baby needs you to discover the world in safety, reassured by your presence.
Babywearing thus offers your baby emotional security and optimal brain development.
Your baby's cries express his need for contact and comfort. In no way are they "whims", but simply a natural need that should be met for secure development :)
FUNFACT: have you noticed that your baby is programmed to cling to you like a koala? An infant comes into the world with this ability to grasp: the grasping reflex. If you hold out your finger, he'll close his hand automatically.
Discover: Babywearing: will my baby pick up bad habits
? What to do with a baby who always wants your arms
?
Try to hold your child as much as possible
We know that some healthcare professionals or relatives may tell you that you're going to accentuate the phenomenon by responding to your child's cries as soon as you put him down to take him back into your arms.
In reality, a reassured child is a self-confident child who will discover independence on his own, without feeling abandoned.
Need your own arms? Think babywearing!
With a baby carrier or sling, you can meet your child's fundamental need to be carried, while still being able to carry on with your activities. Of course, it's not a question of carrying for the sake of carrying, but of being attentive to your baby's signals while being available for other things.
We know you have your own needs to manage, and babywearing gives you that freedom :)
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| BABY CARRIERS | BABY WRAPS |
You can stay by your baby's side while he's discovering the world on the floor, and he can come back to you when he feels the need.
Over time, your child will have increasingly long "alone" discovery phrases without feeling the need for your presence, because he'll be confident.
"It's only when you've drunk your fill that you can move away from the source" :)
Remember that it's normal for your baby to ask for your arms a lot in the first few months of life. The more confident he feels, the more independent he will become :) Good luck!