Childsafe South Africa has donated 720 baby carriers to Mowbray Maternity Hospital to strengthen the bond between mothers and their newborns and prevent infants being hurt in falls.
At the handover on Thursday January 28, Janine Joemat, the hospital’s CEO, said “baby wearing” had benefits for both the mother and the infant.
“The closer access allows the baby to hear and smell the mother, to move with the mother, and these movements are similar to movements in utero.”
That made babies more relaxed, helped to regulate hormones and lowered the impact of post-natal depression for the mother.
Since 2019, Childsafe SA has delivered 6500 baby carriers to provincial government health facilities for mothers in need.
Yolande Baker, the director of the Rondebosch-based non-profit, said the baby carriers also lessened the chances of infants being injured in falls, which were mostly preventable.
“We are hoping that these baby carriers will assist in reducing the number of falls, especially those falls from attendants’ arms.”
