Is a baby sling the secret of good mental health?

PARENTS should carry their babies in slings and give them massages to prevent mental illness later in life, according to controversial advice from the Scottish Executive.

Amid growing concern that a lack of parental bonding is adding to a mental health crisis, the government's panel of psychiatrists and child health experts say it is vital that a sense of wellbeing and security is encouraged in children.

They have also recommended that traditional backwards-facing prams are better for babies' mental health than the more convenient front-facing pushchairs used from birth by many new parents.

In order to help parents to bond with their children they will this week issue a series of recommendations for health professionals across Scotland to pass on to parents. They include:

• Using soft slings worn on the front of the body instead of infant seats;

• Baby massage classes to be recommended for parents;

• Choosing a traditional style of backward-facing pram rather than a frontfacing pushchair;

• All maternity hospitals should introduce alertness tests for newborns which are conducted in front of new parents so that they can see for themselves their child's awareness of sights and sounds. The tests involve simple tasks such as showing a baby a brightly coloured toy and observing how well it tracks the object;

• Parents to carry out weekly alertness observations on their baby to keep them in tune with its development, the results of which they should then discuss with their health visitor.

The guidance, Supporting Infant Mental Health by the Executive's Short Life Working Group on Infant Mental Health, has been written by clinical psychologists, psychiatrists, family doctors and child health experts to address what they believe is a lack of understanding about the importance of promoting good mental health in children, particularly among families affected by poverty or social problems.

The total cost of mental health problems in Scotland has been estimated at £8.6bn last year in terms of healthcare and the impact on the economy.

Anne Clarke, lead officer for Heads Up Scotland, the national project for child mental health which has published the guidance, said: "We are beginning to understand more and more about how the brain develops and how good messages are reinforced. If a baby understands that, their world becomes all right again - if they are distressed, hungry or need comfort the message that it gets is that the world is OK and that's a really important message. This is a really important area of work.

"This guidance is universal. We want to try to help everyone to think about the mental health of babies. This is what we would like to see implemented."

According to the experts, positive experiences early in life lead the way to a more positive outlook on life while negative experiences can have a damaging effect. Scientific studies on the brain have shown that neural pathways that are repeatedly used strengthen and those that are not used decay. In this way early experience which will not be consciously remembered is thought to be very important for future development.

While traditional prams and slings promote eye contact, baby massage is said to relax both parent and child and promote bonding.

But critics said the practicalities of carrying out some of the guidance may simply be too unrealistic for many families.

Rachel Foster, editor of the parenting website Mumsnet, said the advice should be taken "with a pinch of salt".

She added: "I think any official guidance can be quite misleading and can leave a lot of people feeling guilty and that's the worst possible thing that new parents can feel.

"I do not think slings and rear-facing prams are necessary in terms of bonding as long as you are giving your baby plenty of eye contact, which you get when you are feeding them. A lot of mums put their babies in forward-facing buggies, particularly second-time mums who buy twin buggies. Slings give you the option to stay close to your baby and they are happy in a sling but some people find them too heavy."

An Executive spokeswoman said it was examining the report's findings and how they would be used by NHS boards. She added: "The report is based on evidence of what actions can be taken to help improve mental health in the early years of a child's life, with the aim of helping them achieve their full potential for the future.

"It states that good infant mental health can be achieved through a combination of promotion, prevention, care, treatment and support, and highlights the importance of supporting parents, especially those in greatest need.

"We are aiming to do this and we recently published a delivery plan with timescales which includes work to improve children's mental health services."

Constant closeness or crying out? Experts split over methods

THE guidance on bonding with babies has sparked huge controversy among parents and health professionals.

While most agree bonding is fundamental to wellbeing, there is huge disagreement over how best it should be done. Some promote attachment parenting, which includes the regular use of slings and can extend to co-sleeping. Others, such as the controversial childcare expert Gina Ford, advocate a strict routine. Some even question the importance of bonding in the first place.

For mother-of-two Charis Hewitt, using a baby sling was convenient because it meant she could get on with things while keeping her baby comforted. Now, she says both her children are bright, happy and well-bonded.

"I used it in the house when making the dinner if the baby was crying, and didn't want to be put down. I would use it forever if I could."

Dr Christine Puckering, chair of the working group on mental health, which has written the guidelines for Scots parents, believes the attachment played a vital role.

She said: "These things are simple, it's not rocket science. Your face is the most important thing that the baby can see. Babies are pretty useless when they are born and they depend on engaging the interest of someone who will look after them."

While some parents are happy to hold their babies virtually all the time, it is not always possible, such as the middle of the night. Those with severe disabilities might also struggle.

Leaving a baby to cry it out is a technique that proponents of attachment parenting would frown on, but is used successfully by many families at the end of their tether. And though it might seem like common sense to hold a newborn baby close all the time, there are even doubts about that.