For a long time

By holding and carrying her infant, by the closeness of her body, the mother provides the body movements that the baby has been used to in the womb. By staying close to her infant, the mother can make the change from life inside her body to life outside her body easier for the baby. Although our culture does not seem to think so, gestation does not end with birth.

Some experts say that the human infant takes 21 months to develop. Nine months in the mother's womb followed by 12 months outside the womb. In fact, as we know, the human baby is totally dependent on others for survival for much longer than that. As we have also learned, the baby's brain is developing at a very rapid rate for a long time after birth.