You can now see a mother with a baby “wound” to herself at least somewhere: both in the capital and in a small town. Sometimes one can still find the opinion that this way of carrying a child is a harmful modern trend. The debate about which is better: a stroller or a sling, will probably never end. However, historically, the tradition of carrying a child in a special dressing band appeared much earlier than rolling in a wheelchair.
Contrary to all kinds of criticism, carrying a baby on itself is physiological and safe, therefore it is suitable even for newborn crumbs. True, not all postures and means for carrying are suitable for babies. Read more about what slings are and what are the features of carrying for newborns, read below.
Why does mom need a sling?
The question is reasonable, because the strollers are so thoroughly entered into our lives that the baby in her mother’s arms is already perceived as something exotic and strange. Nevertheless, the sling has a lot of pluses, and all of them are quite weighty for both mom and baby.
- Mom with a sling is much more mobile than a mom with a stroller. She is not afraid of the steps and the lack of a ramp, narrow doorways and heavy doors. Even unaccompanied public transport trips become available when you opt for sling.
- Sling frees mom's hands: it seems that the baby is with her mother, and the mother has both hands free, she can easily pay at the cash register in the store, lead the eldest child by the handle, hold the bag.
- Sling is convenient not only for a walk, but also at home. Many mothers successfully cope with all the household chores with a baby on themselves: they wash the dishes and the floor, cook, hang laundry. At the same time, the baby does not need to scream heart-rendingly in the crib, urging adults. In the hands of his mother, he is included in household chores and is always up to date with what is happening around, and this is interesting and informative for the baby.
- The children themselves, most of the time in bodily contact with their mother, are calmer and more balanced, they sleep better and give parents much less trouble than babies who are separated from their mother by the side of the crib or stroller and who are constantly worried about this.
- In a sling, it’s very convenient to breastfeed the baby, and you can do it anywhere almost on the go.
Baby slings
There are a lot of various transfers for babies, but not every one of them can be called a sling, since this word itself means a fabric bandage without any fasteners. So, for example, “kangaroos” and ergo-backpacks are not slings, although in the understanding of the average mother, these carriers also refer to slings.Hipsit is also not a sling (a carrier that is mounted on the reeds of an adult and allows you to wear older babies on the thigh in a sitting position). Namely slings are 3 types of carrying for babies, and all of them are suitable for carrying children from birth:
- Sling with rings;
- Sling scarf;
- May Sling.
Each type of sling has its own characteristics: putting on, fixing, the position of the child, the load on the mother - all this is very different. As a result, the same sling can be convenient for some purposes, and completely not convenient for others.
Sling with rings
Design:
The fabric is almost 2 meters long, 60-70 cm wide. Metal rings are attached to the strip of fabric from one end, the other end is free. The free end is threaded through the rings and fixed by them, as a result of which the sling takes the form of a closed circle. A sling with rings over his shoulder is put on, forming a “hammock” for the baby in front.
pros
- Sling with rings is very primitive to use, even a beginner Sling-mother will master it.
- It is convenient in hot weather, since it does not imply a tight winding with several layers of fabric.
- Easily adjustable, allowing you to change the position of the child.
- It allows you to get and shift the baby, without disturbing him: it’s enough for mom to loosen the rings and “emerge” from the sling.
Minuses
In a sling with rings, the load on the shoulders and back of the mother is unevenly distributed. Of course, shoulders should be regularly alternated, but even in this case, walking in a sling with rings for more than 2 hours in a row is not recommended.
How to choose a sling with rings:
- Rings are a very important element of the sling. They should be metal and large enough (about 10 cm in diameter). Only with this combination the fabric glides well between them, making it easy to adjust the position, and is firmly fixed.
- For a newborn baby, it is better to choose a sling made of 100% cotton. The fabric should not be too flexible so as not to stretch under the weight of the baby and well fixed the position of the baby. In addition, the fabric should not be too slippery. The best option for a newborn baby is calico or waffle fabric.
- For newborn babies, it is better to use a sling with foam sides: they better support the head.
Where and when convenient:
Great for use at home and outdoors, as it is very easy to remove, put on and adjust, but for short-term wear. The limitation is due to uneven load distribution.
Video instruction for sling with rings:
Sling scarf
Design:
A sling-scarf is a fabric from 3 to 6 meters long and 45-70 cm wide. There are many options for winding a scarf, so that a child can be worn from birth to 2-3 years old in different positions, including behind the back, on the hip . A newborn baby in a sling scarf can be worn both in the cradle position and vertically in the embryo pose.
pros
- The technology of winding a sling scarf is such that Mom’s back does not suffer from uneven loading.
- The scarf design allows you to use different options for winding, and, accordingly, wear the baby in different positions.
- A sling-scarf fixes the baby better and supports a fragile spine, therefore for the child himself being in a scarf is more useful and physiological.
Minuses
- For safe use, a sling scarf requires certain skills. A video with examples of scarf winding can be found on the Internet, but mom will have to spend some time and effort to master all the wisdom and be able to bandage the scarf even without a mirror and cheat sheets.
- Due to the design features, the sling scarf is not so easy to dress in the “field” conditions. If you do this on the street - the ends of the scarf will touch the ground and get dirty.
- In hot weather, a sling scarf is not very convenient due to the multi-layering of the winding.
How to choose a sling scarf:
- Success in the development and use of a sling scarf is 100% dependent on its material. In particular, from weaving threads and elasticity. By composition, the best option for newborns will be 100% cotton. The fabric should stretch in the transverse and diagonal direction.In this case, the sling-scarf fits the baby's body well and distributes the pressure on the mother’s back correctly.
- The width of the scarf depends on its elasticity. The better the fabric stretches, the smaller the width is acceptable. So, a sling scarf made of elastic fabrics can be 50-60 cm wide, and of non-elastic ones up to 70 cm.
- If the manufacturer produces scarves of different sizes, it is better to use a dimensional card. The maximum length of the scarf is 6 m, but at 42-44 there are many sizes of this length, the ends of the scarf will have to be wound around the waist, creating extra layers.
Where and when convenient:
After the sling-scarf is fully mastered, it is convenient both at home and on the street. There is no time limit for carrying a baby in a sling scarf, there are no restrictions for mom, so a sling scarf is the most convenient option for a baby sling.
Video instruction for winding a sling scarf:
May Sling
Design:
The May Sling is similar in design to an ergo backpack, but thanks to the long straps and the absence of a frame, it is more physiological. In fact, it is a square or rectangle with long straps extending in all 4 directions. The two lower straps are wound around the mother’s waist, and the upper ones pass through the shoulders, cross on the back, and are also fixed on the waist. A newborn baby is in a May-Sling with tight legs, in an embryo pose.
pros
- It is easy and easy to put on; mastering a May Sling is much faster than a Sling Scarf.
- Aesthetically and neatly looks, does not imply many layers.
- In May-Sling, the load on the mother's muscles lays evenly.
Minuses
- A newborn baby may be in the May-Sling only in an upright position. The pose in which the baby is on the mother is generally safe, but not always convenient for the mother and child. It is impossible to shift the baby into the cradle pose in May Sling.
- Compared to a sling scarf, the May Sling straps are thinner and can be inconvenient when bumping into the shoulders.
How to choose a May Sling:
- Be sure to pay attention to the width of the straps. The wider the straps, the more comfortable it will be to wear a May-sling. It is better if the straps are padded with padding polyester. In any case, the width of the straps should be at least 14 cm. In addition, thin straps can cut into the shoulders, they twist and interfere with normal tying.
- The requirements for the May Sling fabric are not so high. The fabric should be durable and not stretchable. It is quite possible the presence of synthetics in the composition, if the crumbs on it are not allergic.
Where and when convenient:
For newborn babies, May Sling is convenient “on the way out”: going to visit, a clinic, a short walk. Basically, this type of sling is recommended for children older than 4 months.
Video instruction for May Sling:
Inveterate Sling Moms believe that ideally it is better to have slings for all occasions, because different types of carryings are convenient for different situations. Moreover, such mothers have slings of different colors for their entire wardrobe. It turns out that a sling is not only a device for carrying a child on itself, but also an element of the image of a modern young mother.
Sling Backpack and Fast Sling
In addition to the actual slings, there are other types of carryings for children: the so-called sling backpack and fast-sling. As it was written earlier, these devices are not inherently slings, because a sling is just a fabric bandage, and both of these transfers have frame elements, fasteners, etc. However, modern mothers use the word “sling” for any type of transfers.
That in a sling-backpack, that in a fast-sling a child can only be in a sitting position with legs apart. That is why both carry are not recommended for children under 4 months. The minimum requirement is that the child must confidently hold the head and be able to lift it while lying on his stomach, that is, the neck muscles must be developed (See the article on when the child begins to hold his head) It is better if the baby not only holds the head, but sits independently (See the article on when the baby begins to sit)The fact is that the back support in both carriers is regulated by the tension of the slings and it is rare for any mother to set the correct tension. You can tighten the slings too tight or, conversely, loosely. Improper sling tension loads the baby's spine inadequately to its physical capabilities. All this dangerously affects the formation of vertebral bends and, at an older age, can manifest itself by curvature of the spine.
Ergo backpack, or sling backpack
Design:
Wide, tight straps that can be placed on the back both parallel to each other and crosswise. Backrest with headrest, tucks, rollers. A wide padded belt, wrapping around mom's waist and hips. It is clasped on plastic fasteks, there is an opportunity to regulate a back tension.
pros
- It divides the load between the back and hips, so that the mother does not have to bend under the weight of the baby.
- Allows you to carry your child face to face, behind your back and on your hip.
- It is easy to unfasten and fasten, so there will be no problems with sitting and taking out the child.
- Suitable even for children 2-3 years old.
Minuses
- Sufficiently voluminous compared to carrying other types and designs.
- Due to the presence of the frame and dense fabric in the summer it can be hot.
How to choose:
When choosing a sling-backpack, it is mainly worth focusing on the manufacturer's recommendations and the parameters of the child. All manufacturers indicate the recommended height, weight, age of the baby.
Where and when convenient:
Due to its design, the ergo-backpack is suitable for long-term carrying of a child, and it is perfect for older children.
Video instructions for use ergoryukzak:
Fast sling
Design:
It is very similar to May-Sling, but it is fixed in a different way: May-Sling has long straps and a belt that are tied to a regular knot for fixing, fast-sling has short straps and a belt that are fastened with fastexes.
pros
- Very easy to use: in a fast-sling, it is easy to seat and remove a baby.
- Lightweight and takes up little space, it is better ventilated, so it is more comfortable to carry a child in it in hot weather.
Minuses
- The possibilities of carrying the child (only facing him) and adjusting the position of the straps (only crosswise) are limited.
- Due to the narrow belt, the entire load falls on the back, so it is not recommended to carry the child in fast-sling for a long time.
How to choose:
When choosing a fast sling, it is important to pay attention to the strength of all the fasteners. The straps and the belt must be laid padding pad. By the way, fast-sling can be sewn to order, and skilled craftswomen will master the manufacturing themselves.
Where and when convenient:
Best used for not too heavy kids. Great for summer. Continuous wearing time is also better to limit so as not to provoke back problems.
Video instruction for the use of Fast Sling:
Read on:
- There is one more type of carrying - these are carrying bags. kangaroo
- How to choose a stroller for a newborn baby
You can also look into our section of online stores and look for slings, carryings and backpacks in other online stores - https://kid.htgetrid.com/en/veshhi-dlya-malyisha/luchshie-detskie-internet-magazinyi.
We have prepared an article for you on how to make a sling scarf and a sling with rings with your own hands - check out
Immediately after the birth of the second child, the question arose of buying a sling. He got up sharply, since my children have weather: I had to walk and do things around the house. I chose a sling with rings. Why? Quickly adjustable, removed and put on. He served us for 9 months!
I used a scarf sling and a variant with rings. It was convenient to use them. The main thing is to learn how to wear them correctly. The child was not capricious, being in a sling. And my hands are free. Of course, you should not get carried away with these devices. But as an alternative to a stroller or carrying such devices have a place to be.
Perhaps this is really convenient, because many use it. Yes, and slings clearly appeared much earlier than strollers; in Africa, won’t use strollers at all. I was afraid to try when the baby was small, but in vain.
Good day to all! Our baby was tiny, wore it in a sling ... It’s so convenient, for example, to do household chores, hands free or go shopping, picking up products in your cart.
In general, sling is a great thing. He also helped me in due time. I had a May Sling, as we purchased it when the baby was 7 months old. There are definitely more pluses than minuses. The main thing is to get comfortable!