09 Mar 2008 03:49:55 | Linda Jenkinson
Baby slings are one of those things that have been in existence
for thousands of years but have only just recently made a
comeback in modern society. It's hard to imagine how previous
generations of mothers manage without something like baby sling
carriers to help them carry their babies.
There are several advantages to using a sling to carry your
baby in. First of all, baby is comforted by the presence of your
body. This has both a calming influence and creates more of a
bond between parent and child.
Fathers can particularly take advantage of sling carriers. With
these items hey get to participate more in the life of their new
baby. When carrying a baby in a sling, you become closely
attuned to her breathing rhythms and movements. This allows you
to anticipate your child's needs more fully.
There is evidence that the babies cognitive abilities develop
more rapidly when he is transported in a swing. One of the
reasons for this could be the reduced stress because of the
soothing effect of being close to the parent. Seen in this light
a sling or carrier is a 2-way street where both parent and child
will benefit.
Yet another big advantage of sling carriers is that they free
your hands and allow you to do other household tasks while
carrying your baby. You can look after older children and do
household chores while the new baby is safely tucked into the
sling.
You can adjust the position of the sling to make both you and
baby more comfortable. Baby can be placed on the hip, the belly,
or even on the back, but this requires some skill to get used to
doing safely.
Mothers can nurse their babies while they are in the sling,
providing both privacy and mobility -- the sling can be adjusted
so that baby can nurse on her own, leading Mom’s hands free to
do other things.
Slings are most often used with newborns, but they can also be
used for toddlers up to 35 pounds. Carrying around a big baby
like this can be tiresome, though, and most parents opt for a
stroller at that stage.
Some parents may find that sling carriers are not as
comfortable as other types of baby carriers. Parents with back
problems in particular may find a sling to increase their back
pain.
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