Baby sling
A Baby Sling is a soft cloth used in a such a way to help support the weight of a baby or small child while the child is being carried by someone. Those who use slings are said to be practicing what is called 'babywearing'; one of the principles of attachment parenting. Slings come in all sizes and styles.
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Slings with Rings
These are slings, which utilize dynamic tension, a length of cloth and metal or nylon rings. One end of the cloth if sewn to two rings, while the other end is threaded through the rings. The wearer slips this over her head and one shoulder, creating a 'pocket' to hold baby in. While wearing the sling, it can be adjusted by pulling more or less fabric through the rings. Learning to use this sling is easy to moderately difficult. Wearing Instructions
Pocket or Tube Slings
These are slings without rings, that the wearer can not adjust. It is a wide piece of fabric sewn into a tubular shape. The wearer slips it over her head and one shoulder, creating a pocket to hold baby in. It is important to size this style of sling correctly, as it can not be adjusted. The learning curve of wearing a tube sling is easy. Wearing Instructions
Wrap and Tie Around Slings
These slings are neither sewn together or have rings. They are medium and long lengths of fabric, which are tied or wrapped around baby and wearing then tied. These slings offer the most adjustability, but have a more difficult learning curve. Wearing Instructions
Other Types of Slings
There are other varieties of baby slings. Some consist of nothing more than a large rectangle of fabric like a Kanga, while some like the podaegi have straps the wearer fastens. Most slings are easy to make out of old sheets or bolts of cloth. A long woman's scarf can be used as a sling similar to a Rebozo sling used by women in Mexico and South America.
Practicality and Use
Slings allow the wearing to have two free hands to accomplish task such as laundry or cooking while caring for baby's need to be held or breastfed. A sling offers a safe alternative to dangerously balancing a car seat on top of a shopping cart. They also allow children to be part of the action and to see the world from a better view. Babies and children will enjoy getting to see the zoo and other places of interest from up high and not down on the ground in a stroller or car seat.
Not only is a sling good for social development for children, ease back and shoulder pain from carrying a car seat around, make household chores easier, a sling can also be a stylish statement. They come in many different designs and colors to match any wardrobe! They also are available in many different types of material; anything from silk, hemp, cotton to wool, fleece, and flax/linen.
Using a sling at first, can be mildly difficult to get the hang of, but once you learn, you will never forget. You won't want to be anywhere without your sling. There are hundreds of resources that show you how to use a sling, most of which you can find online. Some parenting groups even have workshops demonstrating how to use slings.
External Links
Wearing Instructions and Purchasing
More Wearing Instructions and Sewing Instructions
Categories: Infancy