If you are new to babywearing, a sling is the perfect place to start. Slings are easy to use and work well for most parents and babies.
The fabric goes over one shoulder and around the hip. Baby rides in folds of fabric close to the body in a variety of positions, front, side and back. Slings can accommodate newborns to toddlers up to 35 lbs. Change positions while baby is still in sling, no need to reload. Most slings are 100% cotton, machine washable, but specialty fabrics, such as silk and solar veil exist. Slings are easy to put on and take off. You may breastfeed easily and discreetly in a sling.
Slings can be adjusted with rings or simply tied at the shoulder. Adjustable slings are great because different people can wear the same sling. Also, you can loosen or tighten the sling while baby is in the sling – a feature that is great for breastfeeding moms – simply loosen for more space to nurse bigger babies.
Slings come in padded and unpadded varieties. The padding is on the shoulder and/or rails. A well-adjusted unpadded sling is every bit as comfortable as a padded sling, so padding is just a matter of personal taste.
Many unpadded slings have an open tail that can be used for, among other things, a cover-up for discreet nursing or to block the sun.
Pouches are tube-shaped fixed slings that are very easy to use. Pouches can’t be beat for the in/out convenience, but it is difficult to do a vertical hold with a pouch.
Adjustable pouches are a nice mix of the features of a ring sling with the compactness of a pouch.
Hybrid pouches feature a sewn in pouch with a ring sling for adjustability.
Hip slings are exclusive hip carriers, suitable for babies with good head control, usually around four months. |
