| By 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 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 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.
About the Author
Linda is an inspired author of the Baby
Strollers Guide and the Baby
Products Guide she is a mother of two
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