The tradition of carrying children by tying them to the mother's body with fabric has existed since ancient times. Scientists' research has shown that this is beneficial for the normal development of the child. Therefore, since the end of the 20th century, the whole world has been actively using a sling for newborns - a piece of fabric with which the baby is tied to oneself. Many women have realized how convenient it is, since the device frees up their hands and allows them to remain mobile without losing contact with the child. Unlike other carriers, a sling is safe and provides a physiologically correct position. The main thing is to learn how to choose and use it.
Purpose
A newborn baby needs contact with its mother. It has been noted that babies who are picked up more often are calmer, cry less, and experience colic less often. But a mother cannot carry her baby all the time, she needs to do things, and her hands get tired. A sling will help in this case - a strip of fabric with which the baby is tied to the mother's body. It replaces her hands, providing physical contact. And it gives the mother the opportunity to rest and do necessary things.
The sling design was based on the devices for carrying babies that have been used for a long time by the peoples of Asia and Africa. They were improved taking into account the convenience for the mother and the physiological position of the child. Now the sling is a reliable assistant for many women, making it easier to care for the baby.
Modern mothers have no doubts about the benefits of this device, realizing that the thing is needed both for them and for the baby. Useful qualities of the sling:
- provides mobility: you can take your child with you without having to worry about stairs, heavy doors or narrow openings that are an obstacle for strollers;
- a woman can do necessary things without losing contact with the baby;
- the sling is versatile and compact, you can easily take it with you;
- the baby gets the opportunity to actively explore the world and develop properly;
- This device ensures the physiologically correct position of the baby, improving his sleep;
- close contact with the mother gives the baby peace of mind;
- It is comfortable for breastfeeding.
In order for such a device to benefit not only the mother but also the baby, it is important to choose those models that are designed specifically for newborns.
What sling models are suitable from birth
When choosing a sling for a newborn, you need to take into account the peculiarities of his physiology. The baby's spine does not yet have natural curves and is bent into an arc. Therefore, the most comfortable position for him is the fetal position with bent and raised legs. In addition, after birth, the baby cannot yet hold his head. When he is picked up, the bent elbow provides support for the back and head.
The correct sling should help maintain a physiological position. The baby is pressed against the mother's body with its stomach and its legs spread apart. In this position, thermoregulation improves and digestion is facilitated. Therefore, carriers with a hard back or bags are not suitable for newborns. They do not provide the correct position of the spine and cannot support the head. And soft carriers-bags often lead to the baby's chin being pressed against the chest. This makes it difficult for the baby to breathe.
Every mother should know which sling is best for her baby. Up to about 3-4 months, it is recommended to use only fabric devices in the form of a scarf, rings or an ergonomic backpack.
With rings
A simple design of a carrier is a ring sling. Its peculiarity is that it is thrown over one shoulder, then threaded through and secured in a special way through the rings. As a result, a comfortable cradle for the baby is formed in front and slightly to the side.
Many mothers note that this is the most comfortable sling. It has many advantages:
- it can be put on quickly;
- maintains the physiological position of the baby;
- allows you to carry your baby horizontally or vertically;
- easy to adjust;
- convenient in summer, as it is made of light fabrics and does not wrap around the body;
- can be used without having to learn complex windings.
But such a device is not without its drawbacks. First of all, it is worn on one shoulder, so the mother experiences a lot of strain on her back, which is why the sling is not suitable for long-term wearing. In addition, it is important to know how to choose it correctly. The carrier should be made of thin cotton fabric so that it does not slip, and the rings should be metal. Then the baby's stay in the sling will be safe.
Scarf
A scarf is another simple and convenient sling from birth. It is universal, as the baby can be tied in front, on the back and even on the side, placed in a horizontal or vertical position. This sling is a strip of fabric from 3 to 6 meters long, with which the baby is tied to the mother's body in a special way. It ensures the correct position of the spine, supports the head and allows the legs to be spread apart. The scarf is also convenient for mom: it evenly distributes the load on both shoulders and the lower back.
You can carry your baby in this sling from birth.
The disadvantages of such a device include a large variety, which is why some mothers are confused, not knowing what to choose. The main thing here is that the fabric is natural and elastic, but does not stretch too much. Many women also face difficulties in mastering the technique of winding a sling-scarf. In addition, it is difficult to quickly take the child out of it, especially outside.
Hybrid Ergo Backpack
Some mothers prefer a more understandable form of carrying, so they choose backpacks, because they are easy to use, you can quickly unzip and take out the baby. But most backpack models are not suitable for newborns, since the rigid frame does not provide the spine with the correct position. There is a variety with an insert in the form of a mattress on which the baby can lie, but this design looks bulky and is very hot.
Experts do not recommend using backpacks until the age of 4-5 months, since its shape, even with inserts, is unnatural for the baby.
Therefore, manufacturers began to produce hybrid ergo-backpacks made of soft fabric. Their main feature is the ability to adjust the width and height of the back. This ensures the physiological position of the baby's spine. Having placed him in such a backpack and adjusted the straps, you need to pay attention to several points:
- the baby's knees are raised above the pelvis and supported by the edges of the backpack;
- there is no bubble under the butt, the back is evenly stretched and has no folds;
- the straps are tightened evenly, but not too tightly;
- the child's back does not bend in the lower back;
- It is located symmetrically.
Sling wearing experts believe that such a device must be tried on; it must “fit” the body of both the mother and the baby.
What position to carry babies in
The purpose of the sling is to provide a comfortable, physiologically correct position for the baby in the mother’s arms. Therefore, it is recommended to carry the newborn in front, facing the woman's body. It is important to pay attention to the natural position of the newborn. This is an arched back, spread legs, and a lowered pelvis.
For the correct development of the baby's hip joints, it is important that the knees are higher than the bottom. From behind, his posture should repeat the letter "m". There is no need to make him hug his mother with his legs, the knees can rest against the stomach. Therefore, it can be moved away from the body a little.
Immediately after birth, when there is natural muscle tone, the legs can be hidden in a sling. After the tone disappears, the baby should be carried with the legs outward. In this case, the edges of the carrier should rest against the area under the knees and support them. The fabric of the sling should fit tightly around the bottom and hips, without creating folds.
Experts do not recommend carrying a child in the usual baby carriers. In them, the legs hang down, and it turns out that the child sits, leaning on the crotch area. Therefore, such carriers are not recommended at any age.
Models for infants
For infants from the first month of life, you can use another type of sling - an adjustable sling-shirt. This simple design is easy to put on and provides proper support for the baby's spine. And the wide straps relieve the load from the mother's back. The sling-shirt holds the baby in the "frog" position, which is most comfortable for him.
In addition to soft fabric slings, there are several more complex models. But due to the impossibility of creating a physiologically correct position for the spine, they are recommended for use for children over 3 months old, when they can hold their heads up.
A Mei Tai is also a fabric carrier. But it is a square of fabric with straps sewn on at four corners. This device is easy to put on, and the baby maintains a physiological position in it. A Mei Tai is also convenient for the mother, since the load on the shoulders is distributed evenly. But it is impossible to carry a baby lying down in it, so it is recommended to use it from 3-4 months.
The peculiarity of using a mei tai is that you need to choose a sufficient width of the back to ensure the correct position of the baby's legs, there should be a collar or hood to support the head. When tying the straps on the back, there should be no knots that create unnecessary stress on the spine.
A fast sling is a type of mei tai in which the straps are not tied, but fastened with special clasps. The straps cross on the mother's back and are then fixed on the back of the carrier. This allows you to quickly unfasten it and take the baby out.
For children over 5 months, you can use ergonomic backpacks. Unlike the common "kangaroos", they have a wide slim belt that is fixed on the mother's lower back, and a soft back that can be adjusted. It can be adjusted to the baby's size in width and height. In such a backpack, he sits in the correct position, with raised knees and lowered bottom.
Materials for real slings
The best baby slings are made from a special fabric. They are woven using a special technology specifically for babywearing. In addition to being natural and using environmentally friendly paints, they differ in the method of interweaving the threads. Several types of sling fabrics are distinguished by this property.
- The double diagonal weave of the threads provides diagonal elasticity and moderate sliding. Thanks to this, such slings are easy to wind and adjust, they do not stretch over time and will not sag under the weight of the child.
- The diamond weave of the threads creates barely noticeable diamonds on the surface of the fabric. This gives the sling tenacity, so it is well secured. This fabric is especially convenient for a ring sling.
- Jacquard weave fabrics are quite thin and stretchy. But they provide reliable winding and no slipping. Such slings look beautiful, but are more expensive, and with single-layer windings they can sag under the weight of the child.
- Satin weave fabrics are durable, wear-resistant, and slide well. They stretch unevenly, so it is recommended to use them for older children. Many mothers like these slings for their bright colors.
- Knitted slings or knitted scarves are less common. They are quite hot, quickly lose their shape and stretch a lot. They are recommended for premature babies with low weight.
When choosing fabric, you need to consider the model of the carrier, as well as the time of year.
Tips for choosing
Mothers who decide to find a good product are faced with the question of how to choose a sling for a newborn correctly. Experts recommend buying a scarf or a ring sling for babies. When choosing, you need to look for quality certificates and try to purchase products from well-known European manufacturers. They sew such carriers not only in compliance with all physiological requirements, but also use special fabrics. Slings from Russian manufacturers are often made from ordinary materials that may not stretch properly, tie well, or not provide the baby with the right support.
For convenience, scarves are available in several sizes. They differ in the length of the fabric - from 2 to 5 meters. The most common are scarves 4.2, 4.6 and 5.2 m long. The choice of size depends on the mother's fullness and the method of winding. Sometimes short scarves are also used - from 2.7 to 4 m. They are more convenient to take with you, easier to wind, but most often they are used for children over one year old.
It is necessary to check that the sling rings are metal, as plastic ones can break, and the fabric will slide on them. For more complex models, it is necessary to check the possibility of adjustment. After all, the carrier should be comfortable not only for the mother, but also for the child. If there are plastic latches, it is important that they cannot unfasten themselves. And all fasteners and knots should not be located on the baby's back.
Top producers
Mothers who are going to actively use a sling often start choosing such carriers even before the baby is born. By studying the reviews and characteristics of common models, you can find out which sling is better. The most popular products are those of several European companies.
- Hoppediz makes scarves, ring slings and mei tais from eco-friendly cotton fabrics. They are soft, lightweight and ideal for newborns. The scarves have diagonally cut ends, making them easy to tie. And the mei tais are soft and adjustable.
- Luna Dream makes scarves, mei-tais, adjustable sling-shirts. Only natural fabrics are used. They are elastic, soft and provide support for the baby's back. And the original bright colors can make the carrier an interesting decoration for the mother.
- Neobulle slings are soft and come in a wide range of colors. They provide proper support for the baby's spine and are suitable for children of any age.
- In addition to fabric baby carriers, Manduca produces ergonomic backpacks, which, thanks to their softness and wide back, are suitable for children from birth.
These are the leading brands producing slings for newborns. If someone finds them unaffordable, you can pay attention to other manufacturers: Boba, Ellevill, Diva, Selby, Kengurusha, Amama.
The danger of pseudo-slings
In addition to the common models of baby carriers, pseudo-slings are often available for sale. Some mothers buy them without suspecting that they are dangerous for the child's health.
- The sling bag is worn on one shoulder. It has a flat bottom and sides that tighten. The baby is placed in it lying down. The danger of such a carrier is that he can suffocate, since his head is completely immersed in the bag. In addition, it does not provide proper support for the spine.
- Non-adjustable sling-shirts seem convenient because there is no need to wind or fasten anything. The baby fits into a pocket on the front of the mother's clothes. The lack of ability to adjust the tension of the fabric leads to the fact that the baby is uncomfortable, he can even fall out of such a pocket.
- A hip-seat is a carrier that is a voluminous belt that is put on the mother's lower back. The baby is placed on it. Such a device may only be suitable for short-term carrying of a walking child. It is not suitable for newborns at all, even if it has back support and straps.
- The common "kangaroo" backpacks are uncomfortable for the mother and can be dangerous for the baby. The entire weight of the baby falls on the groin area, the legs hang down, and the normal position of the spine is not ensured.
- You can find ergonomic backpacks made in China on sale. These are pseudo-slings, which are not useful for babies. In such carriers, due to the hard back, the child is in an uncomfortable position.
A sling for newborns is a very convenient device. If chosen correctly, it will make life easier for a woman and create comfortable conditions for the baby next to the mother.
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