A baby sling is a device used to carry a baby close to his parent. It keeps the parent's hands free for other duties while aiding in the bonding process. The baby sling also enables nursing moms to breast feed while going about other business. Using a baby sling, or "baby wearing" as its proponents refer to it, is most common among parents who practice "attachment parenting," a form of child rearing advocating co-sleeping and extended breast feeding.
Most baby slings are very simple. They're not much more than a long piece of material, sewn or otherwise fastened together to form a circle. The baby sling slips over Mom's head and hangs on one shoulder. The opposite side of the circle creates a pouch which can comfortably and securely hold a small child.
There are several types of baby slings:
The ring sling uses rings and dynamic tension to keep baby safe and secure. This baby sling is adjustable.
The pocket sling, also known as a tube sling, is a single piece of cloth sewn together to form a pocket in which baby can lie or sit. This type of baby sling is made of a single piece of fabric and cannot be adjusted.
The wrap around sling is a single long piece of material that can be tied together at the ends to form a pouch for the baby. This sling can be adjusted for length and comfort.
The kanga takes a bit more maneuvering. The kanga involves a single piece of material worn over the shoulder and knotted in the front so the pocket — and baby — are worn on the back.
Advocates of the baby sling claim many benefits of baby wearing. Carrying a baby close helps with the bonding process and makes for less crying and colic. Parent's hands are kept free for household chores and parents are able to spend more time interacting with their older children. There are also those who claim that wearing a baby for three hours a day can lead to constant back pain, a clingy child, and jealous older siblings.
As with most methods of child rearing, a baby sling isn't for everyone. If baby wearing interests you, do some further research online or at the library to see if it's for you. The most important thing is that your baby be secure and comfortable.
Content Source: WiseGeek
The baby has arrived and mom and dad are looking for the perfect baby carrier. A baby carrier can be many things. It can be the “punkin seat” or cradle-like seat with a handle, often used as a first car seat, and as a portable crib. A baby carrier may also be a sling-like device that helps keep the baby close to the parent’s chest, while leaving the hands free.
Most hospitals in the United States will not allow parents to take a baby home without an approved car seat already in the car. This seat may be a grow-with-the child type of seat that has extra padding for the baby’s head, or it may be a baby carrier/punkin seat style.
Many parenting books and parenting experts recommend new parents buy a sling type baby carrier. They feel a newborn is most relaxed and happiest when snuggled up to mom and able to hear her heartbeat. These fabric baby carriers support the baby’s head and allow mom to snuggle her newborn and still attend to many daily activities.
The “attachment parenting” school of thought, in fact, recommends the parents keep the baby in the baby carrier, next to the body, for a good portion of the day. This philosophy says the baby will be happier, more secure, and less prone to stress and anxiety disorders late in life by being “worn” most of the time, as children in many Asian and Eastern cultures are.
The baby carrier may be made to be worn with the baby facing the mother, facing outward — popular with very active babies — or worn on the mother’s back, like a papoose. Older children are most often put in the back baby carrier, while the sling facing the mom or dad is the most popular for infants.
Many different kinds of baby carriers are available in stores and online. They range in price from $50 to $150 U.S. Dollars (USD), and may be even more expensive, depending on brand and features. A sling type baby carrier allows both parents to bond with and care for their baby effectively and safely.
Content Source: Wisegeek
