Why you may want to carry a baby in a sling and how to do it safely.
There are a vast number of benefits to carrying a baby or child in a carrier or sling. Whilst ‘babywearing’ continues to grow in popularity in western cultures it has long been common place throughout the rest of the world safely and effectively.
If you have a newborn baby the benefits are even more apparent – close physical contact is important for newborns and often demanded by them! Wearing a sling helps provide this but in a way that allows you to also have your hands free for shopping, playing, eating or simply to relieve the arm ache. A sling can also help with babies that require frequent soothing for example those with colic or reflux. Similarly carrying a baby in a sling can reduce their levels of stress and provide much needed security and attachment.
Many people also take to wearing slings to get around easier, as pushing a pram or pushchair isn’t always very easy for example in crowded places, ‘off road’ places for hiking or walking or even on public transport.
It doesn’t end there - toddlers and older children can also benefit from being carried. It provides an easy way to comfort or support a child both at home and out and about. Toddlers particularly often like to demonstrate their new found independence but tire quickly and a sling is much easier to have with you ‘just in case’ than a pushchair. Similarly a sling can also be useful when a child wants to walk but can’t manage the whole journey or it is not safe for them to do so.
If you have a newborn baby the benefits are even more apparent – close physical contact is important for newborns and often demanded by them! Wearing a sling helps provide this but in a way that allows you to also have your hands free for shopping, playing, eating or simply to relieve the arm ache. A sling can also help with babies that require frequent soothing for example those with colic or reflux. Similarly carrying a baby in a sling can reduce their levels of stress and provide much needed security and attachment.
Many people also take to wearing slings to get around easier, as pushing a pram or pushchair isn’t always very easy for example in crowded places, ‘off road’ places for hiking or walking or even on public transport.
It doesn’t end there - toddlers and older children can also benefit from being carried. It provides an easy way to comfort or support a child both at home and out and about. Toddlers particularly often like to demonstrate their new found independence but tire quickly and a sling is much easier to have with you ‘just in case’ than a pushchair. Similarly a sling can also be useful when a child wants to walk but can’t manage the whole journey or it is not safe for them to do so.
Sling Safety
Carrying your baby or toddler in a sling is safe but as with all baby equipment it is important that they are used correctly and appropriately, including reading and understanding the individual instructions that come with different carriers.
We recommend the TICKS checklist below, developed and used with permission by the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers.
We recommend the TICKS checklist below, developed and used with permission by the Consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers.