It’s the first thing I put on in the morning and the last thing I take off before my baby goes to sleep.  It’s my baby sling of course!

Before I had children, I walked through Chinatown on my way to the gym to work every day.  The sidewalks were crowded and narrow.  I never saw a stroller.  I did see mothers carrying their children wrapped to their bodies.  Most times the babies or toddlers were sleeping or quietly alert.  Every mother had their child wrapped differently to their body.  Some were piggyback style, some smaller ones held to their chest.  I noticed one thing.  Mothers were going about their business sidewalk shopping, chatting or walking along with quiet children.  None of the babies were crying.  I knew I wanted to find out about these wraps, once I started a family.

Well, my son Colin came along and wanted to be in arms most, if not all of the time.  My husband and I happily obliged, but our backs were giving out.  One day, my husband emailed me about a woman at work he knew who suggested a baby sling.  What’s that? I emailed her.  She told me where to buy one.  I drove to a mother’s home.  She had four children and hardly a moment to show me how to tuck Colin in there.  I left there frustrated but determined.  I called another woman in Andover.  We went over on a hot, muggy day in August.  He was about 6 weeks old at the time.  After “manhandling” him for about 30 minutes trying to figure this thing out, I left with him screaming in tears.

This wasn’t as easy as I thought.  I still needed personal instruction.

I went to a “new mom coffee”.  I saw a mom with her, then, 8 month old in a sling.  He was happy and so was she.  I walked right over, and to my delight she invited me to her home to practice using the sling with Colin.  That was 4 years ago, and she is still my friend.  She birthed our daughters on the same day this past spring, and my sling has been my single-best mothering tool I could never do without.  It went to the hospital with me this time around.  That gave me a gift I wanted to pass onto other mothers who wanted to carry their children close.  I now enjoy helping other mothers figure out how to bond with their babies early on, easily and happily.

In case you’re wondering how much parents should carry their babies, parents have to put down their babies sometimes, a pediatrician quotes.  It’s important to take a balanced approach to babywearing.  This style of parenting means changing your mind-set regarding what babies are really like.  We think our babies will lie quietly in a crib, gazing passively at dangling mobiles, picked up to be fed and played with then put down again or that “up” periods are dutiful intervals to quiet a baby llng enough to put them down again.  When you have more than 1 child, you quickly know how much holding a baby really needs.

To understand baby “wearing” or holding in a sling, carry your baby much of the time, and put them down for longer nap times, night time and to attend to personal needs.  The amount of holding time naturally decreases as your baby increases in age and motor skills.  Even your toddler, may show occasional high-need periods when he or she wants to be picked up and worn.  My son at 2.5 still rode in the sling at clingy times.

Choose a baby carrier that is safe and can support and contain the baby.  A baby must be comfortable as well as the parents.  Select a carrier that is versatile and can change with your baby.  The traditional carriers don’t do this.  A sling-type carrier supports up to 35 pounds and has over 6 different “holds” with a 180 degree view of the world around baby to learn from.  Make it easy to use.  Practice.  You should be able to put baby down to sleep easily and safely without fumbling with snaps, buckles and clips.  One thing I hear from mothers is that they have to remove baby to feed or nurse.  You may bottle-feed or breastfeed in a sling-type carrier.  That is often the way my baby,  Erika, nurses down for her nap.  Once she’s asleep I place her, with the sling still around her onto her mattress, and slip it off over my head.  You can, also, discreetly nurse in a public place using the sling as shield to meet baby’s needs at those fussy, hungry times, when you just can’t get to a private place.

Here are some tips when using a baby sling:

While getting used to the sling, support baby with your hands as you go about your business until you become comfortable

When baby is a newborn roll up a cloth diaper or receiving blanket and tuck into sling for added support for added protection while you’re getting used to the sling

While carrying baby in forward-facing position, keep one hand on baby until you’re secure with this method

In the hip carry, be sure the padded top rail is pulled up high over baby’s back to prevent “the back dive”

Older babies like to squirm or even stand in the sling.  Support yours during this time.

Don’t wear baby while cooking.  If you must attend to the stove (as I honestly have many times) scoot sling around with one arm pushing baby toward hip and use other hand

Avoid sudden twisting, babies can fall when a mother turns to another child .

When bending over, bend at knees not at waist.  Great squatting exercises!

Toddlers can reach.  Keep an arm’s distance away from hazards and danger.

When going through doorways or around corners, protect baby’s head and body

Don’t drink hot beverages when wearing baby.  (I learned this the hard way when buying a coffee at a farm, and 9-month-old Colin plunged his little fist into the cup!)

Watch baby closely if bottlefeeding in the sling for spitting up in a bent position.

As I finish up this article, my husband is carrying Erika in the sling to keep her from fussing.  She immediately quieted down when he did this.  I started typing with her in the sling in my lap.  Babies will even start to smile and coo when the sling appears, and they know they’re going “up” with you.

Here are some reasons to try the sling:

It’s convenient for constantly nursing newborns, especially outside the house.  I also use mine as a blanket, and changing pad (throw it in the washer and dryer!)

It organizes and helps mother care for older siblings

It helps a slow-weight gaining baby, so they can nurse more frequently

It does away with the bulky, heavy car seat when grocery shopping or doing errands

It keeps baby from crying and fussing – let’s face it – that alone is a great reason.

As a footnote: When I finished this article I asked my 4-year old son “where’s Daddy and Erika”?, he returned to tell me “Erika’s asleep with Daddy in the sling”! 

If you would like more information on the baby sling, scientific studies, or help with one of your own, contact Lynne for a private lesson in the Boston, Massachusetts/North Shore  at your convenience.  Contact her at lkhater@comcast.net or onlinetraining.optimomfitness.com.