How to put on a sling? Basic principles of wearing a sling

2024 Author: Henry Conors | [email protected]. Last modified: 2024-02-12 02:44

A small child is the most vulnerable creature in the world, and he needs his mother's care. It can be uncomfortable to constantly carry the baby in her arms, as he gains weight over time, and the mother also needs free hands. This is why baby slings were invented. How to put it on, each woman decides for herself, since there are a lot of options. This is a really great device for transporting small children. Why is it less popular than strollers and baby carriers?

To be close to mom

Modern strollers, of course, are good, but they still share the baby with the closest person and teach them to be independent. It turns out that the newborn immediately spends most of the time alone. On the one hand, this is not so bad, since the character is being formed, but it can be alarming, because the baby is far from the mother. As assistants, you can take a sling for newborns. How to put it on - intuition will tell, but there is nothing complicated a priori. In fact, a sling is a large piece of fabric that a mother wraps around herself in various ways and uses it to carry her baby. The constant closeness of the mother gives a feeling of security, warmth and confidence, which is especially important in the first months of life.

Origin of the term

The very concept of "sling" comes from the English sling, which means "to hang on the shoulder." Agree, the word very accurately characterizes the visual picture. A similar method of transportation was offered to young parents by American pediatricians with many children William and Martha Serza, authors of a series of books on the principles of raising babies. Their main belief is based on the fact that close contact with the mother is vital for the newborn, which, of course, is facilitated by breastfeeding, co-sleeping, and carrying on the hands. For the latter, a sling scarf for newborns was invented. How you put it on doesn't matter. The main thing is that it is convenient for both mother and child. The Serzes have researched the ways of transporting children from different ethnic groups and managed to prove in practice the fact that it is the sling that gives the best result for the favorable development of the baby.

Anti-wheelchair revolution

In the 1970s, German Erica Hoffman refined the traditional Central American sling and came up with the so-called sling scarf. Further, the baton was picked up by the Ergo company inUnited States, which launched a series of physiological carrying bags. Slings became popular at the end of the twentieth century, but they did not become a trend, since all the peoples of the world have their own options for carrying children. For example, the Slavs used to wear babies in the hem. From here, by the way, came the famous phrase that a girl can “bring in a hem”. Vietnamese and Korean women wore children in an apron called "podegi". In China, the mai-tai (a thick square of fabric with straps) served as a carrier. In Africa it was kang, in South America it was rebozo, and the gypsies just used shawls.

Ethnic element of modernity

Let no one want to look rustic, but the ethnic style is still quite relevant. Therefore, city slingomams choose a fabric of original texture and unusual colors. Most often, high-quality organic cotton and double-diagonal linen are used. You can’t buy such a fabric in ordinary stores, but you can find jacquard weaving with natural additives of bamboo, silk, wool or other materials that are pleasant to the body. It is logical that synthetics are not used for slings.

How to put on a sling?

You can free your mother's hands with the help of not only a sling, but also the common "kangaroos". The difference between them lies in the way they are worn. In the sling, the child is in the same position as in the mother's arms. And in the "kangaroo" the child hangs, as in a pocket, and there is always a hard back and straps. In this position, a large load is created on the spine and pelvis. Therefore, fornewborn "kangaroo" is not good. A maximum of it can be recommended, starting from 3-4 months and up to 8-9. It turns out that in fact the “kangaroo” can be used for only 4-6 months. With a sling, everything is easier and more pleasant, as it is aimed at the convenience of mother and child. The fabric maintains the natural curve of the spine without excessive blood flow.

Varieties of slings

I must say that there are more than a dozen types, but for newborns, a sling scarf and a model with rings are ideal. Let's figure out how to put on a sling with rings. This piece of fabric is approximately 2 meters long and 70 cm wide, and has two rings sewn into the end. When threading the edge of the fabric, they get a pocket, where the baby is located. Ring sling can be worn on the shoulder, periodically changing position. The smallest ones are best worn horizontally. The six-month-old baby has already outgrown the sling with rings and needs support on both shoulders.

Next step

With an older child, you can think about how to put on a sling scarf. This is a special piece of scarf fabric up to 5.5 meters in length. The ends of the sling are bevelled, and the width is limited to 70 cm. Such models can be knitted and woven. The difference is that knitwear is more commonly used for newborns due to weight restrictions. Woven models are much more comfortable and versatile at any age. By the way, such fabrics are used for hammocks and swings just for the reason that they can withstand any weight. Each sling is supplied with a corresponding instruction describing the mainways to wind a scarf and step by step illustrations.

Baby grows up

An older child already looks at the world in a special way, seeks to know it and get in touch. He will not be content with a horizontal position, even if he constantly feels his mother's closeness. It's time to switch to a more active version with vertical carry. Most often, they use a May-sling, an ergo-backpack and a universal sling-scarf. With the last option, everything is already clear, but how to put on a May-sling? The original name is due to the connection with the Chinese version of the transportation of children. This is the same rectangle of fabric with straps covering the waist and shoulders. The load is distributed in the same way as in the version with a scarf, but the design is more ventilated. Therefore, this option is better suited for the summer. You can decide for yourself how to put on a sling, but for babies from a year old, the width and height of the back are usually increased. When going on a hike, you can try out a sling backpack, which allows you to comfortably position the baby and remove the main load from the back. It is very easy to use, especially if you use a model with anatomical straps.

The so-called pseudo-slings are now out of favor, as their use in the US has led to several infant deaths. These are carrier bags that are sewn in such a way that the child is in a bent position without the normal pull of the back and ventilation.

For the winter period, a sling jacket with an insulated insert for a child will be an actual purchase. The baby is hidden from the wind under his mother's jacket, and outonly the head in a hat or hood protrudes. With such attire, you can eliminate bulky winter overalls and take your baby even to a ski resort. By the way, it is very useful for a child to breathe fresh air. It strengthens the immune system and develops the lungs. How to put on a sling of this kind? You should always remember that the baby should be comfortable. No tight belts, closed view and tight robes. The baby should sit comfortably and firmly, without the risk of falling.

Slingomams and slingpapas

Do you want to be a mobile parent? Then sling is the right way out! Learn how to properly put on a sling, and you will be able to continue with your former active life, visit cafes and cinemas, arrange shopping days and walk in the park with friends. Hiding behind a sling, the child can even have lunch, and strangers will not be shocked by this spectacle. By the way, you can entrust a baby in a sling to a man. He will like to go for a walk without a huge stroller. Dads feel less connection with the baby due to the lack of tactile contacts, and walking with a child in a sling allows you to feel the closeness of a loved one, his warmth, heartbeat. At the same time, the child gets used to the fact that he has two close people whom he can trust and whom he loves. The talk of the town is those fathers who are not afraid to stay at home with their children, but the sling allows you to really monitor the baby and not be distracted from their "male" affairs. I figured out how to put on a sling - and you can play the console and talk on the phone. Of course, if a May-sling is used orsling scarf, then it is better to postpone household chores so as not to harm the baby, but with a backpack everything is possible. Baby slings grow calmer, less capricious and cry less, as they initially feel closeness with their parents and inner self-confidence.