Slings and baby carriers are something you can't live withoutmodern moms and dads would hardly be able to do without them. Today, there are many controversies surrounding these devices. Some believe that they can cause the babies' legs, arms, and backs to become crooked. Others protest because they can make the baby sick. But even opponents of these baby accessories agree that such convenient and practical things make life much easier for parents.
What is sling and how to use it?
A sling is a special device forbaby carrier, made of thick fabric. There are so many different models on the shelves of stores that even the eyes run wide. Slings with rings, in the form of scarves, may or pipe - manufacturers have developed many convenient designs so that mothers and fathers can choose the right option for themselves. After all, depending on the model, you can put your child, sit him on your stomach, hip or back. But just recently, these devices looked quite simple. They took an ordinary piece of fabric, which was tied in a special way and put on the woman. The child was placed in the free part of the material. Thanks to this, the mother's hands were always free, she could do housework, work in the field or buy food at the market.
Advantages of sling before stroller and other transfers
- Development
During the experiments and scientific observations it wasIt has been noted that children of such parents developed much faster, because it was easier for them to learn about the world. Those same children who are constantly in strollers, cribs or playpens do not have the opportunity to observe what is happening around them. Therefore, they lag a little behind in development. Plus, the more your child contacts you, the more he will trust you in the future.
- Ease of use
For mom, to feed the baby or lull him to sleep,you won't have to tear yourself away from your household chores. You can cook, clean, do your manicure, and your hands will be free. If, for example, your baby wants to eat in a store or a cafe, the special design of the sling will allow you to feed the child, while hiding your breast. And no one will guess what the child is doing at that moment. If the baby starts to be capricious, you can put him in the sling and go, for example, for a walk around the shops. Or just do something around the house. The bag will swing slightly as you walk, lulling the child to sleep. Plus, if he doesn't want to sleep, then at least he will be distracted by extraneous objects. And silence for parents is, perhaps, the most important thing in the first three years.
- Getting used to a baby
Often women who have carried a childface postpartum depression. As a result, they do not even want to see the baby, let alone take care of him. But if the child is constantly nearby, then the fair sex begins to develop a maternal instinct. Also, a tired woman will not be irritated by a constantly crying and screaming little person, since in a sling he behaves more calmly than in a stroller. Why throw a tantrum if he is already near his mother.
Which sling is better to choose: advantages and disadvantages of structures
Ring Sling:Suitable for calm children This device is a kind of holder that is put on and worn over one shoulder. The length of the free flap can be adjusted using rings. Thus, you can use the sling for more than one month, lengthening it when the baby grows up. In this case, the child will be able to both sit and lie in it.
- pros
The advantages of this design arethe convenience of wearing the sling itself and transporting the baby. Unlike a stroller, you can take this thing with you on vacation, to the clinic, for a walk, and to work. If you buy a really high-quality thing, then it will be very easy to wash and care for it.
- Minuses
As for the disadvantages, here are the following:It is worth mentioning that not all babies like to be pressed face to face with their parents. Sitting with their back forward and not seeing anything – what could be interesting about that? Therefore, it all depends on the character of your child. If the child is freedom-loving, he is unlikely to be comfortable. But there is a way out – to wear it on the hip. The second disadvantage is the asymmetrical load. The fact is that every half hour or hour, parents should change the side on which the sling is worn. But, unfortunately, moms and dads forget to do this. As a result, by the evening the neck, back, and arms begin to hurt. And the baby, of course, is uncomfortable being turned to one side. Plus, the fabric constantly sags, which is why the child may lie crookedly. But if you monitor his position, everything will be fine. Sling scarf: cheap and practical A sling scarf is a piece of fabric of a certain length (from 5 to 7 m), which is tied and fixed by the parents themselves. It can be used for carrying both very small children and older ones. However, in order to put the child inside, you need to show dexterity and ingenuity.
- pros
The absolute advantage in this case isis that the sling is located exactly in the middle. Since complete symmetry is maintained, the load is evenly distributed on the muscles of both the mother and the child. If you put this device on correctly, your baby will be completely safe. It is simply impossible to fall out of it. And, as in the previous case, if you stain the fabric, you can simply throw it in the washing machine along with other things. Plus, the cost of such a sling will be an order of magnitude lower.
- Minuses
Again, not suitable for freedom-loving children, soas it restricts their movement and limits the viewing angle. The baby does not see what is happening around, cannot play, so he gets bored quite quickly. Another disadvantage is the difficulty in operation. Yes, the sling is convenient to wear, but at first you will have to spend a lot of effort on assembling and securing it. Only with time will mothers learn to quickly tie the panels. Mei Tai: the ideal option for modern mothers This is perhaps the best option, which has practically no disadvantages. It simultaneously fixes the baby so that he does not fall out, and allows the child to move his arms and legs. Mei Tai is something between a regular sling and a kangaroo bag.
- pros
The child feels comfortable duringmovements, he can calmly look around. Also, the baby will not fall out if you turn in the wrong way or when he tries to free himself from "captivity". You can wear the sling both on your back and in front of you.
- Minuses
The only downside is the lack of supporthead and spine. Therefore, it is better to use this option only when the baby can already sit normally on his own. Also, if parents plan to travel with a child for more than an hour, you must not forget to change the position of your child. Otherwise, the legs may become numb, the back may hurt. And do not forget about the load that is placed on the spine of the parents. Carrying heavy objects for a long time is not recommended. Therefore, it is better to buy such a sling for those mothers and fathers who do not plan to walk for too long.
All about kangaroo bags: what parents should know about
As in the previous case, a kangaroo bagfrees the hands of parents so that they can do their own thing without leaving the baby unattended. Most often, this device is used for walking outside, going to the store, etc. At home, such a thing is not very convenient to use due to the dense construction and rather large size. When choosing a baby carrier, you should pay attention to such details as the material, fasteners, back density, seat comfort, and strap reliability. It is best to buy such a thing in a specialized store so as not to buy a low-quality product that will tear the next day. In this case, you risk the health of the child. Mothers using a baby carrier will have to take some precautions. Firstly, if you are wearing this bag with a child, you cannot bend over. To pick something up from the floor, you need to squat with a straight back. Secondly, you should only go up or down stairs sideways so that you can see where to put your foot. If your foot slips, you will not be able to keep your balance. Thirdly, you will have to give up heels. Otherwise, you will either twist your foot or strain your back.
Kangaroo bag or sling: which is better to choose
It's good if you have the opportunity to purchaseboth. You can, for example, use a sling at home, and a baby carrier outside. But, unfortunately, not everyone has the opportunity to buy such expensive things when a lot is already spent on a small child. And then the problem arises, what should be given preference. When choosing a suitable option, consider the following indicators:
- Weight and age of the child
The baby carrier is suitable for children weighingdoes not exceed 8 kg. But the baby should already be able to sit on his own or, at least, hold his head up. The sling can be used for carrying newborns and older children (up to 20 kg on average). If you use a sling scarf, the mother's back will not hurt so much, because the load will be distributed evenly. With a backpack, an aching lower back will definitely be guaranteed by the evening.
- Comfort of the kid
The baby won't be able to sit in the kangaroo for long, soas after a few minutes his legs will start to go numb. If you plan to go for a walk in the cold season, you won’t be able to use this type of carrier, since a child dressed in overalls simply won’t fit in there. In a sling, you can carry a baby even if he is wearing a diaper, tights, pants and a lot of other clothes. Plus, he won’t feel any discomfort, just like when he is normally carried in your arms. Another advantage of a sling over a bag is that while moving, your baby won’t dangle or kick your back or stomach with his legs. But the older the baby, the harder it is for the parents. In a kangaroo, your child is given complete freedom: if he wants, he will pull his mother by the hair, if he wants, he will try to pinch her hand.
- Position and load on the spine
In the bag the child is in a sitting position,and as if on a chair or a stool with a firm back. And as you should remember, at such a young age such a load on the spine is dangerous due to the development of some serious diseases. The design of the sling allows you to position your child so that the lower back is not strained at all. The load in this case is distributed evenly on the hips, arms, and back. Plus, due to the fact that the baby's legs will be spread apart while in the sling, you can avoid such a nuisance as hip dysplasia. By the way, in some cases pediatricians and orthopedists recommend using this device as a preventive measure against some similar diseases.
- Recreation
If you put your baby in a baby carrier,You can't hope that he will fall asleep in this position. It is uncomfortable for him, as the fabric presses, and there is no support. In a sling, the baby falls asleep quite quickly, it is enough to lay him horizontally. During walking, the bandage will swing, lulling your child to sleep.
- Convenience for parents
When a mother wants to feed her baby, she will have toto get it out of the baby carrier. If there is a sling on it, then it will be enough to pull the child to the chest and cover yourself with a cloth from prying eyes. It will also be more convenient if you need to change the baby's diaper or change the diaper. It is easier to take the baby out of the sling. The second thing that plays an important role is wearing the device on the shoulders. The straps of the backpack are thinner and denser, they dig into the skin strongly. And if you go for a walk with a child, then after an hour and a half you will want to get rid of the backpack as soon as possible. Thus, as you understand, in the duel of the baby carrier - the sling, the latter wins. Although for several decades, manufacturers have been trying to modernize bags to make it more convenient for parents to walk with them. Small backpacks have recently gone on sale, in which many of the shortcomings have been eliminated. Therefore, the final choice is still yours.
