Baby Slings

by Ethan Cole
 
 

A baby sling is the perfect device for parents who want to maintain closeness with their infant while completing tasks around the house and in the community. Many parents choose to literally wear their babies and they do this by using a sling that is designed to carry a baby’s weight while the parent’s hands are free. This promotes attachment with the baby without the fatigue of carrying the baby’s full weight and without losing the use of the arms.

Research has found that babies who are carried cry less than babies who are left on their own. Doctors attribute this to the baby’s connection to the womb. Baby slings enable parents to recreate the feeling of being carried in the womb. The slings are made of cloth that fits snugly around the infant, creating a warm, close feeling that babies crave.

 

Babies who are carried in baby slings are also soothed by their parents’ movements. The can feel their parent’s heartbeat and the baby can feel the rhythm of his parents movements as the parent walks. This helps the baby organize movement and it helps the infant form a sense of balance.

Supporters of the baby sling suggest that babies who are held develop social skills earlier. They are able to read nonverbal social cues through motions and facial expressions. They are also more apt to develop language skills earlier as well. Both nonverbal and verbal language has been shown to be directly linked to social skills and the ability to relate to others.

The stimuli that a baby receives through being held help in brain development. Every time a baby is held and carried, synapses in the brain are formed. This brain activity is the foundation for intellectual development. Using a baby sling to stimulate the baby is beneficial to brain development even when he is sleeping.

A baby sling can be used in place of a bulky detachable car seat. Parents who use the slings take their infants and newborns out of the car seat and place them in the slings. The babies are easier to carry in a sling than in an awkward car seat. Many parents also replace strollers with baby slings for older babies. They find that the slings have a calming effect on the little ones and they find that many babies like having a higher point of view, especially during family outings like the zoo.

Before running out to buy a baby sling, it is important to experiment with different styles and constructions. Some may find baby slings to be awkward and difficult to use. Others have difficulty completing tasks like laundry and dishes while wearing the slings and the devices can cause injury if they are not used properly or if the parent bends or makes a sudden, exaggerated movement. It is also important to use a sling that conforms to the baby’s spine for a very young baby to insure that there is no damage to the baby’s spine.

My favourite was the Baby Bjorn range.