How to choose a sling: tips

If an addition is expected in the family, you are probably trying to prepare in advance to ensure that a small person who has come to a new world is comfortable and cozy. Unfortunately, many modern parents choose good strollers, cribs , motion sickness centers and a huge number of different children's dowry, but do not even look in the direction of slings. And completely in vain! This accessory can make life easier for parents. And the baby will certainly be delighted with him.

If you still do not know what it is, be sure to check out the contents of this article. In it you will find descriptions of the most popular fabrics, styles, see a lot of photos. In addition, practical tips will be given suggesting how to choose a sling. The experience of many parents suggests that this accessory is not just an unusual addition, and certainly not a toy. In fact, it can be a great alternative to a stroller. But he is the most valuable find for special children. As for special moms.

Why sling?

The high pace of modern life dictates its own conditions. Not every woman agrees to the role of a housewife after the birth of the baby. Some continue to work, travel, do what they love and improve. And what could be better than free hands and the ubiquitous opportunity to feed the baby? Perhaps there is no need to dream more.

It is such prospects that the sling opens before parents. It allows you not to occupy your hands while carrying a child, and the baby is much more comfortable in it. Noticing that the little passenger is hungry, mom can quietly feed him. Of course, if her clothes do not impede access to her breasts. The fabric will reliably cover the most secret from prying eyes. Before choosing a baby sling, consider whether this feature will be relevant to you.

What do the doctors say?

Prevention of hip dysplasia, excellent support for the fragile small back, the soothing sound of my mother’s heart, the native smell and the availability of breast milk - the role of all of the above can hardly be overestimated. Pediatricians around the world highly recommend this baby carrier. Doctors respond with great pleasure to questions of pregnant women about how to choose a sling. In many large cities, women's support centers, maternity hospitals and children's polyclinics have established centers for the support of baby bearing and breastfeeding, where experienced consultants work with young mothers. Of course, with their help you can easily choose the most suitable option. However, if this is not possible, you will have to figure out all the intricacies on your own.

I agree with the pediatricians and doctors for adults. All mothers know that to bear and give birth to a healthy child is not an easy task. And sometimes you have to pay for your happiness with problems with joints and an exacerbation of many chronic diseases. Many young mothers often complain of lower back and back pain. Therefore, surgeons cheerfully welcome the babywearing fashion. The fact is that the fabric evenly distributes the load between the shoulders, back, lower back and hips. Each of these parts has a very small weight. This is incredibly better than just carrying the baby in her arms. Surgeons believe that if you choose the right sling, you can get rid of many diseases of the musculoskeletal system without any medication.

About how not to ...

Many young parents managed to find out what baby slings are . How to choose the best of them? Unfortunately, incompetent advice and bright advertising sometimes play a trick on us. Even in reputable children's magazines and in the best shops for goods for babies, we often see something in which it is absolutely forbidden to carry children. The main symptoms of improper sling are:

• The presence of a lining, foam inserts.
• Fabric with perpendicular arrangement of weft and weft threads.
• Synthetic materials.
• Bended wire rings.
• Stretch knit, knitted fabric.

Why is all this wrong and harmful? The answers are simple. Cast rings can withstand quite impressive weight, and open rings can be damaged, and the baby will simply slip out. Foam pillows soar, but there is simply no practical benefit from them. Well, if you sew a sling from an inappropriate fabric for this purpose, then he simply will not be able to perform his functions.

We should also talk about the kangaroo. Perhaps this is the worst thing that can be done for a child. He is in an abnormal position for his physiology, he is uncomfortable, and sometimes scared. The kid appears as if suspended by panties. And the parental shoulders have an exorbitant load. Research on this topic has been carried out for more than one year, all the more surprising is the presence of such transfers among the assortment of the best manufacturers of children's goods, such as Chikko, Mazerkea, Aprika and many others. Well, gullible users are tempted by the alluring word ERGO, which is written on the packaging of a completely non-ergonomic kangaroo backpack. Is advertising worth believing? Perhaps it is better to abandon the idea of ​​such dubious accessories and think about how to choose the right sling.

How is sling fabric woven?

The most popular material for sling is a diagonal weave fabric, slightly similar in structure to denim. Its fibers are twisted, smooth, freely sliding. This allows the tissue to stretch a little, taking the shape of the body of the wearer and passenger. Due to this feature, the folds of the sling do not crush, do not leave marks on the skin, and do not crush the limbs.

The composition of the canvas is very different. It is difficult to list everything that is in today's market. But for those who do not know which sling to choose, it is worth paying attention to the fact that a variety of additives are included in the composition of the canvas. They give the sling special qualities:

1. Cotton. The most common material suitable for any season.
2. Bamboo is a breathable non-hot material. Ideal for a "truck" in which a heavy passenger rides.
3. Flax is an excellent load-lifting fabric, which is nice to wear even in summer.
4. Silk is a very beautiful material, cool to the touch. Suitable for small babies.
5. Wool is a soft fabric, excellent for winter, but with a small carrying capacity.

Of course, this is far from all. If you try hard, you can find superstrong material with nettle fibers and even hemp. Knitted slings are quite popular. But they are only suitable for babies in the first weeks of life. And for carrying a child in knitwear, experience is necessary. Usually it is purchased by mothers who have a second or third baby.

Sling scarf

Perhaps this is the most common form. It is a piece of fabric 5-7 meters long, 50 to 80 cm wide. Some manufacturers make non-standard scarves. But this can most likely be explained not by practical use, but by the desire to stand out.

A scarf can be worn in many ways. If you decide to learn, be sure to remember the following terms: KNK, KPK, KNS. Do not worry, as soon as you know what they mean, you will immediately understand everything. These are just the names of the most popular windings: “a cross on a pocket”, “a cross under a pocket” and “a cross on a back”. The first two can be used from the very birth of crumbs. And it’s better to transfer to your back at 7 months, when it will be more interesting for the baby to stare around for a walk than to doze off on her mother’s chest.

How to choose a sling scarf? Trust well-known manufacturers, pay attention to the seams, carefully inspect the fabric for puffs and stains. External defects do not affect the performance characteristics, but it is desirable to detect them before the purchase, and not after it.

With rings

For those who do not like to bother with windings, this option is perfect. You can put a newborn in it and seat a six-month-old baby. But wearing a one-year-old baby is unlikely to be convenient.

Before choosing a sling with rings, remember that there are no foam inserts on a quality and comfortable one. It is a piece of fabric ranging in size from 2.5 to 3.5 meters, two rings sewn to one end of it. Pay attention to the quality of the seam and the fact that the rings must be large and cast. It is enough to thread a free tail into one of them, bend and release from the second one, as the matter will be done. Of course, it is worth considering that when using a sling with rings, the entire load will fall on the back and one shoulder. Before buying, think about whether this option suits you.

For confident riders: may-sling and ergo-backpack

When the baby is 6 months old, you can start wearing it in a May-Sling or an ergonomic backpack. Do not confuse this wonderful carrier with a kangaroo! They are made in completely different ways. In a backpack or May, the baby is pulled to the parental body, his ass is planted, as if in a hammock, there is no load on the spine and pelvis. Carrying in these carriers is safe.

They are very similar to each other. Only the backpack rests on straps with fastexes, and May-Sling - on strings sewn from sling fabric with weaving at an angle. Choosing a sling backpack is not so easy. Remember the main rules:

• A hard back is the main sign of a bad backpack.
• It is advisable to give preference to natural fabric.
• Be sure to pay attention to fastex. They must be strong.
• A wide belt is the key to comfortable and long wearing.

A few words about the "shorties"

Above, we examined the three most popular and common types of correct baby carriers. And they understood how to choose the right sling for a newborn. But there are so many interesting things in the world! Many parents who appreciated all the advantages of this accessory are so sorry to part with their colorful favorites ...

But hurry is not worth it! For example, a kanga can help out even those parents whose baby is 2-2.5 years old, and sometimes more. This is a small sling-scarf, its two ends are connected on the shoulder, and the other two on the thigh. Such carrying is not at all a find of civilization; many ancient peoples used it. And some tribes living in the wilderness of South America and Asia carry babies in the kanga today.

Another popular shorty is reboso. This is a subspecies of the scarf, only its length is very small - 2.5-3.5 meters. It can also be wound in many different ways. It is believed that you can carry your baby in rebozo from birth, but this sling is most popular among the parents of older children who are already confidently sitting, running, climbing their mother’s hands only for a short rest. This raises the question of how to choose the size of a sling scarf. It is best to look for the answer by measuring different accessories. If you do not have such an opportunity, try to make different windings with a piece of regular fabric. It doesn’t matter if it is sewn from several pieces. Although, of course, the most effective will be trying on branded scarves.

Manufacturers

Today, the market offers a wide variety of baby slings. How to choose what will satisfy all your requirements? It will be useful to get acquainted with the products of the most famous manufacturers. The following table will help you orient yourself before choosing a sling.

Special slings

Some manufacturers produce unique collections of such accessories. It is unlikely that they will interest a young mother who only wondered how to choose a sling. But those in the subject understand very well how to give $ 1000, or even more, for a strip of fabric. The thing is that the series with a stunning design are released in a limited edition. These are the so-called limits.

But it happens differently. A vivid example of this is the Pamir sling from the famous producer Watanay. They are made by hand on a loom. Their grandmother makes somewhere in the wilderness of the Balkans. Due to age and unprecedented thoroughness, the craftswoman manages to create only 3-4 slings per year. Therefore, they are few. Consequently, the price of one of them can reach several thousand euros.

It is this scarf presented in the photo above. Perhaps it is really worth the money. Or maybe this whole story is nothing more than competent marketing.

Style accessories

For many mothers, the problem is not only which sling to choose, but also what to wear with it. Therefore, sling bags, backpacks and many other accessories, sewn from the same fabric as the carrier itself, or knitted from yarn in tone, are quite popular.

Want to create an unforgettable and vibrant look? Complete the scarf with mittens, earrings, shoes. And for crumbs you can try on leggings or a knitted beret of the same color as a scarf. For the cold season, a special sling jacket can be an excellent choice. It differs from ordinary clothes in that it has a special insert that covers the baby. The most profitable option is to purchase such a jacket during pregnancy. After all, a growing tummy will fit perfectly into it, too.

Stars are also in the subject

For several years, the face of Elleville was singer Natalia O'Shey. Her cheerful stylish looks with her daughter Nina in a sling inspire mothers of the whole world. The baby is already big enough and has long been able to move independently, but Natalia continues to share her experience with young mothers. She gladly gives advice on how to choose a baby sling.

The son of Evelina Bledans Semyon, who was born a special child, also spent the first months of his life in a bright striped sling. Fans of the accessory are also Anfisa Chekhova and Maria Kozhevnikova. Foreign celebrities are also not indifferent to him: Brad Pitt and his wife Angelina Jolly, Julia Roberts, Gwen Stefani and many others.

Carrier Sling Community

Active people who love travel spend time on their hobbies. They do not slow down even after the birth of babies, often choosing a sling. If you decide to follow their example, be sure to get acquainted with the sling carriers that live in your city. Many of them hold regular meetings to communicate and exchange experiences. Those who have already received enough practice, help beginners to get comfortable. They can help wrap the sling, choose the size, determine its quality and design.

Well, if there is no such club in your village yet, perhaps it is you who will stand at its origins? Indeed, it is not without reason that they call baby carrying an infectious disease that does not leave anyone indifferent who at least once tried to take a walk carrying their precious child in a cozy scarf.