A small child is the most vulnerable creature in the world, and he needs mom's care. Constantly carrying a baby in her arms can be uncomfortable, as it gains weight over time, and mom needs free hands. Therefore, a baby sling was invented . How to wear it, each woman decides for herself, since there are a lot of options. This is really a great tool for transporting small children. Why is it inferior in popularity to strollers and portable cradles?
To be near mom
Modern strollers, of course, are good, but they still share the baby with the closest person and accustom to independence. It turns out that the newborn immediately spends most of his time alone. On the one hand, this is not so bad, as the character is formed, but it can be alarming, because the baby is far from her mother. As assistants, you can take a sling for newborns. How to put it on - prompt intuition, but there is nothing complicated here a priori. In fact, a sling is a large piece of fabric that mom wraps herself in different ways and with it helps carry a 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 "hang on the shoulder." Agree, the word very accurately describes the visual picture. A similar method of transportation was offered to young parents by large American pediatricians William and Martha Serza, the authors of a series of books on the principles of raising children. Their main conviction is based on the fact that close contact with the mother is vitally important for the newborn, which, of course, is facilitated by breastfeeding, joint sleep, and carrying on hands. For the latter, a sling scarf for newborns was invented. How to put it on is not important. The main thing is that it is convenient for both the mother and the child. Serzes investigated ways of transporting children from different ethnic groups and were able 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 seventies, a resident of Germany Erica Hoffman finalized the traditional bandage from Central America and came up with the so-called sling scarf. Then the baton was picked up by the Ergo company in the USA, which released a series of physiological carrying backpacks. The popularity of slings came 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 carry babies in the hem. From here, by the way, went the famous phrase that the girl can "bring in the lap." Vietnamese and Korean women carried children in an apron called “run”. In China, mai tai (a tight square made of fabric with straps) served as a carry. In Africa, it was Kang, in the countries of South America - Rebozo, and the gypsies simply used shawls.
The ethnic element of modernity
Let no one want to look like a village, but the ethnic style is still quite relevant. Therefore, urban slingomam choose the fabric of the original texture and unusual colors. Most often they use high-quality organic cotton and linen of double diagonal weaving. In ordinary stores you can’t buy such a fabric, 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 wear a sling?
Mom's hands can be freed with the help of not only a sling, but also common “kangaroos”. The difference between the two is the way they are worn. In a sling, the child is in the same position as on her mother’s hands. And in the "kangaroo" the child hangs, as in a pocket, and there is always a hard back and straps. In this situation, a large load is created on the spine and pelvis. Therefore, for newborns, the "kangaroo" is not suitable. Its maximum 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 simpler and more enjoyable, since it is aimed at the convenience of the mother and child. The tissue preserves the natural curvature of the spine without an excessive rush of blood.
Varieties of slings
I must say that there are more than a dozen species, 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 about 2 meters long and 70 cm wide, and two rings are sewn at the end. When threading the edges of the fabric, a pocket is obtained in them, where the baby is located. A sling with rings can be worn on the shoulder, periodically changing position. The smallest are best worn horizontally. A six-month-old baby has already outgrown a sling with rings and needs support on both shoulders.
Next stage
With a grown child, you can think about how to wear a sling scarf. This is a special section of scarf fabric up to 5.5 meters in length. The ends of the sling are beveled, and the width is limited to 70 cm. Such models can be knitted and woven. The difference is that knitwear is often used for newborns due to weight restrictions. Woven patterns 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 equipped with appropriate instructions describing the basic methods of winding a scarf and step-by-step illustrations.
Baby grows up
A grown-up child is already looking at the world in a special way, striving to know it and make contact. He will not be content with a horizontal position, even if he constantly feels his mother’s proximity. It's time to switch to a more active version with vertical wearing. Most often they use may-sling, ergorypack and universal sling-scarf. With the latter option, everything is already clear, but here's how to put on a May Sling? The original name is due to the connection with the Chinese version of transporting 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 purged. Therefore, this option is better for summer. You can decide for yourself how to wear a sling, but for babies from a year, the width and height of the back are usually increased. If you are going camping, you can try out the sling backpack, which allows you to conveniently position the baby and remove the main load from the back. It is very simple to use, especially if you use a model with anatomical straps.
The so-called pseudo-slings are not honored now, since their use in the USA has led to several infant deaths. These are carrying bags that are so stitched that the child is in a bent state without normal backrest and ventilation.
For the winter period, an actual purchase will be a baby jacket with a warm insert for a child. The kid is hidden from the wind under his mother’s jacket, and only his head in a hat or hood protrudes outward. With this apparel, bulky winter overalls can be eliminated and the baby can even be taken to a ski resort. By the way, it’s very useful for a child to breathe fresh air. It strengthens the immune system and develops the lungs. How to wear a sling of this kind? You must always remember that the baby should be comfortable. No tightened belts, closed visibility and tight robes. The baby should sit comfortably and firmly, without the risk of falling.
Slingomama and Slingopapa
Do you want to remain a mobile parent? Then the sling is an actual exit! Learn how to wear a sling, and you can not part with your previous active life, visit cafes and cinemas, arrange shopping days and walk in the park with friends. Hiding behind a sling, a child can even have lunch, and strangers will not be shocked by this sight. 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 connected with the baby due to the lack of tactile contacts, and a walk with the baby in a sling allows you to feel the closeness of the little man, his warmth, the sound of his heart. 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. Those fathers who are not afraid to stay home with their children become parables , but the sling allows you to really follow the crumbs 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 you use a May-sling or a sling-scarf, then it is better to postpone household worries so as not to harm the baby, but with a backpack everything is possible. Baby slings grow calm, are less capricious and cry a little, as they initially feel intimacy with their parents and inner self-confidence.