Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Baby Slings - Are They Worth The Money?

By Carol J Pearson

As a mother I have owned a lot of baby equipment designed to make my life easier. If I had my time again and I could choose only one piece of equipment I would choose a baby sling in one form or another (after the disposable diaper of course).

On the market today there are many types and makes of baby front carrier available all with slightly different features. Graco and Baby Bjorn are two of the more favourite brands. These carriers have two padded shoulder straps that go over your shoulders and then cross over behind you. The straps can adapt to accommodate many different sizes and shapes so should fit most people. The baby is then slipped into a supporting pouch with leg holes and ends up facing you.

As the baby grows and gets stronger, many carriers allow the baby to face outward. The things I did not like about the front carrier is that it seemed awkward to me. If the baby fell asleep while in the carrier, it was difficult to gently remove her to lay her down in the crib.

Also, because the baby was in the front, she was in the way both physically and visually, making the accomplishments of such tasks as sewing, meal preparation, cleaning, caring for older children, et cetera more difficult.

After struggling with with my first child I was finally introduced to ... cue up the Halleluah chorus ... A BABY SLING!!! There are several kinds; my preferred sling style was a long piece of fabric that fed through two metal fastening rings, leaving a "tail" of fabric.

My absolute favourite was the Maya Wrap with a pocket sewn into the tail, which I used to carry a couple extra diapers and wipes, and often my car keys and wallet! As the baby grew, the sling easily adjusted to accommodate her changing comfort meeds. With this style baby sling, I could carry the baby in almost any position front, side, or back, facing forward or facing me. I was also able to breast feed in a discreet, usually hands free manner, covering any unwitting exposure with the tail piece of the sling, which easily went over my shoulder.

As you can see, I am a bit biased towards using a sling, but the other hands free baby carriers may be absolutely ideal for your needs. Look at all choices and try a few out. Whichever you choose, you will be a happier, more productive new parent as you learn to incorporate the joy of nurturing your newborn with the other long list of tasks that you have. - 16955

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