Ynoeuwrborn THE SLING OF THINGS

If you can just get to grips with wearing a baby carrier, you and your baby could both be happier for it. Here’s how to strap in...

Baby carrying is nothing new to South Africans. Generations of us were raised on the backs of our mothers, gogos and child carers. But while a good piece of cloth or towel was good for gran, a whole range of wraps and slings is now available, offering new levels of comfort, practicality and safety.

HANGING OUT WITH YOUR BABY

The Institute of Child Health at the University College London has done comprehensive research into sling use. Their findings show that it promotes bonding between mother and infant, makes frequent breastfeeding easier, and that babies that are kept close through baby wearing are more content and cry less. They put this down to a range of factors such as the benefits you get from skin-to-skin contact, temperature regulation and the fact that being in such close contact with your baby allows you to read his signals much more closely – and you’re on hand to offer a boob, bottle or new nappy before the crying phase hits.

In fact, with some carriers you can place your baby in a hammock position while breastfeeding to ease the strain on your back and arms, and offer some privacy if you’re out and about. So what’s good for baby, can be good for mom too. Not to mention the practical aspects of having your hands free to Get Stuff Done.

A MOM IN NEED

When Sasha Simitopoulos had her first child, she says she found the first six weeks particularly tough. “My baby always wanted to be held; I actually just didn’t know how to cope,” she says. She decided to buy a baby wrap and says that from the moment she wore her baby on her, it changed her life – and their happiness. However, finding a quality cotton product at the time was difficult, which inspired Sasha to develop See Me Baby Wrap Carriers.

There are different types of products on the market. A sling is a carrier you hang from one shoulder over your hip, while a wrap goes over both shoulders and is literally wrapped around you. A wrap can be worn from birth right up until about 18 months, while a sling can only be used for very small babies, as they can become uncomfortable and unstable when the baby grows bigger. Some mothers prefer to move onto a back carrier from about one year if they have a big or heavy baby. You also have the option of a hip carrier, which is also suitable for older babies. When shopping for a baby carrier Sasha suggests you buy 100 percent cotton. “I have found that a percentage of spandex in the fabric doesn’t give a secure enough fit. I’ve seen moms with their babies hanging right down, which isn’t comfortable or safe,” she says.

BUT IT IS SAFE?

Again, research teams have done some extensive work to establish this. The USA National Injury Surveillance System found that infants’ breathing or oxygen levels did not differ if they were carried vertically in a sling, horizontally in a sling, or in a pram. However the study warned that lower oxygen levels were seen in preterm babies, so check with your doctor before using a sling if you have a preemie.

While baby-wearing using slings is considered safe, you still need to practise safe sling use, which includes ensuring your baby is held tight to you, is in view at all times, is close enough to kiss, is able to keep his chin off his chest and is supported with a straight back. Never drive with your