People have used slings to carry babies since time began, not only for safety, but also to be able to meet their infant’s primary needs. The meeting of these needs creates benefits for both parent and baby as the feel good hormone oxytocin is increased from skin to skin contact, making us feel calm[i]. This may be why some people claim that in cultures where babies are traditionally carried you’ll hardly ever hear an infant cry. However, it is important to make sure that you wear your baby sling safely.
Baby slings over time
In Western cultures, baby wearing was superseded by the pram, although historic photos show many mothers using a variety of methods to keep their infants safe and close so that they could get on with domestic work. Baby wearing as something of an art form started to gain popularity during the 1960s when people began adopting alternative ways of living.
The diagonal cradle
In 1995, I made a sling for my second baby after unsuccessfully searching for a comfortable carrier that wouldn’t pull me forward or back as with my first born. With a second child you really do need to be able to get around and care for your toddler so a carrier makes complete sense. Diagonal slings distribute weight by counterbalance and are easy to put on and use.
I found that every time I put my son in the sling he seemed in a different position; some were more comfortable than others. One day I had an “a-ha” moment that he was positioned best when lying on the diagonal of the fabric with his head on the outer rail. Unlike what you would expect, with a one shoulder sling you don’t aim to lie baby down in the centre but rather, have your baby lying at a slanted angle. The angle mimics the way you would naturally cradle a sleeping baby in your arms.
The best way to achieve this slanted angle, or what we call the ‘diagonal cradle’ position, is to hold baby facing you on your shoulder and move the fabric of the sling up and around their body. Having found the top of the line of stitching (about 1/3 down the rail), you bring it up to the back of baby’s head and then check that their spine is on the line. Holding the fabric of the sling and the baby, you gently bend forward and lay baby in the sling still facing you, then twist the sling so baby is facing up with their head towards the shoulder padding. (it will naturally go this way). Check the inner rail is safely between you and baby. Now you have a great view of baby’s up-turned face in the resulting triangle for that all important eye contact. This position can be achieved on any pouch or ring sling but it is nice to have some side padding.
Here is the TICKS[ii] baby sling safety checklist – Natures Sway version
✔ TIGHT – use the adjustable straps and clips to tighten the sling to hug baby close. Best to wear baby at navel level.
✔ IN VIEW AT ALL TIMES – baby’s face should be visible and not turned in against you or covered by the sling
✔ CLOSE ENOUGH TO KISS- it is good for your centre of gravity to wear baby high and a good measure for this is you should be able to kiss your baby on the forehead
✔ KEEP CHIN OFF THE CHEST – loosen the outer rail under baby’s head so their chin is in no danger of pressing on the chest and restricting airflow.
✔ SUPPORTED BACK – with baby’s bottom in the deepest part of the sling their back and head are supported on the diagonal line of the sling
Babies are used to being all curled up in the womb but they didn’t have to breathe in there! Never have their face buried into your body or tightly covered by the fabric of the sling. If you can see their face you will be able to monitor them.
Baby slings and feeding
The diagonal cradle position is a great breast-feeding aid, as it will take some weight off your arms. You just have to move the inner rail out of the way and I discovered I didn’t even need to turn baby to feed both sides! Afterwards you may want to use the sling with baby upright for burping. That’s where the double adjustors on the back of our sling really come in handy: by tipping the clips to loosen the webbing you can lower baby to feed, or sit down (great for air travel), or shift baby around; and by pulling the straps and doing a little bounce you can tighten to a safe carrying height again.
Slings are a wonderful aid for parents but it is important that you use them safely. Make sure that you follow these guidelines to keep your baby safe!
[i] Feldman R, Rosenthal Z, Eidelman AI. 2014. Maternal-preterm skin-to-skin contact enhances child physiologic organization and cognitive control across the first 10 years of life. Biol Psychiatry. 75(1):56-64.
[ii] TICKS guidelines were created by the consortium of UK Sling Manufacturers and Retailers
Kate Hornblow, mother of two grown up children and founder of Natures Sway has a passionate interest in the mind-body connection. With a degree in Social Science from Waikato University and 20 years business experience behind her, Kate’s current focus is the sharing of information to help people feel good about living more consciously. In her words “the best thing you can do for your children is to be present in yourself”.
