So, you have decided that you would like to use a sling? This could be for lots of reasons and these may play a part in helping you decide what to choose. There are a lot of different slings and carriers out there and it can seem quite daunting! But don't be scared, that's the reason to come to a sling library. When you come to a meet, we will usually have a quick chat, the sort of questions I will ask are
As we have so many new babies coming to sling meets, I try to have a lot of slings suitable from newborn up. The library slings can be roughly divided into 'newborn up', 6 months up and then 18/24 months up. This age ranges will vary, and it will depend on the size and weight of your baby, you will often see me at meets closely looking at the length of your baby's legs and back! There are no rights and wrongs to choosing a sling. Its about finding something that suits you and your baby. What suited your friend, or a person in a facebook group is not necessarily going to be the best sling for you. The difficulty here is that you may end up disappointed if the sling you choose doesn't work for you. We are all different shapes and sizes and its important to find something that fits your shape and size. Stretchy/Caboo If you have a baby under 6 months, a good starter sling is a stretchy or a caboo. There are different types of stretchies but essentially they work in similar ways and do the same thing. You wrap them around you and tie then on quite tightly. Learning how to do this can take a bit of practice, but the benefit of this type of sling is that you can leave the stretchy on all day and just 'pop' baby in and out. A caboo is similar to a stretchy, but it is pre-tied so you don't need to 'learn' how to wrap it around you. Buckled carriers (or Soft Structured Carried/SSC's) A lot of people find buckled carriers very appealing. They can be super quick to use. But there are a lot to choose from! The reason there are lots to choose from is that they are all constructed differently. Choosing a buckle carrier is a bit like choosing a pair of jeans, it's all about what fits you, Levi 501's may be what you want, but in reality, matalan's very best might in fact be a better fit! So how to decide? A good start to narrowing down your choices is to work out whether cross or straight straps are most comfy for you. Then its a case of trying things and seeing what works for you, buckled carriers come with differing amounts of padding, and with different types of adjusters. By coming to a meet, once you have tried something, and seen how it fits, I will have a bit of an idea of the kind of carrier that might work for you and can recommend some suitable choices for you. Mei tais, are carriers with a panel of fabric, with straps attached that you tie round you and then secure with knots. Most can be used from birth and they are really versatile especially if more than one adult wants to carry the baby in the sling. Although at first look they can often look scary, woven wraps are a really versatile and enjoyable sling. They can be used from birth right through to pre-school and you can use them in different ways to make them suit you and your baby as much as possible. They come in a variety of different fabrics, and the choices of colour and pattern are fantastic! If you looking for something that is super quick and super versatile, a ring sling is a great choice! The can seem worryingly lop-sided, but when you use them right they are really comfortable. Many people often use them as their sling of choice for the school run, or for a quick trip to the shops. Come along to a sling meet and try all the slings!!!
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AuthorHi, I'm Jo. This blog is all about Carlisle Sling Library. Archives
October 2017
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