Right Tool for the Job.

Most of you reading this will “get” the idea of using a sling. But for those of you who are still trying to understand how people are able to carry a baby throughout the day I thought I would try and break down some of the barriers that people put up when we talk about using slings.

·         “I  was given a carrier but we just didn’t get on with it”

·         “We had a (insert name of highly-priced-supposedly-ergonomically-superior  carrier) but he/she was too heavy for it once she/he reached 4 months”

·         “We had one of those sling things but it was too complicated”

·         “I tried one of those but I felt like my baby wasn’t safe”

Let’s try applying some of those arguments to other things we buy.

“I was given a shirt but we just didn’t get on with it”

Some of us are passed on clothes, or buy clothes that look great until you try them.  When we realise they really don’t fit at all, we try something else as we know it doesn’t mean that ALL shirts are wrong for us.

“We had a moses basket, but she grew out of it once she reached 4/5mths”

So  look for something different now she is bigger? Just as with cots, some people choose to have a moses basket and then move onto a bigger cot, some people choose a sling for the first 5/6mths then move onto a different carrier for the next stage. Some people will not use a moses basket at all, but get a cot they can use from birth to toddler – and the same applies to slings.

“We had one of those camera things but it was too complicated”

Most people would not then decide never to have a camera – but look for something that suited their needs, or go to a shop or expert to talk them through how the one they have works. If it clearly isn’t the right one, they would usually look for the right one for them – something simpler that suits their needs.

“I tried one of those pushchairs but I felt like my baby wasn’t safe”

This often happens – people are given a buggy that they don’t like because it doesn’t seem to work with their child or for them. Sometimes they really are not safe as the instructions have been lost, a clip may be missing or it may be for a different aged child.  Finding the right pushchair is still possible  as they vary enormously from brand to brand and design to design.

Right Tool for the Job.  That’s all you need.

Find the right sling for you and your child and all of these things fade away. There is a reason that there are so many different slings on the market – it’s because there are so many different parents, babies, toddlers and individual needs.  And it doesn’t have to be hard as there are 100s of people out there who can help you to narrow down the choice.  You can go to:

Find somewhere where you can try

different slings to see what suits you

·         Specialist shops like Slingtastic where the staff have been trained and have direct experience

·         Sling Consultants who are also specially trained who offer a one-to-one service usually in their home  or yours.

·         Slingmeets where there are often trained consultants, peer supporters and other parents who use slings – all equally valuable when discussing your options.

·         Community groups where other people with babies and toddlers gather – they will often be able to help you consider different choices.

So, you need  to find out what tools are out there and find one that suits you. A long piece of fabric tied around you? Buckle carrier with a waist band? Asian style fabric carrier? Pouch to pop your baby in? Have a look, allow someone to demonstrate why people love them, how to use them safely and comfortably, and find out how much the right sling can change your mind about using slings.