What sling do you think is the best?

In a sling shop, this is a question I hear a lot. And it is a perfectly reasonable question which you think I would have an answer for because, well, let’s see :

1.       I  own a sling shop

2.        I am a sling specialist

3.        I have trained as a sling consultant

4.        I try different slings whenever I can

5.       I  have used slings with my 3 children, and am still using them

6.       I  have been helping people choose and buy slings for nearly 9 years.

And herein lies the problem – I have had many different favourites, depending on my experience, current interests and, lets face it, the day of the week.  My youngest child is approaching 3 fast, and there are still about 10 different  slings that I would like to add to my personal collection but I know that I cannot justify the cost of buying new slings when I struggle to find the time to use the ones I already have.

 Most people want one, maybe two carriers that they can learn to use and then get out and about with their child. The real difficulty for newcomers to the world of slings are people declaring one type of sling to be better than any other – not just their favourite – but the best, and anything else as inferior with inherent flaws or problems. Of course people are not doing it to be difficult – they want everyone to discover the joy they have in the sling they love – my job is to help people find that same joy and love for the right sling for them and their child.

So – back to the open ended questions....

Which Sling would you recommend?

So how can I answer this question? By asking questions.

The only way I can find out what people want is by talking to them about their baby, their lifestyle, their likes and dislikes and their current needs. The sling they choose has to fit their baby and the adults who will be using it, so knowing if they are going to be out on brisk dog walks with it, or popping in and out of the shops is really important.  Sometimes there are medical or physical conditions that might affect the choice of sling and it is not always possible to predict what will work best – some experience from a sling consultant is helpful, but it needs to be combined with the knowledge of the parent and in some cases the advice of the relevant medical professional.

So trying different slings, talking about how they feel, how they fit and making sure the parent is

confident in how to use it safely and comfortably is really important.  

Some people strike lucky – they buy something on recommendation and it works brilliantly, but more often than not people are given something, or buy something, that just isn’t quite right, or they can’t get to fit them properly. This is a real shame as there really is a sling of some sort to fit almost everyone – and finding a sling you love can make a huge difference to how you feel about carrying your baby.

Aren’t some slings terrible for baby’s hips?

There is a lot of sling shaming – big brands that have enabled many, many parents to carry their baby safely and securely are routinely slated and used as examples of narrow based carriers that do not provide ‘optimum’ positioning. Usually the brand name is used, without any consideration for the fact that the brands now actually have a wide range of carriers including some that carry the baby in the same style of many of the carriers that they rave about as being best for baby. Sling consultants will encourage you to find a sling that allows your baby to sit a in position where the knees are higher than the baby’s bum,  and it does make sense that this will be more comfortable for the child – I am not going into the whys and hows in this post. But I have met many parents for whom a narrow based carrier has been a great solution for them, due to the way it is put on or the security and confidence it gives them to carry their baby. I can help them check their baby is safe in it and look at ways of making it as comfortable as possible. I have not seen any solid scientific evidence that a narrow based carrier causes any damage to a healthy baby. My nine year old certainly shows no adverse complications from spending 6 mths in one.

So come on - What is your favourite?

OF COURSE I have favourites (note – not just one!)– but that’s not helpful to my customers.  It’s good for a slightly nerdy chat with other sling consultants and enthusiasts, but my favourite may be really unsuitable or undesirable for someone else. I would not want to put anyone off a carrier that could be the ideal solution for them, by telling them that I prefer something else.

And if you asked me again next week i would give a different answer anyway..........

So – what are you waiting for? Come and try some SLINGS!

Waking up ........

It's hard to keep on top of everything - house, children, dogs, husband, friends..... Oh yes, and a business that is really exciting but also very good at sucking up all that spare time I like to imagine I once had.

Today has been a day of waking up.

Eight months ago I moved Slingtastic, my online business, to The Next Stage. I opened a shop. It is something that I have wanted to do for years and it is a truly exciting thing to do. It took months of preparation, lots of support and enthusiasm from friends and family and a certain amount of blind faith/panic/single mindedness and determination. It has been truly wonderful being able to really help people find slings they love - I have customers come in every day with their slings seeking help and reassurance, looking for new slings that really meet their needs and finding them and it is great to be able to send them away happy, confident and sometimes with a new sling! I have also loved being able to link with other local professionals in a way that wasn't possible before I had a real physical shop that people could relate to.

It has, of course, turned my home life upside down too. I have gone from having a business that fitted around my family, to having a business that I am having to fit my family around. I am in total awe of families where both parents work full time with inflexible hours. I always have been in awe  - but as with everything in life, I am only now beginning to really understand how hard it is. I get overwhelmed once I get home with all I need to do that I am just not doing - homework, housework, cuddling my girls, washing clothes and people (I just about stay clean!) and for the first time ever I have unopened post that sits around for a week.

Today was my day off, but I had an opportunity to meet a few local mothers who wanted some help with their slings and to carry out sling consultations whilst the shop was closed. I decided (guiltily) that my daughter would be happier at nursery than contained in a shop whilst I helped my customers and decided to give myself a break. I felt relieved dropping her off at nursery as she was happy. I felt happy going to the shop with the prospect of talking slings and helping parents as I had consciously dropped the guilt and I had purpose for the morning.

And then in the afternoon..... She fell asleep on the sofa. All that fun had tired her out at a time when she is learning to drop her sleep - she has fallen asleep like this a few times in the last few weeks and she really, really hates being woken up. Truly awful. Crying, writhing, hitting, complaining and out of control. And what could I do when we had to go to get her sisters?

I reached for my very first ring sling. A sling that many people don't rate. A sling that I have had for over 8 years. I picked her up, popped her in and walked to the bus. She slowly woke up, burying her head into me. The sun was bright, so I used the tail to shield her from the direct sunlight. She woke, and relaxed. She was comfortable and so was I, and as she woke up she started to play hide and seek under the tail of the sling. I cannot truly tell you how lovely it was to reconnect with a boisterous busy 3rd child in this waking cuddle.

This sling woke me up.  It reminded me of why I love slings. It revitalised my enthusiasm to help people with their slings and sling choices. It reminded me that so, so much of what people encounter online about slings is disparaging and judgemental - or so passionate about one particular brand or doctrine that it puts people off. But here I was, with my fabulous Maya Wrap Ring Sling, enjoying all that it had to offer, even though it doesn't have the latest pattern, fabric or shoulder style.

I have always wanted to make slings accessible to all, to try and get past all the online judging.  I use the word 'sling' to describe all different types of slings, carriers, mei tais, pouches and other variations around. Why do I believe in them? Because:

• Slings help parents and babies in their short and long journeys together both literally and metaphorically.  
• Slings are not about a parenting approach - although they can be used as a tool to help and support many different philosophies and approaches.

Finding the right sling can be a revelation to some parents and carers. I have been so busy with readjusting everything around me since opening the shop that I had forgotten the joy for myself, with  my own littlest.  I can't carry her forever, so I need to enjoy those moments and enjoy the slings I have.

This blog is my awakening - my chance to come back to my original purpose - to help people find a sling they love. I hope that through links, articles and reviews I will be able to show people that slings really are for all parents and carers, and that you too can use a sling to create more opportunities for cuddles, fun and enjoying journeys together. And my sling today? - here it is in 2008, 2009 and today . Spot the tired children.

 

 www.slingtastic.com