Why I love baby slings...

...enough to think that other people might like them too!

There are many theoretical reasons to love baby slings--babies who are "worn" have been shown in studies to cry 51% less, sleep better, develop more quickly, etc. In many cultures in the world, baby-wearing is the norm. In some, it is traditional that a baby's feet not touch the ground before their first birthday!

With all of the Bjorn's and the like around these days, I don't know that I would have thought to try a sling. Fortunately, my friend Sara loaned us one that she had used with her little darlings. When Paige was just 2 days old, I put her in it for the first time, to go for a walk around the block. She promptly fell asleep. We started to use it shortly after that when she got fussy--put her in, walk up and down the stairs a couple of times, and she would be asleep.

This seemed magical for a baby who really didn't seem to want naps otherwise, no matter how much she may have needed one. Seriously--Paige is a baby who will fuss and cry and refuse to go to sleep while being rocked or bounced in loving arms, but will conk out within minutes (sometime seconds) of being put in the sling. All theoretical stuff aside, that is why I love the sling. I'm not sure she would ever nap without it.

(testimonial alert!)
I really don't feel like I am exaggerating when I say that our slings have saved my sanity.

While she naps in the sling, I can do all kinds of things. Many websites, etc. tout the idea that you have both hands free. This is true, but to be honest one of your arms is limited to working below your shoulder.
It is easy to: sit and read, work on the computer (she's snoring in my lap right now), walk, grocery shop, lie down for a nap. It is slightly more difficult but still doable to: load and unload the washer and dryer, bake, chop ingredients for dinner, knit, go to the bathroom. It is not recommended to: cook at the stove, run.

She will fall asleep in the sling no matter who is carrying her--me or her dad, her grandparents and one of her great-grandmothers. Everyone's initial comment is that she looks squished, but as she is sound asleep at the time, I guess she is comfortable! People have also commented that they are surprised how fast she settles in it.

I do sometimes envy friends whose babies will go down for a nap in their crib--there are things that I just can't do while I'm wearing her. That said, I love the fact that Paige can and will have her nap in the sling wherever we are at the time, so she can have her nap when she needs it. Our original padded ring sling is great at home, but takes up half the space in our diaper bag. I also love our Baby Trekker, but it suffers from the same space-hogging problem. So, I made a pouch sling--still comfortable for her and for me, but folds up to the size of a wallet!

I've been making slings as baby shower gifts--I love choosing a fabric to reflect the style of the adult who will wear it. Pouch slings can be used for several different wearing positions, for kidlets from newborns to toddlers (up to about 30 pounds), and are really easy to learn how to use.

Order a custom-made sling for yourself or someone you know!
Give me a call, drop me a line, or leave a reply-post here.

I don't have any pictures of my ring slings up yet--keep your eye on this space.