I love the feeling when my toddler wraps her
little arms around my neck and lays her head on my shoulder. And
it's so soothing when she strokes my hair as she falls asleep.
It's times like these when I'm so happy she's nestled in my sling.
I formed a habit of carrying my baby, ever since her birth. We're
both happier because of this decision. And with a good sling,
it's no harder on me than pulling my own weight.
Yes, I'm one of "those". . .a babywearing mom.
The concept of babywearing is as old as time, and is still prevalent
today in many cultures. It's a practice on the rise in the United
States, (luckily for the babies!)
Advantages of Babywearing
- Return to the Womb - A baby being carried in a sling
is able to experience warmth, motion, security, and sounds similar
to what he heard while in the womb. Parents are more aware of
their baby's needs, and can attend to them immediately.
- Pays Attention to Tiny Backs - A sling will conform
to a baby's body, eliminating pressure on his developing spine.
- Close and Secure - Sling carriers allow babies to see
and feel their mother, while increasing the time the mother
is able to comfortably hold them.
- Hands Off The Baby Please - Wearing your baby in a
sling protects him from curious strangers and their germs. Most
people won't get too close to a baby being cuddled close to
his mother's breast.
- Baby's Number One Choice - Babies prefer being held.
(Think of the times you see mothers holding a baby with one
arm and trying to push a stroller or shopping cart with the
other.)
- Discreet Nursing - A sling provides for more discreet
nursing in public.
- Optimal Weight Gain - A breastfed newborn who's having
a hard time gaining weight will benefit while carried in the
sling because he'll smell his mother's milk and be stimulated
to nurse more often.
- Weight Distribution - Slings, as opposed to strapped
carries like backpacks or frontpacks, distribute the baby's
weight evenly over the parent's back, reducing strain.
- Calmer Babies - Babies who are carried in a sling have
more calm, alert periods. Slinging helps reduce crying and fussiness,
and can help immensely with a baby who has colic.
- Confidence - Carrying a baby in a sling helps him to
be more independent and self confident as he grows. A toddler
who knows his mom is there for him and will pick him up and
carry him when he needs her to is more apt to feel secure in
his environment.
- Look Mom - HANDS! Older siblings will feel
less resentful of a new baby who is carried in a sling, since
Mom has her hands free to help with the older child's needs.
How to Use Your Sling
It's important to remember that using a sling is something that
is learned. It will take a bit of practice to easily use your
sling, but soon it will become almost automatic to place your
baby in and go. You will have more success if your baby is rested
and fed before you start.
Preparing Your Sling for Use
- Lay your sling out flat. It will be easier to thread this
way.
- Take the portion at the end where there are not rings and
fold them as you would a paper fan or a strip of construction
paper to make something "jump out" of a card that
you made in elementary school. It is a sort of corrugated fashion
folding back and forth until you have a neat stack. The width
of your folds should be the same as the width of the folds that
are sewn on the ring end of the sling.
- Lay out your long folded sling with the Maya Wrap label facing
upward.
- Pick up your folded stack end and bring it toward the rings
and through both rings about half the length of your folded
sling.
- Take the folded stack end and flip it back over, like a snake,
OVER the top ring and UNDER the bottom ring.
Threading your sling is easier if you first lay it out flat.
When you first open your sling, you will notice a folded over
part. Holding the rings end of the sling in your left hand with
the tag side down, unfold that piece and then spread the sling
out completely on a flat surface. Gather the material together
like you would fold a paper fan and pull it through both rings.
Then pull it over the top ring and through the bottom ring, making
sure to keep the edges or rails of fabric in the right place.
(Follow each edge around to the rings and make sure it's on the
same side through the rings. Make sure the material in the middle
is evenly distributed through the rings instead of all bunched
up.)
Preparing to Wear Your Sling
(These instructions are for wearing your sling with the rings
on your right shoulder; they can be mirrored for use with the
rings on your left shoulder.)
Hold your sling with the tail facing out, the rings in your right
hand. Put your left hand through the sling and bring it over your
head, with the rings resting just slightly in front of your right
shoulder. Spread the fabric of the sling over your shoulder and
evenly over your back (all the way from your shoulder blades to
your lower back.)
Pull the material tightly across your back so that all of the
slack is in front of you. You are now ready to place your child
in the sling.
The Cradle Hold
This hold is most popular for newborns, but can also be used with
an older child or a nursing baby.
Pull the inner fabric up on your chest, creating a "pocket"
for your baby to sit in. Place your child in the sling with his
feet on the side with the rings. (MW slings can also be used with
the child's head on the same side as the rings. Either way is
fine; it all comes down to what is more comfortable for you and
your baby.) When the baby is comfortably in the sling with his
head either inside or outside the sling (again, whatever is more
comfortable for your child) pull the tail of the sling to tighten
it. You can make the sling fit more snugly by adjusting the top
and bottom rail independently.
Vertical Position
After pulling all the material around your back tightly, put your
baby inside the sling with his bottom resting on the bottom rail,
his tummy against yours, and his head resting on your upper chest.
Holding him securely with your left hand, pull the fabric around
him tightly, holding all of the slack between your hand and the
rings. Gently tighten the sling with the top rail covering or
mostly covering his head. This is for a newborn carry; a baby
with head control will not need his head covered by the sling
but may still enjoy the vertical position.
Kangaroo Carry
This position works best with younger babies who have head control.
Put on your sling and create a pocket as if you were planning
to use it in the cradle position. Cross your baby's legs ("Indian
Style") and place the baby inside sitting up with his back
against your chest. While supporting your baby's weight, pull
on the tail to tighten the sling.
Front Carry
Put your child in the sling facing sideways; he will be facing
the rings. Be sure the bottom rail comes out to your child's knees.
If your child is restless or tired, you can place his arms inside
the sling. Tighten the sling until your child is secure.
Hip Carry
This is an excellent position for heavy toddlers because your
hip is used to support your child's weight. Put your child in
your sling resting on your hip with your child's legs straddling
you. The bottom of the sling should extend out to your child's
knees. The top of the sling should come up to his shoulder blades.
This position can be used with the child's arms inside or outside
the sling. Tighten the sling until your child is secure.
Troubleshooting: If your back begins to feel strained,
make sure your baby is pulled close to your body. Tighten the
sling as necessary.
You can view the Maya Wrap instructional online video here: Maya
Wrap Instructional Video.
Back Carry
The back carry position is recommended for children who are at
least one year old. Put your sling on with the rings too high
(either on or behind your shoulder.) Place your child in the sling
as far back on your hip as possible with his arms covered. Tighten
your sling until your child is secure. Carefully slide your baby
around to your back. Until you are familiar with this position
it's a good idea to have someone help make sure your child is
secure in the sling. The back carry position should only be used
with a cooperative child.
Troubleshooting: If the rings end up in the middle of
your chest while using this position, take your baby out and begin
again, putting baby further back on your hip and starting with
the rings further behind your shoulder.
As long as you and your baby are both comfortable, there really
is no "wrong" way to use your sling. The more you use
it, the easier it becomes, and the more indispensable it will
be to you.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. This all sounds nice, but won't my baby become spoiled
if I hold her too much?
A. Actually, the opposite is true. Responding to a baby's needs
lets her know she is loved and valued. Babywearing promotes deep
bonding and allows parents to respond more quickly to their baby's
cues. "Spoiling" happens when something is neglected.
Your child will grow confident and secure when her needs for dependency
are met in her early years.
Q. How do I learn to use my new sling?
A. Wearing your baby in a sling will be a very pleasurable experience
for both of you, so have fun! Maya Wrap slings come with written
instructions with pictures, and an instructional video is also
available. You'll have better results learning to use your sling
if your baby is rested and fed. Some babies don't like the idea
of the sling in the very beginning, so when you get the baby inside
and adjusted, start moving immediately. The motion helps them
get used to being help in the sling. And truly, the more you use
your sling, the more comfortable you will be at using it. It will
become like second nature to put your baby in, make a minor adjustment
and go.
Q. I'm pregnant with twins. There's no way I can use a sling
for my babies, right?
A. Slinging twins is more of a challenge, but so is everything
relating to twins. This can be done! When the babies are newborn,
both can be worn in one sling (just order one size larger than
you would normally need.)
One possible position is a double "tummy-to-tummy"
carry. Place one baby over each breast facing you, with the babies'
legs either inside or outside the bottom of the sling (whichever
the babies prefer). Tighten the tail until the babies are both
snugly held against your chest.
Another position for newborn twins is with their feet touching,
with the babies facing each other sideways in the sling. Place
one baby in the sling with her head facing the rings. Then put
the second baby in, facing the first. Tighten the sling until
snug.
When the babies are older, you can wear your babies by using
two different size slings. If you would normally require a medium
sling, you would need a medium and a large. Put on the smaller
sling first and get one baby snugly situated. (You can use a cradle
position for younger babies or a hip carry for older ones.) Then
put the larger sling over and get the second baby positioned and
tighten the sling.
Q. My baby doesn't seem to like the sling. Am I doing something
wrong?
A. Most babies like the snug, cuddling feeling of being carried
in a sling, but some take a little longer to get used to it. If
your baby is fussy in the sling, here are a few suggestions:
Move around immediately
Eventually you will be able to be less active with your baby in
the sling, but at first, and if the baby seems restless, start
walking as soon as you have him secured in the sling. The rhythmic
motion will be soothing, and your baby will enjoy all the sights
from his new perspective.
Give her a few minutes to get used to it
As with anything new, being in a sling can take some getting used
to. If your baby isn't crying, but is just a bit fussy, give him
a few minutes to adjust to being inside the sling. If he becomes
very upset, take him out and try again later. This might mean
in an hour, a few days, a week or even a month later. A baby who
seemed to hate being in the sling at 2 months old may surprisingly
enjoy it at 3 months old. I found with my daughter that positioning
was what made the difference. She didn't like the cradle hold
when she was newborn, but did enjoy the vertical position with
her head only slightly covered for support. (I used my hand to
provide all the support she needed until she could hold it up
herself.) We still use our sling daily, and she's 17 months old.
Relax!
Your baby will sense your tension. If you are frustrated with
not being able to expertly tighten the sling, take a deep breath,
or try again later when you are feeling more relaxed. It may be
that just a change in position will make the difference with how
your baby reacts to being inside the sling.
Hold your baby through the sling
Put the sling loosely around your baby. Continue to hold
her with your arms. As she begins to relax, gradually tighten
the sling until she is being completely supported by it.
Feed your baby
Your little one may be more accepting of the sling if she
is being nursed.
My Favorite Sling
I have used several different kinds of baby carriers over the
years with my older children and never found one that was really
beneficial without causing a lot of strain on my back and shoulders.
When a friend bought me a Maya Wrap sling as a gift when I was
pregnant with my youngest child, I thought, this is just another
carrier I'll never use. Boy, was I wrong! My baby is a rambunctious
toddler and we still use our sling every day.
Maya Wrap slings are:
- Versatile (can be used in many positions, and with babies
from birth to 35 pounds.)
- Lightweight (cool in the summer, and not bulky - just toss
it in your diaper bag or on under your coat and go!
- A great aid for discreet nursing in public (the long tail
can be tossed over the baby's head for complete coverage.)
- Very comfortable (the fabric spreads completely over your
back and shoulder, distributing the weight of your baby evenly,
and minimizing back strain.)
- Usable for parents of many sizes (they are available in small,
medium, large, and extra large.) When ordering your sling, choose
the size that will fit the larger parent; a larger size merely
adds extra tail length for the smaller parent.
- Quite beautiful (Maya Wrap slings come in a variety of hand-woven
fabrics, including four solid shades).
To read more about Maya Wrap slings or to place an order, you
can visit my website:
Maya Wrap Slings by Rachel.
04/2002 |