9 benefits of the baby sling
The baby sling takes us back to the time when cars did not exist, what benefits does it bring for the child and the mother?
A baby sling is a system used by the mother or father to transport their baby during the first months of life . They take care of the safety of the little one by being in contact with the father figure at all times and helps them to acquire a suitable posture throughout their development.
Formerly there were no carriages as transport for babies. Mothers had no choice but to carry their babies hanging from them if they wanted to travel distances such as crossing jungles, deserts, forests … In recent years our culture is rethinking the idea of using baby carriers for the great amount of benefits that have been discovered . Some believe that wearing a sling is a way to spoil babies, but nothing is further from the truth. Children grow up and none of them will want to be carried forever, what’s more, most ask the mother to let them down to the ground to interact with the world , the baby will give signals that he wants to walk and spend more time on the ground.
There are several types of baby carriers, from the famous oriental Mei Tai to the typical ergonomic backpack that is carried as a carrier on the back. However, today we will focus on the baby sling and its benefits.
Index
9 BENEFITS OF THE BABY SLING
There are multiple benefits of using the baby sling, we highlight some to help you decide between this and other transport options:
1. Reduces the probability of sudden death
In those times (when the mother carried the baby) sudden death as we understand it did not exist. Babies were continually carried over, they were more closely guarded and security was greater. In addition, it is known that direct contact with the mother helps to develop more quickly some systems that are still growing, for example the respiratory system.
2. Promotes the physical development of the baby:
With the use of the baby sling, the child acquires a correct position that allows a good growth of the back, legs and hips.
3. Increases the psychological well-being of the child
The baby will feel more secure and calm because there is a contact with the mother, they feel her heartbeat, her warmth and her breathing. Children who grow up feeling secure have been shown to become more independent and self-confident adults. However, children who have grown up in ambiguous and insecure environments tend to be elusive, suspicious, and shy.
According to the expert Sussane Lenk , who works as a carrying instructor at the Llevame Cerca School, she defends how good it is for the baby to feel physical contact with the mother . “The baby’s survival instinct responds to two senses: touch and movement. And that is favored by the baby carrier. This way the child feels more secure, his learning is favored and his stress is reduced” .
4. They improve the general health of the child
As we mentioned before, the baby sling provides greater safety for the child. Feeling calmer (and less nervous) will in turn increase sleep times and decrease crying and episodes of colic and vomiting.
5. Greater neuronal stimulation
The child who travels in a baby carrier has a great advantage over the rest: he relates and interacts more with the environment. Being at the same level as the rest of the people has more enriching experiences with the environment. Your brain will mature earlier and your learning will accelerate.
6. Makes breastfeeding easier
If you’re breastfeeding your little one, the baby wrap is an easy and discreet way to do it. In addition, continuous physical contact with the child will help you continue to secrete milk.
7. The baby will not be so hot
One of the typical beliefs is to think that the child will feel hot by being continuously on the mother’s lap, especially in summer. On the contrary, the child will be cooler with the baby sling than in a stroller. It is true that depending on the fabric with which the baby carrier is made they can be overwhelmed, but more heat happens if they have to be enclosed inside the stroller with all four sides gathered and not a hint of air leaking inside. Chairs might seem like a good alternative because when they are opened the children receive more air. However, the synthetic materials with which they are built make them pass more heat. The next time you can take your son out of the chair you can check it, surely you will notice him more sweaty than when he entered. Choosing a cool carrier for the summer is a good option. Choose natural fabrics that help perspire heat and sweat, such as cotton.
8. Parents are more “liberated”
By having their hands free, they can go about their daily chores while watching over your baby at all times. On the other hand, they have more freedom of movement to go where they want. For example, they will not have to worry about whether the bus cart spaces are full or the portal elevator is too small (they will no longer have to go down the stairs).
9. Your vision of shopping will change
It is very stressful to have to take your baby shopping. You have to load everything in the cart and manage not to spend buying, since in the lower part of the cart you probably will not fit all the products. With the scarf you can easily push the shopping cart and then load the bags.
In addition to all these advantages, the baby sling offers you a large number of models to choose from. Depending on your needs and the time of year you are in, you can choose a large number of fabrics and designs.
IS THERE A DANGER OF SUFFOCATION?
It is an issue that has attracted criticism because there has been some news of asphyxiated babies . The cause of these misfortunes is none other than misuse of the baby carrier . They are not dangerous if used correctly. Isabel Izquierdo , coordinator of the Working Group for the study of sudden infant death of the AEP (Spanish Association of Pediatrics) and Neonatology pediatrician at the La Fe University Hospital in Valencia affirms: ” This system is recommended in pediatric consultations. The child is in contact with his mother and the mother has more freedom to handle herself. But it has to be well used. The problem is when, out of habit, so much care is no longer taken in its use. Children can wriggle out, their heads can be covered and are at risk of suffocation . “
To make good use of it, the legs have to form a 90º angle and the back has to be seen in a C-shaped profile that as the little one grows, it will end up forming an S. The baby’s weight will fall on the rear. It is also necessary to avoid that the baby is too inclined if not at a suitable height (that we get to kiss him if we lower the chin), the scarf should not press or cover the head and the baby’s neck does not have to be too flexed to avoid possible suffocation. It doesn’t take long to learn how to get it right and we’ll be doing a huge favor by using it as transportation for both our children and ourselves.
Dr. Tabriella Perivolaris, Sara's mother and fan of fashion, beauty, motherhood, among others, about the female universe. Since 2018 she has been working as a copywriter, always bringing to her articles a little of her experience and experience as a mother and woman.