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What’s the best sling?

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What’s the best sling?

mums enterprise roadshow #shootforthemoon ergobaby wompat lenny lamb connecta firespiral integra tula free to grow emeibaby fidella flytai jpmbb original
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So you’re in the market for a sling or carrier for your baby. You’ve looked online, asked on Facebook and spoken to parents at a baby group and now you have 10 different recommendations! So, what’s the best sling? Asking this question is a bit like asking what’s the best fruit? I say mango, but if you don’t like mango, that doesn’t help you.

At It’s A Sling Thing: part of CalmFamily, we get asked this question all the time. The answer depends on many things, including personal preference.  If you were buying expensive jeans, you’d try a few on, rather than trust the jeans that fit your friend are right for you. That’s exactly what we recommend when looking for a sling or carrier for your baby. At It’s A Sling Thing we offer a postal library service with one of the largest ranges of carriers in the UK. You can access our expert advice and hire or buy directly from the comfort of your own smartphone.

If you’re new to slings, our free download – 5 main types of sling and carrier – might be useful!

What makes a sling or carrier ‘the best’?

The best sling or carrier for you and your baby is one which is safe, appropriate and comfortable. If it meets those criteria then it’s great for you at this moment.

Safety – the carrier you are using needs to support your baby so that they can breathe, so that they won’t slump down and close their airway and so that they are securely held.

Appropriate – the sling you choose needs to fit your baby appropriate to their size and development, and ideally supports their spine in a developmentally appropriate position.

Comfortable – you and your baby need to be comfortable! If anything is straining or digging in after a short while, it might not be the right carrier for you or you might need to tweak something to get a better fit.

So, to narrow down your choices consider a few points

What’s the best sling for your baby’s developmental stage?

There are carriers available to suit all ages and stages from tiny preemies to 26kg+ preschoolers. If you’re looking for the perfect newborn carrier then look for a carrier suitable for a newborn. If you have a toddler or preschooler then look for a different kind of sling. Often people find that the ideal carrier can change at different stages so find something that will work for right now. If it will grow with your child that’s great, but it needs to fit well now.

What’s the best sling for what you want to do?

Keeping a reflux-y newborn upright and a camping trip with a toddler might have different ideal carriers. A stretchy wrap that snuggles and supports the whole newborn form might be a muddy mess whilst camping.

If you need to be quick then a buckle carrier might be the right option for you, if you love the idea of spending time wrapping then do that!

What about body type?

Some slings have lots of padding at the waist: this could mean very slender people may be able to tighten them enough. It is very unusual that sling straps are too short for large parents, however, get in touch if you have concerns. The wide range we offer means there is something for everyone, however, not every sling will fit every person comfortably. A free phone consultation with us may help you decide what options to try.

Special considerations

If the adult carrying the baby has any medical conditions, or specific needs these may impact which slings work for them. Similarly, conditions affecting your baby may mean certain slings work better than others, especially if their muscle tone, airways, or position is affected. For example, if your baby wears a Pavlik harness, or has scoliosis then a consultation may help. We have a wealth of experience assisting families with a range of needs.

Perhaps you are looking to carry two children at the same time, or to carry whilst pregnant? Certain slings might be more suitable for those circumstances.

So, what is the best sling?

Answers to all of these things all help us build up a picture of you and inform our recommendations. If you get in touch we will suggest a range of options that may suit, taking into account everything you tell us. However, we won’t recommend the best sling, because only you can decide on the best sling for you!

You can get in touch for a consultation, or head over to our hire portal right now, and if you find the best sling for you then we are over the moon <3

Meanwhile, find out more about slings, carriers and carrying in the carrying section of our Knowledge hub

Recommend0 recommendationsPublished in Carrying, Carrying basics, Sling choice & fit
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