Baby slings
Kerri Stalton

For adults who have just 'graduated' to parenthood, the toughest part of the job is to balance everyday affairs with the incessant demands of their infant. Heaven knows what chaos would visit us if it were not for the resourceful baby slings and carriers. Baby slings, like carriers, enable better mobility for the baby. A young baby feels very secure and warm within the safe cocoon of his sling. Diane Ellis, a mother of two says, "As soon as I put my daughter in the sling, she'll cuddle up and go to sleep while I type all my important letters."
Providing both convenience as well as a true bonding experience, slings usually carry you through the first few months of your baby's life. In its most basic form, a sling consists of a wide swath of fabric, worn across the torso of the parent supported by a shoulder strap. The baby is placed close to the chest of the parent. This fosters physical closeness and results in a win-win situation for the baby and the parent as the baby gets carried around, while the parent can carry on with routine tasks. Baby slings are ideal for breast-feeding moms. The loose fit and generous layers of fabric allow you to nurse your baby discreetly.
Some baby slings are very intuitive, and come with a light padding along the sides, that makes it comfortable for the baby to sit in. But too much padding can make the sling heavy. Remember, the baby is already quite snug and warm as your body warmth envelops him. Slings made of corduroy or heavy-gauge nylon can become a little too hot. A lightweight fabric fitted with wide shoulder straps is more comfortable for the baby. A breathable fabric is also easy to clean and convenient to store.
Padded slings with adjustable d-ring at one end are very convenient when the baby is small. As the baby grows, the sling can be adjusted to help straddle the baby across your hip. In a busy shopping mall or in a crowded airport, a sling may just be the thing to make life easy for you.
One major advantage of baby slings as opposed to other types of baby carriers is the way in which it holds the baby's head and body. The straps are on either sides of the body. This allows the little one to lie with his back straight and head raised.
Baby slings can even be made at home. In the absence of a real sling, it is possible to use a 45" piece of fabric, tied with a knot. Adding shoulder padding and adjustable straps would make it close to the real thing. Your baby will catch at least a few hours of sleep in the sling, so the fabric should not be so generous that your baby gets lost in it. Ideally, you should be able to slip the sling on and off single handedly. A sling that needs two adults to navigate can be a distinct disadvantage, especially when Junior is fast asleep and there is no one but you at home.
Slings are wonderfully adaptable and very versatile. You can experiment with a number of positions. The fetal position is a favorite with young babies; and as the baby grows older he can sit in a kangaroo-pouch position facing the world outside. Older children can be straddled across the hip. The simple design of sling carriers keeps their costs relatively low. That's just one more reason to go buy a sling.