Baby Slings: Strengthening the parent-child bond

Baby slings are the perfect way of forming a strong bond between a mother and her neonate. Slings allow a mother to carry her infant near her chest or on her back, thereby allowing the baby to remain in constant physical contact with his/her mother. This makes the baby feel secured at all times, and also reduces the craving for parental attention that infants often exhibit. Besides, carrying the baby in a sling will keep the mother's hands free, allowing her to work while keeping an eye on the baby simultaneously. Slings come in various types, such as, snuggle hold, cradle hold, hip carry, reclining cradle hold, kangaroo hold, and piggy back. These differ from one another according to the position of the baby inside the sling and also on the location of the sling.

Baby slings are made of various kinds of fabrics. Polyester and nylon fabrics are stretchable to some extent and can accommodate the increasing requirement for space of a growing baby, but straps of the slings tend to dig into mother's shoulders as the baby grows heavier. Slings made of thick cotton fabrics with wide shoulder straps may need to be replaced once the baby grows heavier, but these are more forgiving on the mother's shoulders. Some amounts of padding can be placed inside the sling to make the baby feel more comfortable, and keep him/her warm in cold weather.

Besides facilitating the formation of a strong parent-child bond, slings have many other advantages as well. These include,

1. Discreet nursing: Mothers carrying their babies in cradle hold type sling can breastfeed their infants discreetly in public. This is particularly helpful for nursing mothers who often go out with their baby. A correctly fitted sling also facilitates the baby's respiration during nursing.


2. Security for infants: Infants are far more secured in a sling than in a baby stroller with lesser chance of accidents.


3. Improved health: A correctly positioned sling improves the baby's health by ensuring regular nursing from mother. It also improves the mother's physical strength, particularly that of the shoulders and back. A correctly worn sling can alleviate shoulder and back pain in mothers.

Slings need to be worn correctly. An improperly worn sling can result in the baby falling out, or the mother developing serious injuries on her back and shoulders. But, when used correctly, slings are definitely one of the best accessories for parents looking to develop a strong emotional bond with their baby.