Traditionally, in Eastern cultures, carrying a baby or toddler in a sling is very common. In Western culture, a pram or stroller is more likely to be chosen. Yet the baby sling has become increasingly popular in our Western culture in recent years.
Origin of the sling
The origin of the sling can be found in the Indonesian slendang or sarong. A tie-dyed cloth of approximately 2×1 meters. A slendang is traditionally worn as a garment by both women and men, wrapped around the hips. The same cloths are used as a sling. Various types of baby slings are now available for sale, often with a trendy design. Not only women but also men can carry their child in a sling.
Emotional and social development
A child in a sling takes a more active part in the life of the parent(s), it literally goes wherever the parents go. This means that the baby or toddler quickly becomes involved in all the activities of the young family. The sling allows the child to experience the stimuli in a safe environment. In the sling, the child hears the parent’s heartbeat, feels body heat and smells familiar scents.
Physical and motor development
The child moves with the parents and thus receives sufficient stimuli to develop a good sense of balance and touch. Due to the changing position of the parent, the baby trains his motor skills in the sling. A sling promotes a child’s motor development. Due to the position of the baby or toddler in the sling, the child’s hips and back will also develop in a natural and correct way.
Fewer stomach cramps
Due to the constant movement, the baby has better blood circulation and digestion. Babies who are carried in a sling are much less likely to suffer from colic and thrush.
Breastfeeding
The sling has many advantages for breastfeeding women. Because the baby has constant physical contact with the mother, she produces more prolactin. Prolactin is a hormone that regulates milk production. Because the baby is close to the body and breast, it becomes easier for the mother to notice when the baby wants to drink.
After some practice, the child can easily be placed in the sling. When wearing a bra, a special nursing bra increases this convenience. Breastfeeding with a sling can be done very discreetly. Women can carry and feed the child anywhere. The woman therefore has much more freedom of movement, because she can discreetly breastfeed her child almost anywhere.
Other convenience
When transporting a child in a stroller or buggy, your hands are no longer free. A stroller also takes up a lot of space, which can be difficult in a busy store or shopping street, for example. When going out by car; the sling is thrown on the back seat, while the buggy is placed in the tailgate with great difficulty.
For the parents
Carrying a child for the parents seems difficult. It is often thought that it is also bad for the parents’ backs. Research has shown that it actually ensures better posture and good development of the back muscles. When the child grows, the sling can also be used to carry the child on the back.
Buy a sling
There are many stores and websites that sell baby slings. The slings are often sold in trendy designs. In addition to the traditional slendang, there are also various other designs for sale. There are no special baby slings or toddler slings, so the same sling can be used for a long period of time.