Babywearing As A Tool - When Tania Talks

Babywearing is the act of carrying an infant in a sling. It is a practice that has been used for hundreds of years and supports physical, psychological and social wellbeing for both child and caregiver. Here, we will be looking at how using babywearing as a tool can aid caregivers in their every day lives. You can find out more about how babywearing supports wellbeing at Carrying Matters – Why Carrying Children Matters.

When looking at what babywearing is and how it can benefit families, it’s important to remember that slings are a tool to help facilitate secure attachment. Parents who do not wear their children, either through choice or because they can’t are not letting their little ones down. It’s the soft touch and responsiveness to the infant’s needs that creates a secure attachment, not the use of a sling itself.

Why Babywear?

As a ‘carrying’ species, it’s in our nature to keep our children close. While we no longer need to to go out foraging for food or be able to flee from predators, there are still lots of challenges faced by primary caregivers. Many of these can benefit from the use of a suitable sling.

There are a lot of pressured on modern day parents and primary caregivers. While it’s true that ‘it takes a village to raise a child’ many families in the UK do not have this. Using babywearing as a tool can helping caregivers juggle everything, while meeting the needs of their young child.

Hands Free

Using a sling gives a caregiver their hands back. Lots of everyday things that we need to do as primary caregivers become easier when using a sling. Making and eating lunch, playing with older siblings, getting out and about and more!

Newborn babies in particular like to be held close. The transition from womb to world can be a difficult and frightening one for them. Keeping them close and providing skin-to-skin can reassure them and make the shift in their environment a little less overwhelming. However, this can leave caregivers feeling overwhelmed and frustrated that they can’t do the things they want and need to, because it feels like they always have a baby in their arms. Using babywearing as a tool can reduce this feeling, by allowing the caregiver to meet the needs of their baby, while also meeting their own needs, physically, emotionally and socially. For example, being able to make and eat food is a basic need, but one that can be extremely challenging with a baby in arms. This essential task becomes easier when baby is settled in a sling.

While a pram or pushchair requires the use of a caregiver’s hands, once a sling is secure caregivers have their hands free. When getting out and about, being hands free can be helpful. Walking the dog, travelling with older children and doing some shopping can all be made easier when you have both hands free. Doing this type of activity with a baby in a sling can give the caregiver a sense of autonomy and flexibility that they may not have with a pram or pushchair.

Getting Out And About

As well as the giving caregivers their hands back, slings can also make places more accessible. With a sling, many places that are inaccessible or difficult with a pram or pushchair become easier to navigate. A lack of space in public places, ill maintained pavements and a lack of step free access can make getting out and about with a pram or pushchair difficult.

Whether you want to use public transport, go on an adventure off the beaten track or walk the dog,using babywearing as a tool can make life easier.

With a sling, you don’t need to worry about finding somewhere to park your pram/pushchair, stairs are no longer a barrier and gravel/uneven paving is no longer a problem!

Personally, the only thing I’ve thought might be easier with a pram is trying on clothes in a shop with a newborn. While getting changed would be easier with a baby in a pram, accessing changing rooms becomes much harder. So I think in instances like this it’s a trade off of challenges – when one aspect is easier, another gets harder.

It’s important to note that some people exclusively babywear, others use a combination of slings and a pram/push chair and some exclusively use a pram. All of these are valid. Some people use both at the same time, to suit their families needs. For some, this means wearing a newborn with a toddler in a push chair. While others will take a pram or pushchair for long days out, carrying their child and using the pram/pushchair to transport lunch, nappies, toys, etc. There is no right or wrong, only what works for you and your family.

Feeding Aid

However you’re feeding, using a sling can be a helpful aid.

Life with a newborn is challenging. Using a sling supports during this stage of babies life supports and caregivers in picking up their little one’s early feeding cues. Being able to identify these allows caregivers to respond quickly and effectively. This reduces distress for both child and caregiver. You can find out more about hunger cues at NCT – The Reality Of Feeding.

A sling can also be used as a physical support while feeding. This can be particularly beneficial in situations where being sat on the sofa, propped up with pillows isn’t practical. There are different things to be mindful of when feeding in a sling, dependent on how you are feeding your child. You can find out more about using babywearing as a tool to breast and bottle feed at Carrying Matters – Breast And Bottle Feeding In A Sling. Additional, general information about feeding can be found below.

Please note: In general, feeding safely in a sling can’t be done completely hands free – think of your sling as a third arm that can take some of the weight of your baby.

Reflux and Colic

Reflux and colic can be distressing for both infant and caregiver. Using babywearing as a tool to keep baby upright can help to reduced symptoms, easing the discomfort for both child and their caregiver. Keeping a baby upright allows gravity to help reduce the amount of acid that travels up into their throat and gives their digestive system a helping hand. It also helps little ones get some much needed sleep, which reduces the distress that reflex and colic can cause. Information on reflux and colic can be found below.

With A Disability

Being hands free can be particularly beneficial for disabled caregivers. For those who use a mobility aid, using babywearing as a tool can help them remain independent. I need to use a wheelchair to be able to leave the house. Without a sling, Elise and I would be stuck at home, as I need both my hands to be able to steer my wheelchair (with power assist add on). While there are alternatives, these are few and far between, difficult to get hold of and can be difficult to use. In my area and with my hEDS, a pram attachment for my wheelchair would be cumbersome, impractical and unsafe. Moving around with any aid that requires the use of one or more hand(s) can be made safer and easier by using a sling.

It’s not just mobility aid users who can benefit from using babywearing as a tool. Those with low vision, a hearing impairment, reduced arm functioning, limb loss and more may find that carrying their baby in a sling makes life that little bit easier.

A consultation with a babywearing professional can be beneficial for those with with specific needs related to their disability. Many sling librarians are able to offer 1-to-1 consultations (see below to find your local library). If your local library don’t offer consultations, they should be able to put you in touch with someone who can. Alternatively, I am able to offer remote consultations. You can email me at whentaniatalksbabywearing@gmail.com or send me a message on social media.

It’s important to note that not everyone is able to use a sling. You can find out more about this in my Babywearing For All – A Harmful Rhetoric post.

How To Access Sling Support

A sling library is a fantastic place to access simple help, in-person. This could be a fit check of a sling you already own, information on safe carrying or finding out more about the different slings/carriers available. Sling libraries also offer the option to try and hire slings. This allows you to see how you get on with it in everyday life, before investing in one of your own. Hiring from a sling library is a helpful way to avoid buying a sling that doesn’t suit you. Some sling libraries are free to attend, while others charge a small entrance fee.

The Nuneaton Sling Library is free to attend and we are currently offering virtual support. We have a variety of different types and brands of slings available to try and hire. We also have a selection of new slings available to buy.

You can find out more about sling libraries at School of Babywearing – What Is A Sling Library. Want to find where your local sling library is? Check out the Carrying Matters – Sling Library Directory.

Further Information About Babywearing

If you’re in Nuneaton, why not access a free 10 minute advice slot for simple support? These are pre-bookable and currently held virtually during our online library times. You can find out when the next Nuneaton Sling Library session is on the Nuneaton Sling Library page and on Facebook.

For T.I.C.K.S. Safety information head to the Baby Sling Safety website.

For information on safe carrying in summer/winter, check out the Carrying Matters Carrying In The Heat and Carrying In The Cold resources.

Want to know more about the different types of slings available? Head to Sheffield Sling Surgery – Types Of Sling.

Looking for a sling for a newborn? Check out my Slings For Newborn Babies Overview post.

Want to know more about the history of babywearing? Check out School of Babywearing’s The History Of Babywearing – Babywearing UK.

General Feeding Information

For general breastfeeding information and advice, head to the Breastfeeding Network website.

Expressing and bottle feeding information can be found at NHS Start 4 Life website.

For bottle feeding advice, head to NHS _ Bottle Feeding.

Combination/mixed feeding advice can be found at NCT – Combining Breast And Bottle Feeding.

For breastfeeding support in Nuneaton, you can contact the Nuneaton, Bedworth and North Warwickshire Early Breastfeeding Support Team until your baby is 28 days old, on 01926 626529. They also have a Facebook Group for connecting with other breastfeeding families. NCT Nuneaton offer breastfeeding support throughout your feeding journey. You can also contact your health visitor.