Do errands with no fuss, wearing baby in a sling.
Ever watch a mom push a stroller with one hand and hold a fussy baby with the other? Or struggle up the steps of a bus, then try to fold the stroller while holding a squirmy baby? A sling is a simple solution for these problems, and many others: A cloth fabric sling or baby carrier, the ancient way of carrying babies, wraps around your body and keeps baby secure while giving you two free hands to do other tasks.
Why you’ll be glad you brought your sling and not the stroller?
Babies love to be carried. A sling, worn properly, strengthens your back muscles. Your can keep baby in a calming upright position, lying down, or any position in between. Older babies and toddlers can be worn in the front or back. If you wear your baby regularly, you muscles will adjust to the increase in baby’s weight.
Slings are especially useful for busy moms. Your baby is always with you, and you don’t have to keep an eye on the stroller.
Here are some situations where you’ll be glad you brought your sling:
- A store with narrow aisles.
- Bumpy sidewalks, curbs, or paths.
- Up and down steps.
- Public transportation.
- Meetings, work, or parties, where a quiet baby allows you to concentrate on other things.
- Any time your baby is fussy, including at home.
- When an older sibling needs more of your attention.
With your baby securely strapped to you, you are keenly aware of each other. You can calm baby as soon as she starts to fuss. If you are breastfeeding, you can feed her right in the sling.
You can make your own baby carrier using recycled cloth. If you make an over-the-shoulder type, you’ll need a sturdy ring that can carry the weight of the baby without breaking.
The best slings require fabric with a certain level of stretchiness, so they can be pricey but still cheaper than a good stroller. Since slings don’t wear out after one baby, you might be able to borrow one, or find a used one for next to nothing.
More green posts by Hannah Katsman:
Breastfeed Your Baby in a Hijab: Public Breastfeeding in the Middle East
Ten Tips for Breastfeeding in Public in the Middle East
Keeping Baby Hydrated and Safe in Hot Weather
Why Baby’s First Gift Shouldn’t Be Formula from the Hospital
Author: Hannah Katsman
Hannah learned environmentalism from her mother, a conservationist before it was in style. Once a burglar tried to enter their home in Cincinnati after noticing the darkened windows (covered with blankets for insulation) and the snow-covered car in the driveway. Mom always set the thermostat for 62 degrees Fahrenheit (17 Celsius) — 3 degrees lower than recommended by President Nixon — because “the thermostat is in the dining room, but the stove’s pilot light keeps the kitchen warmer.” Her mother would still have preferred today’s gas-saving pilotless stoves. Hannah studied English in college and education in graduate school, and arrived in Petach Tikva in 1990 with her husband and oldest child. Her mother died suddenly six weeks after Hannah arrived and six weeks before the first Gulf War, and Hannah stayed anyway. She has taught English but her passion is parental education and support, especially breastfeeding. She recently began a new blog about energy- and time-efficient meal preparation called CookingManager.Com. You can find her thoughts on parenting, breastfeeding, Israeli living and women in Judaism at A Mother in Israel. Hannah can be reached at hannahk (at) greenprophet (dot) com.
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