Carrying a newborn
Carrying your baby in a sling isn’t just cosy – it can also make everyday life with a little baby easier. Newborns have a strong need for closeness. Close to you, they can feel your body heat, hear the familiar beat of your heart and be enveloped in calm and security. This close contact stimulates the release of oxytocin – the body’s own ‘calm and tranquillity’ hormone – in both the baby and the person carrying them. Your baby feels safest when close to you.
When a child is carried close to you, it also becomes easier to spot early signs of, for example, hunger or the need to go for a wee or a poo. At the same time, the child has a better chance of communicating their needs. Research shows that young children who are carried a lot are calmer and cry less.
A baby sling allows you to keep your baby close whilst distributing their weight evenly across your body, which provides good support. What’s more, it leaves your hands free to carry out everyday tasks or look after an older sibling.
Baby slings come in a variety of materials and styles, including jersey and woven fabric. A jersey sling is soft and stretchy and is often best suited for a baby’s first few months. A woven baby sling can also be used from birth, but may require a little more practice to tie in a way that provides the best fit and support. As a woven sling is not stretchy, it often provides better support as the baby grows bigger and heavier.
Carry safely
When carrying your child, it is important to always bear safety in mind. The child’s airways must remain clear and their face must always be visible. A small child’s head is heavy in relation to their body, so they need good support for their head, neck and back. Their chin should not rest against your chest, as this can affect their breathing.
Always keep a close eye on your child whilst carrying them, and check regularly that no fabric or clothing is covering their face or obstructing their airways.
An easy way to check that your child is sitting securely is to use the safety circle. It helps you go through the key points for safe and secure babywearing every time you use a baby sling.
