Tuesday, December 30, 2008

Why A Sling?

Using a sling is so much a part of parenting my babies, I honestly do not know how I would survive babyhood, and certainly toddlerhood without one. Dr. William Sears has a saying about carrying your baby in a sling: When your baby is in a sling, he/she becomes a player, not a spectator. I can testify this to be true.

I just cannot get believe, in America, that we are so insistent on carrying our babies around in a car seat everywhere we go. Leave the car seat in the car and carry your baby! What I am advocating is a lifestyle, not just a handy, or comfortable, way to carry your baby when you are at a parade or on a walk.

When your baby is in a sling, it is like recreating the womb. The baby is so comfortable with your walk, the sound of your voice, your heartbeat, and being cozy against you again. I have never put a baby in the sling that didn't like it. I have no problem saying that all babies love a sling. It is about the parents being comfortable with using it. The baby knows how comfortable you are and they will let you know it.

Leave your sling in the car so that you are never caught without it. A lot of parents will keep one in the car and one in the house. If you are able to afford it, this is what I suggest. You truly will have a happier, and I believe, smarter, baby. My friend, Janet, is a great example of wearing her baby, continuously. Her sling goes on in the morning with her outfit and seems to stay there most of the day, whether the baby is in it or not. Her "pouch" is ready for the baby to jump right in. And, literally, her baby is in and out of the sling throughout the day. What a happy and well fed (physically and socially) baby.

You will talk to your baby when they are in a sling. They are right there with you and it would be unnatural to not talk to them. You'll tell them all about the items you are buying at the grocery store. They will be a part of your conversations with other people and feel included, even at a very young age. They will know they are valued.

A baby in a car seat will not be spoken to or have anywhere near this sort of interaction with his mama or with other people as a baby in a sling. Think for a minute about when you have talked to people, strangers or friends, when their baby is in a car seat (grocery cart, living room, etc.). Did you talk to the baby? You might have looked at the baby and even talked about the baby, but did you talk to the baby? Now think about when you have talked with people who have a baby in a sling on their hip. That baby was at the same level as the other people and was most definitely spoken to. They could make eye contact and facial expressions that are hard to ignore.

I have always felt that if I had my sling and an extra diaper, I could go anywhere. It makes parenting easier. The time is so short to carry our babies. I am going through this right now with my youngest. She'll be 4 in March and I feel so sad that my time of being able to physically pick her up and hold her is almost over. It's very emotional. You will not spoil your baby by carrying her "all the time." It will strengthen your relationship and you'll be grateful that you parented your sweet baby this way.

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