Truth and fiction about the dangers of a baby sling

More recently, a sling was exotic, and there was very little information about this device for fixing a baby on a parent’s body. Currently, all media are simply full of notes about sling, but this information is sometimes the most controversial – from violent rejection to ardent recognition. While hot debates are raging in the press between the defenders and opponents of the slings, we will try to calmly understand all the subtle nuances of this thing, and at the same time, we will bring to the attention of the doubters all the objective and accurate arguments regarding the slings.

The content of the article:

Sling – myths, facts, opinions

We will not try to convince parents to stick with or refuse to wear a baby. After weighing the good pros and cons on all relevant questions that parents most often ask on the forums, each family has the right to decide independently, whether to acquire such a “cradle” for their baby.

Is it dangerous for the baby’s life – inall the pros and cons

“Against” sling:

Since 2010, when the death of a baby in a sling-“bag” due to the carelessness of the mother became known, there is an opinion about the danger of this device for the health and life of the baby. Really, if you do not follow the safety rules when carrying a child in a sling, do not provide him with a constant supply of fresh air, do not follow the child, tragedy is possible. The dense material of the “bag” sling serves as an additional barrier that blocks the air and contributes to overheating of the baby.

“For” sling:

However, sling bags there is an alternative – a sling scarf or sling with rings. These types of sling are made from thin “breathing” natural fabrics, moreover, it is easy to move the baby in them, changing the position of his body. In a May-sling or a backpack, the baby is upright, its airways cannot be blocked.

Opinions:

Olga:

In my opinion, in the modern world there is a good alternative to a baby sling – a baby stroller. And the child is comfortable, and the mother’s back does not fall off to keep him on herself. Personally, I do not need a sling, I consider it harmful for the baby, he does not move in it and it is difficult for him to breathe.

Inna:

Olga, is it also harmful to hold a baby in your arms? We have a sling with rings, we walk with the baby for hours – I couldn’t afford that with a stroller. Sometimes I breastfeed on the go, in the park, no one sees anything. The baby in the sling lies close to me, and I feel when he needs to change his position. Sling began to be used from 2 months, and the baby immediately became noticeably calmer.

Marina:

We are young parents, and we agreed to buy a sling as soon as we heard about it, even before the birth of our baby. But our two grandmothers began to oppose the sling, and they were guided by the opinions of some doctors, who expressed many negative opinions about the sling on TV. But we, too, approached the matter thoroughly, and studied a lot of literature about sling, finally making sure that our decision with my husband was correct. The child proved that we were right. He really enjoyed sleeping in a ring sling, we had noticeably less colic. And so that the grandmothers would calm down, we allowed them to abuse the child, try it on themselves, so to speak. Even our conservative grandmothers noted that they feel well every movement of the child, and can always change his posture.

Is it harmful to the spine and joints of the child?

“Against” sling:

If the sling is used incorrectly, this danger can arise. Wrong position of the baby in the sling: with legs clamped together, laid sideways, with legs strongly bent at the knees.

“For” sling:

For a long time, children’s orthopedists agreed that the baby’s pose with legs wide apart and fixed is very useful, it reduces the load, serves as prevention of hip dysplasia. So that the sling is not harmful, the baby from birth to 3-4 months should be kept in a horizontal, sometimes upright position of the body. The sling-scarf fixes the child well and supports his back, hips, it is no more harmful for the baby than the mother’s hands holding the baby to her.

Opinions:

Anna:

We have a sling scarf. As the pediatric orthopedist told me, this is the most comfortable and useful sling for a child, which fixes his legs very well. At birth, we had hip problems, suspected dislocation or dysplasia. Over time, these diagnoses were not confirmed, but in the first 4 months of life my daughter “wore” a splint, and then we began to use the sling both at home and on a walk. The child is comfortable when the daughter gets tired of sitting in one position, I take her out of the sling, and she sits in my arms. She often sleeps in a sling when we walk.

Olga:

We bought a sling backpack when our son was six months old and regretted not taking the sling earlier. It seems to me that all the disputes about the benefits or dangers of slings are meaningless, while all types of slings are mixed in one heap. For example, a newborn baby cannot be put into a sling-backpack, therefore, it will be very harmful for a baby up to 4 months old, which cannot be said about a sling with rings, for example. If we decide on a second child, we will have slings from birth, two or three for different moments.

Maria:

We did not part with the sling-scarf until the baby was one and a half years old. At the very beginning, there were also doubts, but our pediatrician dispelled them, he said that with such support, the baby’s spine does not experience any load, even with an upright position, it is evenly distributed, and not a single joint is compressed at the same time. When my son was over a year old, he sat in a sling and dangled his arms-legs, sometimes on my back or on my side.

Larisa:

Grandmothers at the entrance told me a lot when they saw a child in a sling with rings – and I would break his back and strangle him. But why are we going to listen to the opinion of those who have not seen this in their lives, have not used and do not know? 🙂 I read reviews on the Internet, articles of doctors, and decided that it would be more comfortable for my baby to walk even around the house with me. Six months later, when they saw a satisfied son, who was already looking out of my sling-backpack, neighbors asked where I bought this miracle in order to recommend it to my daughters-granddaughters.

Does the baby sling make the baby cranky, accustoming him to parental hands?

“Against” sling:

For the correct development of the child, very contact with mom is important from the first days of birth… If a child is carried in a sling, but does not communicate with him, do not speak according to his age, do not maintain emotional, eye contact, then sooner or later he may develop “hospitalism”, or he may become capricious, restless.

“For” sling:

Babies need to be carried in their arms, taken care of, stroked, talked to them – this fact is recognized by absolutely all children’s doctors, psychologists and specialists in the field of early development of the baby. Proven by mums who have already used a sling to carry a baby, as well as by pediatricians that babies in a sling cry much less… Moreover, they are given confidence by the feeling of mother’s warmth, the beating of her heart. It is difficult to imagine a small child who would not like to be on her mother’s arms, therefore for both mother and baby the best option is a sling.

Opinions:

Anna:

What whims, what are you talking about ?! We had whims and tantrums when I left my daughter alone in the crib, and I myself tried to quickly cook porridge, do quick and urgent chores around the house, go to the toilet, finally. After we purchased and started using the ring sling, my 2 month old baby became much calmer. Now the child is two years old, she never rolls whims and tantrums, sweet smiling baby. Of course, he sometimes wants to sit on my lap, cuddle, be on the arms, and what child doesn’t want that?

Elena:

I have two kids, the weather is a year and a half apart, I have something to compare. The eldest son grew up without any sling in a stroller. He is a very calm child, he did not shout without a good reason, he played with pleasure. For the youngest daughter, we bought a ring sling, because with two children and a stroller, it was difficult for me to get down from the fourth floor without an elevator for a walk. I noticed the pluses right away – I could safely walk where my son wants, and at the same time be with my daughter. With a stroller, many places would be simply inaccessible for us, and a good stroller for the weather is expensive. In addition, it would be difficult for me to drive a stroller and keep up with an almost two-year-old baby, with a sling I calmly played with him, even ran. My daughter also grew up calm, now she is a year and a half. There is no difference between the children, the daughter from the fact that she was constantly in my arms did not become more capricious.

If you liked our article and have any thoughts about this, share with us! It is very important for us to know your opinion!