Home
Online
Shop
Choosing
a Sling
Using a
Sling
Photo
Gallery
About Us
Contact
Us
Testimonials
Links
Press
Terms
& Conditions
Special
Offers
View Shopping Cart
Frequently Asked Questions
Are baby slings safe?
Baby slings are completely safe to use and babywearing is good for babies and for their parents! The golden rules for safety, especially when carrying a newborn in a sling are given here in the T.I.C.K.S. rules for safe babywearing.
For more information on using slings safely please see this great article on the website of Babywearing International.
Which slings would you recommend for a newborn?
Any of the Stretchy Wraps or the Close Caboo are perfect to use from birth and Ring Slings are also a good choice for a newborn as are Woven Wraps
back to top
Which slings can be used for a premature baby?
Most manufacturers err on the side
of caution and recommend 8lb as the starting weight for their products.
In the US it is a legal requirement to give 8lb as the minimum weight.
But using a sling to help with Kangaroo Care for prem babies can
be very helpful.
We would always advise that you get expert advice and
help with positioning to ensure that you're using your sling safely
with a premature or low birth weight baby. Please see the T.I.C.K.S. safety
guide for more info.
Stretchy
Wraps are one of the most popular choices for prem babies,
but ring
slings or wraps can be used with a premature baby. The Caboo Baby Carrier
is suitable for preemies from 5lb.
back to top
I'm buying for a newborn but want
something I'll still be able to use when my baby is much older and
heavier - what would you suggest?
Wraps
are a good buy as they are perfect for newborns but are still good for
carrying older heavier babies. The less stretchy wraps are more
comfortable with a heavier child so the woven wraps
are good if you want something that will last you well past the first
year.
If you would prefer a more structured, conventional looking carrier
then we recommend the Connecta.
These carriers can be adapted for newborns and are great for older babies
and toddlers too as they are very versatile and can be used on the
back which is ideal with a toddler.
Ring slings
are also suitable from newborn and are useful with an older baby or toddler as they are great for
carrying older ones on your hip.
back to top
Which slings are good for
breastfeeding in?
You can breastfeed comfortably in
an just about any sling or carrier with a bit of practice!
Stretchy
wraps and Woven wraps
both work well, stretchies can be slightly easier to use for feeding
tiny babies in than woven ones
as the flexibility of the fabric can make positioning easier. A
young baby can be fed in a stretchy using the cradle position to begin
with but many mums and babies manage to feed
successfully in a more upright position once the baby is a little older
and has better head and neck control. Woven wraps come into their own
at this pont as there is so many different carries you can try to find
one that works for you and your baby whilst nursing.
A ring sling
is also an excellent choice for long term breastfeeding because even
quite long babies and toddlers can be positioned comfortably at the
breast in a ring sling. Of the ring slings, the Maya Wrap
or the Ellaroo
Sling are the easiest to adjust precisely as they have no
thick padding. This enables you to get your baby into exactly the right
position at the breast. Soft Structured Carriers can also be used very successfully to feed in an upright position.
To enable you to breastfeed discreetly in a sling without flashing your
tummy, front opening clothes, ones with a low neck so you can access
the breast from above, or a nursing top can be useful.
Please
remember that feeding in a sling or carrier isn't completely hands
free, you should keep a close eye on your baby at all times whilst
nursing and little one should always be returned to a high, upright
position once they have finnished feeding.
back to top
My baby is very heavy, what sling
would you recommend?
If you are buying for a baby under 5
months old we would recommend any wraparound sling,
the Close
Baby Carrier, the Pikkolo,
the Connecta
or the Maya
Tie. They spread the weight evenly across both shoulders,
your back and your torso and are amazingly comfortable to use.
If you are buying for a baby 5 months or older a wraparound sling is
still a good option. For much heavier older babies a woven wrap
has a slight advantage over the stretchy wraps as it supports your back
a little better.
Other great choices for a heavy baby of 5 months plus are the Patapum
Baby Carrier, the Catbird Baby Mei-Tai,
the Pikkolo
and the Maya
Tie. These are extremely comfortable as they distribute the
weight evenly across both shoulders and onto your hips. They can be
used on the back once your baby is about 6 months.
back to top
Which slings would you recommend for
an older baby or toddler (6 months plus)?
Many of the slings sold at Little
Possums can be used past 6 months and into the toddler years. Please
see the question above for information about which slings are best for
heavy babies.
If you are specifically looking for something for a toddler (18 months
plus) then the The Connecta Toddler Carrier is very popular and works well even for
pre-school age children.
Ring slings
can still be very handy with older babies and toddlers. Although they
don't distribute the weight quite as evenly as wraps and Soft
Structured Carriers, as long as they spread well over your shoulder and
across your back they can still be comfortable with an older baby. Ring
slings are great for quick ups and downs with a
toddler who likes to walk some of the time but come up for a cuddle or
a carry now and then.
back to top
I have problems with my back,
which slings would be suitable for me?
If you are prone to back problems
you should choose a sling which will distribute the weight as evenly as
possible across both shoulders and your torso.
If you are buying for a newborn Wraps are good for this, as is
the Close
Baby Carrier
and the Connecta.
If you are buying for an older baby wraps and Connectas are still very supportive but
you could also consider the pther Soft Structured Carrier .
These structured carriers are good for people with back problems
as they distribute the weight onto your hips very effectively. For
front carrying you should make sure that the sling is adjusted so that
your baby is held nice and high on your chest and close into your body
so that the weight is not pulling on your shoulders.
If you have back problems please be sensible. We would advise you to
consult your GP or a qualified professional such as a babywearing consultant, physiotherapist
or chiropractor if you are concerned about your back. If carrying is
painful, listen to your body and try to give yourself a break.
back to top
Is it possible to use a sling
while recovering from a caesarian section?
Many women use slings successfully
and comfortably after a c-section, most women who have a normal
recovery find they can use a sling around 2-4 weeks after the
operation. Any of the slings that are suitable
from birth can be used after a section. If you are using a
sling which ties around the waist you will want to tie it fairly high
so that it won't press on your scar.
As with back problems, please be cautious about carrying your baby if
you're recovering from a c-section. Consult your GP if you have any
concerns. If it's uncomfortable or painful then leave it for a few days
before trying again.
back to top
I'm expecting twins - what sling
could I use for them?
None of the slings we sell are
specifically designed for use with twins. While it is possible to put
two babies in one close caboo or wrap, it's may not be recommended by the
manufacturers for safety reasons. However carrying one twin in a sling
will free up your arms to hold the other one, so a sling can still be a
very useful tool when coping with newborn twins. It may be helpful to seek advise from your local sling library or babywearing consultant for advice about carrying 2 babies in one sling.
You can also use two slings wearing one twin in each sling with one
sling on each shoulder. You can do this with any ring sling or pouch sling.
Another option with older twins is to carry one on your front and one
on your back either using wraps,
soft structured
carriers or a combination of the two.
For really detailed information and advice
about babywearing twins please see these wonderful articles at
babywearer.com. One deals with babywearing infant twins, and the
other with using slings with older baby/toddler twins.
back to top
My partner and I are very
different sizes - will be both be able to use the same sling?
Not necessarily. With pouch slings the
sizing is very important and it's likely you would need different
sizes. However the Hotslings
Adjustable Pouch will adjust to fit most sizes. The standard
sized ring slings
do fit most people but if one of you is very large or broad you might
need a large size.
The stretchy wraps will fit all shapes and sizes as they are very long and
if you are small and slim you just wrap it around your waist an extra
time before tying. The Ellaroo
Wrap does come in different sizes but if you need a large
wrap for the larger person, the smaller person can just have longer
ends and tuck them out of the way.
All of our soft structured carriers will fit most people as they have
adjustable waist and shoulder straps enabeling them to fit fit people
of all different shapes and sizes athough some very petite people may
struggle to get the waist strap and/or shoulder straps tight enough.
back to top
I want to be able to carry my baby
and push my toddler in a buggy, which slings are suitable for this?
Wraps
are great for this, as are the
Close
Baby Carrier or soft structured carriers.
All of these slings feel very secure allowing you to be confidently
hands free to push the buggy. An unpadded or lightly padded ring sling will
also work well as you can get it adjusted very snugly.
back to top
I want a carrier that I can get
on my back by myself, what would you suggest?
With practice it is possible to get
any of the soft
structured carriers on to your back on your own. For example
the Patapum
Baby Carrier can be put on your back relatively easily on
your own. See our photo
instructions for how to do it! It does take some practice but
once you've got the knack it's becomes second nature. You can use an
adapted version of this method for back carrying in any soft structured
carrier but it does take a little practice to get confident at this.
Please don't try until you are sure you can do it safely!
It is also possible to do a back carry in a Woven Wrap on your
own but the learning curve for this is quite a bit steeper, see our photo instructions for
details of one method of doing this.
back to top
I want a sling that's really quick
and easy to use, what would you recommend?
Most people find Soft Structured Carriers are
very quick and easy to use. Ring
slings are also very quick to put on with just a little
practice. For newborn and younger babies the Close
Baby Carrier
is also quite quick and easy and spreads the
weight on to both shoulders. With any suitable carrier a back
carry takes a little bit more time to master but once you get used to
it it will be just as quick and easy as the front or hip carries.
back to top
My baby is over a year old - is it
still worth buying a sling?
Definitely - of course we would say
that! But loads of mums of older babies and toddlers use
their slings nearly every day. Once you've got one you'll wonder how on
earth you ever managed without it! Take a look at the advice above
about choosing a sling for an older or
heavier baby.
back to top
My husband won't wear anything that makes him look too 'alternative', what would you suggest?
If you're buying for a newborn the the close caboo is quite conventional looking and is available in some dark,
neutral colours. Many of our Soft Structured carriers also come in neutral, dark colours which are usually very popular with fathers who prefer
something simple and plain looking.
back to top
© Little Possums 2005
Choosing
a Baby Sling
