Babywearing Training!
If you're interested in finding our more about slings and baby carriers, or undertaking accredited training to become a Babywearing Peer Supporter or a Babywearing Consultant, visit the School of Babywearing.
Sling Information
Slings are an ideal way to carry your baby and can be used for newborn babies through to toddlers. Research shows that babies who are carried in slings cry less, learn more and have better bonds with the parent who carries them.
Dads have a great role to play in baby wearing as they walk in a different way to Mums, offering extra stimulation to their baby. We stock different sizes and styles of sling which you can buy or try (hire).
Choosing a Sling
If you're able to visit us at one of our sling meetings or would like to arrange a sling consultation, we'll be happy to help you choose a sling. You can try on the different slings that we sell with your own baby or one of our own demonstration dolls. You can see the types of slings that we sell in the menu on the left. If you're going to buy from us online or you'd like to narrow down the choices before we meet you, here are some things to consider:
- The age of your child
- Comfort for you & your baby/child
- Who will use the sling?
- How and when will you use the sling?
- Ease of use
Most of our slings are suitable for newborns. Stretchy wraps, ring slings, pouches and mei tais are ideal for newborns and can still be used when your baby is older. Woven wraps can be more difficult to use with a newborn but are ideal for older babies and toddlers as they offer more support.
| Age | Ideal | Possible |
| Newborn | Stretchy wrap, ring sling, pouch, mei tai | Woven wrap |
| Baby, 5 months + | Stretchy wrap, ring sling, pouch, mei tai, soft structured carrier | Woven wrap |
| Baby or toddler, 12 months+ | Woven wrap, mei tai, soft structured carrier | Stretchy wrap, ring sling, pouch |
If you want to buy one sling to use with more than one child, or one that will last until your baby is a toddler, choose one which fits across the appropriate categories above.
Comfort for you and your baby/child
If your baby likes to be carried in your arms (in the cradle position), they may enjoy being carried like this in a sling. Ring slings, pouches and wraps all enable you to carry your baby in this position as well as in an upright position.
One of the big comfort factors for the babywearer is whether you'd like a sling which spreads the weight over one shoulder, such as a ring sling or pouch, or one which spreads the weight over both shoulders and your back. If you have any back or pelvic problems or you think that you wouldn't be able to change the side on which you wear your ring sling or pouch, consider a wrap, mei tai or soft structured carrier.
If you want your partner, or someone else who cares for your child regularly, to use the sling, you will probably need to avoid slings which are sized to fit you (unless you are exactly the same height, body shape etc) Pouches are sized to fit your frame and woven wraps come in different lengths, although it is easier to share a woven wrap as different carries can be used by different people, so a bigger/ taller person can use a wrap in a carry which needs less fabric.
How and when will you use the sling?
If you have a little baby who loves to be carried or have other children and often need your hands free, you will want a sling which is still comfortable after several hours of wear. Wraps, Mei Tais and SSC's all distribute the baby's weigh evenly around our body and can be worn for long periods.
Ring slings and pouches are less suitable for long periods of babywearing as the weight is carried on one shoulder. But they are ideal for shorter periods, especially as your baby can be popped in and out quickly so they can be used for short trips (school runs) or for walks of a couple of hours.
If you are a breastfeeding Mum, having a sling you can breastfeed hands free (or almost), this can be particularly helpful if you have other children around during the day requiring your attention.
Ring slings and pouches all allow you to breastfed easily, although you may need to swap the position of the sling to feed your baby from the other breast. You can also breastfeed easily in a wrap or mei tai and we can help you to find the most suitable carry for you to nurse your baby easily.
Are you happy to take some time to learn how to use a sling like a wrap, which can take a little time to learn to tie, or would you prefer something a little easier to get to grips with?
Slings vary in their ease of use from pouches and ring slings which are very simple, through Mei tais and soft structured carriers, to wraps. Most slings can be worn in different ways and the slings we sell come with detailed instructions of how to wear them. Slings that may seem more complicated usually offer more versatility in use.
If you buy from our shop, we will help you practise and feel confident in the use of one or two carries. So why not come along to one our sling meetings to meet other baby wearers and learn more.about different ways to carry your baby.