Baby sling good or bad?

[Loucla]

I’m considering getting a baby sling for my little girl. She’s 7 weeks. She is a reflux/colic baby but both finally seem to be improving fingers crossed!

I’m just wondering what people’s opinions are on baby slings. I’ve had friends tell me not to as it’ll make her clingy and she’ll never sleep, never sleep through the age old rod for your own bag saying! Particularly my father in law who keeps telling me I’m already spoiling her as when her reflux was bad she wouldn’t entertain sleeping anywhere other that in my arms!

Although his comments really irritate me I couldn’t care less as I plan on continuing just wondering what others opinions are and what your experience of baby slings are! I’d plan to wear t it around the house and out and about too!

Good. Do it

I had a wrap sling for ds. Once you’ve worked out how to tie it, they are easy to use

Avoid the cheap ones you can get from Argos for £30. They are rubbish

God, do it. They can be a lifesaver/sanity-saver.

Visit a sling library if there’s one near you, or go for a 2nd hand version of one of the popular models (Ergobaby, BabyBjorn) to try out.

You are not making a rod for anything with a 7 week old baby. They like to be close to their parents and babywearing is lovely and also practical in many situations. Give it go and see if you both like it. Try it a few times though and watch lots of videos of how to wrap them. Babywearing is great heading into the colder months too, keeps you both warm.

2 babies, both mainly napped in a sling until 5 months...

My eldest slept through the night from 10mo, and my 6mo now naps for 1.5 hours at a time in her cot.

Rods are bullshit. If it will help her - do it!

Bloody amazing.

So, so lively for you and babe, and just a convenient way of getting things done.

Sod your FIL, he sounds rather old fashioned, to say the least.

Absolute nonsense that it makes them clingy. My DS had awful colic and a sling saved my sanity. He was often in it for hours a day until about 9m and then for walks and chores round the house until 14m when I became too pregnant to carry him.

He is the most independent / confident little boy and sleeps through the night and in cots for naps by putting himself to sleep.

Cannot recommend it enough!

I foster babies and they almost all love to be carried in a sling, it absolutely does not make them clingy. In fact, I would go so far as to say it does the opposite, it gives them the comfort and closeness that they need to become happy, independent toddlers.

A sling is about the only item I tell my pregnant friends (who ask) that they should definitely buy. It sounds like you are coming out the other side but a soft stretchy sling was the only way we survived colic/reflux. We had one from the brand freerider (freeriderco.com/) and it was marvellous. Comfy to wear, DS napped in it (when he stopped crying ) both in and out the house and very easy to wash baby sick out of! Really any good quality stretchy sling will do you.

He was a big baby so we then progressed to a structured sling pretty quickly, We went for a Tula Explorer but there are loads available. I would look at renting one of these from a sling library as they are quite expensive and different people get on better with different brands (unlike stretchy slings which are pretty universal). DS ADORED forward facing in it and I could be out for hours with him looking at the world for hours. He never really tolerated the buggy so it was an absolute life safer for getting out the house. He napped quite happily in it until about 6 or 7 months when the world just became too fascinating and he didn’t want to face inwards anymore!

Slings don’t create ‘clingy’ babies. Different babies have different levels of needs. A sling assists you in keeping a more dependent baby happy, it doesn’t create dependency.

Hope you find something that suits!

They’re great.
Go for it. Find a sling library if you can, we loved the close caboo when dd was that little and then a Tula as she got older.

Your FIL doesn’t know what he’s talking about. It’s impossible to ‘spoil’ a baby or hold them too much. They’re incapable of manipulating a situation ‘to get what they want’ and being carried in a sling is not going to make a difference to nighttime sleep (except if it gives them more daytime sleep it might just improve nighttime sleep too as baby won’t be so exhausted and overtired).

Honestly this bit is so hard, mine wouldn’t sleep anywhere but in my/ husband’s arms and we literally couldn’t put her down for months. The sling was a lifesaver. We went with it, held as much as she needed, used the sling, coslept, fed to sleep because it worked etc etc. Everything you’re not ‘supposed’ to do and is supposed to make a rod for our own backs. She’s 1 now, sleeps pretty well in her own cot, totally thriving. I know you’re thinking ‘I can’t wait a year!’ (And you probably won’t have to) and I know when you’re in it it seems endless and impossible, but it really does get better and it really does go quickly once you look back.

Do it!! We have used a sling since birth, now 2 and carried on the back.

The best thing ever!!

We have such a strong bond. She sleeps 12 hours + in her own bed (since 11 months) and is so confident it's unreal. Not in the least but clingy.

Get yourself to your local sling library to find the right one for you both.

Ignore the negative comments!!

I spent most of last summer with a small baby strapped to my front. It be worked for me because it was easier for hanging out with my toddler. Didn’t use one at all with my first but they happily slept in the pram.

Probably my most essential baby item

Thank you all so much! I absolutely love having my little girl sleep on me but I’m getting to the point now where I have to actually do things around the house can’t be put off any longer ha! We are hopefully turning a corner with the reflux but colic is still quite bad so that’s my main drive in wanting to purchase one as I’ve heard they’re excellent for reflux/colic babies especially with helping keep them upright after feeds.

I have had a look at the freerider slings they look quite good and I’ll definitely have a look if there’s a sling library near me.

Yes FIL is very old fashioned continues to offer me questionable parenting advice when ever I see him about how I should just leave her to cry it out🙄

Looks like I’ll definitely be investing in one!

They saved me with my refluxy baby. He was never off me for the first 3 months and it meant I could get on with things. It didn’t make him clingy - he’s now 8 months and not at all interested in the sling.

What they all said. Life saver, sanity saver, back saver. DH and I both used it loads, we loved it and she did too.

FIL sounds like an absolute pillock. You can’t spoil a 7 week old doing anything. Hold her, cuddle her, kiss her, cherish her. Ignore anyone who says to do otherwise, they’re idiots.

Oh my goodness, don't listen to the people who say crap like that. Slings are absolutely amazing for babies. They love and expect to be close to you. Being close to you helps build secure attachment which has huge impacts for the rest of your children's lives. Sheffield sling library and Carrying Matters have a lot of useful information x

Best thing ever. I never got on with buckled ones but stretchy wraps and my big, cloth didymos were totally brilliant.

Amazing. I had a sling wrap. Everything is just so much easier with a sling.

I don't know what it is about babies that makes people experts in parenting.

Slings are excellent, your baby is tiny and needs their Mum. 4th trimester and all that.

Definitely going to purchase one thank you for all your advice and reassurance! First time mum and yes everyone is offering the very often unwanted advice on how I should be looking after my little one and tbh she’s been horrendous with reflux/colic the first 6 weeks of her life so now we’re turning a corner I’m so looking forward to finally being able to cuddle and enjoy her now she she feeling better and appears mum happier and hopefully the closeness will help as still awaiting that beautiful first smile! X

or go for a 2nd hand version of one of the popular models (Ergobaby, BabyBjorn) to try out.
These were the 2 that my sling library specifically said they DIDN'T recommend. We bought a Bjorn second hand and it really is rubbish compared to the Beco Gemini we have now. Know lots of people with the Ergo and though they use them regularly, most need help to clip it up at the back which is no good if you're by yourself, I also think it's pretty bulky to carry round. The sling library near us was so friendly and really helpful. A great resource to support if you can.

I had a Wilkinet. It might look a bit daunting to start with but it was fabulous. It can be used from newborn to toddler age and can be used in various positions. It also had no clips or bits that might break.

I've been a big slinger and still occasionally stick my 3yo on my back on long walks. A sling is a gift with a tiny baby and all this "rod for your back" stuff comes from the 1960s Parenting School for Emotionally Stunted Folk. Ignore.

I used a stretchy wrap or Close Caboo with newborn and a Tula from 3-4 months, but connect with your local sling library and you can find something that suits you.

Absolute rubbish about them being too clingy. Although I can't recommend a sling. I got the boba but I didn't really like it. It was good for when I had no one to hold the baby for me so I could get things done but I felt it was irritating because the fabric kept rolling, it had to be pretty tight to stop it from slipping down and I found that irritating I was always supporting her bum with one hand anyway ( although that was my silly worries) and by the time she was about 4 weeks she wouldn't tolerate her head being supported by the sling and wanted to stick it out but then it had no support at all.

Definitely do it.
A basic stretchy wrap is great for that age.

I would not recommend baby bjorn as many people find they're really uncomfortable for both parent and baby and often leave babys legs "dangling" when they should be tucked up in an M shape.

Please follow the TICKS guidance - don't have the straps so low that baby is swinging somewhere around your navel as I saw at the park the other day.

babyslingsafety.co.uk/