Baby Sling Carrier Q & A The baby sling carrier provides the best and most natural way to carry your baby, second only to your arms. The benefits of babywearing are infinite and babies worn in a baby sling carrier spend more time in a 'quiet-alert' state, where cognitive development is taking place. The baby sling carrier, worn with nursing wear, provides for 100% confidence and security when transporting and breastfeeding baby in public. Each style of baby sling carrier we carry at babyflair.com has unique qualities, and, yes, DAD's can wear most of them, too! The baby sling carrier comes in several different styles and fabrics. View descriptions below to determine which baby sling carrier best suits your needs: Padded Baby Sling Carrier: The padded baby sling carrier is probably the most widely used sling in America. These slings are easy to use and ideal for the breastfeeding mom. Most are padded in the rails and come with some sort of shoulder pad. The padding varies from very thick to very thin. Padded baby sling carriers are especially popular with nursing moms as they provide a great amount of privacy and support for newborns. We carry a few different types of padded baby sling carriers. The SlingEzee baby sling carrier is densely padded in the rails and has a shoulder pad that is thick and supportive. It's style is similar to the Over the Shoulder Baby Holder and Nojo slings that are very popular in the US. It is less bulky than the OTSBH, but more substantial than the NOJO. The SlingEzee fabrics are also far superior to both. The sling is wide so you can feel confident that baby is secure inside. All are a soft, washable 100% cotton. We chose to carry it because we liked it the best out of the similar designs. The Heart to Heart baby sling carrier is rather unique in design. Instead of inserting a separate shoulder pad inside the sling, the entire shoulder of the sling is a pad. Also, the side rails of the sling have been sewn on the inside so the fabric never pulls against your skin. This and the shoulder are my favorite features. This baby sling carrier is wider than most giving baby lots of room to grow. This sling can be worn for hours without causing discomfort to lower back or shoulders. Unpadded/Lightly Padded Baby Sling Carrier: For people who find the padded baby sling carrier bulky or too warm, the unpadded or lightly padded slings are an optimum choice. The MIM baby sling carrier has lightly padded rails and features a very light shoulder pad. The rails can be independently adjusted for a secure fit. Also, the MIM has a zippered pocket in the sling which you may use to hold a pacifier, keys, monies, etc. The MIM baby sling carrier is very easy to use and ideal for the breastfeeding mom. Mexican Rebozos: Mexican Rebozos serve the same purpose as a baby sling carrier, but they come free of any clasps, rings, etc. These baby carriers have been used throughout history and are tied onto the mom or dad with a knot. We carry the authentic Mexican Rebozo which is see-through (from the inside), very breathable, and available in a beautiful array of fabric designs. They are also very easy to breastfeed in. The rebozo is tied and worn over one shoulder for a front or back carry. Baby Wraps: We offer both the EllaRoo Baby Wrap and the Baby Bundler Baby Wrap at babyflair. Both of these wraps are very versatile and are long enough to be worn over both of your shoulders and then wrapped around the waist. They do require some practice to get the hang of, but they are super comfortable and an excellent option for a heavier child & for back "rucksack" carrying. People with back or neck problems rave about these carriers because the child's weight can be evenly distributed over each shoulder and the waist/lower back providing a stress-free ride for parent and child. Baby Sling Carrier Q & A I wear my baby in a sling all of the time, so naturally, I get alot of questions asked about it. Many people that I encounter have never seen a baby sling carrier before (only the commercially sold front or back-pack carriers) and aren't quite sure about it. But then they see how content my son or daugher is inside the sling, and then the questions start rolling. Listed below are some of the most common questions. If you have additional questions, please e-mail me and I will gladly reply in a prompt fashion. Q: What are you carrying your baby in? A: The common term in western cultures is a 'sling'. Other cultures have differing names for it, but the rationale behind each one is the same: it keeps baby close to you while you go about your day. By using nursing wear with your baby sling carrier, you can nurse discreetly ANYWHERE! All of the styles of nursing wear that we offer at babyflair can be used with any of our baby sling carriers. Q: Does it hurt your back? A: If properly worn, a baby sling or wrap should never stress your back or shoulders. Many of the people that I see wearing slings are not wearing them properly. Usually, they are hanging too low and the parent is arching his/her back. In my experience, the higher that you carry your child, the longer you will be able to carry her without fatigue, shoulder stress and lower back pain. Frequent adjustments of your baby's position and switching shoulders (in a sling) every half hour or so are both helpful to reduce strain and keep baby comfortable. Your shoulders will grow stronger as you become used to the sling. And be sure to get the right size sling to avoid a poor fit which can also lead to fatigue and strain. Most people will require a regular size. With a Mexican Rebozo or a wrap carrier, it is better to go longer than shorter. Q: Is the sling as good as the front-pack/back-pack carriers that are so common? A: Actually, the baby sling is FAR superior for your baby than the front/back carriers that have become so popular in the US. With those carriers, a baby's spine is placed in a compromising position. By positioning an infant in an upright position with legs dangling through the holes, you are putting undue stress on the infant's spine and can cause a condition called spondylolisthesis, which compromises developing curves in the spine. The circulation in the infant's legs is often stifled by these carrier leg holes. Chiropractic studies have shown that a baby sling or wrap is FAR superior to the aforementioned carriers when it comes to safely carrying an infant. In a baby sling, a baby is held just as she would be held in your arms. There are many positions for baby to lie/sit in and one to fit each development stage of your infant. As Rochelle L. Casses, Doctor of Chiropratic, states, "When considering the purchase of a baby carrier, you can often just ask yourself if you would be comfortable in it. Would you feel like you were in hammock (a baby sling), or in a parachute harness with your legs hanging down? Laying in a hammock is better for all of us." Q: Is your baby comfortable scrunched up in there? A: Given that babies have been curled up in the womb, they feel most secure in a 'scrunched up' position like the baby sling. Newborns are commonly swaddled to provide comfort. The baby sling provides the same environment. Colicky babies are particularly comforted by rolling into a little ball drawing their legs up into their abdomen. Q: Will the baby fall out? A: If worn properly, your baby should NEVER fall out of your baby sling. I have yet to know of anyone whose infant has fallen from a sling. Common sense dictating, it would be adviseable to keep a hand on a baby when bending over, but I am sure you knew that already. Whether you choose a baby sling or a wrap, the rails or sides on all of these carriers come up high enough on both sides to secure baby. I always recommend to practice with a doll before experimenting with baby. Once you get the hang of it, you'll have no problem. Q: Can you breastfeed while the baby sling is on? A: This is actually one of the greatest things about all of the baby slings/wraps that we have at babyflair...discreet nursing is a breeze! I can walk around a department store, a park, or a retaurant and discreetly nurse my son or daughter in a baby sling at the same time. No one can tell what I am doing. I have chosen to use nursing wear while breastfeeding as it is far more comfortable for me than pulling up a regular T-shirt, etc. and exposing myself. (By this point, I don't really care, but I know that it makes many people uncomfortable for some reason. ???) The nursing wear styles sold on babyflair.com allow you to expose only the nipple to baby while the rest of you stays covered. Q: Can dads use them? A: Dads are particularly fond of the baby slings as opposed to front or back carriers. The baby sling allows dad to spend intimate time with baby. Once they get the hang of going about their day and wearing baby, dads become among the greatest baby sling supporters. Q: How do I put my baby in the sling? A: Each baby sling and wrap purchased from babyflair.com comes with detailed instructions. With a small amount of patience and practice, it is very simple to get the hang of it. Q: How do I determine which baby sling is right for me? A: First, check out detailed baby sling and wrap descriptions above. There is alot of good info there. Also, consider the following when selecting a baby sling: Personal preference: Are you a minimalist? Or do you like padding and support? Either way, there are plenty of options to be found here. Many minimalists like the rebozo or a very lighly padded baby sling, like the MIM. Customers who are very into support and padding typically opt for a padded sling. The wrap is actually an excellent choice for someone who likes less padding and does not mind a little extra preparation when putting the carrier on. More experinced babywearers and people with older babies often use the baby wraps. Climate: Is it very hot or cold where you live? Will you be outside alot with the baby sling? If you live in a hot climate, and are outside often, a lightweight baby sling, like the rebozo or MIM, might be a good choice. For those in moderate or cool climates, any of the options should be suitable. I always dressed my son up or down and used whatever carrier I was in the mood for. Even being located in south Florida, I can honestly say that I never had a problem with a padded sling being too hot for me or baby so long as each of us were dressed appropriately. But that is just me, nad overly hot people who live in a hot climate should take the carrier's padding into consideration when selecting. Breastfeeding: Will you be breastfeeding? Is discretion important? All of the slings sold at babyflair.com offer the utmost discretion while breastfeeding. Proper positioning and time are the two most important factors in getting it right. Style: Does style play an important factor in the decision? Which of the slings is most appealing to you at first glance? We try to stock a wide variety of baby sling styles & patterns to suit all tastes. Styles range from very basic and versatile, to more bold and/or fashionable. Styles and fabrics are always rotating with each season so if you don't see something you like this month, perhaps the next you may. Good luck and remember, if you don't get it right the first time, send it back and try again!