Not so long ago the practice of baby wearing or carrying youngsters in slings had almost died out in this country. For many the idea was associated with the hippie lifestyle and most parents were keen to invest in one of the latest prams or strollers. Now baby slings are experiencing a significant revival with some parents never using a pram. So what is the best way to go?

Cost Implications

From a financial point of view it is clear that using a sling is the way to go. Prams and strollers can be costly and the value of your investment will depreciate quickly if you buy a new model. Slings don’t cost a lot and actually hold their value well so if you don’t get on with a particular model you will be able to get your money back and can then try something else. Babies are expensive. Parents typically spend over £5,000 on clothing, equipment and essentials in their child’s first year at that can be a challenge for many families so using a sling could be an appealing idea for the savings alone.

Testing the Water

There are many different styles of slings, wraps and carriers and it is hard to know what suits you best without trying them. As it is easy to resell slings any mistakes don’t really matter and you could always attend a sling meet or sling library to get more information and to try different styles. Meets and libraries enable parents to test run various styles and to talk to other parents about using a sling. Some even rent out slings on a weekly basis.

Your Child

There is evidence that using a sling helps with the bonding process and that many babies prefer being close to their parents rather than consigned to a pram. However, some parents report that their babies did not take to a sling and seemed happier in the pram. Every child is different and so whatever choices you make for them in advance may have to be unmade in the light of experience. A definitive decision on baby transport isn’t possible until your baby comes long and you have started to get to know them.

Comfort

Many parents say that they have never struggled physically with using a sling whilst others suffer back or shoulder pain and simply cannot manage. If you already suffer from back or shoulder issues then a sling might not be a good idea. On the other hand you may not discover that carrying your baby is problematic until you have tried it and even then problems may only appear after several days. Some parents find that carrying their child in the summer months can make them too hot too.

Convenience

There is no doubt that a baby sling can be enormously convenient when you are out and about especially if you use public transport. You can move about with greater ease than if you are having to manoeuvre a buggy and you won’t have to worry about folding up and carrying your stroller on and off buses and trains. On the other hand if you carry your baby you will also have to carry all of your other things as you won’t have the convenience of the storage basket on your pushchair.

Your choice of baby transport will be a personal one and may be dictated by your child’s particular needs and your individual lifestyle. It is certainly worth talking to other parents and visiting a sling meet to test the water before you spend any money. Perhaps in the end most parents would benefit from having a sling and a stroller.

Article by Sally Stacey