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Sling Musings
by Denise Punger, MD, FAAFP, IBCLC
I was programmed by popular culture  to get a crib, playpen, cradle and swing for every room of the house. "Babies have to get use to comforting themselves right from the start or you loose the window of opportunity to train them in the newborn period," baby experts (a.k.a some of my family!) advised.
I had a cheap front carrier with my first baby that was passed on to me by my sister who had a five-pound baby who remained light through his in-arms phase. She could get away with this carrier, in contrast to my nine-pound baby who was always beyond the top of the growth curves and his ounces turned to tons in this improperly fitting front carrier. This particular front carrier put all the weight on my shoulders and subsequently its use didn't last long. We went through various strollers: Compact, top-of-the-line, jogging ones, trying to find the perfect container to tote a baby around in.
While pregnant the second time, I came across the websites promoting padded slings. I thought to myself, "Another baby gimmick, now being promoted as the 'natural way.'" I came to see how useless all the cribs, playpens and cradles were, since I wanted to always hold and rock my babies and sleep near them. I can't take my eyes off my little ones! With little confidence that there would be significant value to this carrier, I was a sucker to try every baby gadget. Right away, I loved the feel and the comfort of having my baby curled up in the sling, belly to belly. It made it easy to cradle my baby in my arms as much as I wanted. I could joyfully hear his coos and feel peace in the rhythm of his breathing as I gazed down on him. My sister took pleasant amusement and celebrated the knack I had with the sling; she trained me on my new computer and "babysling" became her chosen password for many of the internet communities she accessed me too. I carried him all the time for three months. After that I credit my discontinuance to his large size and subsequent back ache. I continued to see older babies than mine being carried by mothers and missed not being able to do the same.
After I had my third baby, it was a great joy to have a newborn to tote and to comfort in this same sling. I really love that feeling. Quickly he seemed to outgrow it and my back  would hurt; ounces turning to tons, again. Being more sling savvy now and appreciating the benefits of closeness using a sling, I wanted to find a carrier that would work. I tried another chain-store type front carrier for a while. When he became a "hip" baby, the carrier didn't feel right anymore. Again, the weight was too much on my shoulders. I happen to find a stretchy mesh fabric that I tied in a big loop with a knot and used that as a sling especially useful at the beach and pool. My homemade sling worked well and I eventually realized that my original padded sling did not have enough fabric. Had it been six to twelve inches longer it would have accommodated my growing babies (and my own growing hips) better and spread across my back to distribute the weight evenly while the boys grew.
And, I could have used it longer.
Fortunately my doula wanted me to use a sling as much as I wanted to and was willing to make a sling for me after hearing me out about all my critiques about sling use. I continue to use her non-padded style sling most of the time. I like the lack of bulk. I like having control of my busy toddler up at my level. He's 26 pounds now and 1 1/2. Since I have carried him continuously since birth one way or another, my body has accommodated to his growth. My proprioception and coordination with the sling gets better all the time. After a year old he could support himself enough so I could switch him to the back and check out at the register or go through buffet lines with hands free. I have found that I can breastfeed in the sling without taking it off (or should I say that my squirming toddler has found positions to breastfeed that work for him (he's not modest)!
I get comments all the time about the sling. Most often where to get one, how much it costs? People will baulk at the price of $40.00 sling. "I can make that myself!" or "Isn't that a lot for a piece of fabric? My doula special orders the rings that are designed to support the riggings of a sail boat guaranteed to support far more than the weight of a child. When I think how much I spent on strollers in the earlier years, it is a lot more economical to buy that "piece of fabric." He likes being close to me. And, for the most part I don't have to worry about him climbing out of a stroller or wagon. Since I carry him so much, our admirers joke that they would hardly recognize me without my hip attachment.
It is true; I carry him as much as I can in my well-made sling because before long he will outgrow me and my needs. I want to protect my back and I want to maximize enjoying the luxury of his sweet baby-love as long as possible.
If you enjoy this article, you will enjoy the book Permission to Mother which includes the updated version.
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