Show Off Your Baby Bling

What do you think of when you here the term baby wearing?  If the vision you imagine is a granola eating hippy carrying her baby in a burlap sack, you are sadly mistaken and probably lean to the right when you talk.  All joking aside baby wearing can be way more that just a totally awesome way to soothe your baby, and more than a way to get daily chores done.  When you get right down to it, baby wearing is a fashion statement. 

Wear your baby proudly on your chest for the whole world to see.  Baby bling as I like to call it.  A great plus to this approach to transporting your baby is that people are less like to touch your baby if it means having to be all up in your grill just to do it.  A winning reason in my book, and something I have never understood in the first place anyway.  It's a baby, leave them alone.  Didn't their mother's teach them to look with their eyes, not their hands?

We are veering off course here.  Baby bling is truly the best jewelry that you could ever wear anyway.  The most stylish options to carry your baby is usually the soft back baby carriers or in most cases, baby slings.  Baby slings are made out of fabric that comes in an endless supply of patterns and colors.  From organic cotton to hundred percent silk there is a style to fit everyone's taste and budget.

Baby slings cover almost your whole upper body and essentially becomes more like your clothing, so it is a good idea to pick a style you love.  Some people have a sling for every day of the week.   Baby slings are so sparse that they are as unique as the mother and child wearing them. 

Mom jeans are a thing of the past and mom slings are the wave of the future.  Slings are for hip moms that know they have stuff they have to do, but they want to look good doing it.  They are fancy enough for a night on the town or a day of shopping and yet still sensible enough for doing chores around the home.  Did I mention they are machine washable? 

Baby wearing is great for so many other reasons than just fashion, but what a great plus it is.  Of course the baby in the sling will always be way cuter than the sling itself but what a way to showcase your little bundle of joy anyway. 

Clearing The Air - Baby Sling Recalls

Perhaps you have heard about the million+ baby sling recalls?  Well I want to clear the air about about them.  The type of sling that was recalled is an Infantino bag sling.  It's no wonder why they were recalled.  The basic design of a bag sling was flawed from the beginning.  The bag is too deep and material would have nowhere else to go but right in babies face.  Another major problem with a bag sling is that babies head could easily become slouched over and their chin would rest on their chest.  We now know that this blocks babies already small airway passages and they could potentially suffocate.   The fact is that no other baby sling should fall into this category.  


It is important to realize that recalls on baby products are common place.  Baby cribs, bassinetts, playpens, strollers, each one seems to have a new category of products that are unsafe conveniently after the consumer finds out for themselves.  Rather than placing a stigma on these products they simply fix the malfunctioning components of it, or discontinue that model or brand and take it off of the shelves.  Many have seemed to misinterpret The Consumer Product Safety Commissions (CPSC) advice which went on to state:

CPSC recommends that parents and caregivers make sure the infant’s face is not covered and is visible at all times to the sling’s wearer. If nursing the baby in a sling, change the baby’s position after feeding so the baby’s head is facing up and is clear of the sling and the mother’s body. Parents and caregivers should be vigilant about frequently checking their baby in a sling.

If you continue to read the CPSC warning you will see that in the past 20 years there has been a total of 14 deaths linked to baby slings.  A very unfortunate number indeed but this number hardly seems size able compared to the estimated 43 deaths a year connected to cribs and playpens alone.  Not to mention that the majority of the infant deaths in a sling were babies that were physically predisposed to problems low birth weight, premature, and sick just to name a few.  So if your baby falls into one of these categories it is important to pay that much more attention to them.

Babywearing has been practiced around the world for centuries, so baby slings are hardly a new idea.  It is virtually the same thing as holding a baby in your arms except more comfortable.  Just like you pay attention to a baby that you are holding in your arms the same formalities apply when your baby is being held in a sling.  Be aware at all times of your precious bundle that you are wearing.  Make sure they are comfortable, make sure they can breathe, don't let them become encased in fabric, don't let them hang upside down, etc.  Never put your baby in a sling unless you are sure you are wearing it correctly and that baby is positioned correctly.  When you are testing out your sling for the first time, make sure they are content.  A fussy baby is much harder to position and it is also hard to tell if they are uncomfortable in the sling or just upset.  Below you will the correct way to position baby in a baby sling as well as the wrong ways.

6 Reasons to Invest in a Baby Sling

There are three very different opinions mothers have about baby slings. There are those who have never heard about slings and never tried them. There are those who have tried them but didn't get the full effect of them because either they didn't have the right kind or the right size or they just were not using them correctly. Then there are the ones who are die hard fans of baby slings and they couldn't imagine life without it. Where do you fit in? No matter what category you fall into here are six great reasons to learn about, reconsider, or brush up on your knowledge of slings.

1. Extra set of Arms- Ever wish you had four arms instead of two? A baby slings allows you to hold close to you without actually using your hands. You are free to multi task.
2. Go Anywhere- A sling makes you and your baby one unit like when you where pregnant. You can go pretty much anywhere you did when you were pregnant with out a bulky stroller or tired arms weighing you down.
3. Space Saver- There is nothing that you will find that folds up smaller than a piece of material. You can fold it in any way and it is not going to take up much room in the diaper bag. Your diaper bag is already stuffed to the brim with diapers and bottles and other essentials so a space saver is very important. Plus it is super light weight, no more than a pound.
4. Baby is at Your Level- Your baby sees the world as you do when they are in a sling. Studies have shown that a baby is more social and content when they can constantly see your face and experience social interactions with you.
5. Baby Loves It- The natural movement, the warmth, the closeness of material, hearing your heartbeat this is all very reminiscent of your womb. This is why a sling can soothe a baby like no other equipment could ever hope to simulate. Pediatricians like Dr. Sears recommend slings especially when you need help to calm a colicky baby.
6. Keep Baby Close- See, touch, hear, kiss, breastfeed all with little effort and at any time. Carried babies are much more in-tuned with their mothers. You will be amazed how much more you can interpret your babies cries.

It's no secret why the die hard baby sling users carry their babies, they know how to use them and they work. Any mother or father can find the perfect baby sling, and any mother or father can become an instant fan of slings. Learn more about baby slings. Don't be afraid to ask questions and find your perfect baby sling.

Are Baby Slings Safe For Your Baby?

There are many things to consider when you are a new mom. What to name baby, what will the theme of the nursery be, will (s)he have daddy's eyes or yours? Then there is the never-ending baby supplies available that may leave you wondering what is right for you and baby? Somewhere between wipe warmers and bath toys, you will probably stumble upon baby carriers and more specifically baby slings. If you look them up you will most likely see all of the ample benefits baby wearing brings. But you are also sure to find negative feedback as well. So what's the deal? Are baby slings safe?

Well yes and no. The answer really depends on what slings you are referring to. The types that are not safe are generally the pocket slings or any sling that is deep enough to envelop baby in material. To prevent this make sure any sling that you put baby in allows for baby's face to be completely visible and above all fabric.

In addition you should make sure babies chin is never resting on their chest. This could result in poor oxygen flow. Furthermore baby's face should not be tightly leaned into your chest, blocking their nose and mouth as a result. Even so the sling must be tight enough around you that there is no loose fabric which would not only put strain on your back but also allow baby to slump into an unsafe position. Any time baby is in the sling they should be close enough for you to kiss them.

Always be sure to check the baby sling in general. Over time they will likely experience wear and tear like any other article of clothing you possess. Unfortunately the comfy, strong material that is perfect for baby slings is not everlasting. Be sure all of the seams are strong. Never put more weight in the sling then what is appropriate. 35 pounds is usually the max weight in any baby sling.

It's important to be aware of your baby whenever they are in a sling. In fact you should always be aware of baby no matter where they are, right? Before you ever even put baby in a sling be sure to read all the provided instructions that come along with it. As a result baby slings are safe enough to carry your baby, provided you take in all the necessary precautions.

View a hand picked selection of what I think are the best baby slings for your baby.