Simone Ross runs Kane and Ross
Clinics in cenral London. She is a member of the British Osteopathic Association and a
mother of four. Her clinics specialise in relieving pain in pregnancy
and in the treatment young babies through osteopathy. Here she gives her views on baby slings.Benefits
- A baby carried in a sling will often sleep better and cry less.
- Babies with colic may be more settled in a sling due to their upright position.
- Lots of physical contact with their parents.
- Babies are less vulnerable to other small children and cars than they are in a pram.
- Mums may also feel closer to their baby and less vulnerable when breast feeding as some can provide discreet cover.
- Carrying a baby in a sling means hands are free for other activities such as comforting other children or pushing a toddler in a buggy.
Safety precautions
- There is a risk of suffocation or breathing problems when a sling doesn’t support a baby fully and keep them upright.
- When a baby is placed in a sling its head should be turned to one side away from your chest, or if it is old enough the baby can face outwards.
- Slings should hold the baby securely but not too tight.
- Always follow weight guidance on the sling's instruction leaflet.
- Babies that are not held securely in place by a sling could suffocate if they roll into it.
How the sling should work
- A good sling will hold a baby upright, so its internal organs are well spaced and breathing is easy.
- For the parent’s back to be supported safely it should have straps over three inches wide and the baby should be at a height where the carer can easily kiss the top of the baby’s head.
- By eight months, babies are usually too heavy to be safely carried in a sling and may cause neck and or back problems for the carer.
