The Baby Sling is a Must Have

This is a sling style baby carrier, essentially a big loop of fabric that serves as a child bandolier. It allows you to essentially wear your child. It's good to note that while many babies love the closeness and motion of a sling, not all babies are sling babies. My first child required a few
rides in it before he was convinced (and that could have been more a case of me getting used to it).

We have two slings, allowing my husband and I to each have our own. Both are hand me downs and have been used for multiple children. Although they are different brands, they are essentially identical in design; one is by NoJo and the other is by Heart to Heart. Both have a padded shoulder and padded edging, something not all slings have and that I consider a necessity.

With a sling, the child is held close to you, which can be comforting (both to parent and child). Unlike a frame carrier or Bjorn style carrier, the child and carrier will move a lot more (a bit like being rocked in a cradle). The looser you wear the sling, the more movement you'll have. There are a number of different ways you can wear and use a basic sling. I mostly use two different positions - the cradle carry and a side-assist carry. For a cradle carry, you can tote your child hands free, with some swing and sway, or use one hand to minimize the swing. I've found that this position soothes a gassy fussy baby, and helps him/her fall asleep. The side-assist is essentially a hip carry and works well with bigger babies and toddlers. Instead of holding the child on your hip with both hands, you can use the sling and one hand, giving you one free hand. In this position, your child can arch his/her back
and fall out if you don't keep one hand on the child (or tighten the sling up around his/her shoulders).

Getting a child in and out is quick and easy, unlike many other types of carriers. It takes up very little space when not in use, so it's great in the diaper bag, on trips, or even just worn while not in use. It is available in a variety of fabric designs and is machine washable. It allows for discrete nursing and can shield the view of a visually overstimulated child.

It took a few uses before I was convinced that I wouldn't spill my baby out of the sling. Once I felt comfortable about it, I used the sling all the time with my first child, and am using it again with my second. It can be a bit warm on hot days. This is a one-sided carrier, so the weight is
borne on one shoulder. This is less of an issue at lower weights, and becomes a problem as children get bigger. A good way to counteract this is to make sure you get comfortable using the sling on either shoulder so you can switch it up.

I used the sling most in the first 12 months of my son's life, though we did continue to use it for shorter excursions after 12 months. We switched to a frame carrier or Ergo Baby Carrier for longer outings (hikes and walks) because of weight.