One thing often heard from mothers is that they have to remove their babies from a carrier in order to breastfeed. With a sling-type carrier, however, you can easily and discreetly breastfeed your baby while she is still in the sling. A hungry baby can be quickly attached before having to fuss for a feeding and can quietly drift off to a satisfied sleep while still in the sling. Using the sling carrier as a shield allows you to meet baby's need to feed at those inopportune times when you just can't get to a quiet, private place or when you don't have a place to sit down (such as standing in line at the grocery store).
Consult experienced baby wearers for advice on which carrier to select and how to use it. Borrow and test-wear various carriers before settling on the best one for you and your baby. You are not only selecting a carrier, you are investing in a parenting style. Baby carriers are nurturing devices, and sling carriers make rediscovering the lost art of wearing the baby easier for parents -- and good for the baby.How To Wear Your Baby: A Personal CourseEach baby has his or her individual preference on how to be carried, and each baby wearer has his or her preference on how to carry the baby. Because the sling-type carrier has enjoyed worldwide use for centuries and is the one us for research, it is suggested that the sling be the standard apparel for your course in baby wearing. (The following general instructions apply to most sling-type carriers. They may vary according to the design of the carrier.
Initially parents may feel uncomfortable wearing their newborn because baby seems scrunched down too far in the sling. Remember, your baby was scrunched in the womb, so she is used to this secure feeling. Being curled up is a natural position for a newborn. Colicky babies especially are comforted by rolling into a little ball and drawing their legs up onto their abdomen.The following is a step-by-step approach to wearing your newborn.Putting on the SlingDecide which shoulder you wish the sling to rest on. Hold the baby sling where the tail passes through the rings and place it over your head, letting it come to rest on your shoulder and across your chest.