happy baby sling bowron fleece tie-dye love tie babycare
What age is the
sling suitable from and to?
My
very small baby seems too small.
Can I use
all six positions with my new baby?
What size sling should
I get?
How do I tighten
up the sling?
Extra tightening?
Loosening
It seems a
bit complicated.
Does
it have to go on a particular side?
How
do I get it on the shoulder I want?
How
do I avoid getting the sling twisted?
What's
all this about Making a Hammock?
How
does the sling support the baby?
Just
how do you get them in the sling
?
Snuggler in slow
motion
His
head seems too far down in the sling
The
rings come too far forward when I tighten
His
head is too near the rings
His
head is too near the edge of my body in Lullaby Lie
How
do I get maximum comfort for me in the sling?
Under or over
the coat then?
Discreet Breastfeeding?
How
do I put a sleeping baby down?
What
position is best for working?
What
position is best for out and about?
Lullaby Lie
The Snuggler
Cosy Frog
Little Buddha
(side facing)
Little Buddha
(front facing)
Hip Hold
Out of Trouble
Special
Babies, special situations
Twins and
siblings close in age
Safety
Washing
What age is the sling suitable from
and to?
I have helped a 4 pound baby into the sling, and carried my own children up
to 35lbs!
My very small baby seems
too small.
Try padding out the 'hammock' with a receiving blanket before placing her
in the sling. Also remember to lift her up towards your opposite shoulder
while tightening in the Snuggler position. see instructions
Can I use all six positions
with my new baby?
Small babies with limited head control can be carried in the Snuggler,
Cosy Frog, and Lullaby positions. As she grows and
gains head control the Snuggler will evolve into the Little Buddha
side facing, you can start using Little Buddha front facing
and the Cosy Frog can move round your body to your hip, evolving
into Hip Hold. Out of Trouble is available once the baby has
good control of her back.
What size sling should I get?
Slings are sized to fit the slinger rather than the slingee! What size are
you? Standard fits most women say 5' 2" to 5'10" dress size 12 to 18. If you
are at the upper limit on both height and dress size, (particularly chest
size or with a long back) get a large. If you are slim and also short you
could use a petite. We find that we sell very few petites because even quite
small women can get away with a standard tightened up as far as possible and
that means their partner can also use the sling. If you and your partner are
wildly different in size get the sling to suit the main wearer. When you find
it indispensable you can always get another :-)
How do I tighten up the sling?
The sling is tensioned up by pulling on the strap which is run through the
two rings and back through the second ring. It is essential to support the
baby's weight as you draw on the strap to tighten and to be brave, give it
a good pull.
New slings are a bit stiff, particularly the two checks we have at the moment.
It will loosen up with wear. You can hasten the process by taking the sling
strap out of the second ring and while you hold the shoulder pad firmly between
your knees, see-sawing the strap through the two rings for a minute
or so. Usually the one pull of the strap is enough to hold the sling where
you want it.
Extra tightening?
In some positions, particularly Cosy Frog, you make the sling more
secure by pulling the top edge through the rings a bit more, up to and even
including a bit of padding if necessary. Find the top edge which
has already been pulled through the strap and draw on that to make it shorter.
See the pictures, better 'n a thousand words and all that...
Loosening
Support Baby's weight with one hand while the hand under the rings lifts
the lower ring and the sling magically loosens. If your new sling is a bit
stiff wiggle the lower strap from side to side.
It seems a bit complicated.
Sling wearing is a skill, like tying shoe laces or knotting a tie. Take a
little time to practice and you will find wearing your Happy Baby becomes
second nature. Try practicing with a teddy and using a mirror to check your
progress.
Does it have to
go on a particular side?
The sling can be worn on the right or left shoulder. Most people have a preferred
side, but you really should try to swop around sometimes.
How do I get it on the
shoulder I want?
Briefly, hold the sling in the opposite hand, strap facing forward, check
the sling is make up correctly and lift high to avoid twisting over your head
to rest on the chosen shoulder. The process is exactly like putting on a one
strap bag.
How do I avoid getting
the sling twisted?
Lift the sling high over your head as you put it on. Check you have it make
up correctly beforehand.
What's all this about Making a Hammock?
Decide before putting the baby into the sling what way you are going
to hold him. Be guided by his favourite position in your arms. Some like cradling,
Snuggler style; there are the straight up and down types (Cosy Frogs);
and the carry-me-round-nursing dudes (go for Lullaby Lie.)
Each basic position uses the material in a slightly different way and it helps
to 'make the hammock' before putting the baby in position.
Snuggler Hammock: make a 45 degree hammock in front of you, i.e. pull
up the padded edge that is nearer you onto your chest a bit. Slip your arm
in to check there is material all round, and that your elbow is lower than
your hand. Baby's bottom will go where your elbow is and his head where your
hand is.
Cosy Frog Hammock: urm, this one isn't really a hammock as such. Pull
the top padded edge from under your arm, taking care not to pull the sling
off your shoulder in the process. Shake the material out to make
the full width of the sling hang in front of you. This is the pouch baby is
positioned in.
Lullaby Lie Hammock: the simplest to make. Simply pull the two padded
edges at your waist to make the hammock space as long as possible at your
waist.
How does the sling support
the baby?
The sling works in two ways. Firstly the hammock of material you create in
various positions cradles the baby, supporting underneath and to the two sides.
Secondly, the cinching of the strap holds the baby against your body. Sling
wearing is a dynamic process. Shifts in your position will slightly
move the distribution of weight. Bending forward from the waist will cause
the sling to swing away from your body and must be avoided, bend your knees
instead when picking up.* You need to stay aware of the baby at all times
and sometimes adjust his position or the tension of the sling to keep him
secure. This is not to say that you must be like a mannequin, exercise common
sense.
I have found it possible to do a whole range of activities while slinging
around the current baby. I have however refrained from handstands and
always been prepared to steady the baby if necessary with my hand.
*Leaning forward slightly while supporting the baby however can be very useful
in giving essential space to manoeuvre, e.g. when latching a baby on the breast,
when adjusting their position in the sling, when lifting a baby out of the
sling etc.
Just how do you get
them in the sling ?
Have a look at the photo-essay. Practice with
a teddy. See the printed instructions. Here is a step by step description
for one position. Once you get confident with one way of carrying, others
will evolve.
To avoid left and right confusion, (the Happy Baby
works on both shoulders) I will refer to your arms and hands as:
“Sling side”: the hand under the shoulder pad, and “Free
side”: the other hand.
It comes hard as a mother of four daughters, but the
baby is referred to in the masculine and the wearer in the feminine for clarity.
With the sling on, make a hammock sloping at an angle
by pulling up the inner edge. Hold baby in your free arm, his head cradled
in your hand, his bottom tucked into your elbow. With your sling hand, pull
the leading edge of the Happy Baby away from your body, creating a hammock
space. Guide your free hand, still fully supporting the baby, into the hammock
space. Lean forward a little, draw fabric under the baby, and get some between
you and him, again with your sling hand. Your free arm is still in the sling
supporting the baby; you now have fabric in front of and under him. Swap hands,
twice: Put you sling hand under the baby outside the sling , wiggle out your
free hand, then put your free hand back where it was, only this time on the
outside of the material. Positioning is completed, now for tightening. Lift
Baby up a little so the material slackens, lean him slightly towards your
free side, using your free hand under his head to tilt him slightly up in
the sling.
Using your sling hand, pull down firmly on the strap
until the material snugly holds up Baby. Let his head settle down into the
sling now. The purpose of holding him up as you tighten is to ensure that
his head is not finishing too low in the hammock, check with Teddy, you'll
see what I mean! You should now be able to take your two hands away and Baby
will stay exactly where he is. A little snuggler.
His head seems
too far down in the sling
Remember to lift his head as you tighten up
The rings
come too far forward when I tighten
The whole sling is inclined to come forward over your shoulder as you adjust.
Compensate for this by have the rings about on the crest of your shoulder
as you start positioning the material and then the baby. They will come forward
to just in front of your collar bone when you tighten up.
His head is too near the rings
The key to good positioning is figuring out where in the swathe of cloth to
put the baby. Tightening up will gobble material between the baby and the
strap, so you should have all the spare material there, not between the baby
and your opposite hip.Experience is the best teacher. Try experimenting with
a teddy to see what happens. In general if you place the baby a bit nearer
your hip than you think you may need to he will end up central. In addition
position the bottom correctly and the rest of the baby will follow. In the
Little Buddha side facing it can be helpful to wrap the strap around
the rings to avoid the baby bumping his head on them.
His head is
too near the edge of my body in Lullaby Lie
Put your hand into the hammock along his back and move him along a few
inches. Alternately put your hand into the hammock and support him while the
other hand pulls the material .
How do
I get maximum comfort for me in the sling?
Have the sling snugly adjusted, not too loose and not too tight. Keep the
shoulder pad centred on you shoulder, not up at your neck, not too far forward.
With heavier babies by sure to spread the material across your back. Do this
by reaching behind over your opposite shoulder with your free hand.
Do experiment with slight adjustments of the sling's tension and baby's position,
a small shift can make a big difference to your comfort.
After a few hours, take the sling off and swop sides. I was carrying Teddy
(about 16-17lbs I think) , a ream of paper, some 20 sets of examination papers,
a handbag and a child's coat up Grafton St the other day. We were into the
third hour of walking around and he started to feel really heavy. I stopped
our little procession much to the amusement of the flower sellers and put
down all the bags, took my arms out of my coat, loosened the sling , held
onto the baby and let it fall to the ground.
I then put it back on the other side, arms back into coat, bags up and away
we went, much relieved.
Teddy slept through the whole process, and hardly move a centimetre in position.
Under or over the coat then?
I usually just wear a fleece and put the sling on top with the baby in his
coat. If I'm wearing a very bulky coat I put the sling on underneath. Similarly
if I'm a noodle and forget the baby's coat I put the sling on under mine especially
if it is a newish winter baby. In the rain under the coat is the best.
Discreet Breastfeeding?
Yup. very do-able with a bit of practice. I remember thinking
that discreet breastfeeding was a sort of holy grail given my less than
perfect choreography with my first born, Margaret.(Imagine a sort of demented
yoga meets striptease ..) We got there, so anyone can. Lullaby lie
is the easiest position to get the baby nursing in because it is practically
a classic breastfeeding hold, baby is turned in to you tummy to tummy all
lined up and ready to go. Make it more private by sitting down, loosening
the sling, pulling extra cloth in front of the baby, between you and the world
and re-tightening. If you intend to stay sitting, it is not essential that
there is material between you and the baby as usual: you are currently using
the sling as a breastfeeding aid rather than a carrier. If however you intend
to get up and walk about, make sure there is enough of a hammock under the
baby to support him. I carried Florence around nursing for weeks on end, it
was the only way I could make her happy, (one or the other wasn't enough).
You may thank her for the first sling! Good old necessity.
Snuggler Hold is the most discreet nursing option. You probably need
to sit down, loosen up to get going, and once the baby is latched you can
re-tighten a bit and move about if you want. Be careful not to upset the little
nurseling by squashing him in too much. The sling may need to be loosened
so that it doesn't fully support his whole weight while he nurses in this
position. I can usually manage with a hand under Teddy's head as he has a
drop. (while my other hand is performing miracles of page turning, crowd control
or keyboarding!)
You can also nurse in Cosy Frog position, it is by no means discreet
except perhaps under a coat, but some colicky babies like to feed that way.
Practice in front of a mirror is a helpful aid to confidence. You will see
how unremarkable you actually are. In all my years of feeding the five
children I have rarely been noticed. Lift your head and look around, on the
off chance that somebody is actually looking in your direction, smile. If
they know what you're doing, they are on your side.
One of the nicest public nursing experiences I've had was a few months ago
with our littlest boy Theodore. I had rather foolishly gone out wearing a
dress, a sling and a baby which worked fine until he needed to feed. I was
in the post office and needed to sit down so as to take off the shoulder of
the dress and attach the little mite. The only chair was facing the queue
of mostly elderly men and women. It was pension day. I was a bit flustered
by having to practically undress to feed the baby but managed to get most
bits covered up and Teddy happily guzzling away. I looked up. Of course the
whole queue was looking at me, I was the only thing to look at while they
waited. Face after lined face was smiling at me and catching my eye as they
moved past me. Eventually one old man spoke to me.
"Sure it was only yesterday I was there myself."
To which I replied "It's the happy child can remember nursing in their mother's
arms"
How do I put a sleeping baby down?
Support Baby's weight, lift up the lower ring and the
sling will loosen. It is possible to gently put a sleeping baby down at this
stage and slip the sling over your head. The sling can then be used as a little
coverlet for your Sleeping Beauty. Some babies need a very gentle transition
between one state and another. The trick is to start the new thing, i.e. lying
down, while the old thing (being in your arms in the sling) is still
going on. Lean over the basket/cot and rest the baby down, don't attempt to
take the sling off immediately. Gradually slip it over your head , some babies
are kept asleep by a comforting hand on their tummies at this stage. Slowly
replace the hand with the sling. Your continuing smell and the remaining heat
in the material make a transition to bed more likely even for very high contact
need babies.
If your baby wakes up after five minutes and wants up
again, go with it. When the time comes that he's bleaching his hair or she's
piercing her belly button you will have some very sweet memories to treasure.
What position is best
for working?
Don't work too hard :-)
If you're doing housework probably Cosy Frog. Snuggler also
is good. Office work because you only need the sling to balance the baby as
opposed to carry him, you can use anything that works for you. I've found
that sitting 3 and 4 month old Teddy on my knee and using the sling just cinched
around my waist and his to balance him works very well. Out of Trouble
is great for a bit of hard labour in the dishwasher loading or laundry hanging
department.
What position is
best for out and about?
Much depends on the age of the child. In terms of number of times I've
used the sling, lifting toddlers for short carries in the Hip Hold probably
is the winner. In terms of child hours carried, holding an infant in
either Snuggler or Cosy Frog gets the medal. Be wary of using
Lullaby Lie in a crowded situation, the baby's head is at the edge
of your body and careless walkers may jostle you.
Lullaby Lie
This is an easy first position for novice sling users.
Suitable for infants, babies and toddlers.
Baby's head is at the open side of the sling. When positioning
baby aim her bottom near your hip. If you feel her head is too near the side
of your body after tightening — reach into the sling and move her over more
centrally. This may require her toes to peep out at the other side. The more
upright ‘Lullaby’ hold gradually turns into a Cosy Frog. Small babies
will be still in a scrunched up foetal position, older babies will uncurl.
This position is still usable one the head and bottom can be supported, ideal
for tuckered out toddlers.
The
Snuggler
Suitable for infants and babies up to about 18 lbs.
Baby is lying in the opposite direction to the Lullaby position. This
is the most discreet breastfeeding option. To
breastfeed, loosen sling latch baby on, adjust front of sling for privacy,
tighten if necessary. When not breastfeeding, rest Baby's head on breast.
‘Snugglers’ will gradually turn into side facing ‘Little Buddhas’
as they gain head control and are sat up more in the sling. Bigger infants
and babies can drape their legs over the side of the sling. The Snuggler
is usable until baby is too long for head and bottom to be enclosed. By
this stage most babies will prefer positions where they can see the world.
A useful variation of the Snuggler is the
Football hold. Baby is cradled more to the side. This can be handy for
breastfeeding, especially quite young babies. If you are using football
hold to breastfeed, try it using the sling for support.
Cosy Frog
Some babies like to be cuddled chest to chest. Young
babies will be fully enclosed, supported from their pelvic floor to their
heads. Especially for tiny babies a better fit can be achieved by pulling
extra material from the top edge through the rings after the first cinching
of the strap. Babies do not hang in the sling but are gently held against
the wearer’s body. Bigger babies will unfold their legs . Little babies who
are still scrunched up can rest their feet on the lower padded edge, bigger
babies are supported by making a 'bucket' to support their bottom and upper
thighs from the lower edge. Some babies like the classic 'frog legs' position
with the knees well flexed. Our current baby, Teddy likes 'african legs' where
both legs are widely straddling the wearer's body, knees are almost straight.
To each his own.
Little
Buddha (side facing)
Suitable for babies with head control. Baby sits up
cross-legged or legs flexed, peeping out. In order to have sling properly
tensioned, position Baby, leaving the spare fabric as usual to be cinched
in, then support her and lean to the side away from the rings and strap while
tightening. Now settle her back against your body and ensure a good width
of fabric is pulled in front of her, and that there is fabric between her
body and yours. You may need to cushion the back of Baby's head so it doesn't
get bumped by the rings. A hint for parents of little wrigglers:
some babies tend to arch
their backs and be determinedly ‘uncuddly’. The ‘Little Buddha’ helps such
babies relax into being held. Hold her securely flexed and get into position
quickly. If protests continue, try bouncing walk for a minute or so. With
luck, you now have a serene Little Buddha.
Little
Buddha (front facing)
Suitable for babies with good head control up to about
9 months. Baby sits cross legged, her back against your chest. Keep a good
width of fabric in front of Baby. This position is ideal for alert, interested
babies who like to be in the middle of things. This position is less stable
than others. Be aware of shifts in weight and tension. I found I used this
position a lot in social situations where all I had to do was chat and mind
the baby.
Hip Hold
The natural carrying position for older babies (approx
5 - 7 months on) and toddlers. Settle the baby on your hip, having posted
her through the sling first. Lift her to tuck a fold of fabric under her bottom
so there is material between you and her, tighten to support her weight. Tighten
up the top edge a little extra if the baby is younger for extra support.
Out of Trouble
Out of Trouble is a modified Hip Hold.
Tuck Baby’s arms into sling, swing your arm in front of baby and shift her
weight slightly to the back of your hip — NOT
YOUR BACK. Tighten sling as necessary. (For a
better fit, pull extra material from the top edge through the rings after
the first cinching of the strap). An alternate way of getting into this position
if to put the sling on as normal, slip the circle of material backward so
the rings are on your shoulderblade, position the baby in a normal Hip
Hold and then shift baby, sling and all round so the baby is on the back
of your hip and the rings are in their usual place.Ensure a good width covers
Baby’s back. Ideal for brief periods of photo snapping or letter opening —
times when little hands need to be kept Out of Trouble!
Special
Babies, special situations
All babies are special and have their unique gifts and
challenges. The first Happy Baby sling was made for our daughter Florence,
now ten. She is learning disabled. I’m glad she had such an interesting and
comforting environment for her first years. Our world was brought close enough
for her to join in it.Flo used to have an apnoea alarm which was quite
an unwieldy little box attached to sensors to check she was breathing. It
was quite handy to pop that into the sling to carry too.
Flo also has a hearing loss and we have used sign with her from an early age.
Slings can be helpful for deaf parents who have a baby to hold plus conversation
to make. Parents who use wheelchairs or aids to walk have also used
our slings. Receently one Mum contacted me to let me know that her elderly
Mum with arthritis in the hands was able to hold her grandchild using the
sling to help.
Babies with low muscle tone, for example children with
Down’s Syndrome, benefit from what one mother described as ‘physiotherapy
on the move’. It is easy to create a stimulating environment for the special
needs child simply by carrying them. A mum is nature’s activity centre — running
taps, folding sheets, rustling papers, all are fascinating and fun.
The Cosy Frog and Hip Hold can be used to support babies
in the positions recommended for children with clicky or dislocated hips.
It can also be useful with Talipes. These positions are also recommended for
some children with Cerebral Palsy.
The Happy Baby sling has carried many special babies
and feedback has been universally positive. A point several mothers have made
is that their children are babies for longer, taking more time to learn to
sit, crawl and walk — using a sling makes life a lot easier.
No therapeutic claims are made for the Happy Baby sling.
Please consult your caregiver as to the sling’s suitability for your baby
with special needs.
Twins and siblings close in
age
If you can't have a second pair of hands, a sling can be a useful aid. Two
babies can be carried in a variety of ways.
The commonest way to use the sling is that whoever is crying goes in and the
other is in a bouncy chair! One can with a bit of practice carry two
together, it helps to have a large sling for this. Two Cosy Frogs side by
side or a sort of swingboat arrangement of a Snuggler plus a Lullaby Lie work
well. Alternately one can try for a domino arrangement where the larger twin
is in a more upright Snuggler position and the littler one is front
lying down more.
Alternately one can use two slings criss-crossed. In this set up the twins
can be best carried in two Football Holds or two Hip Holds so it can
be handier for bigger babies. I used two slings criss-crossed for Christmas
shopping one year. I had Flo as a toddler in a Hip Hold and Genevieve in a
Snuggler in front. We cut a fine dash being followed from the toy shop by
two very helpful lads carrying all the loot back to the car. It was hard,
but I think in the crowded pavements at Christmas time, a double buggy would
have been harder. Speaking of buggies, I have also used sling plus buggy to
avoid having to buy a real juggernaut.
Safety
British or Irish standards have yet to be formulated
for baby carriers. Any baby sling, however, has the best built-in safety feature
ever designed, an alert and loving parent! It is impossible to leave the baby
unattended. Slings like the Happy Baby have been carrying babies since cloth
was invented. They’ve had a lot of road testing. We have extensively tested
the Happy Baby ourselves both in normal use with a group of children in all
positions and we have also satisfied ourselves as to the strength of the materials
used. The rings, for instance have a breaking point of half a tonne (a baby
elephant). The wadding is fire retardant to meet all European standards. In
normal use, with proper care there should be no mishaps. Slings are made of
cloth. Look out for signs of wear and do not use if your sling is so well
loved to be worn out. I reckon on there being at least 2 years of daily use
available in a sling. I know of some slings that have been "through" five
or six babies. Return a worn out sling to us and we will give you 50% off
a new one.
Always keep the sling properly tensioned. Baby should
not swing but be held snugly against your body.
It may be necessary occasionally to steady the baby with your hand.
Ensure there is always a good width of material all round Baby in all positions.
In enclosed positions, check visually or in a mirror and by listening that Baby's airway is clear.His head and back should be in line, his chin should not be bent onto his chest, his breathing should be barely audible (no snoring)
Never use the sling in a moving vehicle, it offers no protection in the event of an accident.
Stay aware of changes in your's and the baby's position which may cause the sling to shift.
Check for wear regularly.
Washing
Surface wash for small stains. Machine wash 40 degrees
C slow spin. Wash dark colours separately. Line dry or tumble dry on low.
Cool iron, do not iron padding. Hand dyed slings are perfectly colour
fast. There may be a little surplus dye not rinsed out present when new. Wash
with like colours for the first time. Do not use a detergent containing bleach.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
