Lucy Hawkins, Oxford Sling Library
What is babywearing?
Babywearing means carrying a baby or young child using a sling.
Babywearing has been a part of human culture for thousands of generations.
We’re a carrying species, lacking a marsupial pouch and having offspring that don’t walk from birth.
Globally, each culture likely developed practices in carrying that were passed down. Today we can see the Inuit amauti, the Japanese onbuhimo, the Korean podaegi, the Mexican rebozo, the Chinese meh dai, the East African kanga, the West African wrapper, and many many more.
In the UK, we often see carrying tools using modern inventions: elastane, lycra, plastic buckles, polyester-padding, smooth aluminium rings, zips and velcro. However all share basic principles with designs and ideas dating back centuries.
For your Child
For you
For Others
- Available to all caregivers, allowing turn taking for both bonding and rest.
- Hands free carrying can allow you to meet your other children’s needs more easily
- Can be easier to participate in wider activities (MPs with babies in parliament!10)
- Charpak N, Ruiz JG, Zupan J, Cattaneo A, Figueroa Z, Tessier R, Cristo M, Anderson G, Ludington S, Mendoza S, Mokhachane M, Worku B. Kangaroo Mother Care: 25 years after. Acta Paediatr. 2005 May;94(5):514-22. doi: 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2005.tb01930.x. PMID: 16188735. ↩︎
- Anisfeld E, Casper V, Nozyce M, Cunningham N. Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev. 1990 Oct;61(5):1617-27. doi: 10.1111/j.1467-8624.1990.tb02888.x. PMID: 2245751. ↩︎
- Ibid. ↩︎
- Ludington-Hoe SM, Lewis T, Morgan K, Cong X, Anderson L, Reese S. Breast and infant temperatures with twins during shared Kangaroo Care. J Obstet Gynecol Neonatal Nurs. 2006 Mar-Apr;35(2):223-31. doi: 10.1111/j.1552-6909.2006.00024.x. PMID: 16620248; PMCID: PMC1890034. ↩︎
- https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/reflux-in-babies/ ↩︎
- Shorey S, Asurlekar AR, Chua JS, Lim LHK. Influence of oxytocin on parenting behaviors and parent-child bonding: A systematic review. Dev Psychobiol. 2023 Mar;65(2):e22359. doi: 10.1002/dev.22359. PMID: 36811366. ↩︎
- Schoppmann J, Teismann T, Holleck-Weithmann VA, Hundertmark E, Jandewerth K, Obereiner P, Rudolph D, Seehagen S. Infant carrying is associated with reduced maternal repetitive negative thinking and increased maternal mental health. J Reprod Infant Psychol. 2023 Sep;41(4):456-469. doi: 10.1080/02646838.2021.2012647. Epub 2021 Dec 9. PMID: 34882494. ↩︎
- Ellen O. Boundy, Roya Dastjerdi, Donna Spiegelman, Wafaie W. Fawzi, Stacey A. Missmer, Ellice Lieberman, Sandhya Kajeepeta, Stephen Wall, Grace J. Chan; Kangaroo Mother Care and Neonatal Outcomes: A Meta-analysis. Pediatrics January 2016; 137 (1): e20152238. 10.1542/peds.2015-2238 ↩︎
- Barone L, Lionetti F. Attachment and emotional understanding: a study on late-adopted pre-schoolers and their parents. Child Care Health Dev. 2012 Sep;38(5):690-6. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2214.2011.01296.x. Epub 2011 Aug 11. PMID: 21831126. ↩︎
- https://www.stylist.co.uk/people/stella-creasy-and-baby-in-parliament/338160 ↩︎
What Types of Sling are there?
The most common types of sling are:
Stretchy wraps are a 5m x 50cm stretchy fabric, ideal for premature babies and newborns. They feel very cosy and mimic a womb environment in their softness.
They’re less expensive that many slings but often only used for a short time. Most wearers find that by 6 months fabric without stretch feels more supportive for a heavier child.
There are one way stretchies and two way stretchies. One way stretchies stretch only on the width. Two way stretchies stretch on the width and length of the wrap and can be easier to get right as you don’t have to manage tension precisely, just get it tight like swimwear!
You can pre-tie a stretchy wrap and put baby in and out as needed.
how to use a stretchy wrap
Buckle carriers have three main elements:
- A waistband – around the caregiver’s torso
- A panel of fabric that supports the child’s base and back
- Shoulder straps that go over the caregiver’s back and secure back to the panel
Buckle carriers which are suitable for smaller babies have a way to narrow the width of the panel so it isn’t causing discomfort between tiny knees and a way of adjusting the height to ensure a good airway and a supported head. Buckle carriers come in different sizes, up to preschooler size.
There are ruck-strap carriers (e.g. Tula, Ergobaby 360), cross-strap carriers (e.g. Sleepy Nico, Ergobaby Embrace) and ruck-or-cross-strap carriers (e.g. Izmi, Ergobaby Omni).
It’s worth trying buckle carriers out to see which fit you well. For example, I’ve found that people with more petite builds and narrow, sloping shoulders tend to prefer a cross-strap carrier. Other factors people might find important are whether you have the flexibility to reach buckles, and tighten up the carrier with comfort. Most buckle carriers are plus size friendly.
They are often quick and simple to use.
how to use a Buckle Carrier
Tie on carriers are usually made of natural fibres and have three main elements:
- A waistband that goes around the caregiver
- A panel of fabric that supports the child’s base and back
- Long, shoulder straps that cross over the caregiver’s back wrap around the base of your passenger, before being tied in a knot.
There are two types of tie-on carriers. Meh dais have a waistband that it secured with a knot. Half buckles have a waistband with a clip, like a buckle carrier.
Tie-on carriers suitable for smaller babies have a way to narrow the width of the panel so it isn’t causing discomfort between tiny knees and a way of adjusting the height to ensure a good airway and a supported head. Tie-on carriers come in different sizes, up to preschooler size.
Tie-on carriers are often very comfortable, as the wide shoulder straps distribute the weight well, and mould to your body and your child. They need a little practice but are highly adaptable and last a long time.
how to use a Tie-On Carrier
Ring slings are a 2m x 70cm length of woven fabric in a natural fibre, with two metal rings sewn to one end.
They allow you to do a one shoulder carry, with the fabric spread over your back and coming under your other arm, wrapping around your child and securing into the rings. Precision tightening using the rings (easier to do if there are colour strips in your ring sling) helps to make a perfectly sized pouch for your child.
You can carry very small newborns (as there’s no pressure between their knees), all the way up to quick hip carries for toddlers and preschoolers with tired legs).
There are gathered and pleated ring slings (how they’re sewn into the rings), but we’ve found that users usually don’t really have a strong preference.
They need a little practice, but are often very beautiful, and last a long time.
how to use a Ring Sling
Woven wraps are woven fabric lengths which can be tied in a variety of ways. Most are made with natural fibres and can be very beautiful. They last a long time, are very comfortable and highly adaptable. There is a skill and a learning curve with woven wrapping, but it can feel very magical to turn a simple length of fabric into just the carry you need, for anyone from a newborn to a preschooler.
There are different sizes of woven wraps because there are many different carries you can do – some require more length and some less. The caregivers body size also means that they might need more or less length to do a certain carry. There are also regional ways of wrapping across the globe that hold deep cultural significance, sometimes with special woven cloth from the region.
how to use a Woven wrap
Harness carriers have two main elements:
- A harness which is first worn by the caregiver, clipped in to provide a structure on their back and front.
- A panel of padded fabric clipped onto the harness to carry your child.
The harness might have a waistband (e.g. BabyBjorn Harmony) or no waistband (e.g. BabyBjorn Mini). The presence of a waistband often significantly improves the comfort of the carrier for the caregiver.
These carriers are quick and simple, with clips only on the front of panel and no need to reach to secure a shoulder strap. However it can be tricky to get both the wearer and the child comfy in them (the scarf hack below can help).
how to Use a Harness Carrier
how can check I’m doing it right?
There are many good ones: High, Tight and In Sight and TICKS are the two mosts common. However my preferred is the HANDS check below as it works for all babies, of all ages, on the front, or the back, and it’s not just safety – it’s comfort too.
Your instincts are usually right…
| Your reaction | What to check |
|---|---|
| You’re leaning a bit to counterbalance your child’s weight | See if the sling is a bit slack – if you snug it up can you stand up straight |
| Your passenger is calm but you can’t relax | Run through a safety check again, in particular for breathing or falling risks. Check in with yourself: is something digging in, irritating your skin, causing aches and pains, or is a thought niggling you? If so, what could you try to ease it? |
| You have a sling but you don’t reach for it very often | Is it proving a useful tool to you in your parenting right now? If not, that’s OK! If babywearing has benefits for you both right now, is this the right tool for you? Time to try something else? |
| You can’t take both hands off your child | There’s a risk of falling or leaning that you’re solving with your hand. Well done! If you need that hand back though, try to snug the sling up a bit, or if it keeps happening get support to find a fix. |
You can’t negotiate with tiny people…!
| Their reaction | What to check |
|---|---|
| Hates the sling! Cries a LOT! | OK – we’re in diagnostic mode to figure out what they’re trying to tell us. Here are some questions to help your investigation – go slow on a load to answer these first five: 1) Are they happy in an in arms cuddle? (Is it the position not the sling?) 2) Are they happy with just the base of the sling on their body? (Is it uncomfortable on their base?) 3) Are they happy with the sling on their back (Is something annoying them about that piece of fabric?) 4) Are they happy with the shoulder straps put up (Is something annoying them about the shoulder straps?) 5) Secure the carry and walk about – does that help (Boredom? Hates transitions? Wants to feel cuddled not just held by someone learning to put on a sling after not enough sleep?!) |
| They’re in but still not happy | Once they’re in try these second five: 1) Observe their positioning – is it very different from in arms? Can you change it to be more like what they liked? 2) Are you insulated from each other (e.g. both wearing lots of layers) – are they getting hot? 3) Do you like the sling (other than the unhappy kid)? Kids can tell when caregivers are feeling uncomfortable themselves… 4) Are they just hungry? Yes, I know, they just ate but with small babies its often that. Do they need a new nappy? 5) Are they just overstimulated / overtired / feeling rubbish because of reflux / jabs / illness? Do you just need to cuddle this one out as best you can? |
| Only wants to be held! HATES the mat/pram… | Babies don’t have wants: they only have needs. If they can’t handle being put down, meet their need today as best as you can. Ideally using other people so you can get a break as you might feel a bit touched out. Take the path of least resistance and enjoy the cuddles. |