Slings, carriers & pouches

Wearing your baby in a baby sling or carrier is a comfortable, practical way of keeping your baby close beside you at all times, while leaving your hands free to attend to the daily activities. When your baby is newborn he will benefit greatly from continuous close contact with mum or dad in the baby pouch. Keeping your child in a baby sling is ideal for ensuring a comforting quick response when he needs attention.

Baby slings and carriers have been used for centuries as a convenient and pleasurable way to carry baby around, while enabling the carrier to keep a watchful eye on him all the time. Baby carriers also maintain that essential closeness of contact between parent and baby, putting both at ease, and enabling the parent to respond directly to any baby needs.

In some cases breastfeeding can be carried out on the go while baby continues to lie cradled next to the mother's chest in the baby pouch. Some baby carriers enable breastfeeding of baby while others do not make this possible and the carrier has to be taken off before you can breastfeed. When choosing your baby carrier think of your priorities and make sure the new baby sling enables you to carry them out.

Benefits of baby slings, carriers & pouches

Baby slings and carriers are particularly useful if your lifestyle means you like to get out and about. With baby held closely against your chest or back, you can give him the intimacy of contact he needs with the advantage that your hands are free, and there is no buggy or pram to push around in front of you. Baby carriers make walking round the shops a much easier task, and if you like to cross over rough terrains or stray off the easy path, then you will have no difficulty with baby strapped securely onto your body in a sling, for the first few months at least. Slings and carriers are very convenient methods of carrying baby around.

Read on for advice about choosing a baby carrier to fit your lifestyle