Slings: why they are needed, how they are useful and why they can be dangerous. Slings: impact on the development of the spine Harm of a sling

Obvious advantages

Actually, there is one plus, but it is huge - it is absolute mobility. What annoys and simply infuriates most mothers around the world? The fact that you need to be with the child constantly, not go anywhere, not do anything, not meet anyone. Young mothers get stuck in a kind of circle: home - playground - home. This can give rise to serious depression even in the most loving and devoted woman to her maternal duty. The sling gives the main thing - freedom of action. The child is with you all the time - and you can do whatever you want. You can wash dishes, cook, go shopping or meet with friends. And the child will be calm, relaxed and cheerful, feeling his mother’s warmth and care next to him.

Another plus for those who are breastfeeding. The baby can be fed at any time, as soon as he asks. He will suck his milk, and mother will calmly go about her business. No calculations, regimes, selection of positions for feeding and fear that there is not enough milk and there will not be enough for the baby. Many mothers who have chosen a sling to constantly carry their children adapt to feeding even on the street, right during a walk.

Of course, only in the summer. But even just having the baby near the breast calms him down, and lactation only improves from this. Even doctors don’t argue with this.

Not so obvious disadvantages

The fact that your child is always next to you is, on the one hand, wonderful. And on the other hand? While the baby is very small, mothers agree that they are calmer, less capricious, and can more easily tolerate colic, teething and other troubles. After all, mom will always console, rock, calm. But when the child grows up, mothers notice that simply leaving him in the crib for even a minute without a sling is already a problem. The child does not want to part with his mother at either three or four years old; going to kindergarten is a whole ordeal, and later he becomes dependent on mothers cause inconvenience to both. This has been proven: children who constantly spend time in a sling are very, very dependent on their mother, and whether this is good or bad - everyone decides for himself.

Now let's leave psychology and move on to medicine. Carrying a child on you all the time is a burden. As the baby grows, this load also increases. And the spine does not become stronger, no matter how you train. He has his own natural strength limit, and his “plans” to strain 24 hours a day under the weight of an ever-growing child are definitely not included. What do moms who are faithful to the sling say? They do not deny that their back “aches”, that it can be very difficult to carry, especially when the child begins to spin and jump in the sling, but they all accept these inconveniences as a given. Like, I’m a mother - I have to endure. But is there pain? Eat. And mothers also have problems with their backs, shoulder joints and legs - this cannot be denied. There is official data from doctors on this matter, whatever one may say.

Now for the baby himself. Is a sling comfortable and safe for him? Here's what the experts say: wearing a baby in any sling for up to 3-4 months is dangerous for his life! Whether this is too much or not is, again, up to you to decide. But it’s not just that doctors warn mothers? What's the point in lying and exaggerating, after all? Your child - yes, you can do whatever you want! And they say it’s dangerous. And that's why. Keeping a baby in a forced position for a long time disrupts its cerebral circulation. And carrying a baby who does not yet know how to hold his head upright is completely unacceptable. In this case, the head will fall back, which will block the blood circulation inside the vertebral artery, and this is certain death. But we must admit - if you do everything correctly, choose a sling according to the age and size of the baby, put it on correctly and place the baby there, then such problems will not arise. That is, the danger is not in the sling itself, but only in its incorrect use. A child is just as likely to suffocate in a stroller, in a crib, or even under his mother’s chest (which often happens), if you don’t care about his safety.

What do experts agree on?

Only three things are indisputable: the sling relieves mothers of depression due to the inability to live a full life, it gives the baby a constant feeling of calm and care, and it helps to establish close psychological contact between mother and child. And no matter what the opponents of this now fashionable accessory say, it has more and more supporters. A sling, if used correctly, can solve many problems for mothers who do not want to “fall out” of life during maternity leave. After all, this invention is centuries old, so like no other attribute of child care, it has stood the test of time. And approved by modern mothers and their children.

Sling (English sling - sling) - a sling used to carry a child, one of the oldest devices for carrying children. Slings come in different types, sizes and styles.

As popular wisdom says: “Everything new is well forgotten old.” And the sling is no exception.

A sling, or patchwork holder, sling is probably the most ancient invention for carrying a child. This is how they wore it, and I would even say this is how parents of many cultures lived and live with their children. In our country, babies spend most of their time in strollers and cribs, and are occasionally held in their mother’s arms.

Sling is a lifestyle with a child. In order for some hobby or life’s work to bring joy and be successful, it must grow into your life with roots, and not just be a series of scheduled activities. With your baby in a sling, you can continue to live an active life, and at the same time your baby will not be deprived of attention and physical contact with the most important person in his baby's life - you, his mother.

He will explore this world with you and looking at you - a busy, creative, cheerful person.

Sling is our everything!

This phrase has become the motto of many young mothers. A sling makes life much easier for a mother and her baby. The baby in the sling is warm and comfortable, he hears the beat of his mother’s heart and feels her breathing. This baby heard all 9 months while he was in the womb. And what can I say, it’s so nice to lie on the chest of your beloved mother!

Slightly older children like the vertical position in a sling. You can watch the world around you, your mother’s actions, without getting off your hands. And if anything happens, you can hide, because mommy is nearby. For mom, the sling frees both hands, which is very useful. After all, no matter how much your relatives and friends help, there will always be work to do around the house.

And how slings save mothers of twins or even triplets! Those who never have free hands. And if you can still do something while holding one child in your arms, then with two or three children such a trick will not work. But while one baby is tied in a sling, something can be done with the other.

The sling is also very good for premature and weakened babies. These children need to be held constantly because... they didn’t get theirs in the womb. They are very comfortable in the “cradle” position; you can create an “outer womb” atmosphere for them. In a sling, such babies will grow and develop much easier and better.

It's very good to walk outside in a sling. It is especially convenient to go on business and visit. Mom and baby are always mobile. And this becomes especially noticeable if you live on the fifth floor without an elevator!

A sling is truly a very useful acquisition for parents, because it’s not for nothing that the idea of carrying children has been going on for centuries!

An African mother does not keep her baby in a crib, does not carry her in a stroller, and does not put her in a playpen. From birth, the baby is on the mother's back, tied to her with a scarf or piece of cloth. The child learns about the world by seeing what the mother sees, constantly hearing her voice. And he also goes to bed with his mother. Thanks to the proximity to the mother, the baby is calmer and receives rich material for the development of all senses, which leads to an acceleration of the pace of mental and physical development.

There is no depression with a sling!

Postpartum depression is less common in women who carry their babies using a sling.

This may be due to the production of hormones and reducing the child's anxiety. With frequent stimulation, the mother's hormone levels are constantly high, and do not fluctuate up and down, as happens if the mother is separated from the child most of the day. From a biological point of view, maternal hormones have a calming effect, allowing the mother to avoid depression. In addition, the risk of depression is also reduced because such a child screams less, and the mother feels more confident and is not so worried.

You can carry your baby and still live a full life. Representatives of other cultures use all kinds of patchwork holders, since they do not part with the child either when they work or when they go somewhere. And how often do young mothers have to say: “I would love to go, but I have a child...”

Several months pass, and some mothers begin to feel that life is passing them by and literally go crazy from it. Meanwhile, there is nothing in the relationship between mother and child that would force her to stay home hopelessly. It’s just that the mother of a newborn is usually not ready to take her child somewhere. If you master the sling, you will be able to avoid dooming yourself to a forced months-long seclusion and at the same time constantly be close to your child.

Benefits of a sling

A sling is better than a kangaroo backpack. Here are just some of the benefits:

* A sling with rings allows you to carry a child from birth to 2 years. Sling scarf - up to 3 years! You won’t find a kangaroo so versatile - they are divided into tiny (from birth to 2 months) and, the most common, from 3 months to 11 kilograms. This advantage does not apply to the baby sling - like a baby carrier, it can only be used from 3 months, and the not very wide straps cut into the shoulders if the baby is already heavy.

* Multiple wearing positions. A kangaroo backpack does not allow you to carry a child on its side, and it is not so comfortable for the baby to lie in it.

*Have you ever met a baby carrier that allows you to comfortably breastfeed your baby without taking it off? The sling is designed so that the baby can eat in peace without attracting too much attention to himself or his mother.

* Almost all little children have periods when they have difficulty falling asleep. The sling will help you lull the baby to sleep, and when he falls asleep, you can put him in the crib without removing him from the sling (however, the sling scarf is inferior to other types of sling - it is quite difficult to remove it with a sleeping child). Rocking in a baby carrier won't work like that, since the baby is lying in an unnatural and uncomfortable position.

* Naturalness. The sling attracts the baby to the mother, and the fabric envelops him, as in the womb. The newborn finds himself in the position and environment to which he is accustomed during 9 months of intrauterine existence.

* Unlike a kangaroo backpack, which is intended more for the street, a sling with rings can be worn at home. In a single-layer calico sling, neither the baby nor the mother will feel hot.

* The limit of 11 kg set by the manufacturers of baby carriers does not take into account the fact that by the time the baby weighs 9 kg, the mother’s back begins to hurt even from short-term wearing. The straps dig into your shoulders, cutting off blood circulation. A sling with rings does not tire the mother’s back due to its width and soft pillow on the shoulder, and a sling scarf evenly distributes the weight of the baby on both shoulders, which makes it possible to carry even three-year-olds.

To achieve maximum comfort for both you and your baby, it is worth trying various positions and positions and choosing the optimal ones. The sooner you start wearing your baby (preferably from the moment of birth), the easier he will get used to the sling. However, you can start training even at 6 months or later, but in such cases, at first you will need a lot of patience and creativity to keep him in place.

Positions for wearing a baby in a ring sling

* - “in the cradle” - from birth to six months;

* - on the side - from birth to six months;

* - “in a shell” - from birth to six months;

* - horizontally - from birth to 2 years;

* - facing the mother - from 1.5-2 months to 2 years;

* - facing the world - from 3 months to a year or more;

* - “side landing” - from six months to a year or more;

* - on the hip - from six months to 2 years.

Carrying in a sling allows the mother to take care of, in addition to the newborn, other children in the family and pay more attention to them.

If you carry your baby in a sling, you can take care of other children, play with them, or read to them. There is less chance that older children will develop childhood jealousy - after all, the mother is still nearby and ready to pay attention. And it’s just easier to take care of an older child when you’re not forced to occupy the hands of a younger one who doesn’t want to wait patiently while you braid his sister’s hair or help his brother get dressed.

So, a sling is needed if:

* it seems that the child needs you constantly;

* it is difficult to find time for anything other than taking care of the child;

* you feel “lost” from life, it’s difficult to go on a visit or on a long trip.

Sling is the best assistant in expanding your horizons. Having placed the baby in a sling, the mother can go not only to the store or to school for her older child, but also for a walk in the park, to a museum, to a restaurant... The sling also helps to combine communication with the child and housekeeping, eliminating the constant lack of time .

Mothers who use a sling note that it is not difficult for them to carry their baby for several hours. This happens due to the even distribution of weight. This means that the mother remains mobile, active, and involved in the life of society.

In a sling, the child promptly satisfies the need for mother’s protection and patronage and calmly sets off on “open swimming.” After six months, he sits less and less often in his mother’s arms, trying to independently explore the world.

But even after the baby begins to walk, the sling will still be useful on the street for a long time, if the little explorer is tired, wants to take a nap, or needs to calm down at his mother’s breast.

When and where to start?

It is best to start using a sling at a very early age, around two weeks. Place a baby who wants to sleep there, give him the breast and immediately start rocking. Your smooth movements, the taste and smell of milk, similar to the smell of amniotic fluid, will remind your baby of a serene life inside the tummy. Although many begin to use a sling quite successfully with older children. And it can be used for up to two years or more, depending on the child’s build.

During the first few weeks, it’s better not to rush into all your accumulated tasks at once. You can simply rock your child in it, and then sit comfortably on the sofa, and, without removing the child from the flap, do something pleasant - read books, watch your favorite films, sort through photographs in a photo album, in general, whatever your heart desires. Having gotten a little used to this state, you can take on things on the move.

During the first months, babies may doze off while nursing for hours. Thus, the mother’s lactation improves. But if you are an active person and cannot sit idle, put the child in a sling and begin to slowly return to your previous active life. You can clean yourself up in the morning after sleep, do makeup; warm up breakfast; you can put your laundry in the wash; finally have breakfast. In general, do simple everyday things.

There are many ways to carry a baby in a sling, but all of them are physiological. If the child is placed correctly, then in the sling he is positioned in exactly the same way as if he were simply in his mother’s arms. And she may briefly feel like she’s pregnant again, only instead of stroking her belly, she’ll be stroking an already born baby snoring sweetly at her breast.

The position of the child in a sling “on the hip” is the prevention of diseases of the hip joint. Because in this position the baby is with his legs widely spread and symmetrically positioned. In a sling, the baby's weight is distributed evenly between the joints, unlike other baby-carrying devices. In kangaroo carriers, the baby hangs with his legs dangling and his body weight rests on the perineum, which can lead to problems with the spine.

The first months are usually the most difficult for new mothers. The child constantly “hangs on his chest”, prefers to sleep in his arms, but as soon as he is put in the crib, he immediately wakes up. In general, he behaves completely differently from the babies they write about in books. Mom's expectations are not met and she is close to depression. Many cannot withstand such stress and switch babies to regular feedings or give the baby a pacifier instead of a breast, which leads to a lack of milk. The sling is great for promoting successful breastfeeding. The baby is constantly at the breast, smelling it, and with frequent sucking ensures the flow of milk. A baby in a sling does not need to cry to call his mother for help. Put the child in it, let him do his job - provide food for himself - while you do yours.

Practical advice

* A good ring sling has: The rings are metal, large, with a diameter of 6-7 cm. The size of the rings is important so that the sling is easy to adjust: large rings allow you to tighten the sides of the sling separately, which is very important for the comfort of mother and child. You should not buy a sling with plastic rings, because, firstly, they make it difficult to adjust the sling, and secondly, they are less reliable than metal ones.

*Synthetic padding or thin foam rubber is inserted into the sides

For mothers who have experience with slings, a sling without sides is suitable.

* The sides are not secured with elastic bands or laces

The sides, tightened with elastic bands, limit the possibilities of the sling in horizontal positions.

* The tail of the sling is either completely loose or sewn literally 20-25 cm from the end, and the distance from the sides of the sling to the sewn place is about 40-50 cm

If the tail is sewn almost to the very edges, it is impossible to adjust the edges individually, which affects the ability to comfortably place the child in the “Cradle” position and the degree of support for the child’s back in vertical positions.

* There is a pillow for the shoulder and under the rings

Not necessary, but convenient, since a sling with a pillow will not cut into mom’s shoulder.

Larisa MIKHAILOVA,

practicing psychologist

Many parents now prefer to carry their children in carriers and slings, especially in big cities. It’s convenient for the mother, it’s useful for the baby, he feels protected, warm and comfortable. It is easy to put a child to sleep in a sling, easy to feed him anywhere, and it is convenient to travel with a sling and do household chores. When the child grows up and “transfers” to a vertical position in a sling, this turns out to be an excellent prevention of hip dysplasia, as well as training the vestibular apparatus. And these are not all the advantages of using slings!
However, not everything is so simple... After the American Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning about baby carriers in March of this year, a real battle unfolded in the media - between those who are for the use of slings and those who are categorically against.

Let us remind you: the reason for creating the “prescriptions” was the deaths - when babies suffocated in carriers. Fatalities have been recorded with the use of so-called “bag slings” (they are also called “pseudo-slings”), in addition, as noted in the “prescription”, “most of the children were premature, or from twins with low birth weight, or had breathing problems." That is, the death was the result of several unfavorable factors, and did not occur solely due to the use of the carrier.

To wear or not to wear?

So is it possible to carry children in slings? Of course. The same American safety commission does not call for a complete abandonment of slings, but only advises caution and special attention when carrying children under 4 months in any carrier. The approach to choosing one type of carrier or another should also be reasonable.
To avoid tragedy, it is recommended to check as often as possible whether the baby is comfortable, whether the sling fabric is covering his face, whether his nose and mouth are covered, whether his chin is pressed to his chest, whether his spine is twisted, etc.
And, of course, in pursuit of the advantages of “natural parenthood” you should not fall into fanaticism, denying strollers, cribs, modern toys and other amenities in the name of a sling. Everything is good in moderation, including slings.

Pros and cons of different sling designs

Ring sling. This is a wide strip of fabric, at one end of which two metal rings are sewn. The second end of the sling is threaded through these rings and secured. The rings and fabric can withstand quite a lot of weight (you can even carry a 3-year-old child in such a sling). The ring sling is easy to put on and easy to adjust. Even a newborn baby can be carried in such a sling - after all, the baby is in a horizontal position, almost like in a mother’s arms, and there is no load on the child’s fragile neck and back (as when carried in a “kangaroo”, where the child is forced to be vertical). Even in a sling with rings, you can breastfeed your baby discreetly. When the baby gets older and learns to sit independently, he can be worn in a sling with rings in the “hip” position - the child will be comfortable “riding” on his mother (again, this is the natural position of the child - many carry children on the hip without a sling , just holding it with one hand) and it’s interesting to look around. This, by the way, is an excellent prevention of hip dysplasia and training of the vestibular apparatus.

Sling scarf. A long strip of fabric without any fasteners is wound around the mother in various ways, its ends are tied in a knot. You can make a “cradle” for a newborn; you can carry the baby facing you on your chest, on your hip or on your back. From a variety of options, you can always choose the one that suits a particular mother-child pair. The inconvenience of a scarf is that “winding” it requires some skill. It is also extremely difficult to put on a sling scarf, for example, outdoors in slush or indoors with a dirty floor - the ends of the scarf are very long.

May-sling. This is no longer just a scarf, but a product cut and sewn from several parts with a belt and straps. The baby is in it facing the mother, hugging her with his legs and arms, and the fabric presses the baby to the mother. The straps and belt are tied in knots. This sling is not suitable for newborns; children can be carried in it from about 4–5 months, when the child can already confidently hold his head. It is important to ensure that the baby is pressed tightly against the mother’s body with the sling fabric (otherwise there will be a large load on the baby’s spine) and that his head does not fall back. When the baby falls asleep, his head should lie on his mother's chest.
An improved version of the May-sling is the “ergo” backpack and similar “ergonomic backpacks” or “sling backpacks”. The child sits in them in the same position as in a May-sling, only instead of knots there are comfortable fasteners and straps, and there is also a hood that protects the child from rain and sun and supports the child’s head.

Sling tube and sling pocket – these two types of sling are similar. They need to be carefully selected in size, otherwise it will be difficult for the mother to carry the baby, and the baby will be in an uncomfortable position. “Pockets” and “pipes” allow you to place the child both horizontally and vertically. They have a small volume and weight, but it is difficult to carry grown children in them over long distances.

Sling bag. Looks very modern. Instead of rings, there are fastex fasteners, the sides are tightened with an elasticated drawstring, there are pockets with Velcro... But it was when using this type of carrier that child deaths were recorded in the USA. Sling bags support the baby in a C-shaped position, which is harmful to the spine, while the baby's chin is pressed to the chest, which can make breathing difficult.

Sling bag, pocket sling and tube sling are considered the worst carrying options.

Recently, slings and backpacks for carrying children have become extremely popular. Manufacturers produce many varieties of these products, which make life so much easier for mothers. Of course, you can put the baby in a sling or backpack and go about your business, for example, to the dentistry in Kyiv, after reading reviews, or to the grocery store.

Undoubtedly, in a sling the baby is next to his mother, he is warm and comfortable. But the woman has both hands free, and the weight of even a large child does not seem large. But experienced orthopedists are increasingly saying that the sling is harmful. Why?

The child's health comes first!

The fact is that orthopedists note the fact that more and more children are suffering from scoliosis. And most of them spent a lot of time next to their mother in a sling or backpack, positioned for carrying babies from birth.

Carry children in slings when they are already confidently holding their head and sitting. Usually this is only from 6-8 months.
Do not sew such carriers yourself. Manufacturers are at least trying to make their products safe for babies. And homemade slings are like a hammock. Lie in a hammock for several hours at a time. Are you comfortable? Or there is even a risk that the baby will fall out of the sewn carrier and get dislocated joints.
Do not carry your baby in a sling for a long time. For example, go to the stop like this. And on the bus (train, etc.) just take the baby in your arms.
When choosing between a kangaroo carrier and an ergo-backpack, you should give preference to the second option. It is safer for the child. But it is better, again, to use it already at the age when the child is sitting.
Believe me, the child will benefit much more if you simply carry him in your arms, lie next to him on the bed and play. But putting the baby in a sling and starting to watch a movie is clearly unnecessary.

Remember that scoliosis acquired in early childhood will affect not only your posture. It will affect many systems of the body. For example, dentists claim that malocclusion is a consequence of scoliosis! So if you carried your baby in a sling, show it to an orthodontist in Kyiv by making an appointment

Such an innovation as a sling came into our lives quite recently. Just yesterday we were surprised that this winding cloth could hold a baby, but today, not even in the biggest cities, you can meet a woman carrying her child like this. Therefore, in this article we will consider this method of carrying babies as a sling, the pros and cons of which are known only to experienced sling mothers and doctors.

About baby carriers

The device was called a sling for a reason. Literally in English the word means “sling”. In fact, with the help of long pieces of linen, the baby is “tied” to the mother.

It is called a fashionable innovation only by those who have not heard about the history of this invention. But before the advent of strollers, our great-grandmothers carried their children this way. Remember the expression “bring in the hem”. This was the name for a specially tailored apron, which was worn over a skirt and tied around the neck, and the baby was placed inside. As a result, my mother had her hands free, she could do housework and take care of the household, because there were no maternity leaves then.

There are several types of slings. For newborns, a scarf sling or a sling with rings are suitable. They are used from 0 months to six months, it all depends on the weight and mobility of the baby. There are no gender differences; both girls and boys can be seated in them.

When the baby grows up and begins to hold his head on his own, from about 3 months, he can be placed in a May-sling, and then, from 4 months, a sling pocket can be used.

You can use ergonomic backpacks for 6 months or more. This is a very conditional period, since it is assumed that the child is already able to sit independently, and the lumbar region of his spine is ready for such loads. As you understand, some babies sit down even at 8 months, so you need to use backpacks at a time when the baby’s body is ready for it.

By the way, beginners confuse an ergo backpack and a baby carrier. The latter can actually cause harm rather than help, but more on that below.

The benefits and harms of a sling

Basically, all sling mothers and most doctors claim that there is no harm to the spine from carrying. But with reservations:

— the device must be used according to age;

- it must be of high quality both in terms of materials and structural strength;

- not everything that the manufacturer calls a sling is one. There are especially many complaints about this regarding kangaroo carriers.

If these conditions are not met, then adverse consequences are possible, and not only for the child, but also for the mother.

To understand how slings affect a newborn’s spine, let’s look at his physiology.

1. Babies are born with a C-shaped spine. As it matures, by the age of 8–10 years it will resemble the letter “S”, like an adult’s. The formed curves allow the child to hold his head, turn and sit. They appear gradually as the muscle corset strengthens.

2. Already at one month, some children can lift their head independently; by 3 months they are already holding it for a long time. This is how the cervical curve is formed - lordosis.

3. When the child begins to sit (from 6 to 8–9 months), thoracic kyphosis is formed. As the baby begins to try to stand up, we can talk about lumbar lordosis.

4. By 8–10 years, sacral kyphosis appears.

You have probably noticed that a newborn baby does not lie like a “soldier.” His limbs are bent, legs spread apart. He's trying to lie down in the fetal position because his spine is bent in a "C" shape. Therefore, the position of the baby in a sling, scarf or with rings is physiological: the baby is pressed against the mother, and his back is evenly supported by the fabric.

That is why at this stage of life, carriers that are more rigid in design are not purchased.

Before placing your child in the wearing device, pay attention to the fixation of the cervical spine: the head should not tip back. Scarf fabric should ideally stretch diagonally, not lengthwise or crosswise. Then the newborn's back will be supported evenly.

A few words about the correct development of the hip joint. The International Dysplasia Institute notes that for proper joint formation, the femoral head must be centered in the acetabulum. Therefore, carrying a baby with his legs apart has an extremely positive effect on his health.

Negative points

Harm from a sling can be caused if you use incorrect and low-quality devices. Mothers call them pseudoslings. These mainly include “kangaroos”.

- They distribute the child's weight incorrectly. It turns out that it weighs on the perineum, and this is not only inconvenient, but also harms the fragile spine.

— The baby’s legs simply hang in the kangaroo backpack, which adversely affects the development of the acetabular cartilage and increases the risk of hip dysplasia.

— Inconvenient design, thin straps cut into the shoulders and load the mother’s back.

What other signs do pseudoslings have?

- inability to regulate fabric tension;

- soft sides on carrying scarves or with rings;

- fragile, plastic rings.

Choose only high-quality carriers for your baby, and he will develop in harmony, because his mother will always be there.

Daria Romashko, pediatrician.