When your postnatal doula arrives at your door there are a few things they might have with them. One might be cake another is a sling or carrier to help with caring for you and your baby. So what’s so great about slings?
- Lots of babies sleep really well while being carried. Babies come into the world with expectations based on their experience to date which is of being in a lovely snugly womb. Being in a sling, especially on the move, is very soothing and cosy and can help babies to sleep. One of the most popular jobs postnatal doulas do is allow mums to get some time (often to sleep) to themselves which they can be easily relaxed enough to do when the baby is sleeping snug in the sling with their doula. This is also a brilliant advantage for mums, dads and partners and grandmas and uncles. Slings help everyone to help baby sleep.
- Babies who are colicy or refluxy are often more comfortable upright and well supported in a sling or carrier. Doulas often find themselves supporting families when baby is struggling with feeding or with being comfortable after a feed. Babies who cry a lot can be really draining to care for and doulas can do a great job of taking some of the stress away by caring for the family and helping them to care for themselves. Being able to calm a baby is an important skill for doulas and carrying the baby is a great tip we often pass on to families as an added tool for their toolbox
- Slings leave your hands free to do housework. While housework isn’t the main reason your doula is there many doulas will be happy to do a few chores that help you feel relaxed in your home and allow you to focus on resting and recovering from birth and sleepless nights. Using a sling allows your doula (and you if you give it a try) to load the dishwasher, fold the laundry or make you a sandwich with two hands.
- Slings also leave hands free for caring for mum and older children. Your doula can keep on looking after you (give you a foot massage for example) or entertain your older children (make a wooden railway over the playroom floor for example) while you look after yourself. Using a sling or carrier yourself will allow you to keep on doing things for yourself, go for a country walk, get a manicure, have coffee with a friend, look after your older children, take them to the park and push them on the swings or stay home and read a book.
- Last but very much not least, sling cuddles are some of the best kind. Doulas are not shy to admit we love a cuddle, we’re great at giving them and we’re oxytocin junkies so we rarely turn one down. Some people (who are wrong) will tell you that cuddling your baby all the time will make a rod for your own back. The evidence of the many happy healthy independent children who were carried in slings shows that’s simply not true. All the cuddles are great for mums and dads and babies too.
Interested in learning more about the benefits of carrying your baby? Check out this article https://www.carryingmatters.co.uk/positive-effects-of-carrying-for-baby/
If you’re thinking “this sounds great I want in” talk to your doula -many doulas will be able to help you get going with a sling or carrier. Or find a local babywearing consultant or sling library to help you find the best sling for you. In and around Hampshire there are sling libraries in the New Forest, Salisbury, Portsmouth, and a shop in Petersfield.
Then get in touch with your local sling consultant.
Always Make sure you’re carrying your baby safely follow the TICKS guidelines.
Hampshire Doulas 