Types of Baby Slings

There are many types of baby slings, that will make nursing easy - the best styles for breastfeeding, are obviously the ones that allow you to carry your child on the front.

Ask Dr Sears has a resource page on how to wear various types of baby slings here

Wrap

A wrap style sling, is simply a long piece of fabric, that you tie in certain ways to carry your baby. Wraps are generally made from natural fabrics, with a light weave, making them comfortable and breathable. There are stretchy style wraps, and woven style wraps.

There are many different types of ties for wraps, and some are best for newborns, others better for toddlers. Wraps offer a lot of flexibility in terms of how you carry your baby.

Some examples of wraps are the Mobi Wrap, Hug a Bub, and Bali Breeze.

Pouch

Pouch type slings, put simply are a loop of fabric, doubled over to form a pouch. They come in a range of sizes, and it’s important to get one that fits comfortably, and safely around your baby.

They’re not adjustable, but they’re easy to get on and off.

A well fitted pouch sling lets you nurse comfortably and discretely.

Ring Sling

A ring sling, is a piece of woven fabric threaded between two rings, making a ‘pouch’ to carry your baby in.  Some ringslings are padded on the shoulders, and along one edge ‘the rails’. You fasten a ring sling by putting it over one shoulder, and adjusting the fabric through the rings.

Getting a good fit with a ring sling is important, and how you wear it determines it’s comfort.

The tail of a ringsling can be used to cover you if you wished to nurse discretely.

Wearing your baby in a baby sling, is a bonus for the nursing mum. Here’s why:

1. Baby Slings encourage skin to skin contact, which in turn helps stimulate your breastmilk supply
2. Babies in slings settle easier close to Mom’s heartbeat. Happy Baby, Happy Mumma!
3. Constant access to the breast ensures that your baby recieves the optimum amount of breastmilk to grow.
4. Constant access to the breast means less chance of infection such as mastitis.
5. Wearing your baby in a sling allows you to do other things, like housework.
6. Wearing your baby in a sling lets your baby experience the world from your point of view.
7. If you are shy, slinging your baby lets you discretely nurse.
8. If you have a toddler, and are not tandem nursing, wearing your younger child in a sling can limit jealousy.

There are many types of slings available for you to carry your baby in, and each one has it’s advantages.

Breastmilk, in a healthy mother, is made on a supply and demand basis - that is, the more the baby drinks, the more milk the mother will produce.

Many mothers are WRONGLY told that they have low supply issues. Low supply can only truly be diagnosed by an expert, and this is generally NOT a GP. A qualified Lactation consultant will be able to help you out with Low Supply diagnosis, using tools like Sucking Charts, and diaries.

Simply feeling empty, or not being able to express, are poor indicators of breast milk supply.

If you have truly been diagnosed with low supply, there are several things you can attempt to do to build your supply. In addition to prescription remedies.

1. Feed frequently, and don’t limit access to the breast. A baby sling might assist you with this, and feeding throughout the night.
2. Herbs that can be used are Fenugreek, Blessed Thistle, and Alfalfa
3. Expressing/Pumping may help
4. Rest rest rest, and  take good care of Mom!
5. Don’t use bottles, dummies or pacifiers
6. DON’T supplement with formula. (This will only decrease your supply further)

More information on supply, and what constitutes as low supply can be found here

1. Sit Crossed legged, and drape the rebozo across your lap
2. Lay the baby, on top of the rebozo, between your knees, facing up to you.She should be in the centre of the rebozo, with her head slightly higher than her feet, as tilted slightly towards your breast.
3. Bring the wide ends of the rebozo, up around the baby, creating a snug little pouch.
4. Throw the end of the rebozo that’s behind the baby’s head, over your shoulder. Bring the end that’s at her feet, around your waist.
5. Gently cradle your infant with your knees, and chest, and secure the ends of the rebozo behind your back (you might want a partner to help you with this until you get used to the manouver)
6. Make sure there’s no slack around the baby, and that they can breathe comfortably, before tying the knot.
7. Tie the long ends of the rebozo in a square knot

You now ought to be able to breastfeed comfortably with your baby in the sling.

Pictures, and other ways to carry your baby in a rebozo can be found here

Wearing a sling, pouch, or Mei Tai style baby carrier, might just make your breastfeeding experience more pleasant for mum and bub. Here’s why:

1. You can carry a baby ‘hands-free’
2. Carrying a baby can increase a mother’s hormone levels thus encouraging her body to make breastmilk.
3. It calms a restless, ‘windy’ baby. The upright position against the warm adult body is very soothing. Often babies happily go to sleep.
4. Your baby will spend less time crying.
5. You can feed on the go.
6. When not feeding, your baby is experiencing the world from your point of view, and learning.
7. It allows for discrete feeding, if you’re nervous.
8. Constant access to the breast, ensures you produce enough milk, and your baby recieves optimum levels.
9. You’ll stop people poking their head in on the pram, and stickybeaking on the baby.
10. You can carry your child in the orthopeadically correct “frog” position - which encourages settling too.
11. Your child will be more secure, and well adjusted.