“Lots of new parents see those brand-name baby carriers in the high street windows or being worn
around town, and think, wow it would be great to be hands-free when carrying the baby. But few
people know that there’s so much more to babywearing than that, and so many more options. A
sling is not only convenient, it helps parents bond with a baby, providing calming and soothing
contact. A carried baby doesn’t need tummy time and doesn’t get a flat head, and research shows
that carried babies cry 40% less tha
n other babies. But you won’t get all these advantages from
the high street carriers. There’s loads of lovely slings out there but they’re only available online, so
where does a new babywearer start?
“If you’re interesting in carrying your baby (or toddler!), Sheffield Babywearers provides help, advice
and chat at regular sling meets. You can try out different types of sling that are suitable for the age
of your child (a description of the different slings is available on our website) and get advice on how
to use them. And let’s be honest, it’s an excuse to get together with our friends, drink tea and eat
cake. We are closely linked with Sheffield Sling Library, where you can borrow a sling for a month
to try it out. We also have a busy and friendly Facebook group where we chat about babywearing,
helping each other out with advice on buying and using slings, and frequently diverge onto other
parenting and local interest topics! Many of us have made lasting friendships through Sheffield
Babywearers and we love to keep welcoming new members.” Katherine Harkness, Sheffield Babywearers
