Baby slings

A baby sling

Price range: $55 to $120.

Description: A sling is essentially a length of fabric you wrap over one of both your shoulders and around your waist. It lets you carry your baby in front (lying down or sitting up), on your hip, or on your back. Adjustable rings or clips mean you can wear a newborn snug and high on your chest or a toddler on your hip. But don't have the sling too loose - this can make it uncomfortable for you and your baby.

A sling is useful for any occasion when you'd be carrying your baby for an extended period of time. It's also useful if you need an extra pair of hands when you're folding up a buggy. A sling doesn't take up much room, so it's easy to store.

The loose fit of a sling allows you to breastfeed discreetly. But a sling can also be a bit bulky for smaller babies - and it offers less security for older babies as they may slip out.

Note: The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the US consumer organisation Consumers Union have raised concerns about the safety of baby slings, especially when they’re used for babies under the age of four months.

What to look for

• Shoulder padding provides comfort.
• Rings or clips make it easy to adjust the sling.
• A machine washable fabric will be easy to clean.
• Storage pockets can hold small items.
• A drawstring helps to secure your baby to stop them falling out.

Readers' comments about baby slings

Good points

• Good for a baby with severe reflux - baby was able to be kept upright.
• Very flexible: you can use different carrying positions in different circumstances.
• Excellent for breastfeeding discreetly in public .
• Good for getting baby to sleep while you keep your hands free.
• Lets your baby enjoy being close to you - and you can talk to your baby face to face.
• Allows you to carry older babies on your hip.
• Quicker than a front pack for getting baby in and out.
• Great for short distances.
• Easy to wash and store when you're not using it.
• Useful in conjunction with buggies: you can leave your buggy at the shop door and still carry your baby inside.

But

• Sometimes can get an achy shoulder after a long period of time.
• It's possible for the sling to slip down to the baby's neck, instead of supporting the head.
• Often needs a bit of adjustment to get baby comfortable.
• As baby got older he didn't like the cramped conditions, even in the sitting-up position.
• Baby would get heavy and tiring when you were using the sling for long periods, and if you were standing too much.