~Baby feels like they are in the womb again.  They just came out of a warm, small, confined place where they heard your voice all the time, felt your heartbeat and your body sway while you walked.  The sling extends the womb experience and they feel at home again.

 

~Baby feels more secure.  You tend to their needs right away so they learn that you are there to help care for them.  You can not spoil a baby by carrying them too much.  They need and love that constant contact.  You are their world and have been for 9 months in the womb. 

 

~Promotes breastfeeding.  It is so easy and discrete to breastfeed in a sling or mei tai.  I had no trouble nursing in public.  People would come up to me all the time asking to see the baby and I would have to explain that she was nursing because they couldn't tell.  An unpadded ring sling, like the Loving My Babies sling lets you nurse handsfree.

 

~Gives your arms a break.  Before my sling I was always pushing an empty stroller while holding my baby.  After I got my sling I ditched the stroller and just wore my baby.  I saw no need to bring my stroller as a cart for carrying my diaper bag anymore.

 

~Helps in cramped places that are not stroller friendly.  Crowded mall stores, swap meets, farmer's markets, fairs, conventions and amusement parks are not very stroller friendly because of the tight quarters or the amount of people.  We went to a convention this year with my sling and had so many compliments about the sling and the baby.  The year before everyone was so annoyed that our stroller was crowding the aisle.  You can be the smart one zipping through the aisles around all the strollers at the baby expo.

 

~Keeps germs away.  no putting baby in shopping carts and no strangers asking to hold the baby.  They tend to let you have your personal space when your baby is attached to your body.  

 

~Helps daddy bond with baby.  Holding baby close to you helps baby to bond with daddy and get more familar with hime being a provider too.  Especially if breastfeeding is primary feeding method and mama has baby all the time to nurse.  The baby with get to smell daddy and hear his voice like they did with mama.  Daddy with be thrilled the first time your baby falls asleep on him while he is wearing her.   

 

~Helps with daycare adjustment.  Bring your carrier of choice to your daycare/babysitter and teach them how to wear your baby.  This will help your baby adjust to the new caregiver better.  They will have that familiar closeness even when mama can't be there. 

 

~Helps mama tend to multiple children at the same time.  When a temper tantrum arises you are better able to calmly help fussy older child when the younger one is secure in a carrier.  When my younger daughter was 2 months old my newly 2 year old decided to run off at Disneyland.  I was very happy my baby was asleep in the sling so I could chase my older daughter safely without trying to run pushing a stroller.  The baby didn't even wake with me running. 

 

~Helps older child adjust to having a new baby in the house.  Mama doesn't have to stop doing things with the older child because the little one is in her arms or nursing.  I was able to push my daughter in the swings at the park, read books to my older daughter while nursing the baby and loved that I didn't always have to focus all my attention on the new baby.  I felt empowered that I could tend to both children at the same time most of the time.  

 

~Slings are stylish.  Slings available today are sold in cute and trendy fabrics that are a great accessory to your wardrobe.  Some slings are so bulky and not attractive mama's were discouraged by the lack of selection and design to even try a sling.