I *think* he can breathe...but I can't see him!

When my son was first born I borrowed a friend's New Native sling to use until I got back to the United States where I could buy my own. By the time I got back to the United States I KNEW I did NOT want a sling - at least not this one.

One caveat: as this sling was borrowed, there is a chance that some of the difficulty I experienced was because the sling was slightly too large for me. (And I emphasize slightly, since the sling's pouch does seem to hit where it is supposed to) Nevertheless, this exposes the main problem with this sling: it is not adjustable. In order for this sling to be an economical option for a family, they (and all of their acquaintances who might carry the baby) would all have to be a similar size. Just how many families do you know that fit that description??

Before I took my son out in the sling, I practiced using it at home. Getting him into and out of the sling was not nearly as easy as I had been led to believe. He always seemed to get stuck and I usually needed a third hand to extricate him from the sling. After much fiddling that the baby did NOT enjoy I eventually found a way to put him in the sling so that I could see him easily and ensure that he could breathe easily. My main concern, triggered by a warning at the New Native website, was that while he was comfortably curled up in a fetal-like position, his chin could touch his chest, causing "positional asphyxia" - a type of suffocation. I folded the sling to make a pocket to support his head and kept his arms outside the sling - unfortunately I can not explain it any better than that since I am not exactly sure how it worked and had to adjust the sling umpteen times in order to recreate this hold every time I used the sling. Suffice it to say, the hold was not one of the positions recommended on the New Native website. I did try to figure out how to use folded receiving blankets as recommended at the website, but I could not manage to get my son into the sling without moving the blankets and making him even more uncomfortable. Maybe I'm just not coordinated enough to use a sling, but with a newborn I don't think you should have to be!

Because I was using a non-recommended hold, I never felt he was quite safe and needed to use one or both hands while I was walking to make sure he would not tip out of the sling. But at least I was able to let go long enough to open my stroller!

The main reason I wanted to try a sling was that I had heard that nursing was easier with a sling than with a front carrier. And with a 12 hour plane ride coming up, I knew that I would need something to hold him with besides my non-athletic arms. Sadly, once again, my lack of coordination, lack of patience with fiddly-baby-gear and the sling's lack of adjustability made it impossible for me. I tried the receiving blanket tip again and I tried moving him up and down inside the sling but he never got close enough to the target. Out of sheer desperation I ended up taking him out of the sling and using it to cover myself (and getting extra pillows from the flight attendant to support the baby). A ring sling seems to work best for nursing. A friend of mine who swears by her ring sling, just tightens her sling to pull her baby up close and tight, making it simple for her daughter to nurse. And although it is not as simple, it is also possible to nurse using a front carrier.

Another reason I wanted a sling was its flexibility. The website for this carrier has instructions for the many ways you can carry your baby or toddler. But who am I kidding? I won't be carrying this kid much once he outgrows his Baby Bjorn anyway! And to be honest, as much as I wanted to like the sling, I can't get over the feeling that the back cradle carry is NOT a safe way to carry a baby! How do you protect the baby from bumps and how do you monitor its breathing when it is slung across your back? And a long tube just doesn't seem to be the best place to put a floppy, wiggly baby. Every time I got my son into the cradle hold, he managed to flop and wiggle just enough to move himself out of position - and he's not a particularly floppy or wiggly baby either. In the Baby Bjorn, once he's in, he's safe and snuggly and I don't have to re-adjust his position every 15 minutes.

There are three positive things I can say about the sling. First, because the sling is made from cotton, the baby did not sweat excessively (although its color - black - nearly negated that pro). Secondly, the sling is easy to pack and transport. It fits into my diaper bag and I do not have to worry that my husband will leave half of it on the plane like he did with our old Kelty carrier. Lastly, when I had to carry my son off a fully loaded 777, go through passport control, baggage claim and customs, I never once felt an ache in my back because the sling is well-balanced and comfortable.

Despite being easy on my back, I felt that the sling was too difficult and too stressful to use. My son did seem to enjoy being snuggled up in the sling, but since I could not easily see him to monitor his breathing, I decided to try a front carrier instead. I opted for a Baby Bjorn Active and I have not regretted my decision once.