A sling is a long, narrow cloth used to carry a baby or small child close to the wearer’s body. Wraps have the advantage of being comfortable for the baby, feeling safe and protected, and also allow parents to have their hands free to carry out other activities.
However, they can be difficult to tie and adjust correctly, which can take time and practice. Despite this, scarves are recommended for parents looking for a comfortable and safe carrying option.
HOW DO YOU USE A BABY SCARF?
Learn quickly and easily how to put on a scarf in simple steps.
First divide the fabric into two parts and place it on the abdomen without folding it with both ends backwards.
Cross it on your back.
Pass it over the shoulders and place each point below the part that is the abdomen.
Cross these ends of the scarf, carry them behind your back and cross them again.
Both posterior points when crossed lead forward.
Tie them at your waist.
And finally, tie a knot and make sure the space left is enough for your baby to be comfortable.
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HOW RECOMMENDABLE IS THE SCARF?
It is advisable to use a sling for your baby, as long as you take certain points into consideration.
In the first months, a baby has not yet developed the muscles of his body, which means that they are weak and cannot control them; which, due to bad practice, could cause suffocation due to pressure on the nose or due to a bad position.
The points that you should take into consideration are:
- Check the minimum weight your baby can have before placing it in the sling.
- Make sure that your baby is visible to you at all times, and that the scarf does not cover her face.
- Avoid bending over, and if necessary, be careful.
- Before use, make sure the scarf has no broken seams.
When to start using a carrying scarf?
To carry your baby in a sling, it is recommended that she be 3 months or older.
FABRICS FOR SCARVES
Commonly the material used to make scarves is 100% cotton fabric, which is soft to the touch and breathable; which makes it comfortable for our babies.
There are also other types of fabrics for scarves, taking into account their origins:
Synthetic fabrics
Serge
Twill fabric is popular for making scarves because of its strength and durability. This fabric has a diagonal texture that makes it very resistant to wear and tear, making it ideal for supporting the weight of the baby for long periods of time. In addition, the twill fabric is breathable and lightweight, comfortable to wear during summer.
Jacquard
The Jacquard scarf fabric is characterized by having intricate and beautiful patterns. This fabric is woven on a special loom that allows the creation of relief patterns, giving it a unique and elegant touch. The Jacquard fabric is soft and comfortable for baby, but is also strong and durable, perfect for your daily wear.
Plant-based fabrics
Linen
Linen is a light and breathable fabric, ideal for hot summer days. Among its qualities, the most notable are its resistance and durability. In addition, linen is a soft and comfortable fabric to touch.
Ramie
Ramie fabric is a sustainable alternative to linen. This fabric is produced from the ramie plant, as its name suggests, which is a resistant plant that requires very little water and pesticides to grow.
Ramie fabric is light and breathable, widely used for hot summer days. Among other characteristics, this fabric is differentiated by its softness.
Bamboo
The bamboo fabric in a wrap is perfect as it is absorbent, excellent for babies who sweat a lot. This fabric is very soft to the touch, being comfortable for the baby.
Likewise, the bamboo fabric is also breathable and lightweight, making it perfect for the summer season.
Fabrics of animal origin
Wool
Wool is a warm and cozy fabric, widely used for the winter season. Thanks to its durability and resistance, it is perfect for supporting weight for long periods of time. Wool stands out for its great softness, being the most comfortable for little ones.
Silk
Silk is a very soft and comfortable fabric for babies. Being breathable makes it perfect for use on hot days. Likewise, this fabric has the characteristic of being elegant and durable.
Fabrics of artificial origin
Modal
Modal is a breathable fabric, scarves with this fabric are ideal for babies with sensitive skin and are very soft to the touch.
Tencel
Tencel fabric is an eco-friendly alternative to cotton. It is produced from renewable wood pulp and is biodegradable. Tencel fabric is soft, breathable and lightweight.
TYPES OF SCARF
There are three types of baby wraps: elastic, woven and semi-elastic. Each of them has its advantages and disadvantages, and they adapt to different needs and situations.
Elastic scarves
Elastic scarves are those that contain a small amount of elastane in their composition. This allows them to stretch and conform to the baby’s body, making them ideal for newborns and for carrying for short periods of time.
The advantages of elastic scarves are their ease of use and adjustment, since it is not necessary to tie complicated knots. However, their main disadvantage is that they are not suitable for larger babies or for wearing for long periods of time.
Semi-elastic scarves
Semi-elastic scarves combine the advantages of elastic and woven scarves. These wraps contain a small amount of elastane in the center of the wrap, which allows them to adjust to the baby’s body, while the ends are made of woven fabric, which gives them strength and durability.
The advantages of semi-elastic wraps are their ease of use and adjustment, as well as their versatility to adapt to different ages and sizes of the baby. The main disadvantage is that they are not as resistant.
Woven scarves
Woven scarves do not contain elastane and are woven on special looms. These scarves are very versatile and adapt to different ages and sizes of the baby.
The advantages of woven scarves are their durability and great resistance, which makes them ideal for daily use.
Its variety of fabrics and designs allows you to choose the scarf for any occasion. The main disadvantage of woven scarves is that it takes a lot of practice to tie the right knots. These scarves can have twill fabric, Jacquard fabric, linen fabric, ramie fabric, wool and silk.
The choice of the type of scarf will depend on the needs and preferences of each family.
Elastic slings are ideal for newborns and for carrying for short periods of time.
Semi-elastic scarves combine the advantages of both types.
Woven scarves are strong and durable for daily use and long periods of time.
What is better elastic or rigid scarf?
Elastic scarves are characterized by being soft to the touch and favoring skin-to-skin contact, they are made of cotton and spandex/elastane. Its use is recommended for small healthy newborn babies (up to more or less 9 kg in weight) and for forward positions; Since, because it is an elastic fabric, it begins to stretch with its weight.
The rigid wrap is of high consistency and elasticity in a diagonal sense, being ideal for use from birth and extends to large babies that you want to take on long walks; It is made with organic fabric, bamboo, cotton, chiffon, cross-woven fabrics, among others; and since it does not have elastane, if its composition is not too thick, it is ideal to wear in warm weather.
What is better, a scarf, shoulder bag or a kangaroo?
All of them are recommended to carry your baby comfortably, so it will depend on your possibilities and comfort.
HOW TO MAKE A BABY SCARF?
The sling is ideal for your baby’s first months of life, as it will help you comfortably carry your little one anywhere. Find paper and pencil to learn how to make a scarf for your baby.
Materials:
- Sewing machine.
- Chalk for fabric.
- Pins.
- Scissors.
- Thread.
- Needle.
- The fabric you like the most.
Now, we will start with the steps to make your baby scarf:
Fabric quantity
If your baby is small you may only need 3.5 meters long, however, it is better to buy more fabric, with about 5 meters of fabric long and 1.20 meters wide being recommended.
fold the fabric
Stretch the fabric completely, then fold it in half in the center, obtaining a piece of fabric 5 meters long by 60cm wide.
cut the fabric
You must cut right in the middle (you can mark it with chalk) where the fabric is folded, obtaining two pieces.
Mark the hem
Join the two pieces and it is advisable to sew them. To do this, make a 2 cm hem and mark it with pins.
Iron the hem
Iron the edges, so that it is easier when sewing.
Sew the edges
Attach the thread to the sewing machine and make a zigzag seam to obtain the hem of the scarf.