Ask Amma

Posts Tagged ‘babywearing’

,

Sari Sling in a Jiffy

In Field Notes, How on 14 March 2016 at 6:29 am

Arpitha Shankar, Amma to two daughters, aged 4 and 2, in Bangalore, shares her family’s experience trying out baby wearing using a sari wrapped around baby’s Appa!

Our daughter loves to be carried everywhere… although we used to enjoy it when she was a baby, as she became heavier, carrying her for long periods left us exhausted quickly especially when we used to go for short hikes. Thats when we came across baby wearing. The DIY youtube videos are so simple to follow and a cotton saree is enough to make a comfortable sling to carry her around. The first time around we didnt get her to sit in a deep seated position so that her legs are in M position, but nevertheless, both my daughter and husband were ecstatstic. The best thing was being handsfree and doing the other chores freely with the baby happily in the sling.

Arpitha Shankar sling

Vel and his 4 year-old daughter are ready for a hike!

 

Ask Amma thanks Arpitha, Vel and their daughters for sharing these lovely photos.

,

“The sling became part of my attire”

In What on 10 July 2014 at 7:47 pm

“This sling became part of my attire, like an essential thing that you can’t forget when you get out of the house.”

– Rajitha Gopinath, Mumbai

Rajitha and Kavya at sunset

Rajitha and Kavya

Rajitha, Amma to 3 year-old Kavya and newborn Karthik, knows how to make the most of available resources.  Reminding us of the lovely places to explore in Mumbai, she writes about Parks of Mumbai.  You can see her here taking in the sunset with her daughter, who rides along in a simple sling that Rajitha fashioned with sturdy wooden bangles.   Unlike any other ring sling I have ever seen, this requires no sewing and you can get it ready to wear in a minute.

Read the rest of this entry »

, , ,

Free Sling

In How on 13 January 2014 at 5:47 am

Here is a sling you need not sew or buy.  No rings, straps or other fasteners.  Just a long piece of cloth and a square knot that you tie yourself.  A dupatta, lungi, or shawl, should do, or you can cut a sari in half.   Two metres or so is enough to tie around yourself comfortably.

It’s so simple … just go to any rural, especially hilly region in India and you will see many people wearing their babies with just this type of sling.  It in the city too, usually among mendicants and migrant workers.  Whether it is the Rebozo in Mexico, the Khanga in Africa, it is simply a piece of cloth used for multiple purposes, including baby wearing.  Our urban brothers and sisters have also discovered it, to their delight.  Read the rest of this entry »

, ,

Nursing in the sling

In How on 30 October 2013 at 10:10 pm

Nursing is a wonderful thing and a lovely little verb as well, referring to the action both of the baby and the mother, or as the International MotherBaby Childbirth Organization might say, it is the action of the motherbaby[1].

Nursing in sling. Image: Shutterstock

Nursing in sling. Image: Shutterstock

Some motherbabies nurse soon after birth and with no apparent learning curve.  Others take more time.  Some mothers donate milk to others who struggle with supply.

Two practices that make nursing easier are:
1.  Nursing while lying down / dozing off.
2.  Nursing in the sling.

Read the rest of this entry »

,

Why I love my ring sling

In Why on 30 October 2013 at 10:10 pm

Three weeks after my daughter was born she suddenly started crying in the evenings for several hours until at last she fell asleep.  I called my doula who suggested that I get a sling.  Where do I get a sling?  I asked.  She suggested that I look for information in Mothering Magazine.

With that I was introduced at once to two very important resources.

See the sights, feel the love!

See the sights, feel the love!

Read the rest of this entry »

,

Slings

In How on 16 September 2013 at 10:10 pm
Vijay carries daughter in sling

Vijay carries daughter in sling

The SLING is the the thing I find myself recommending most often.  As they say, लाख़  दुखों  की  एक दवा है, क्यों ना आज़माएँ?

That evening fussiness that sets in usually anywhere between 3 weeks – 3 months?  Try the sling!

Baby takes such short naps I don’t know when / where to put her down?  Try the sling! Read the rest of this entry »

,

Make your own ring sling

In How, Uncategorized on 27 December 2011 at 8:00 pm

So you are handy with a needle and have a wonderful piece of cloth that you would love to convert into a ring sling.

It is fairly easy to sew your own ring sling.  The key is to get good sturdy rings.  Just get 2 1/4  metres of fabric.  If you are tall or if you like having a bit of cloth to use as an an extra layer when it is chilly, then get 2 1/2 metres.

Pleat the cloth and slide 2 rings through it.  When you reach 9 inches or so, fold it over and sew it down.  This holds the rings in place and also creates a light padding for your shoulder.  This is still considered an unpadded sling – padded slings have a thicker, softer shoulder pad.

Here are some diagrams from the ring sling sewing instructions page on the Maya Wrap site: Read the rest of this entry »

,

40 days old baby, wants to be held

In When on 18 February 2011 at 2:40 am

She’s only 40 days old….always cries for wanting to be picked up ….I do and everyone around me thinks that I am spoiling her. I thought that once assured she won’t need it and will spend some time alone playing…but that’s not happening…am I really spoiling her by picking her up when she cries???
– New mom from Mumbai.

Ah, a story we hear all too often. Baby asks to be picked up, others say don’t do it. Read the rest of this entry »

%d bloggers like this: