It's cloth nappy week! Did you know that as well as the sling library we also have the cloth nappy library for Mid Essex? We have amazing kits which can be hired and contain all you need for a full trial of cloth nappies? They include a full set of nappies, inserts, cloth wipes, wet bags and oils (to make things smell nice!). If you've never tried cloth nappies or are expecting your first baby, the idea of cloth can be a little daunting. The fantastic peer supporters who use cloth have come up with some brilliant tips for making cloth nappies work for you. 

1. There are lots of brands - try several to see that suits you and your child best. At different ages different nappies will work better than others. 

2. Sunshine is the best stain remover! Washing nappies every two days is a decent wash load. Pre rinse, then a long wash cycle and another rinse to get rid of any excess soap (as this can affect absorbency). 

3. When putting a nappy on baby, fit the legs first (tuck it into the leg creases) before you do it up. 

4. For working mums, nurseries are usually pretty good at accepting cloth nappies and are usually eager to learn. You'll probably have to show them what to do and provide a few extra pairs of trousers just in case.

5. Buying second hand nappies is fantastic. (Don't be put off by second hand, as long as they've been washed it's all good). Cloth nappies can be a bit pricey brand new and buying second hand is just another way of reusing and recycling! (part of the benefit of cloth nappies)

6. Cloth nappies can be super pretty! Tiny nippers do some beautiful designs!

7. Reusable wipes/cloth wipes are brilliant and really gentle on the skin. Cheeky wipes are a fantastic brand or you can just buy some small baby cloths in the £ shop. Stick some lavender and camomile in the fresh wipes box and they come out smelling lovely. A great tip is to keep a water/lavender and camomile mix in a squirt bottle which is in your nappy kit to wet the cloth wipes as you need them. 

We always have the cloth nappy kits at all of our sling meets - you'll be very welcome to come along and have a look! 
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I love it at sling library sessions when we have lots of lovely parents come along with an idea in their mind of exactly the kind of carrier (even down to the brand) that they would like to try on in the hope that it 100% is THE carrier they can go away and buy. I love it when I have exactly that carrier in the library stash and love it even more when we fit the sling and it is perfect. Hurrah. Happy baby wearing consultant, happy parent and happy baby! 

Sometimes though, even when we have exactly the sling in the library stash, it doesn't work which can be a bit frustrating, especially when it should work. This is where coming along to a library session or booking a 1:1 consultation is so super handy because it is a brilliant chance to spend time finding the right sling for you. 

These are some of the little things we look for when trying out a sling or carrier for the first time to ensure that it will work for the wearer and baby: 

1. Age and stage of baby...
At each stage of baby's life there are differences which effect baby wearing and the sling choices. With a gorgeous new squishy newborn, we need to be super careful about maintaining the lovely curve of the spine, the still developing hip joints and the tiny head which still needs lots of careful support. When baby reaches 4 months old and they become more interested in the world we look for a sling that still supports the still tiny body while providing strength for the wearer. When baby is 6 months plus and can sit unaided, we might look for a sling which can allow for safe and comfortable back carrying. As baby enters toddler hood we want to look for something that can support the weight and wrigglyness of a toddler and allows for quick ups and downs as a toddler wants to be walking and then carried. 

2. Length of baby's torso - length of the panel 
As well as the age and stage of baby we consider the length of baby. I like to see the top of the panel of the carrier or sling sitting and supporting just around the back of baby's shoulders. If the panel comes up too low on baby's back there will not be enough support. If it comes up too high, baby won't be able to see and we don't want to have baby slumping down into a carrier with the panel covering the baby's face. I also like to see the panel fitting snugly against the baby's back all the way to the shoulders. So a big gap between the shoulders and the back of the panel is a no go for me, especially for a little baby as this will be providing next to no support for baby's back and neck and head. 

3. Legs/width of the panel
The width of the panel is just as important. It is important (especially for smaller babies) to have knee to knee support, meaning that the bottom of the panel of the sling or carrier spreads from the back of one knee all the way to the other while allowing for baby to be in that lovely 'M' shape seated position. BUT we don't want to ever over extend the baby's legs and hips. So we must make sure that the width of the panel isn't too big for the baby. This is the same for both newborns all the way through too toddler and preschoolers. When making the transition to a toddler size carrier where to panel size is HUGE it is really important to make sure it is again not too big for the toddler.

4. Straps and fussy shoulders
For people like me who have fussy shoulders (meaning I need the shoulder straps of a sling to sit "just right" or it'll make me uncomfortable) and for those who have back problems, it is really important to find a sling which is cushy on the shoulders and back while still providing the right support for the wearers. So it is worth trying on buckles carriers which can have the straps crossed over, or a wrap where the shoulder passes can be spread, or a mei tai with wrap straps where you can place the straps just how you like them. 

5. Being able to adjust the sling with ease. 
When we have chosen a sling or carrier we think ticks all of the above boxes the final thing I like to make sure of is that it can be adjusted by the wearer. The general rule is that the higher and tighter the sling is the more comfortable you will be. A sling that is hanging down off your shoulders will pull on them causing aching in no time. So it is crucial that you can adjust your sling so it is just right. This sounds really obvious and that it should be hard, but paying attention to the range of motion needed to be able to adjust each particular sling (for example, being able to reach around to the top of your shoulders to be able to do up a shoulder clip, or being able to reach and pull backwards to tighten the straps of some carriers) is really important. 

We would love to see you at the next library session or for a 1:1 consultation! 

Buckles or soft structured carriers are super popular in the library. Over the last 6 months buckle carriers account for more than 75% of all sling hires, and it's easy to understand why. A well fitting, wide based buckle carrier is worth it's weight in gold. They are brilliant for when you need something quick and simple to use. Fantastic when you want to go on a long walk and don't want to deal with muddy tails with a wrap. Awesome when you have a toddler who still needs/wants to be carried but doesn't have the patience for a long wrap job as they want up and down every five minutes! The list goes on...

I want to show off our three most popular buckle carriers in the library (which you can try on at the next sling meet and then hire for a month if you like!) 

The first is the Sleepy Nico. These are super cushy and cosy soft structured carriers which have a wonderfully supportive waist band without the stiffness of other carriers. The straps, which are light padded, can be crossed over for added comfort and they come in a variety of stunningly beautiful designs. We have several baby sized in our library stash (including the purple flowery one below) and are suitable for baby from about 3 months until toddler hood when they can move into the toddler sized Sleepy Nico. They have a hood which can easily be held up using the handy velcro straps, giving perfect support for a sleepy baby. When baby is big enough they can be used for very comfortable back carrying too! Check them out at www.sleepynico.com 

 The next carrier which I have a huge amount of love for is the Boba 4g. These are super simple and yet very comfortable and are a carrier which is genuinely newborn suitable which is a huge bonus when looking for something that will fit from birth onwards. For a newborn the Boba 4g has a small cushion which can be folded up and poppered into the based of the carrier allowing for a newborn to be sat in the correct position at the correct height without over extending their legs and at the same time still supporting their backs and necks. This newborn insert is easy to use and makes using the Boba 4g with even a newborn really stress free. When baby is big enough the newborn insert can be removed and the Boba is super comfy with bigger babies. The straps are easy to adjust and of course it can be used for back carrying when baby is big enough. The waist band and the straps are slightly more sturdy and structured than something like the Sleepy Nico which suits some parents well. Check them out at: ​https://slumber-roo.co.uk/product/186/boba-4g/boba-/buckle-amp-hip

Another hugely popular carrier, which has big love internationally at the moment, is the Tula. These come in baby and toddler sizes and come in a stunningly beautiful variety of patterns and include some highly sought after (and very expensive!) exclusives and wrap conversions. For me, the baby sized Tula has a real sweet spot of being an amazing carrier when baby is long legged enough to not need to worry about a newborn insert, so from about 4 months old and the baby sized has a really good life span of until about 18 months. They have a really supportive waist band and very comfy padded shoulder straps. The Toddler sized Tula is my personal favourite toddler sized buckles. I have happily trekked for hours with my chunk of a toddler on my back using the Tula which offers great support for me and kept my toddler well balanced on my back.