You usually need to tie the shawl about 3 times before you really understand how it works. Try tying it first with a doll or teddy bear to get the technique down before you put it on your child. If possible, try the first time with your child when they are full, satisfied and have a freshly changed nappy. Then, once both you and your baby are comfortable in the sling, putting your baby in the sling is usually one of the best ways to calm a sad and anxious baby.
After putting your baby in the sling for the first time, walk around for a while until the baby has settled down. If your baby starts to whine when put in the sling with mum, but becomes quiet when put in the sling with dad, this indicates that the baby is hungry and is being teased by the smell of milk from mum. In this case, mum can try using a dummy or, better still, breastfeed the baby in the sling. Or dad can carry the baby for a while instead!
If you have trouble getting the knots right after trying several times, contact your dealer and ask for help.
Many newborns like to sit upright, but with their arms and head completely inside the shawl. Slightly older babies, who can hold their heads steady, also like to sit upright, keeping their heads and arms outside the wrap so they can look around.
If you put a brand new baby upright in the sling, you should pay attention to how it looks. If the baby collapses, lies down on one side and the back looks crooked, you should use a cradle wrap instead, where the baby lies or half-sits up. Newborns with slightly weaker backs may take a few weeks before they are suitable for sitting upright in a wrap.
Newborns and small children are best carried in a baby carrier sitting on their stomach, under their own jacket. This way they get good air access. When you carry your newborn under your jacket, you don't have to worry about the baby being too cold or too hot. You can feel the baby's temperature directly, as you are wearing it belly to belly. This also means that you are helping to keep your baby at the right temperature with your body.
All you need to put on your child before going out is a pair of warm booties or windproof shoes, a fake polo shirt and a hat. Otherwise, the clothes that the child normally wears indoors are sufficient, as the baby wrap is added first as an extra layer, and then the jacket on top. If your child sweats easily, it is usually a good idea to dress them in soft merino wool clothing. Wool clothes wick away moisture very well, and even if they do get damp, they don't get cold and keep the child warm and dry.
Put on a normal but roomy jacket that you can button up around yourself and the baby. If the mother has had a winter jacket while she was heavily pregnant, it is usually more than enough to fit the baby in a baby carrier underneath.
If you don't have a large enough jacket, you can either get a special "carrier jacket" or a carrier cover, which covers the gap when you can't close the jacket over the child.
In the summer when it's hot, you need a cool shawl. Aldoria Bambu Soft is perfectly suited for the warm season, as the bamboo fabric wicks away both heat and moisture effectively. The shawl feels both dry and cool even if it is hot outside. Several customers have used it during the hottest season in Spain, Thailand and Australia and have been very satisfied with it. If you spend a lot of time outside and in the sun, you need to protect your child from wind and direct sun. It is a good idea to wear a sun hat with a long brim at the neck to protect against sunburn. There are also special summer berry shields available to protect children from wind, sun and insects. They are made from a thin fabric and are tied on over the shawl and go down to cover the legs as well. It can also be pulled partially up over the head to protect the child from losing their breath in strong winds if needed. For very young newborn babies, we do not recommend exposing them to direct sunlight unnecessarily, but try to stay in the shade as much as possible.
When you have a sibling, it can be very helpful to carry the younger child in a baby carrier while you still have your hands free to look after the older child. It's fine to pick up the older child, help them eat at the dining table, play in the playground, go shopping and hold the older sibling's hand or drive them in a sulky while wearing the baby sling on your stomach or back. Many people find it particularly helpful to have their little one in a baby carrier on their stomach when they go to pick up their older sibling from nursery.
With a little practice, you can also breastfeed your baby while wearing a baby carrier. It is most stable to breastfeed in a woven sling, but also works well in a knitted sling. If you stand and walk a lot and want to breastfeed at the same time, we recommend Aldoria Eco Wrap. If you want to be able to breastfeed a little for domestic use while standing, walking or sitting down (for example, travelling by train), Aldoria Bambu Soft also works well. If you mainly want to breastfeed while sitting down, Aldoria Eco Ring is best.
A baby carrier takes up very little space when folded and is easy to take with you in the car, for example, if you are going away. You don't have to carry all the prams in and out of the car and down the stairs to your flat. If you're travelling by bus or train, visiting a museum, going to town or out into the countryside, you can get there smoothly and without any problems. You won't take up much space if you're going to the shops either.
