The following information is taken from the Storchenwiege website:

"Your everyday life has changed completely with the birth of your child. The Storchenwiege sling helps you to get used to this new situation more quickly and bring a family rhythm into everyday life. You can carry your child and, at the same time, get on with all your chores and tasks.

Your child is made part of everyday life, and you can enjoy having a happy baby. In the sling, your child can adopt a very similar position to that in the womb - soft and flexible all around and close to your body. This stops her spine being stretched awkwardly.

Of course, your baby also gets a lot of benefit from your body warmth, which, along with all the movement in the sling, helps her metabolism and digestion. Moreover, the sling experience trains the child´s senses, especially her sense of balance. Children who are carried grow independent and self-confident faster.

Anatomy

It is healthy for a baby´s back to be rounded! The baby is born in a rounded position, i.e. with a completely curved spine (kyphosis). This is caused by the splayed "frog" position. The spine straightens in three stages, taking about one year. This straightening starts at the top, at the cervical vertebrae, and progresses down. Lying on her stomach, the child can lift her head, hold it up, turn it, etc. Later she can also do this lying on her back. This means the seven cervical vertebrae are completely straightened (cervical lordosis).

Then, the child strengthens the flexor and extensor muscles in her body (flexor muscles in the chest and stomach, extensor muscles in the buttocks and pelvic area). Gradually, the whole central part of the spine with the twelve thoracic vertebrae straightens (thoracic kyphosis). This straightening is completed when the child can sit up on her own.

Finally, the five lumbar vertebrae straighten (lumbar lordosis). When the child can walk alone, this stage has been completed and her spine is fully straightened.

This knowledge about spinal development results in the following requirements for the ideal sling. The sling must be supple, but at the same time support the child firmly and steadily. It must enclose the baby´s body like a firm bandage, and should be tied in such a way that it absorbs the wearer´s movements and jolts, carrying them away from the child´s spine, back to the wearer. This protects the child´s delicate vertebrae and vertebral discs.

Particular attention must be paid to the "frog" position, as this produces both a healthy back and healthy development of the hip joints, which are still cartilaginous. Our Storchenwiege® sling meets these conditions, thanks especially to its good diagonal elasticity. When the Storchenwiege® sling is tied firmly and precisely, it provides a babywearing experience which is ideal for the child and her mother or father.

Quality and Care

The weave of the Storchenwiege sling is what ensures it can be tied stably and in a way that is good for your baby's health.  It was developed and tested with midwives and babywearing experts.  It is made of strong threads of 100% cotton woven lengthwise and crosswise.  The diagonal elasticity this creates remains efven after is has been washed several times.  The sling is shrink-resistant and can be washed at up to 60 degrees Celcius, but should not be put in a tumble-dryer.

Storchenwiege baby slings are regularly checked by an independent testing institute.  The cotton yarns, which contain no harmful substances, are repeatedly inspected during production.  The cotton yarn is also certified pursuant to the Oeko-Tex Standard 100.  The controlled-production dyes used are non-toxic and contain no heavy metals.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a newborn baby already be carried upright in the sling?
Yes, if the baby is wrapped firmly in the sling. In this way, the sling supports the baby's back firmly and safely. The sling must be tied so that the baby's head is well-supported and held firmly.

When can I start babywearing?
As soon as you feel fit enough after the birth, there is nothing to stop you. The tying method needs to support the baby well, so that she cannot slump down or slip to the side. You baby's head must be well-supported.

Is babywearing too heavy for my pelvic floor in the first three months after birth?
No. If you choose the right tying method, babywearing can even support your own posture.

Does the baby get enough air in the sling?
Yes. Babies who are carried have just as much oxygen in their blood as those who are not.

How many hours a day can the baby be carried in the sling?
The sling can be used as long as the mother or father and the baby enjoy it. The baby will give clear signs when she has had enough close contact. The amount of babywearing can vary from day to day. There are times when a child wants to be carried more (e.g. during growth spurts and illness) and times when there is hardly any need at all.

Does it spoil my baby to constantly carry her around?
No! By satisfying your baby's basic need for closeness and comfort, you are building up her strength for the future!

What makes a good sling?
Briefly speaking, a sling should have the following features:

• a weave which is diagonally elastic (preferably a broken twill weave)
• cloth edges sewn over twice
• raw cotton and dyes free of harmful substances
• centreline marking and different-coloured edges make tying easier

How long does the sling have to be?
In most cases a sling which is 4.1 - 4.6 metres in length is enough. For the wrap-cross carry, a little more material is needed; a 5.2-metre sling would be a good idea. In every case, the wearer's clothing size plays an important role in choosing the length.

Which length is suitable so that the child's father can also use the sling?
Even if the father would like to carry his baby, his clothing size is one thing which decides the length of the sling. A 4.6-metre-long Storchenwiege baby sling is usually long enough. You can find more information on baby sling lengths on our Storchenwiege sizing page.

What should my baby wear in the sling?
A small baby can easily be worn under a jacket, kept at the ideal temperature byher mother or father's body. She can be carried in the clothes she wears at home. She should always wear warm socks or tights, a small scarf around her neck and a hat. When the child is carried over a jacket, or when larger children are carried on your back, they must be warmly dressed to stop them getting cold. In the summer it is also important to protect your baby well against sunlight. For this, you can use light cotton clothing which covers her body and a sun bonnet.

Where are Storchenwiege baby slings produced?
Our baby slings are produced entirely in Germany, guaranteeing their high quality.