EcoZeal

Prams are a relatively recent invention, dating back to Victorian times. But before then babies were carried in arms or in slings.
The renaissance of slings in the West was boosted in the 1970s by The Continuum Concept, Jean Liedloff’s book about her time in the South American jungle.

She found that baby-carrying and other ancient ways of child-rearing were turning out children who were happier, more confident and lower maintenance than the kids being raised in her native US.

This led to the Attachment Parenting movement, which proposed baby-carrying, co-sleeping and breastfeeding as key ways to develop a strong bond between baby and parent.

Far from being overly child-centric, Attachment Parenting suggest that in their early months you should throw your baby in a sling and get on with your daily life. The theory is that, when they’re old enough to crawl, they will be so secure in their attachment to you that they will crawl off confidently, scarcely looking back.

Things to look out for when choosing a sling are comfort, for you and Baby, ease of use and general practicality. Then of course there are the different green credentials that the fabrics can have. SmartPlanet.com recently tested four organically certified baby slings for these factors:

• Wilkinet Baby Carrier: $90 (£48) - A well-designed baby carrier that holds your baby close but keeps you both cool - with superb creds.
• Didymos Wraparound Sling: $140 (£75) -Made from beautiful fabric that keeps both of you comfortable - Baby can sleep peacefully while you’re on the move.
• Close Rouge Baby Carrier: $95 (£50) - This new design is comfy for smaller babies but the stretchy material lets heavier toddlers bounce around too much.
• Huggababy Organic Sling: $89 (£47) - A great design in theory, and very eco-friendly, but sadly uncomfortable and hard to adjust.

You can see photos of the slings, read the full review and full product comments at Smart Planet.