Something I hear over and over again from parents when investigating slings and carriers is that they feel safer with a buckle than tying a knot. They are worried with a knot that they might do it wrong while a buckle just clicks in and then its safe and nothing can go wrong.
I totally understand this. I hear this a lot and I genuinely understand this because I remember when I was starting out I felt exactly the same.
But 7 years of carrying my own children, 6 years of running a sling library and 5 years as a carrying consultant teaching and supporting over 1000 families has taught me that this one of those fallacies that gets repeated over and over again until it is so much in social consciousness that everyone just assumes its true.
So let me bust some myths;
- A knot can not be tied "wrong". If you've tied a double knot, it is secure. There is no secret way special technique. Even the sloppiest knot in the word, so long as its a double knot, can not undo spontaneously. In fact, I actually dare you to try.... wiggle, pull on it, do your worst... it will not untie unless you actually purposefully look at it and untie it. The only other way to get out of a double knot is to actually cut or tear the wrap.
- You can do a buckle up wrong. A buckle requires you to line bits up, on some buckles its possible to get these misaligned and not immediately notice. If the buckle isn't securely fastened it can undo. It's rare, and most people will notice but it can happen.
- The worst offenders are safety buckles. Generally safety buckles require an extra bit to click in as well ... a button and or specific prong... if the buckle is not all the way pushed in the safety bit won't be down and actually the buckle is probably easier to now open than if it wasn't a safety buckle at all.
- Buckles can break. They are generally made from plastic and accidents involving stepping on them, slamming in car doors do happen. This can render your carrier unusable until your are able to get a replacement buckle. Again the safety buckles are often more sensitive to being stood on or other accidents than regular buckles. In the last 6 years I have had only 2 buckles break and both have been safety buckles.
It is important to understand I am not saying that knots are necessarily better. Buckle carriers can be hugely convenient. And hugely comfortable. And if you have tried both a buckle carrier and a tie on carrier (i.e stretchy wrap, woven, meh dai or half buckle) and you feel more comfortable and confident in the buckle carrier and it has the features you want ... please please do go for it. With my total and complete blessing.
I write this blog, really for the people with tiny newborns who want to use a stretchy, but are worried. Are worried because they are worried they won't do it right or because a relative has expressed doubts, because they've only seen buckle carriers. So often I meet parents who have a buckle carrier for their baby but it doesn't fit yet, and want something for the newborn period but knots scare them. If this is you, please please do check out your local sling consultant or sling library and give it a go. I hear over and over again, from parents once they have tried a wrap or tie on carrier "oh this isn't difficult, oh it feels so secure" this is nothing like what I thought".
It is always worth trying, because ultimately there is not "best" or "safest" sling... only what you personally find easy to use and are confident using. And tying a knot and clicking a buckle in correctly both require the same amount of concentration!!!
-Madeleine.
