Kedu Slings – the African Kanga for babywearing

Brand: Kedu (CH)
Material: 100% cotton
width: 173×107 cm approx
Design: “Ewa”; available in different patterns/colours

About the brand: Kedu has been founded 2015 by Janine, a swiss mom of three children. While she’s been on a visit to Nigeria at her husbands family, she discovered the different way of babywearing on the back with a towel-like fabric, particularly known as “Kanga”.

She wanted to learn the easy method and quickly achieved it. Back in Switzerland, she’s been adressed often when she carried her kids this way which lead her to establish “Kedu”, selling the beautiful Nigerian wraps in Europe while supporting the Nigerian textile industry.

Kedu Slings – thin, dense and colourful

My first impression: The Kedu wrap is for sure totally different from all the woven wraps you know. It’s very thin, dense, without stretch and got a vivid, colourful design (love it!). And, not to forget, it’s short and wide. It’s a gorgeous piece of fabric and I’m really curious how to wear it. Having looked at the manual, it’s quite easy but I can’t imagine how it will fit and hold!

How does it wear: I am really impressed that it’s no big deal to wrap your baby with it. And though I was unsure about it keeping my baby up, it did. While using it for the first time, I almost didn’t dare to stay or walk upright and had a hand always in position to protect my baby from falling. But due to the non-elastic fabric, there’s no need to be anxious at all. Especially after using it a few times you get more secure.

In this method, you’re wearing your child right above your bum (it helps having a big one, I guess). Your child won’t sit that high to look over your shoulders unless you tie the fabric on one shoulder instead of around your body.

Deep seat for the baby on your back

You can tie with arms in or out and your baby will have a deep seat and optimal spread-squat-position. But depending on your back’s width, legs will be spreaded in a wider angle. I’ve also seen pictures on which baby’s legs are wrapped including knees and calves.

There was just one point that I found rather disturbing for me when I first used it but got a bit better the next times, maybe because I was more experienced: there’s some pressure on your chest from baby’s weight. Especially when you’re breastfeeding, it might be uncomfortable or even aching. In this case, be sure, you won’t cause galactostasia (it helped me wrapping right after breastfeeding).

Also, depending on the bra you wear and if your delicate depending your look, the fabric gathered around your breasts might have an impact on their look. But if you mostly use your Kedu at home, it shouldn’t be much of a problem. 😉

The African Kanga is small and handy

Conclusion: I am very happy that I’ve been finally able to test this method of babywearing. I’m positively surprised by how quick easy and supportive it is with this kind of fabric. While the Kedu wrap is for sure very small and handy to take with you at any time for a spontaneous use – need to carry or need a blanket/cover/shawl, it’s also great for working in and around the house.

Especially when you need to bend down a lot like while gardening, cleaning the floor etc. I wouldn’t use it for a walk, I guess because I prefer a longer wrap and carry to spread the weight evenly on shoulders an hips, but why not trying it? And last but not least: my babygirl seems to like it. 😉

And she has no problems falling asleep in it. I just head to support her head a bit. However: if you’re experienced with this kind of “wrap”, please share! 🙂

Tested in july/august 2017 with my 6-7 months old babygirl – thanks for the opportunity!