Sling Usage Instructions:
- How to thread your Sling & Tips
- Tips
- Common Positions
- Frequently Asked Questions
- Breastfeeding in your Sling
- Sling sleeping
- Other uses
How to thread your sling:
1. To put your sling on, first place the rings just below your shoulder. Put the sling fabric over your shoulder. With your opposite hand, grab the top seam of the fabric as shown. Be sure that the fabric is flat across your back and not twisted. |
2. Now hold the lower seam in your other hand, and gather up the fabric between your hands, in an accordion fan fold style. Thread the fabric through both rings from back to front.
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3. Next bring the fabric through the bottom ring from back to front and pull. Your sling is now threaded. The fabric which hangs down from the rings is called the tail.
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- When positioning your baby in the sling, adjust the top, bottom or middle of your baby sling separately by pulling on different parts of the tail.
- Support your baby's weight with your other hand. Make sure the fabric doesn't get twisted inside the rings or this will be difficult.
- Make sure the fabric is not twisted across your back before you put your baby in.
- It may help to practice adjusting your sling with a doll, pillow, etc. before you try it with your baby.
- When placing your baby into the sling for the first time, adjust it as quickly as possible and start walking around. This will help your baby get used to the sling.
Positioning Your Baby - Common Sling Positions
Cradle Hold This is the main position used for newborns. Older babies will sleep or nurse in this position. Your baby lies in a horizontal position inside the pocket and If your baby is long, their feet will dangle out. To put a newborn into the cradle hold position, tighten the sling most of the way around your torso. Loosen the center of the sling and the outer seam just a little by lifting the rings and tugging at the parts you want loosened. When the size looks right, carefully place your baby inside, with her head pointed away from the rings. Tighten the sling wherever necessary by pulling the appropriate sewing edge. If your baby seems to be lost inside the sling, the pocket is too deep and you need to tighten the middle of the sling. You may find it helpful to use a cloth prefold or small blanket under your baby's neck. If your baby doesn't like his her head covered you can tighten the edge of your sling to be just around the edge of her head. |
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Football Nursing Hold
This is the most common newborn position, and my prefered carry. This position offers sturdy head support, and pulls the baby along the curve of your hip/side. As your baby gets older his or her feet may poke out of the back of the sling for more room. To put your baby in this position, tighten your sling like you would for the cradle hold to create a pouch. Place your baby with his head in your hand and his body along your arm in the "football" nursing position, and lower it into your pouch. The baby will be in the sling with his head towards the rings, and it will be just under your breast. If your baby doesn't like his head covered you can tighten the edge of your sling to be just around the edge of her head. |
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Vertical Hold
This is a transitional position useful for babies who are too small for the Hip Carry, but have head and neck control. For a newborn, place your baby up on your shoulder, and then lower your baby into the sling vertically on your chest heart to heart (basically so they are positioned directly between your breasts). Your baby's legs can be straight or bent, but make certain some of the pocket is beneath their bum as pictured. With an older baby, the head can be left uncovered or for a smaller baby, you can support your baby's head with your hand. Rather than being inside the pocket, your baby is basically tied to your body. I recommend keeping your arm around your baby for security in this position. |
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Hip Carry This is the position you will probably get the most use out of. You can start using it as soon as your baby seems comfortable on your hip and has enough control of her torso and head to stay somewhat upright. This position gives your baby a great view of the world, and is often used naturally by people even without a sling!To position your baby: Once you have the sling on, with the pocket formed, put your baby up high on your shoulder, and lower her feet through the open sling. Sit her bottom into the pocket right at your hip level, as you would normally carry her on your hip.. Bend her knees up so that the sling covers her from knees to shoulder, or to under her armpits if she isn't too wiggly. Always be certain the fabric comes up under her bottom for security, and tighten her against your body until you are both comfortable. |
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| Kangaroo Carry
In this position, your baby is sitting facing out with his back to your chest and stomach. Your baby's arms can be in or out, I usually do one of each. Inside the sling, your baby's legs are crossed in front of him. It sounds uncomfortable but most babies don't mind it at all! You MUST make sure your baby is inside the pocket in this position. There should be fabric between your tummy and their back. This position works well for use with younger babies and the mesh sling, when used in the shower. You can lean back and rinse, but your baby doesn't get water in his/her face. |
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Multiple Children - Multiple
Slings In this position, you are wearing two slings - one set of rings on each shoulder with the sling on normally across your body - the sling rings should cross at your breast bone (or so). Functionally, this lets you wear two children at once - one on each hip. This can be done with twins, or siblings (as photographed) of different ages. You can also put each child in a different position - ie: One Nursing, one on your hip. In the image shown: The red sling was put on first, and Amy was positioned and cinched into the hip carry position, then the black sling was put on, and Lily was settled and also tightened into a hip carry position. |
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Infant Twin Slinging Infant twins are often small enough that you can carry two in one sling. The trick is to find the position that works best for all three of you! Some mom's have used the vertical hold and kangaroo carry with infant twins in one sling. You will eventually need to move over to a multiple sling approach as your twins get bigger. I have not heard of being able to breastfeed two twins while in one sling, but I'm certain you could attempt it. |
Models Wanted!! Please email rae@slingtastic.ca |
| Back Carry
This position is best used for older, squirmier babies or toddlers that want to see it all, but you don't necessarily want them grabbing it all. Your baby is sitting in a pocket against your back, with one arm out, and their legs wrapped around your hips. You may need assistance getting your child into this position. To enter this position, start by putting the sling on with the rings behind you and then place your baby in a hip carry position. Lean slightly forward so your back forms a 45 degree angle, then twist both your baby and the sling around so that the baby is on your back and the rings are in the front. Make sure there is someone here to help you, and use common sense! This can also be done by placing you baby in the sling while sitting on the couch, and rotating that way. This position does take practice, and I advise having someone there to help (or catch!) the first couple attempts. Safety First!! |
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Tips!
- Once you have positioned your baby in whatever position you choose, make sure to tighten the sling as much as possible in order to hold your baby securely.
- Spread the fabric across as much of your baby's body
as you can. For example, when holding your baby in an vertical sitting
position, such as the hip carry, the fabric should cover your baby from
shoulders to knees. your baby's bottom will be in the pocket of the sling with
knees bent at least ninety degrees.
Frequently Asked
Questions
Q: How long will it take me to learn to use my baby
sling?
A: Learning to use it should take just a few moments. It will, however, take a little practice to get the hang of it so that you are quick and efficient adjusting it. You can practice with something other than your baby at first so that you can take your time learning to adjust it in all the different positions. Soon it will be second nature to you and you won't believe how quickly you can get your baby in and out.
Q: Can I sling more than one baby?A: Certainly! If you have twins, when they are newborn you can put both in one sling, and as they age, you can use two slings at a time to carry one baby on each hip! Please see more about this in our "Positioning" Section.
Q: How should I Wash/Dry my baby sling?A: Your sling is an easy care item, It can be washed with like colors, in warm or cold water, and tumble dried. You can wash it with the fabric threaded through the rings, but this will result in wrinkly fabric, and take a very long time to dry around the bunched fabric. It is best to unthread it prior to washing. If you find it wrinkly still when you remove it from the wash, you can iron on the "Cotton" setting, or just hang the sling from it's rings while damp.
Q: Should I use fabric softener?A: If you feel that the fabric doesn't flow through the rings smoothly enough, you can use fabric softener, although usually just putting through your normal laundry will make it slippery enough for most people.
Q: How strong are the baby sling rings?A: The rings are made of nylon and are manufactured specifically for slings. Rigorous safety testing is performed on each ring before it is sold, including a 250 pound pull test. For more information, visit my ring supplier at http://www.slingrings.com
Q: Why don't you use metal rings on your baby slings?A: More a matter of personal preference. We find the metal rings available to sling manufacturers to be heavy, and add excessive weight. Metal rings can become hot in the dryer. Metal rings are also hard on the washer and dryer, they bang around more and can cause drum damage.
Q: I am having trouble pulling the tail through the rings to adjust the baby sling.A: First, examine the material inside the rings and make sure it isn't twisted. The top and bottom edges of the fabric should be visible on the top and bottom of the fabric within the ring, and not folded inside the other fabric. If the material is twisted it will be difficult to adjust the baby sling properly.
Q: Why is the sling riding up towards my neck?A: The fabric is probably twisted across your back. Try removing the baby and re-threading the fabric though the rings. If this is not the problem, try wearing the rings lower down on your chest so that the fabric can be spread across your shoulder more evenly. If lowering the rings doesn't do it, check to make certain the fabric is fanned evenly across your shoulder. It should go from the edge of your shoulder to the middle of your upper arm.
Q: When I pull on the tail, why do the rings move downward?A: When you are adjusting the baby sling, first try to pull the excess material across your back tightly (toward the baby) and hold it under your arm. Then support the baby's weight while you pull the rings. Be sure to pull the tail away from your body, not straight downward. This should prevent the rings from moving. If not, once you tighten them a bit, you can move them back up, and adjust the babies position.
Q: What if my baby doesn't like the baby sling?A: Occasionally it takes a few tries for the baby to get used to the baby sling. Choose a time when your baby is happiest (try just after a nap and a feed) and try to get your baby in quickly and comfortably. When your baby is in, it is best to start moving or rocking right away, the motion will help them calm down. If you are having difficulties, please feel free to contact me:rae@slingtastic.ca and I will help where I can.
Breastfeeding with Your Baby Sling
To breastfeed while wearing your baby sling, position your baby lying down, latch your baby on, and tighten the sling if necessary. Be sure that your baby isn't pulling down on your breast, adjust your baby sling so that your baby is up high enough. I find it easiest to lie my baby so his feet are closest to the rings with her feet hanging out, and her head on the other side. You can use the tail to cover your baby for privacy if you prefer. This is a good way to nurse a baby who is easily distracted by everything around them because they can't see much and it also holds your baby still, which is great if your baby likes to kick, push, wiggle and pinch like mine does!
Sling Sleeping
Babies can nap comfortably in a cradle hold or the football hold. This is especially useful if your baby doesn't like to sleep alone and you have other things to do besides nap. The rhythmic motion of your walking around and the closeness of your body is so comforting to your baby, that even the most colicky baby will often fall soundly asleep. To transfer a sleeping baby into bed, lean your body over the bed so that your baby is lying flat, then loosen your baby sling and slip your body out of it. your baby will still be wrapped in your baby sling, which is warm and has your comforting smell. Always make sure the sling is not covering baby's face or neck.
Other uses for your sling
I have found that your baby sling is very handy for grocery shopping because it doubles as both a blanket and a grocery cart harness. When a baby is big enough to sit up in the grocery cart, your baby sling can be wrapped around your child's belly and through the back of the seat, then threaded through the rings and tightened. (This also works well in restaurants that may have inappropriate restraining devices in their highchairs or boosters) A smaller baby can be put into a cart with an attached infant seat with your sling laid over your baby like a blanket. Then if your baby wants to be held or nursed, your baby sling is right there.
A toddler who wants to walk in a crowded area but does not want to hold hands can be prevented from wandering off (or worse), by wrapping your baby sling around your child's belly and through the rings. The rings lie across your child's back and you hold the tail.
The tail can be used as a spit up rag, a sunshade, and in a pinch an umbrella.
If you have any questions about using your sling, please email me at rae@slingtastic.ca and I will be happy to help you!
Sling Safety!
US Consumer product safety will soon release a report on how unsafe slings are due to 7 infant deaths and 37 injuries in slings across the last 11 years.
As a proud baby-wearing for the last 8 years, we must remind you that everything can be dangerous if not used properly.
Keep Safe by keeping the following in mind: