Wearing your sling

Now that your sling is threaded, I will teach you how to put it on correctly. First, take your sling by the seam near the rings, with your “sling tail” facing out and hanging straight down. Lift your sling up and over your head placing the sling diagonally across your body so the seam (folds down) rests on your shoulder and the fabric drapes around your body like the below photo. Make sure your slings “tail” is in the front and there are no twists in the fabric across your back. Next, pull the fabric of the “tail” through the rings until the position of the sling looks like the below photo. You are now ready to try out any of your carrying positions.

 

Carrying your child

1. Cradle Carry:

If you are starting with a newborn your best carrying position is going to be the cradle carry. This position can continue to be used as long as you both are comfortable, which can be well past 1 years old. This is the best possible way to breastfeed your child while using your sling. As with any of the carrying positions, please support your infants head as you adjust your sling, until the sling is properly tightened to support the head on its own. There are 2 different ways to cradle carry your child. The first way is with baby’s head up near the sling rings and the other is with baby’s head down near your elbow, like the photos below.

Cradle Carry 1: Adjust your sling so that the pouch of the sling is up just above your belly button. Open up the pocket of the sling and pull the fabric closest to you and pull the fabric up, creating a deep pocket for your child to rest in. Holding your baby in your arms raise up your baby and gently set her bottom down, into the deepest part of the pouch, laying her head into the fabric that is naturally inclined. While still supporting your baby’s weight with your arms bring your baby up into the area you would like to hold her. Now tighten your sling up by pulling the “tail” and “rails” to the desired support and comfort of you both. If you feel like your baby is too deep in the sling you can make the pouch shallower by pulling more of the fabric up against your chest or by putting a small blanket or pillow in before setting baby in.

Cradle Carry 2: Adjust your sling into the same position as above; do not pull inner “rail” up toward you. Holding your baby with his head in your arm opposite of the sling rings. Bring the fabric of the sling around your baby, so that baby’s feet are outside of the sling fabric and his bottom is in the deep part of the pouch. The fabric around the head will be very loose, so support your baby’s head with one hand while tightening the fabric to support your baby’s head. Like below photo. You may nurse in either position, by latching baby onto your breast and tightening up the fabric so that your baby is not tugging at your breast, rather fully supported by the fabric of the sling. Don’t forget to check to make sure baby’s nose is clear of obstructions and he has plenty of room to breathe. You may use the “tail” of your sling as a nursing cover up, by tossing the “tail” over your shoulder or tucking it into your pants to cover your exposed back side.

Tummy to Tummy/ Heart to Head carry:

Some baby’s are happier in a vertical position. We’ve known for a long time now that the sound of Momma’s heartbeat can be soothing to your newborn as it reminds them of the security they felt in their first home, the womb. This position places your baby’s head right near your heart and is not only soothing but also excellent for colicky babies. You may carry your baby in this position before she has control of her head by pulling the fabric up around the back of baby’s head and tightening the fabric t support the head.

There are 2 ways to carry in this position as well, feet in and feet out. Feet in (for newborns and colicky babies): Make your pouch by pulling the inner “rail” up just enough to catch baby’s feet, like below photo. Place your baby carefully in the sling in a vertical position with baby’s chest to yours. Tighten your sling until your baby is in your best position, for a newborn or sleeping baby, don’t forget to pull the fabric up around the back of baby’s head for added support and hands free slinging. Feet out (for the confident slinger and useful as long you are comfortable carrying in this position): Same tummy to tummy position, only feet out. To insure safety make sure your baby’s bottom is in the center of the pouch of the sling. Tighten up the bottom of the sling that goes under baby’s bottom to the bend of her knees. Now that your baby has head control you can just pull the sling up over baby’s shoulders and tighten it enough to hold baby snug to your chest. Both positions are great for burping.

 

Kangaroo carry:

Many babies like to watch the world around them. This position allows them to forward face and see it all! Kangaroo carry may be used as soon as your baby has gained head control. Create a deep pouch for your sling by pulling inner sling “rail” up toward your chest. Now that your sling is adjusted hold your baby facing outward, criss-cross her legs and lower her bottom straight down into the deepest part of the pouch, making sure not to let her uncross her legs. You will now have a lot of slack left in the outer “rail” of the sling tighten it by pulling that sling rail through the rings. To bring baby up higher, hold her in desired position and pull entire sling through rings until you are comfortable with the position.

 

Hip Carry:

We all carry your children on our hip, this can cause our arms to become tired and overtime it can cause us to throw our backs out as well. The hip carrying position is great for babies who have head control and are sitting semi supported on up to a 35lb child (18 months-5 years, whenever your child reaches 35lbs). With the ring seam on your shoulder, adjust your sling pouch to the height of the top of your hip. Pick up baby and lower her down onto your hip through the sling so she is straddling your hip and her bottom is deep in the pouch of the sling. Make sure the fabric reaches under baby’s bottom to the bend of her knees and up around the back to support her. With her arms in the sling or out it’s up to you.

Back Hip carry:

With child in the hip carry position, place your arm in front of your child and then move child and sling to toward your back a little, as show in photo below. This is a great position for vacuuming, washing dishes, or pushing a shopping cart or stroller.

Piggy Back carry:

This position is best for toddlers on up to a 35lb child. Put you sling on with your ring seam high on your shoulder. Place your toddler in the hip carry position. Slide him to the back of your hip and then leaning slightly forward move the sling and child onto your back. Lift child into the desired location on your back, tell them to hug your back and then tighten both inner and outer “rails until the child is secure to your back. Use this position with a corporative child only. Until you are used to this position you should have a second person check to ensure that your child is secure and that the fabric is secure around his bottom and reaches down to the bend in baby’s knees. You may also use a mirror to do this.

 

Helpful hints:

*If your shoulder gets tired from hours of baby carrying, switch shoulders or try a different position and you are good to go.

*Use your sling as a changing table if you forget yours at home.

*Your sling is not just for babies, I have used my sling to carry my 5 year old. Although your rings are tested to hold well over 200 pounds it is not a good idea for your body to hold more than 35lbs, use your personal judgment to decide when you are done slinging.

*Slings are an excellent place for your toddler or small child, in a public place and as a place of security in a new environment.

* If your toddler tires of being in the sling you can use your sling as a little monkey leash by belting it around his tummy and you can hold the sling tail.

*TWINS: You can use your sling to carry twins up to about 4 months. Cradle Carry them by placing one of their heads near the rings and the other near your elbow, with feet crossing each other in the middle. Tighten up the fabric around them. Tummy to Tummy carry them side by side in the vertical position. As they get older you will still be able to sling them, but you will need 2 slings. Criss-cross the slings across you and carry one on each hip, put one child on at a time. Or carry them one in the Tummy to Tummy and one in the Piggy Back. I have used this position many times and it can be quite comfy.