Instructions

Thread Your Sling

Place the fabric across your back with the rings coming over the top of one of your shoulders.  Spread the fabric flat across your back and bring the tail to the front and opposite side of the rings.  You should be looking at the inside of the fabric.  Gather the tail together (the neater the better), and thread it through the rings like a belt.  It helps to pinch the gathers in one hand and thread with the other hand so you keep a hold of the gathers until the sling is threaded.  It also helps to staighten the top and bottom rails so they are on the outside edges of the fan of fabric through the rings.

Release Sling

Pull up on the top ring while pulling out to loosen.  Either unthread the sling all the way or loosen enough to pull your baby out.

Cradle Carry 0-6 Months

For the cradle carry, pull the inner rail up against your chest and tighten to create a pouch.  Start with the rings a little highter than normal against your shoulder so when sling is tightened, the rings stay away from the baby's head.  Open the pouch with one hand and set baby in, with head on the ring side, while supporting baby's head and weight.  While still supporting baby, tighten the sling by pulling the outside rail.  Newborns may seem as though they are squished in the sling, but most of them love it and are perfectly comfortable and they'll tell you if they are not.

Snuggle Hold 0-6 Months

Some newborns are happier in a vertical position.  For the snuggle hold, pull the inner rail up against your chest and tighten to create a pouch.  Fold the baby's legs up like a little clam shell and place them against your chest in the pouch.  While wtill supporting the baby's weight, tighten the outside rail.  Before your baby has head control, pull the sling up over the baby's head, and then tighten it enough to support baby's head.  When 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.

Kangaroo Carry 3-12 Months

For the kangaroo carry, pull the inner rail up against your chest and tighten to create a pouch.  Fold baby's legs up like a clamshell and place them facing outward in the pouch.  While still supporting the baby's weight, tighten the outside rail.

Hip Carry 5 Months-Toddler

For the hip carry, place your baby up on your shoulder in a burping postition.  Reach up with the opposite hand, in between you and the sling, and guide your baby's legs down through.  While supporting the baby's weight, tighten the lower/inside rail.  If you want to placde your baby's arms inside, pull the fabric up over baby's shoulders and tighten top/outside rail.  If they fall asleep, loosed the top rail just a little and pull the fabric gently up over the back of the baby's head and tighten to give support so their head is held against your body.  If you want to leave their arms out, pull the fabric up under their underarms and tighten top rail.

Back Carry 12 Months-Toddler

For the back carry, start with the rings slightly over your shoulder on your back.  Place your child in the hip carry position.  Tighten almost all the way, then lean forward and gently slide your child and sling around until your child is on your back, then tighten until secure.  Have someone double check to make sure the child is secure.  This should only be used with an older child.  It also helps to have someone help you the first few times.

1. Your back, shoulder, or neck hurts

Make sure the fabric spreads evenly over your shoulder and back.  The fabric should be spread across the tip of your shoulder, not your neck.  Your sling should be tight and your baby close.  Learn to use you sling on both shoulders so you can switch for extended wearing.

2. Your baby is getting red marks on the back of their knees

When putting your baby in the sling, make sure the fabric comes under the back of their knees and that their bottom is slightly lower than their knees and thighs, like in a hammock.  You can help bend their knees deeply in order to achieve the best position.

3. Your baby feels like they are falling away from you, not close

Pull baby in closer and then tighten only the top rail.

4. The whole sling moves when you tighten it

Help support the weight of your baby with your other arm while adjusting your sling.

5. When you tighten the sling, the rings seem low

Before putting your baby in, place the rings just slightly higher than where you want them to end up.  You want the rings to end even with your underarm.

6. Sling is hard to adjust or stops adjusting

Re-thread your sling, making sure it is not folded over onto itself.  It should look like a fan through the rings.  To correct this without re-threading, lift up the bottom ring to loosen the tail, then pull to tighten the tail.  Repeat this a few times for the tail to correct itself.

7. Your baby doesn't seem to like it

Your baby does want to be held, so use movement.  Go for a walk or bounce.  It may take a minute or two but they will soon settle in.  It may help to lessen distractions if they are tired (lights, noise, etc.).  Try a different position, sometimes they want to lie down and other times they may want to face forward.  Keep trying!

Getting Ready

Fold your sling in half lengthwise inside each other, with the two edges of the pouch parallel, creating a "pouch".  Place the sling over your head like a sash, either side is fine.  Make sure the pouch is facing up and open, not down.  The curved seam is where the bulk of the baby is, usually the bottom or back.

Cradle Carry 0-6 Months

Open the pouch and place baby's back to your chest, fold their legs into their chest a little bit.  Slide baby down into the pouch, turning them slightly as you go so that their side is now against your chest.  Make sure baby's head is on the higher side of the pouch. 

Kangaroo Carry 3-12 Months

Fold your baby's legs up against their body and gently slide them into the pouch facing outward.  To pull the top line in closer, fold the fabric over the tip of your shoulder.

Hip Carry 5 Months-Toddler

Put your baby on your shoulder in burping position, reach up in between you and the sling with your other hand and guide baby's legs down through.  As you are sliding your baby down into the sling, seperate the fabric to create a pouch for the baby to sit in.  The baby's arms can be in or out.  To pull the top line in close, fold fabric over the tip of your shoulder.

1. Your back, shoulder, or neck hurts

Make sure the fabric spreads evenly over your shoulder and back.  The fabric should be spread across the tip of your shoulder, not bunched at your neck.  Your sling should be tight and your baby close.  Learn to use your sling on either shoulder so you can switch sides for extended wearing.

2. Your baby is getting red marks on the back of their knees

When putting your baby in the sling, make sure the fabric comes under the back of their knees and that their bottom is slightly lower than their knees and thighs, like in a hammock.  You can help bend their knees deeply in order to achieve the best position.

3. Your baby feels like they are falling away from you, not close

Pull baby in closer by folding the top line of your pouch over the tip of your shoulder.  If using the Kangaroo Carry, gently pull fabric from behind, between you and your baby, and pull it  up towards their head.

4. Your baby doesn't seem to like it

Your baby does want to be held, so use movement.  Go for a walk or bounce.  It may take a minute or two but they will soon settle in.  It may help to lessen distractions if they are tired (lights, noise, etc.).  Try a different position, sometimes they want to lie down and other times they may want to face forward.  Keep trying!
Ring Sling Pouch Sling Nursing Covers