How to Use a Sling

Basics

Please remember that learning to use a baby sling will take patience, time and practice to learn to easily and quickly place your baby comfortably and securely inside. You may not be comfortable or confident those first few days. You will have a lot more success if your baby is rested, comfortable and fed before you begin. The four most common positions are:

Chest to chest hold
Cradle position
Kangaroo carry
Hip Straddle..6 months and up (baby needs good head control for this)

You can adjust the size of sling by simply pulling on tail, creating a snug fit. The smaller the infant, the longer the tail will be. If you have a padded sling, it's okay to pull the padded fabric though the rings should you need an even snugger fit. Support your baby's weight with one hand while you adjust the sling. This lessens weight on the sling, making adjustments easier and safer too! It is important to wear your baby snug against your body, between your chest and abdomen. Do not wear baby below your below your belly-button. To wear your baby lower can cause back strain and discomfort. It also is not as safe- as it allows too much 'swing' and your baby has a greater chance of wiggling out. Your Sling can be worn on either shoulder. Your Sling will arrive threaded.

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• It is very important to thread the fabric properly through the rings.
• Put the sling rings on your right shoulder with the flat side of the fabric against your body (or wrong side down. you want the rings to be exposed). Grasp the sling tail in your left hand, and your right hand at your shoulder, holding the rings. Gather the fabric together, working towards the center, as if you are folding up a fan. When you reach the center, your sling should be all gathered together. Now thread about 1/3 of the fabric up through both rings. Fold the fabric over and loop it back through the bottom ring.
• If you are putting your sling on already threaded, hold the rings of your sling with your right hand. Be sure the tail is in front of the loop. Put your left arm through the loop and bring the sling over your head.
• Rest the rings in front of your right shoulder. They should rest on your collarbone, where you would wear a corsage. It's very important that the rings do not move from this spot, as the lower the rings are –the less of a pouch you will have.. Spread the fabric over your shoulder for more comfort.

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Using your Sling with a Newborn :

Whenever you place your newborn in your Sling, always support your baby's head until the sling has been tightened enough to provide support. Newborns dont like to lay down unless nursing,(Cradle hold),they frequently like to be in the chest to chest position in the sling until they have head control. To lay your baby down from the chest to chest position, loosen the sling a little and put one hand inside the sling and grasp your baby, slide them down into the cradle position. Always insuring that there is fabric between you and the baby. You may place your baby in the sling with the head on either side. Either position is excellent for nursing.DO NOT COVER THE BABY S HEAD WITH BODY OF THE CARRIER. dOING SO WILL PUSH BABYS CHIN TO HER CHEST, AND WILL MAKE IT DIFFICULT FOR BABY TO TURN HER HEAD
As you nurse, you can completely cover yourself by placing the tail of the Sling over your shoulder. Some babies like to be vertical. Your baby can be carried this way if you tighten the sling enough on teh back of their head to support your baby's head. Try to also insure that your baby’s bottom is deep in the sling, and that they have a nice seat area so that they do not stiffen and make the fabric roll up their back
Another way to nurse -especially useful if your baby is gassy is to nurse them in a sitting up position

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To use a cradle position with the legs out

1. Pull one side of your sling up against your chest to create a deep, secure pouch.
2. Open the pouch of the sling and carefully set your baby inside, in a cradle position with the bottom of the sling behind the knees and the top of the sling around there neck.
3. While you support your baby's weight and head, pull on the tail to tighten the sling, and then either the top or bottom rails to tighten the neck area or bottom independently.
4. Once your baby is securely in the sling, you can start moving around!

Cradle position with legs in

Pull one side of your sling up against your chest to create a deep, secure pouch Open the pouch with one hand and, while supporting your baby's head and weight, set your baby in with the head on either side. Continue to support your baby as you pull on one side of the tail to tighten the outer part of the pouch and the other to tighten the inner part. Please be sure to tighten the sling sufficiently so that your baby is secure. Very young babies may seem all bunched up inside the sling. As long as your babys chin is NOT touching their chest, baby is NOT snoring or making weasing noises,baby is comfortable. Most babies are comfortable this way. If not, they will let you know.

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Newborn Cradle Position

As you can see in the above picture, this baby likes one leg out.Br Carefully place your baby in the sling. The bottom of the fabric should cover your baby's bottom and the top of the fabric should cover your baby's head at teh back near the ears, but NOT completely covering the head. Tighten the top of the fabric enough to support your baby's head.You should still see the babys face. Tighten the bottom of the fabric to securely hold your baby in place. Little babies (under 2 months) will prefer to have their feet tucked snugly inside the sling.

Hip Hold and Front Straddle

Hold baby as you naturally would on the hip. Cup the lower edge of the sling under the baby's bottom to the back of the knees. Pull top edge up to support baby's back or neck. Depending on the age of your baby, and what you are doing you can have your baby's arms in or out of the sling.

Facing out positions

Hold the top edge of the sling out to form a pouch. With baby's upper back against your chest, (with the sling between you and your baby) ease your baby's bottom in first. The inside edge of the sling should reach the back of baby's neck. Most babies' legs will naturally cross in front Baby can be positioned to lean against your arm or toward the rings. Tighten the top edge so your baby's legs stay above its bottom. Remember that your baby's head is heavy and you need to have adequate coverage over your baby's torso for maximum safety.

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Discrete Nursing Positions

Lower the sling by lifting the bottom ring, keeping a supporting hand under your baby. Fabric tail can be pulled up for privacy. Loosen the sling to change positions, and slide baby over to have access to the other breast. Pull the whole sling forward (so that the rings are lower and closer to your breasts) to shift baby to a football hold position. This "football hold" is a comfortable carry position as well. With practice, you will find that you will even be able to nurse while walking! With several positions to choose from your sling can accommodate a nursing infant to a toddler weighing up to 30 pounds. Larger babies have more room for breastfeeding with their head facing away from the rings. Babies with good head control can also be breastfed in this upright position. Just slide your baby down so his face is at the correct spot- then tighten the sling so that his head is not moving around. This position is fabulous for babies that are prone to gas/colic.

Putting a Sleeping Baby Down

Babies often fall asleep in the baby sling.

To put the baby down without waking:

1. Loosen the sling by lifting bottom ring.
2. Grasp the fabric and pull it through the rings
3. Support baby with your arm.
4. Lean over the bed slowly.
5. Lay the baby down gently.
6. Slip the sling over your head or undo the rings.

Please email me if you have any questions.

Safety

The baby sling must support and hold the baby's weight and size.
It should be made of a strong fabric, regularly pull tested for strength and durability.
In addition to the fabric, check the ring or buckle system to ensure it will not come apart.
Always insure that there is at least four inches of fabric to grip at the tail end.
Please be careful when walking around doors and by parked cars. Having baby in a cradle position while in a carrier is fine; HOWEVER most babies do not prefer this position, UNLESS they are eating. Please be sure in any position that your baby does not have chin on his chest. Baby should have his neck slightly flexed (looking up) so that he can get the best amount of oxygen. Check your baby regularly if you hear baby breathing very loudly, then please adjust his position so that he can get more air. Watch your baby's head, as they may throw them selves back unexpectedly.

YOU MUST TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR YOUR CHILD'S SAFETY AND WELL BEING.

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