How to Make a Baby Sling From a Sweatshirt

Make a Homemade Baby Sling

There are a thousand on-the-fly ways to make homemade baby sling carriers. Try following these instructions for turning an ordinary sweatshirt into a sling baby carrier today. You can use a different sweatshirt every day of the week for various colors and styles. If it gets cold, simply put on your sweatshirt and snuggle up with baby. This sling baby carrier is great for camping and when you're on the run.

Things You'll Need

• Baby
• Sweatshirt

Instructions

1. 

   Lay a sweatshirt flat on your bed with both sleeves fully extended to the sides. If you want the image to show when your baby is in the sling baby carrier, place it downward. Otherwise, have the image on the top so it can be tucked in so that it doesn't show.

2. 

   Fold the body of the sweatshirt over the neck. Keep the arms of the sweatshirt extended outward. The doubled-up portion will be the baby's seat.

3. 

   Sit your child on top of the sweatshirt. Baby's bum should be near the neck of the sweatshirt and not at the waistband.

4. 

   Lift baby and sweatshirt up and tie the sleeves in front of your shoulder. Voila! You just made a sling baby carrier and saved yourself an average of $40-$80. See how happy the baby is?

5. Experiment with sweatshirts of different thicknesses and weights. You can have a different baby carrier every day. Babies who are "worn" are happier and healthier. You can even nurse your baby in a sling baby carrier.

6. Slice the arms of a sweatshirt and create a thinner strap if the thickness of the knot bothers you. Fleece won't rip and cut edges won't shred up like other fabrics. Plus, a fleece sling is warm and cozy for babies. Just remove about half of the fabric by cutting long, pie-shaped wedges and braiding them together to form comfortable, soft and sturdy straps. You can even stitch them together so that there's no knot at all. Fleece is slightly stretchy and even if you sew it it will accommodate baby as he grows.

Tips & Warnings

• When you're comfortable with babywearing, see what else you can make baby slings from.

• Don't remove your hands from your baby until you're sure he's secure. Baby's bum and backside should be completely supported.

Resources

• Babywearing Guide
• Babywearing Makes Babies Healthier