How to Use a Baby Ring

A fairly new trend in baby carriers is the sling. Traditional baby carriers often are expensive and rather complex, with shoulder and back straps where the infant's arms and legs hang out of a pouch centered on the adult's chest. The sling is a low-tech alternative that is basically a large piece of fabric that cradles the baby's entire body and can be tied onto the adult's body in several different ways. The ring sling adds a large ring to one end of the fabric, making it easier to manipulate the sling into different shapes and ensure the sling is held tightly against the adult's body to avoid slippage.

Things You'll Need

• Ring sling

Instructions

1. Lay out your sling flat with the rings on one end.

2. Take the end of the sling opposite the rings and fold it in a fan/accordion style so it will fit easily through the rings. The folds should be as uniform as possible.

3. Hold the sling in both hands, with the rings in one hand and the folded end/tail in the other. Make sure the underside of the sling is facing the inside.

4. Thread the tail through both rings, and pull half the length of the sling through. Open the rings, and loop the tail through the bottom ring. Give the material a tug to tighten.

5. Lay the sling on one of your shoulders. Position the rings in front of your shoulder, slightly below the collarbone.

6. Make sure the side rails of the sling, which will be at your back, are smooth and not twisted. They should run parallel to each other.

7. Pull on the underside to make sure the sling is securely fixed.

8. Put your baby in the sling, cradling the baby in your arms while you make sure he is securely set in the sling. Once the baby is comfortable, let go and let the ring sling cradle the baby.

References

• SlingStation.com