How to Make a Baby Wallaby Sling

A baby sling is an easy way to carry your baby.

A wallaby sling is a commercial product used to carry your baby in a fabric pouch. The sling fits over your shoulder and across your body, while your baby is cradled inside. A wallaby sling makes it easy to carry your baby hands-free and is comfortable for both of you. However, it can be expensive and you are limited in fabric choices. Luckily, you can make your own baby sling at home for little money, little effort and in your choice of fabric.

Things You'll Need

• Fabric, 72 inches long and 22 inches wide
• Fabric scissors
• Flexible measuring tape
• Pins
• Sewing machine

Instructions

1. Choose a fabric that is 97 percent cotton and 3 percent spandex (such as Lycra). Avoid quilting fabrics, since the material is not strong enough.

2. Wash your fabric before beginning.

3. Cut your fabric using fabric scissors so that you have a piece of fabric that is 72 inches long and 22 inches wide.

4. Fold the fabric in half along the length. Then fold it over to the right, so that all four of the open corners are together at the upper right.

5. Measure yourself from hip to shoulder using a flexible measuring tape. Add a 1/2 inch to this measurement.

6. Measure across the top edge of the fabric to the measurement you obtained from Step 5. Mark this place with a pin.

7. Measure the bottom edge to the measurement you obtained from Step 5 and add 3 inches. Mark this place with a pin.

8. Cut the fabric on a rounded line from the bottom pin to the top pin. Remove the pins.

9. Unfold your fabric widthwise and use a sewing machine to sew along the curve you cut in Step 8.

10. Turn your fabric inside out. Sew along the seam you just created, making sure to gather all the excess fabric on the other side of the seam inside your stitching. Sew your new seam down to the rest of the fabric to reinforce your seams and complete the sling.

References

• My Karma Baby: Make Your Own Baby Sling
• Lil' Wallaby: Slings