IMPORTANT: When wearing your sling, your baby's safety is YOUR responsibility. Use care and caution when popping your baby in and out of your sling, and ensure you keep a hand on your baby AT ALL TIMES when bending forward. I use sturdy fabrics and strong seams, but please check your sling regularly for signs of wear. I cannot be held responsible for any accidents that occur when you are using your sling.
Congratulations on your decision to babywear! Your sling will come to you already folded and ready to put on. The instructions below show the sling being worn on the left shoulder. You will need to experiment to see which shoulder you find more comfortable. To wear the sling on the right shoulder, just switch the words 'left' and 'right' in the instructions.
Putting on the sling
Hold the folded sling with the open edges at the top and the seam lined up with your side. Slide your right arm and your head through the opening in the sling and set the narrowest end of the sling on your left shoulder. Then, rotate the sling so the pouch seam is towards the center of your body for the front carries; or leave it at your side for the hip carry.
Cradle Hold
This position is ideal for newborns up to about four months.
- Put on the sling.
- Hold your baby with your right hand and hold the outer layer of the sling open with your left hand.
- Place your baby in the pouch bottom first, with her bottom at the pouch seam.
- Lay your baby's body into the sling with her head high on your chest and pull the outer layer of the sling over her body to snuggle her in.
Tummy to Tummy
This position is suitable for babies of any age -- it facilitates visual contact. For newborns you can pull the fabric up higher to support their heads; for older babies you can leave their arms out.
- Put on the sling.
- Hold your baby over your right shoulder with your right arm as if you were burping her, holding the outer layer of the sling open with your left hand.
- Slide your baby down into the sling, holding her across the back with your right hand while you pull her legs out the bottom of the sling with your left hand, ensuring her bottom is lined up with the pouch seam. You can use the "shoulder flip" (fold the top layer of the sling from your neck towards your arm) to cinch her in tighter.
Kangaroo Carry
This position is great for babies with good head control (from about four months on) who want to look out at the world. Their legs will seem to be quite scrunched up, but trust me, they're comfortable!
- Put on the sling.
- Hold your baby with your right arm, with her back against your chest.
- Hold the outer layer of the sling open with your right hand, and with your left hand, fold her legs into a cross-legged position and hold her under the knees.
- Slide her down into the pouch, ensuring the inner layer of the sling stays between your chest and your baby's back, and pulling the outer layer of the sling up over the front of your baby.
Hip Carry
This position is suitable for older babies with good head control and strong backs (from about eight months on) and is great for toddlers that want up and down every five minutes.
- Put on the sling.
- With the pouch seam over your right hip, hold your baby over your right shoulder with your right arm.
- Slide her down between your body and both layers of sling fabric.
- Spread open the pouch to create a seat for your baby and set her in, resting on your hip with one leg in front of you and one leg behind you. You can use the "shoulder flip" (fold the top layer of the sling from your neck towards your arm) to cinch her in tighter.
Back Carry
Please note: in my opinion the back carry in a pouch sling should only be used for short periods to keep an older (over about eight months) baby out of the way, like when washing dishes or tending to another child. It is not as secure as a back carry with a two-shouldered soft-pack carrier.
- Put on the sling and put the baby in the hip carry.
- While leaning slightly forward, slide your baby around to your back.
