STBS Custom Fabric Calico

Ring Slings: Beginner's Info & Important Concepts to Understand

There are 2 fundamental principles to safe and enjoyable babywearing:
TENSION and ATTENTION. It's really quite simple. When you put a baby in a sling that you are wearing, the weight of the baby's body puts the fabric under tension. This tension holds the baby in place so that when you move, the baby and sling will move with you as a unit. In other words, the baby is quite securely attached to you. It does, however, it takes some attention to safely sling a baby. That's what this section of the website is all about.

Things to think about & answers to FAQ's

Use your sling wisely & use it well.
Are you doing it right?
Here's how you tell:

	Smile for your little one, holding her close and near,
	Check that her breathing is soft and clear.
	Is there a round seat for her rump?
	Legs below and her head above?

Carry your baby with comfort & love. -L.W.

	Every time you put a baby in a sling, inspect the seams and fabric first. Don't forget! All things, even slings sewn with the level of care that goes into my slings, wear out over time.
	Look in a mirror and note how your sling rests on your body. The sling should slightly cup your shoulder and the seat of it shouldn't fall below your hip bone. The sling should also feel almost "too small" or tightish.
	If you are new to babywearing, practice first with a toy or doll in front of a mirror. Or, practice with a willing cat or small doggy. (You'd be surprised how many pets love this.) You can also use a bag of rice. When you try out a new position with a baby in a sling, watch closely to make sure your baby is ready for the new position and is securely seated in the sling. There should be sufficient tension in the sling to keep the infant in place.

	A baby in a sling should always have it's head higher than it's bottom. Always.
	Support young infants' necks and heads as you position them and watch closely when they are in the sling to make sure their spines are properly supported and that the baby's chin isn't closing off his or her airway.
	Don't be discouraged if a baby doesn't seem to enjoy the first few trips in a sling or if you at first find the sling uncomfortable. Like everything else in the world, babywearing takes some degree of fidgetting and settling in to get it just the way you and the baby like it.
	If you bend over with a child in a sling, hold the sling close to your body with your free hand. If the sling fits properly, babies should not fall out on their own. However, you never know when a baby might make a grab for something on the floor while you are bent over.
	Any sling that is too long will pull at your back uncomfortably. If the pouch sling is too long, try using the shoulder flip technique or taking the fabric in at the shoulder to shorten the sling.
	Never leave a sling out where children or babies can get tangled in it (such as putting a sling in a crib with an infant.)
	Use common sense when you have a baby in your sling. It is easy to be too casual. Beware: If you prepare food, light matches, smoke cigarettes, drive vehicles or eat hot food and liquids while wearing your baby in a sling, you may jeopardize your baby's safety. It's best to err on the side of caution. If you ever question an action's appropriateness, even just an inkling of a qualm, then don't do it. Be safe and be responsible for your actions.
	If your older baby is not familiar with a sling, the process of being placed in a sling can be upsetting because it is outside their realm of experience. Practice first without the baby and let the baby watch. If the babywearer is confident and encouraging, baby's are more accepting. If your baby has never experienced motion restriction, the child may be furious to feel "confined" in the sling. I only mention this because, in all honesty, sometimes it's best just to put your sling away for a bit until the baby is ready for the less-constricting hip carry. The flip side of the coin, of course, is the truely snuggly baby or more high-needs baby who takes to the sling with gusto, snoozing away shopping trips tucked against your chest and taking long walks with you, peeking alertly out of the sling like a kangaroo's joey.

Experimenting with new positions:

*If possible, have a friend with you. The more babywearing experience that you have between you, the better.
*Take pictures as you go and then use them as a tool to gauge how the position looks. Just because a babywearing position feels right, it doens't mean that it is secure.
*Follow the basic rules: have maximum sling coverage of the child's body, the sling forms a seat with the baby's bottom lower than knees, the child is comfortable and you are comfortable.
*Try the position out both while stationary and moving to make sure the child will stay in place.
*Consider practicing with something heavy like a bottle of juice or bag of flour first before you try it with a child.

Ring Slings: Intro to Use.