Happy Baby Wearing

Wearing your baby in a ring sling, wrap or mei tai, is something that is learned and will take a bit of
practice at first.  Soon it will be almost automatic to place your baby in and go.  It's suggested to practice first at home in front of a mirror, and to make sure your baby is rested and fed before you start.

Ring Sling

Preparing Your Sling For Use

1.Hold sling with the underside of the sewn fabric around the rings facing up.
2.Pick up tail end feed it through both rings,    then back OVER the top ring and UNDER the bottom ring. 

Putting It On 

(can be reversed for opposite shoulder)

Hold your sling with the tail facing out, the rings in your left hand. Put your right hand through the
sling and bring it over your head, with the rings resting just slightly in front of your left shoulder.
Spread the fabric of the sling over your shoulder and evenly over your back (all the way from your
shoulder blades to your lower back.)    Pull the material tightly across your back so that all of the slack is in front of you.Spread the fabric evenly across your back for best weight distribution. Make sure that the rings are positioned just over your collar bone.  Wear this part of your sling on the outer part of your shoulder, not on the top of your shoulder.  

Making A “Pocket”
Until your baby is old enough to have his/her legs out of the sling, you'll want to make a “pocket” to
keep them safe and secure. The best way to do this is by bringing the material closest to you high up on your chest and tightening it close to you. Once you've placed your baby inside the pocket, support your baby's weight with one arm and tighten with the other. Tighten the outside rail to support your babies back, tighten the middle of the tail to support your baby's bottom. (This also keeps, your baby up high and close which is extremely important in reducing strain.)

Positions

Generally there are six positions a ring sling can be used.  Cradle, Verticle (legs in), Verticle (legs out), Kangaroo, Hip, and Back.

Important Safety Note:

While it is possible to hold your baby hands free in a ring sling, wrap or mei tai, a hand nearby for safety is always a good idea.  Use care when holding your baby in any carrier. Do not use carriers while running,  biking, skiing, parasailing or alligator wrestling. Watch out for open flames while carrying your baby, our materials are not flame retardant.  It is your responsibility to make sure you are wearing your sling properly.

Instructional DVD

The Tummy 2 Tummy Instructional DVD 

This "all in one" DVD covers four types of baby carriers and detailed interactive demonstrations of over 50 positions. 

Click here for more information.

Washing Your Sling

We recommend that your sling be machine washed in cold water with like colors, making sure to pull the material out of the rings first.  

Another tip is to put a sock (of a like color) over the rings and secure them with hair tie before placing it in the washing machine.

We do not recommend drying your sling in a dryer as the metal rings could damage your dryer, instead just hang it to dry by the rings.

Troubleshooting 

If your back begins to feel strained, make sure your baby is pulled close to your body. Tighten the sling as necessary.  

Make sure that the part of the sling connected to the rings is over your shoulder and not creeping close to your neck.  (Many mothers find that it is most comfortable to place this part of the sling on the edge of their shoulder instead on the top of their shoulder.)

 Also make sure the material is spread wide apart on your back, this will distribute the baby’s weight evenly.