Ring Sling Basics – Wear ‘Em Wednesday

Wear ‘Em Wednesday is back! I know it’s been a few weeks, but we’re getting back into the swing of it.  Some of the most common questions I get are about ring slings, so I thought I’d put together a few videos with some basics.

The first video is a demonstration of two different ways to thread your sling.  The important thing to keep in mind when you are putting your sling through the rings is that you don’t want it twisted.  You also want the rails to be separate from each other so you don’t get them confused when you are tightening and adjusting.

The next demo is using a ring sling with a newborn.  I have found the tummy-to-tummy position to be the easiest to get correct, especially for new wearers.  You certainly CAN do a cradle carry in a ring sling, but I prefer the vertical one so that is what I’m showing.  I don’t have any newborns anymore (sob!) so I’m using a weighted demo doll; unfortunately, “Melvin” is bigger than most newborns, so you’ll see he doesn’t quite fit properly in the sling pocket at the end.  One thing I want to point out that I forgot to mention on the video is that you should adjust one rail at a time, rather than just grabbing the entire tail – that will make sure that it’s adjusted to a custom fit for you and your baby.

Finally, the last video is showing a hip carry. This is by FAR the carry we use most often around here. Once your baby has good neck strength, a hip carry is a great alternative to those forward facing out carriers; your baby will be in a more ergonomic and comfortable position and still be able to look around. It’s a great option for those of you who might not be comfortable with a back carry. With a nice, supportive sling, you can use a hip carry well through toddlerhood – Cole is 3 and a half (just shy of 30 pounds), and I still wear him in a ring sling every so often.

For next week’s Wear ‘Em Wednesday, we’ll have a review of the new Moby Go so if you guys have any questions about it, fire away!