Lying Down
This position is perfect for tiny babies, young infants or older sleeping infants. It is helpful when learning to use your sling to try out the different positions in front of a mirror.
Positioning
- Sling On
- Thread your sling by pulling the tail through both rings and then back through one, as you would when threading a belt.
- Sling on the shoulder of your dominant hand (but can be worn on either shoulder).
- Rings at the top of the shoulder.
- Fabric straight and untwisted across your back.
- Fabric straight through the rings, tail untwisted.
- Fabric fanned out over your shoulder.
- Baby Into the Sling
- Hold your baby on your shoulder with your hand on her head and forearm down her back. Her bottom should be supported by your elbow.
- In from the top – pull fabric up and over her body to get her in.
- Out from the bottom - up and over her head to get her out.
- Aim her head down into the sling near your hip, while still supporting her with your arm and swinging her body around your side. Her feet should be sticking out in the back with her tummy pressed against your side.
- Use gravity to help you hold her on your side while holding her head and getting it into the sling.
- Once the head is in the sling, move your hand along the rest of her body and slip it in.
- Now she should be in the sling with her head near your hip and the rest of her body curving around your side.
- Get It Tight to Get It Right
- Use your hands to tighten and bring all the excess fabric around to the front of the sling. Gather the fabric around from your back and bring it past the baby to the front near the rings.
- Hold the excess fabric snugly with your hand.
- Basically, you are holding your baby in position with the tension in the fabric and with your forearm underneath her.
- Pull the fabric through the rings to tighten and hold the position. This will bring your baby’s head to the center of your chest.
- Reach in the sling and bring your baby’s head up near the top of the sling. You want enough fabric covering the back of her head but don’t want her too far down in the sling. Her head should be near the top rail while her body should be deeper inside of the sling.
- Evaluate where the fabric needs to be tighter
Continue to move any loose fabric around from the back to the front near the rings and tighten the top, middle or bottom of the tail accordingly to get the perfect fit.
* Do not take your hands off of your baby until you are sure that the sling is securely positioned to hold your baby hands-free.
To nurse in this position, loosen or tighten the fabric slightly to move the baby up or down and over to reach your breast.