Sling Theory 101
Bucket vs. No Bucket
4 Basic Positions
Each one has many variations but these are the basics:Lying Down or Cradle Position
Newborn and Young Infant
Baby is lying across your body. Her body down in the sling and her head is near the top rail.
Tummy to Tummy
Newborn and Young Infant
Baby is on your chest/tummy and facing you. Fabric should be across baby’s back and cupping her bottom. Her legs can be hanging down out of the sling or folded up and entirely inside of the fabric.
Facing Out
Infant, often pre-sitting up, between 3 and 7 months
Baby is on your chest/tummy and facing out. Place baby well inside of sling with legs crossed and folded up onto her tummy.
Front/Hip Carry Position
Older infant who is sitting up and Toddler
Baby is on your hip on the side of your body or rotated more in front of you. Make sure there is ample fabric across baby’s back and under the bottom so that her legs are at a right angle instead of dangling down.
Starting Out
It is helpful when learning to use your sling to try out the different positions in front of a mirror.
- 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
Positioning Quick Tips
- Sling on
- Baby into the sling
- For most positions, Hold your baby approximately where you want her to end up in the sling
- In from the top – pull fabric up and over her feet to get her in
- Out from the bottom - up and over her head to get her out
- 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.
- Pull the fabric through the rings to tighten and hold the position.
- 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.
Safety
- 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.
- The sling should never take the place of a car seat or other safety restraint device.
- Be aware of an infant’s breathing when bundled inside of sling.
- Check circulation in child’s legs and arms, periodically, when in the sling.